Justin Thomas is back in the winner’s circle, folks! After going nearly three years without a PGA Tour win, JT dropped a vintage performance at the 2025 RBC Heritage, capping it off with a bomb of a putt in a playoff finish.
While his game was on point this week, one gear change from earlier this season played a pivotal role in his win: the driver. So, what changed and why?
His previous gamer was the Titleist TSR3, a lower spin head, with a more forward center of gravity, that typically matches up with high speed and higher spin players. JT was quoted saying “It had great feel” and was a great producer when he flushed it.
Unfortunately, that was the catch, he had to flush it for the best results. TSR3 could be a bit too unforgiving on off-center hits, sending JT’s drives on a bit of a sightseeing adventure — typically to a destination he had no interest in going.
Enter the GT2
The Titleist GT2 driver, paired it with a Mitsubishi Diamana Prototype shaft, is where he landed. This setup is designed to provide a higher launch and increased ball speed, addressing his previous challenges with driving accuracy. JT has expressed a personal goal to hit 60 percent of fairways in the 2025 season, a milestone he’s yet to achieve in his career.
Judging by his RBC numbers, he’s trending in that direction.
Titleist GT2 Custom Driver
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Also available at: PGA TOUR SUPERSTORE, TITLEIST
At the RBC Heritage:
- Driving Accuracy: 64 percent (up from 52 percent last season average)
- Strokes Gained: Off the Tee: +1.10 per round
- Average Distance: 303 yards (and with his new FootJoy HyperFlex shoes, that he helped design, it looks like he is getting even more ground force through impact)
Simply put: his driving stats are no longer the weak link, and the GT2 is giving him something the TSR3 never could — trust.
Thomas had tested both the GT2, and the TSR3 replacement, the GT3 before making the switch. After some testing, he found the GT3 didn’t give him enough height or margin for error. However, the GT2 gave him that picturesque high-launching fade he prefers to see off the tee. Suddenly, it’s like the fairways started looking a lot wider.
Differences between GT2 and GT3 drivers
- GT2: Lower spin, higher launch, with a higher MOI and more forgiveness. It’s built for aggressive drivers who need a little help keeping it in the short grass. JT fits this mold perfectly — he has plenty of speed, and loves to let it rip, but has historically needed a bit more forgiveness on off-center hits.
- GT3: More compact head shape, more workable, more forward center of gravity and adjustable weight. Producing a lower-launch, with a lower-spin profile, and geared toward better ball strikers who like to see a slight fade bias start direction.
Thomas didn’t just snag a win at the RBC Heritage, he sent a message. The numbers don’t lie, JT has figured out his driver, and it shows. That switch to the Titleist GT2 wasn’t just a gear tweak, it was a level-up. Now he’s launching high fades, splitting fairways and swinging like he knows where it’s going.
If he keeps this up, this won’t be the only win we see this season. Major number three could be on the horizon for 2025.
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