Name: Titleist 716 CB Irons Review
Brand: Titleist

Golf Monthly Verdict

The Titleist engineers haven’t strayed too far from the impressive looks of the previous generation CB model but what they have done is make this version significantly more forgiving. As a result they have created a thoroughly traditional looking iron with genuine forgiveness.

Reasons to buy

+
The profile at address is as traditional as anything you'll find currently on the market but through the use of Tungsten in key heel and toe locations, Titliest has increased the forgiveness levels.

Reasons to avoid

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With the new Titleist 716 AP2 iron offering even more forgiveness with a similarly classic look, many golfers will prefer the consistency on offer from that iron.

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By Neil Tappin

published 21 September 2015

The new Titleist CB 716 irons have been designed with feel and control in mind. However, there is also a crucial element of forgiveness - read our Titleist 716 CB irons review to see how they stack up

Key technology

Titleist engineers have used a new co-forging technique to precisely place 55 grams of tungsten in the heel and toe (only in the 3 to 7 irons). This creates the same forgiveness profile as the Titleist 714 AP2 iron. The stock steel shaft offering is also new – the AMT shaft from Dynamic Gold (Ascending Mass Technology) are lighter in the longer irons to launch the ball a little easier.

Titleist 716 CB irons review

The Titleist 716 CB irons have retained the same sleek, stunning look of the previous generation. But the work the engineers have done has been to improve the MOI (or forgiveness) of the club. In our testing, this was evident through the consistency of distance. Hitting a handful of shots with each iron, there was a disparity of three yards between the best and worst strikes. For those looking to dial themselves in and maximise their birdie opportunities, this is a huge plus.

NEW TITLEIST 716 IRONS

Like with the Titleist 716 MB irons we were impressed buy how well the club was getting through the turf at impact. This led to a great feel and surprisingly impressive distance. For faster swingers, looking for control of flight and distance, the make up of this set is ideal. You'll also love the feel through impact!

In his current role, Neil is responsible for testing drivers and golf balls. Having been a part of the Golf Monthly team for over 15 years and playing off a handicap of 3, he has the experience to compare performance between models, brands and generations. For 2022 he thinks the main trend in drivers is: "In a word, consistency. Whilst all the brands are talking about ball speed (and the new drivers are certainly long), my biggest finding has been how much more consistent the ball flights are. Mishits don't seem to be causing the same level of drop-off or increase in the spin numbers. This means that more shots seem to be flying the way you want them to!" As far as golf balls are concerned the biggest development is in the, "three piece, non-Tour, urethane-covered section. For regular golfers, these models offer superb performance at both ends of the bag without denting your wallet quite as much as the premium Tour-played options."

Originally working with the best coaches in the UK to produce instruction content, he is now the brand's Digital Editor and covers everything from Tour player interviews to gear reviews. In his time at Golf Monthly, he has covered equipment launches that date back well over a decade. He clearly remembers the launch of the Callaway and Nike square drivers as well as the white TaylorMade driver families, such as the RocketBallz! If you take a look at the Golf Monthly YouTube channel, you'll see his equipment videos dating back over a decade! He has also conducted 'What's In The Bag' interviews with many of the game's best players like Rory McIlroy, Dustin Johnson and Jon Rahm. Over the years, Neil has tested a vast array of products in each category and at drastically different price-points.

Neil is currently playing: Driver: TaylorMade Stealth Plus Fairway Wood: Titleist TSR2 Hybrid: Titleist TS3 Irons (4-9): Mizuno JPX 919 Forged Wedges: Titleist Vokey SM7 46˚, 50˚, 54˚, 60˚ Putter: Odyssey Triple Track Ten Ball: Titleist Pro V1X