I’m somewhat biased. I play Titleist clubs. My irons, driver, wedges are Titleist. They make some outstanding products other than golf balls and are known for “player clubs”.

What I like about Titleist is that they don’t pretend to do something they are not good at. What I mean is that they focus on making top notch clubs for low handicap players. They don’t fill the whole spectrum of the golfing public with game improvement clubs. I always felt that Cobra filled that niche for them, and with the sale of Cobra…Titleist is focused on their highly recognized brand.

A Players Hybrid

The Titleist 909H is a hybrid with a classic shape. I demoed the 19° model with a graphite Diamana Blue Hybrid Shaft. This is one of two stock graphite options available for this club (actually there are 12 shafts to choose from in either steel or graphite that are not up-charges). The Diamana Blue Hybrid Shaft is made by Mitsubishi Rayon and weighs in at 82 grams and 40.5″. The shaft has 2.9° of torque which is slightly high, meaning it will twist more than its counterpart in the Aldila Voodo which has 2.6° of torque. Overall I liked the feel of the shaft, solid yet responsive. The swing weight comes in at a D2, similar to most irons… about a swing weight less than mine. The 17-4 Stainless Steel head has a 455 Carpenters Steel insert on the face for added feel and punch. A factory installed SureFit Swingweight Screw lowers the center of gravity, allowing for easier launch. The bottom of the sole is plain and I like that. What makes the 909H nice for me is that it has a 0.5° Open Face.  So many of the Hybrids have closed faces.

Clean Lines, Clean Shots

I love the clean lines of the 909H. It is simple and straight forward. There are no graphic designs, or material designs that make the club head look futuristic. The color of the head matches the classic smoked grey look of all Titleist Wood and Hybrid heads. I felt comfortable looking down…it’s a mini version of my Driver, so I have a familiar visual.

I used the 909H from the fairway, rough and tee box. In all instances the club performed awesome. It played above my expectations. Off the tee it had a medium-high trajectory, and I was able to hit my typical draw. From the rough I found that the club did not turn or twist, which is what I fight when hitting a long iron. That makes for a confident powerful swing, knowing that the club resists the twisting motion. Balls sitting down are easy to get airborne, more in the low to medium trajectory. My key shot with the 909H was into a difficult green..212 yards to the pin from the dormant rough. The wind was directly into me (about 3 clubs extra) and I flushed it. The ball barely wavered off line and stopped within 10 feet of my ball mark. That was my “wow” moment, I normally would have had to play a choke-down 3/4 wood shot, or try a punch three iron…I loved that a full swing, not over swung, with the hybrid gave me the option to attack the hole!

The Good and the Bad

The great things about the 909H are that it has a clean look. The face is not overly closed, and it frames the ball well. The Diamana Shaft is nice, feels at home with the club head. Well hit balls go where you want them. The simple sole cuts through dormant rough.

If I have one gripe, it is a small one…The ball seems to “thunk” and not “click”. I know it’s a face material issue. I just want a little better feedback from the face. Even though the club is marketed as being longer from toe to heel, off center shots will not “feel” good. But I like that. I want poor shots to end up in bunkers or missing greens. That is great feedback for my swing.

If you are looking for ultra forgiveness then I don’t suggest the 909H, it’s a Titleist…it’s a Players Club. The 909H is looking like a solid contender for my bag but with a different loft and surely a different shaft.