Titleist 917 D2 vs D3 Driver

October 20, 2016 Sara Rubin Comments

The Titleist 917 drivers are officially here and the latest iteration of Titleist’s award-winning wood line is nothing short of awesome.  Fans of Titleist will be happy to see that a lot of what golfers have loved about previous versions drivers is still there.  However, Titleist has packed some great new technology into their two new drivers and we’re here to give you the low-down on the difference between the 917 D2 and the 917 D3.  Here’s what you need to know:

Technology:

Here’s the good news, when it comes to advanced technology, both the 917 D2 and the D3 pack a serious punch.  Both drivers come with SureFit CG, which is a fancy way of saying that you can change weights out to create an optimal center of gravity.  This ensures that the spin and launch conditions are ideal for each individual player.

Additionally, Titleist has also employed something called Radial Speed Face 2.0 to create a thinner perimeter face width.  What this does is allow you to get more distance off the face no matter if you hit it the ball in the sweet spot or off-center.

Bottom Line: Both the Titleist 917 D2 and the D3 drivers are equipped with awesome technology.  You can’t go wrong with either club.

Head Size and Shape:

The 917 D2 is a full 460cc and features a full pear head shape.  The 917 D3 driver comes in slightly smaller at 440cc’s and in Titleist’s words, it’s “pear profile inspired”.  Both head shapes will be familiar to golfers who have hit previous versions of Titleist drivers and the sound at impact for both drivers is pleasing to the ear and confidence-inspiring.

Bottom Line: The larger head size on the Titleist 917 D2 driver will benefit golfers who are looking for more forgiveness off the tee.  The smaller head on the 917 D3 is ideal for better players who want to be able to work the ball.

Launch Angle & Spin:

The 917 D2 Driver was designed to fit golfers of a wide variety of skill levels, which is why both the launch angle and spin rate are both higher than the 917 D3.  The higher launch angle and spin rate help get maximum distance off the tee for golfers with swing speeds that aren’t off the charts.  Conversely, the lower launch angle and spin rates will benefit golfers with high swing speeds.

Bottom Line:

There are lots of factors that can make a difference in a golfer’s spin rate and launch angle.  While various shafts and adjustments should be tested to find the optimal settings for each golfer, in general, better players with higher swing speeds will likely benefit from the D3’s lower launch angle and spin rates.

Adjustability:

As mentioned earlier, the new 917 drivers both feature SureFit CG, which allows you to change out weight to create the optimal center of gravity.  In addition, both the 917 D2 and the 917 D3 feature the SureFit Hosel, which allows for 16 independent lie and loft settings with just one quick adjustment.  These two enhancements work together to allow you to create a more consistent and optimized ball flight.

Bottom Line: Both the Titleist 917 D2 and the D3 are fully adjustable and allow you to craft the perfect drive on every shot.

Conclusion:

If you are a golfer who likes the ability to tinker with your driver and adjust your settings, you’re going to love Titleist’s 917 drivers.  Ideally, you should stop by an Authorized Titleist Retailer to hit both drivers to find the right club for your game.  A certified Titleist club fitter will be able to work with you to test various shafts and settings so that the data can point you towards the right club.

In general though, the 917 D2 is a more forgiving club and fits a wider variety of skill levels.  The smaller head size and lower launch angle of the 917 D3 were designed for optimal workability and will benefit better golfers.  You can check out both of these awesome drivers at any Austad's Golf Store or shop for Titleist 917 D2 and D3 Drivers online anytime.

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