The Golf Monthly team put the new Titleist 816 hybrids - the H1 and H2 - through their paceds to find out if the performance has improved.

Key technology

Featuring the same ‘Active Recoil Channel’ as the previous 915 hybrid, this has been redesigned for better turf interaction while still offering high speed and low spin performance. The 816 version should launch higher, has a new grey crown and there are more loft options available to aid gapping.

Titleist 816 Hybrids Review

This is an evolutionary design coming as it does just one year after the launch of the 915 hybrid – Titleist most successful ever in this category. The differences in comparison to the previous generation are, as you’d expect, small, but they are important. Whether due to the new grey crown colouring or the shaping of the head itself, we found the difference between the H1 and H2 models far more pronounced. The H1 looks far larger at address and launches the ballnoticeably higher (we think this club will appeal to a wider range of handicaps). The H2 is more compact and offers a controlled flight with a tight distance dispersion.

The extra loft options are crucial here too as Titleist is emphasising its desire for consumers to find the right distance gaps with their hybrids. The recommended retail price of the 816 hybrids is £205.

An evolutionary product that has been brought into the same launch cycle as the company’s iron models to encourage players to get properly fitted for both. We loved the easy hitting, high-flying performance of the slightly larger H1 model.

Neil Tappin
Editor

In July 2023, Neil became just the 9th editor in Golf Monthly's 112-year history. Originally working with the best coaches in the UK to produce instruction content, he has also presented many Golf Monthly videos looking at all areas of the game from Tour player interviews to the rules of golf. 

Throughout his time with the brand he has also 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: PING Blueprint S (4&5), PING Blueprint T (6-PW) Wedges: Titleist Vokey SM7 50˚, 54˚, 60˚ Putter: Odyssey Triple Track Ten Ball: Titleist Pro V1X