Equipment
Titleist 718 AP2 Black and AP3 Black released in limited quantities
Titleist has unveiled new 718 AP2 Black and 718 AP3 Black irons in limited black finish that will be available to purchase from March 1.
Previously only available in a traditional chrome finish, the new Titleist 718 AP2 Black and Titleist 718 AP3 Black irons are finished with a sleek, high polish black PVD coating. The irons feature True Temper AMT Onyx shafts stock. The shafts’ powder coat matte black finish aims to minimize glare (in addition to looking cool). An all-black Golf Pride Tour Velvet 360 grip is standard as well.
Speaking on the move to release the irons in black, Josh Talge, Vice President, Golf Club Marketing said
“One request we heard from both tour players and amateurs, particularly those who have gravitated toward our Jet Black Vokey SM7 wedges, was if they could have these same irons in a darker finish. Our team spent a lot of time making sure the aesthetics were done just right. It’s a look that you just have to see.”
A quick refresher on the two models, below.
Titleist 718 AP3 Black
The 718 AP3 iron is a players distance iron which features a hollow-blade design with high-speed face technology. According to Titleist, the company merged the technology found in their AP1 and AP2 irons to create the AP3, which the company are calling their longest and fastest players iron ever.
Commenting on the AP3, Talge stated
“AP3 truly represents the best of both worlds. We’re giving you the distance and forgiveness of a game improvement iron packed into the look and feel of a player’s iron.”
The set is made up of 4-iron through 48-degree wedge. The AP3 Black irons, which are available for right-handers only, are available to purchase from March 1 and will cost $187.50 per club or $1,499/set of 8.
Titleist 718 AP2 Black
The 718 AP2 iron features a co-forged cavity back design which aims to provide consistent distance and forgiveness, while also delivering excellent feel to all golfers.
Speaking concerning the AP2 iron, Talge had this to say
“AP2 is the most popular tour iron globally because it combines the look and feel tour players demand with the precise distance control they need to consistently hit their target, shot after shot. For everyone else, it’s the tour iron within reach, because it is so forgiving.”
The set is made up of 4-iron through 50-degree wedge. Also available for right-handers only, the irons are available to purchase from March 1 and will cost $187.50 per club or $1,499/set of 8 as well.
See what GolfWRX Members are saying about the irons in the forums.
Neal Shipley was the first to admit that he enjoyed his food while in college. But since his days at Ohio State, he’s slimmed down and earned a PGA Tour Card.
That hasn’t stopped him from having fun with his wedge stampings, though it’s led to some misunderstandings.
On the 54 (degree), we have ‘Big Fudge,'” Shipley told GolfWRX. “It was supposed to be ‘Big Fridge,’ so this happened a little while ago. ‘Big Fridge’ was a nickname between my college teammates and I, with ‘fridge’ meaning stomach, a big stomach.
“We told the Ping guys to put … ‘Big Fridge’ on it, and I think maybe some bad cell service or something, and they thought I said ‘fudge,’ so they put fudge on it.”
On Shipley’s 50-degree he also continues the food theme, this time with his go-to order at the “Golden Arches,” and his stamping “DONS 7.”
“The number 7 meal, the two cheeseburger meal, that was my McDonald’s order, back when I would have McDonald’s frequently,” Shipley shared.
At GolfWRX, we are a community of like-minded individuals who all experience and express our enjoyment of the game in many ways.
It’s that sense of community that drives day-to-day interactions in the forums on topics that range from best driver to what marker you use to mark your ball. It even allows us to share another thing we all love – buying and selling equipment.
Currently, in our GolfWRX buy/sell/trade (BST) forum, @raw10628 has a L.A.B. DF3 putter and Masters putter cover up for grabs.
From the listing: “Some great items here today, time to thin out and make room for next set of gear. All prices include shipping.
LAB DF3 Purple 33.5” 68° lie with TPT – $725. LAB Masters release DF3 cover – $150.”
To check out the full listing in our BST forum, head through the link. If you are curious about the rules to participate in the BST Forum, you can learn more here: GolfWRX BST Rules
Driver: Ping G440 LST (9 degrees)
Shaft: Accra TourZ Green 5-M4
3-wood: Ping G440 Max (15 degrees)
Shaft: Accra TourZ Green 6-M4
5-wood: Ping G440 Max (19 degrees @18)
Shaft: Accra TourZ Green 6-M4
Hybrid: Ping G440 (23 degrees)
Shaft: Oban Isawa Red Hybrid Shaft 04 Flex 70 Gms
Irons: Srixon ZXi7 (5-P)
Shafts: Aerotech SteelFiber Private Reserve i80
Wedges: Cleveland RTZ (50-MID, 54-FULL, 58-MID)
Shafts: Aerotech SteelFiber Private Reserve i105
Putter: L.A.B. Golf OZ.1i
Shaft: ACCRA Putter Shaft
Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet
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Maria Torres WITB 2026 (June)
Driver: Ping G440 LST (9 degrees) Shaft: Accra TourZ Green 5-M4 3-wood: Ping G440 Max (15 degrees) Shaft: Accra TourZ Green 6-M4 5-wood: Ping G440...
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Driver: TaylorMade Qi4D (10.5 degrees) Shaft: Project X Titan Yellow 60 TX 3-wood: TaylorMade Qi4D Tour (15 degrees) Shaft: Project...
Joe Dante
Feb 9, 2019 at 12:38 pm
does project x have a black finish iron shaft?
Andy LaCombe
Jan 18, 2019 at 9:46 pm
Damn – I love black irons and just got a set of AP3 irons in the fall 🙁
Steve Cantwell
Jan 18, 2019 at 12:36 pm
While on vacation I rented a set of clubs that had a dark finish. I really liked the look. Aside from the Cheap PVD coating, is there a reason manufactures don’t offer this option more often? Or do they just see it as an opportunity to jack up prices?
Tiger Noods
Jan 17, 2019 at 7:30 pm
I’m more excited by the AMT in onyx…
Ryan
Jan 17, 2019 at 4:10 pm
I don’t understand. If it is known that the PVD will wear off almost immediately, then why use it? Is it that much cheaper?
BIG T
Jan 17, 2019 at 2:49 pm
Its widely known that PVD is cheep and doesnt hold up. So why do people spend the extra few hundred on it???
dat
Jan 17, 2019 at 1:23 pm
PVD? That finish is toast in a few rounds. For that kind of money, I’d expect a DBM finish like the rest of the industry is using.
JP
Jan 17, 2019 at 12:23 pm
Tight!
Chris
Jan 17, 2019 at 11:25 am
Id buy these in a heartbeat…If I had an extra $1,500 laying around haha
Dosh
Jan 17, 2019 at 9:46 am
Why
C
Jan 17, 2019 at 10:42 am
Why not?
Dosh
Jan 17, 2019 at 9:17 pm
Because PVD is shyyyyte??
Gunter Eisenberg
Jan 17, 2019 at 9:37 am
Those things will sell really well but the PVD coating won’t last long. Look at other past black irons using that same coating and you’ll see what I mean.