I usually shoot in the low 100's to high 90's, and am desperately trying to improve to a consistent 90's player. For the last 10 years I had been a very casual player (once every 6 months or so) and had been using a set of Stratos II's that my wife bought me from Wal-mart. Lately, I have been playing once a week and constantly practicing my swing, and it has been paying off. Before, I was consistently skulling my irons (mainly due to positioning the ball too far back in my stance). Now, I have started hitting good shots with more regularity and decided it was time for an upgrade in equipment. I did not want a club with a huge offset to cover up my miss-hits but one that would accentuate my good ones. The Titleist DCI 962's are elegant clubs and are perfect for a golfer who is serious about improving his skills. When I hit a decent shot it looks like a great one and feels like butter. These clubs are pretty forgiving on toe or heel shots but I have never had much of an issue with that. My problem has always been skulling the ball, and when I do that the ball reacts the same as with any other club. If you are looking for a club to solve that problem you may want to look elsewhere, but personally I don't think any club is going to fix that. Perhaps, a huge offset can help you get your hands out in front and put the ball closer to the bottom of your swing arc, but then you are just learning wrong and reinforcing bad habits. Also, huge offsets limit how much you can improve your game because it makes it very difficult to shape shots (something that the 962's do very well, and a skill I am already learning). In my opinion practice is the way to deal with a skulling issue, if you really want to get better. These clubs have improved my game and I think they are perfect for anyone who is serious about doing so. If you just want a club that covers over a bad swing there are probably better choices for you.Read full review
I have been playing golf for about 25 years now. In 1996 after seeing David Duval shoot a 59 with the new Titleist DCI's, I ran to the local pro shop (no EBay back then) and bought a brand new set of DCI 962's (Unstamped). Before that, I had usually gone thru a different set of irons every 2 years or so until I bought the DCI's. Now its been 12 years and I havent even considered getting a new set of irons (until recently when i saw the new Titleist AP-2 irons that are coming out). These clubs are dead on accurate and you can work the ball easily with them. What I like about these irons is the traditional look they have, with the extremely solid ball striking. They offer plenty of confidence when addressing the ball with their minimal offset and thin top line. I dont know about you, but I just cant get into hitting the big fat Callaway type irons, especially the wedges, with their fat top lines and huge offsets. If you want a traditional looking iron, but something more forgivable than a blade, these are without a doubt the best irons money can buy in my opinion. In my opinion, I honestly think these are the best irons ever made. I love buying new golf equipment every year and I always have the latest driver (Callaway FT-i), Hybrids (Callaway FT 3H and 4H), putters (Odyssey White Hot #8 and my old stand-by Wilson 8802), etc, but I just cant switch to a different set of irons. These babies are MONEY. So, first of all, the DCI 962's are good looking. Believe it or not, a club that you do not mind looking at is important. You will find the Titleist pleasing to the eye. Secondly, they are very easy to hit- and I do mean for everyone By easy to hit I mean that the DCI's are soft, cavity backed, and provide a big club head, but not an OVERSIZED head. In other words, they provide you with a lot of feedback about the shot you just hit (thin, fat, on the toe, heel) and that is not always the case with a cavity backed club. As for the big club heads, Titleist often gets stereotyped as being the premiere producer of small head (blades) clubs and get overlooked when it comes to their cavity backed products. In this case, the cavity backed club should not be overlooked. What else do I like? For a cavity backed club, the DCI's are easy to work. I can hit the ball high or low and move it to the right or the left with the DCI's. As for distance- I do not really concern myself with distance irons but in this case- the DCI's are right there with any other set of cavity backed irons. Finally, I like the feel. As I mentioned above, the DCI's provide a soft feel, but they also provide a solid feel and that is important with any club you purchase. It is a rarity when you can find a caivty backed iron that provides a soft feel and a solid feel; the DCI's provide both. You can really feel the difference between the different types of balls you hit. Perhaps the most important thing to know about the DCI's is that they are a good fit for anyone who is looking for a new set of irons. There are not many iron sets that I can say that about. Most of the manufacturers make a set for advanced players and another for average/beginners. Titleist has made a set for all levels with the DCI's, even though they claim to be for the advanced golfer. If you are thinking about buying the 962's, dont hesitate, do it. Theres not a chance in this world that you will regret your decision. Hit em straight!Read full review
I bought these clubs and the seller said they were Royal Precision Rifle Shafts without the shaft bands. Well I have played Rifle Shafts many times, but never notices loss of distance from TT Dynamic Gold until this set. I am one full club shorter with almost every club in the bag. At first I thought it might be cold weather, the wet ground,etc, but now I have pulled out my previous set of irons and can confirm I lose a lot of distance with these irons. On the bright side, the grooves and head shape cause me to line things up better with these, and I seem to be "on line" with almost every iron I fire into the green. Could they be that unforgiving? Could be. If so, they are the most unforgiving irons I have ever played. Short game: I thought my shots under 100 yds would improve a little as well, given the patented Titleist beveled edges of these irons. But so far, my Hogan Apex Edges are quite a bit better in that category as well. So far I am glad I bought and are trying these irons (first set of Titleist I have ever owned, but I am a big Mizuno and forged iron fan). But after 6 weeks of play my Hogans are back in my bag....at least until the weather warms up and I give the 962s another chance.Read full review
I bought my 962s brand new in the spring of 1999. I still use them today. I have tried different irons and looked at the newer irons but nothing performs or look as good as my 962s. Players buying them today will notice a difference in distance since these irons have true lofts. Example: 962 PW has 48 degrees of loft compared to the new AP3 PW which has 43 degrees of loft. Definitely for the better player.
Verified purchase: No
Whats not to like, especially if you are lucky enough to find a set of the non 962 stamped first issue's. They set up for a player, minimal offset, thin top line and the square grooves spin balls like a pro. They have enough cavity to offer some forgivness on off center hits but they are still workable unlike some of the new equipment. One of the great benefits I've found is the distance consistantcy. The difference between a nutted shot and a OK shot is only 5 or 6 yards. Unlike some of the new irons which can vary 10 to 15 yards or more in the case of Pings. If you set a new Titleist 735 next to a 962 it's hard to tell the differenct from the address position. The 962 may be the most versitile irons Titleist has made. The cavity shape has changed on the later model Titleist irons but the overall look from address remains the same. It seems like every spring for the past 10 years I've tried at least one new brand or style iron and in the end, at tournament time the 962's always find their way back into the bag. I suppose I should quite wasting my money and time but you know how golfers are. There is always something better just around the corner, I just haven't found it yet. Hit em long and straight.Read full review