Titleist 695 Irons

The Titleist 695 irons have carved a place in the hearts of skilled golfers for over a decade. Released in 2006, the Titleist 695 irons were made in a muscle back (MB) as well as a cavity back (CB) design targeted towards skilled players who prioritize control and workability over forgiveness. Forged from soft steel, the 695s offer a pure feel at impact, and their thin topline and minimal offset inspire confidence in shot shaping. While not currently in production, the 695s remain a popular choice on the secondary market for golfers who value classic forged irons.

The Looks

The Titleist 695 irons have a classic generational player’s blade design. Clean lines, minimal offset, and a thin topline speaks to the player who appreciates a compact profile. Whether you have the MB or CB design, you’ll have a slightly different aesthetic feel. Pictured in this review is the cavity back iron which has minimal branding and a unique cavity forging. There’s more mass toward the sole which will place the center of gravity (CG) lower in the head for a little easier launch. What catches my eye as unique is the “Z” shape made by the dividing line of the cavity forging.

How Does it Feel?

Feel is where the Titleist 695 irons truly shine. The forged construction delivers a smooth and precise sensation at impact, providing exceptional feedback to the golfer. This helps with distance control and the ability to feel even the slightest mishits. The thin topline and minimal cavity design further enhance feel by concentrating weight in all the right places of the clubhead for a solid, forged feel.

How Does it Sound?

Titleist had a window where I think they were making the best forged blades in the game. Ok, maybe behind Mizuno and Miura, but still, they were really good. REALLY good sounds came from these clubs. I’m talking textbook forged sounds. The Titleist 695 irons produce a satisfyingly crisp sound at impact. It’s a faint “click” with a nice “thwiff” through the turf. Heavy shots don’t really have much of a “thump” but will definitely tell you that you dug a little too deep.

On-Course Performance

The Titleist 695 irons are designed for performance, not forgiveness. Let’s not forget this. The thin topline and minimal offset demand a skilled player who can consistently strike the ball in the center of the face. For those who can, the 695s offer solid workability and control. The ability to shape shots and manipulate trajectory are the focus of these irons in terms of performance.

When it comes to forgiveness, the 695s aren’t the most forgiving irons in the world. Mishits will result in distance loss and directional issues. However, when compared to the 695 MB irons, the CB offers a little more leniency for a blade because of its perimeter weighting. Again, to be clear, I’m not saying it’s a forgiving iron. Just more forgiving than its muscle back counterpart.

Interestingly, when I brought these to the range to test, I was also trying out some vintage CB blades from my recent thrift finds. Blades that were regarded as some of the best forgings of their era. It was really fascinating to see how much easier it was to hit the more modern Titleist 695 with their contemporary soles and CG placement. So while a lot of the “traditional blade performance characteristics” are there, they’re definitely a step up from grandpa’s hand-me-downs.

Final Thoughts – Titleist 695 Irons

The Titleist 695 irons are a classic design that continues to resonate with skilled golfers. One might argue that future Titleist blade designs haven’t really deviated or evolved that much from this point because they haven’t had to. While not the most forgiving irons on the market, they offer great feel and control.

Stock Titleist 695 Irons Specs

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