Titleist doesn’t use the term “driving iron” when talking about its long-iron replacements because that’s not the only thing its new 2025 T-Series utility irons can do.
With the launch of the new 2025 T-Series iron lineup, the company is also introducing new T250U and U505 utility irons to match its latest iron release.
“Utilities occupy a very specific part of the bag for most players,” said Marni Ines, Titleist director of iron development. “They may be distance clubs, but golfers still need them to go a precise number and fly in a specific window so you can hit and hold greens on the golf course. Our focus is to design a lineup of utilities that launch the ball in the air really high, fly consistently far and offer plenty of stability and forgiveness, which is exactly what new T250U and U505 utilities are built to do.”
Here are three things to know, as well as my own thoughts, about the new Titleist T250U and U505 Utility irons.
1. T250U builds off new T250
The T250U, like the new T250, replaces the previous generation’s T200 with a slightly larger profile (1.5 mm longer blade length) and features a new all-steel construction for a cleaner look and more symmetry with the rest of the lineup.
The profile matches both the loft progression and profile of the standard build T250 2-, 3-, and 4-irons, but with a heavier headweight to accommodate a lighter graphite hybrid shaft with a .370″ tip size. New this year is that all Titleist Utilities feature a .370″ hosel bore, which is the standard tip size for a hybrid shaft, as previously they accepted a taper tip .355″.
While the new model should launch higher than the previous generation, the T250U is still the model for players looking to hit lower flighted shots off the tee.
2. New progressive U505 shaping
While also adopting the new all-steel construction, the U505 has undergone the most radical facelift and now has progressive shaping depending on the loft.
While the 1- and 2-iron (yes, they still make a 1-iron) lofts retain the classic wide sole and shallow face profile of the previous generation U505, the 3- and 4-iron have adopted a new, more streamlined profile.
The shape actually came from a prototype T350 long iron that Titleist released on Tour last year and made it into Will Zalatoris’ bag.
“That got some play on Tour so that really told us that that shape had potential as a utility iron for the better player,” Ines said. “So we’re like, ‘Hey let’s use the higher lofts in the 505 to be kind of more of that shape.’ Because you don’t necessarily need it there, because loft is helping you. Versus the 1-iron, where you kind of need that [previous U505] shape to help that one up in the air because it’s so strong lofted. So really, it came from that shape. And then what we did was keep the offsets of the 505, which are meant to blend with the rest of our products more seamlessly. So it’s a lesser offset 350 look in the 505 3- and 4-iron.”
3. T-Series technologies
Along with the rest of the new T-Series lineup, and especially the T250 and T350, the T250U and U505 utilize split tungsten weights to increase inertia and add stability.
Both utilities also feature the Max Impact core technology, using a urethane polymer under the center of the face to tune the rest of the face and create consistent ball speeds no matter where you strike it. They also utilize L-face construction, lower CGs and a V-taper variable face thickness design.
My thoughts!
The new T250U is just like the standard T250 model and is a huge improvement over the previous generations, but it’s the new U505 where the leap is even greater.
Titleist was already the most played utility iron on Tour with the U505 leading the way, but now it has just become a lot easier for anyone to switch into the line with the much more appealing shape. Adopting a progressive design allows them to utilize the extreme shape where its needed and make a more appealing look where they can.
I was super intrigued to test U505 in a 3-iron after seeing a video Titleist posted of Cam Davis launching one 170 feet into the air in testing and immediately putting it into the bag.
When I hit the club for the first time, I immediately turned to my fitter at the Titleist Performance Institute, Louis, and just started laughing. I had never hit a shot so easily with a 3-iron. I was averaging 154 mph ball speed, 4,300 spin, 111 foot apex and 238-yard carry. I sent the Trackman data to friends and blocked out the club and asked them to guess. Most thought it was a hybrid or 5-wood, not a 3-iron.
For me, this is not only a club I will immediately be taking on my next trip to Scotland, but it’s also one I could consider using full-time because of how easily it gets in the air.
And that’s what makes it not only a great club for off-the-tee play, but also a 4-iron replacement for many.
“In some of my experience with fitting with this, let’s say I’ve got somebody where we look at those 3 D’s and all of a sudden ball speed isn’t warranting at 5-iron, right?” Louis told me during my fitting. “Then I go, ‘Well, why are you out here? At least hit the 4-iron in the U505 so you can experience it. And all of a sudden, the ball speed and height jump back into the window, and I’m like, how do you explain to somebody that, ‘Oh, well, yeah, you can’t play a 5-iron, but you’re hitting a 4-iron Great.'”
The U505 has always been a club that a lot of people should be playing as a 4-iron and now with the cleaner profile, it could become a club people will want to play in the 4-iron and deeper into the bag.
Price, specs and availability
Titleist 2025 T250•U Custom Driving Iron
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Titleist 2025 U•505 Custom Driving Iron
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Titleist’s new 2025 T-Series utility irons are available for fittings and pre-orders starting Thursday, July 10 and will arrive at retail locations on Thursday, August 21.
Both models are available for $279 per club. The featured shaft option is the Project X HZRDUS Black 5G with the Graphite Design Tour AD DI and Graphite Design Tour AD DI as well as host of other options available through custom order.
Stock lofts are as follows:
T250U: 2i: 18˚, 3i: 20˚, 4i: 22˚
U505: 1i: 16˚, 2i: 18˚, 3i: 20˚, 4i: 22˚
Want to find the best irons for your bag in 2025? Find a club-fitting location near you at True Spec Golf