About this Review: This review is my honest opinion of the golf club, which I purchased with my own money in May of 2022.

My take

The Titleist U-505 Utility Iron is an excellent performer both off the tee and the fairway for low- to mid-handicap players who can’t get along with hybrids or want more versatility.

About the club I own

• Model: 2022 Titleist U-505
• Loft setting: 18° (2i)
• Shaft type: Project X HZRDUS Smoke RDX Black 90g
• Shaft flex: 6.5

About me

• Average score: 78
• Handicap: 5.7
• Experience: 15 years of golf
• Right/Left-Handed: Right-handed
• Typical ball flight: Draw
• Golf ball used: Srixon Z-Star
• Club swing speed: 115–120mph driver speed

Test conditions

• When I bought the club: May 2022
• Days tested: 30 rounds + 15 range sessions
• Where I’ve used it: Variety of courses in Southern California, San Francisco Bay, Alabama, and New Jersey
• Weather and wind conditions: I have used this club in the dry, desert heat of Palm Springs, whipping coastal winds in San Francisco and the Jersey Shore, and the humid, wet heat of the deep South

How it performs

What I was looking for

I was hoping for this club to fill the large gap between my 4 iron and 3 wood. I have never gotten along with hybrids, as they tended to hook a lot for me, so it was between this and a 5 wood. In my testing, I preferred the lower launch and greater workability of this club over a 5 wood.

Why I chose this club

This club filled exactly the gap I needed it to fill. Hitting it on the launch monitor at the local shop sold me very quickly. I compared this club to the P790 2i, Srixon ZX Utility, and Mizuno Fly-Hi utility. I found that the P790 and the ZX Utility were much less forgiving, and I preferred the look at address of the U-505 over the Mizuno

What I love about it

• Distance: This club not only goes quite far thanks to the thinner, L-Forged face, but the distance is surprisingly consistent for a hollow-construction club. This makes it usable not only off the tee but as an approach into par 5s as well.
• Forgiveness: Thanks to the D18 Tungsten weighting, shots struck on the toe and heel do not seem to cost a ton of distance despite the low loft.
• Feel: The super soft feel of the L-Forged face might not be for everyone, but it is for me. This thing is incredibly soft. A well-struck shot feels like butter off the face.
• Workability: When developing this club, Titleist looked to the tour for feedback. This ended with a shorter blade length and reduced offset that gives the club a very neutral lie at address, and a look that will blend well with the better player’s irons. The D18 Tungsten weighting seems very neutral to me, which allows total control over the closure rate. I’ve found it very easy to work the ball in either direction
• Shaft Performance: The shaft I have is a custom (no-upcharge) offering from Project X. I’ve found that this shaft does exactly what I need in that it keeps launch and spin low and keeps up with my higher speed.
• Aesthetic Appeal: The U-505 is a beautiful golf club all around. The chrome is nice but not distracting, and the Titleist logo and other fonts are very classy.
• Launch Angle: The D18 weighting and the redesigned max impact technology and support structure create an optimal CG location for easy launch without excessive height. I am able to control the launch as needed, but never struggle to get it to peak height.

Issues I’ve encountered

• Sound: The sound of all hollow-body clubs (not just this one) is not for me. Taylormade probably does it the best, but even theirs isn’t great. Do not expect this club to sound like a true forged iron.
• Adjustability: This club has no adjustability options.
• Shaft Feel: The HZRDUS Smoke RDX Black is not a shaft designed for feel. It is a prescription for people who need to get the flight and spin lower. Because of this, it is extremely stiff and feels extremely stiff.
• Spin: The spin on this club has been one major complaint. My swing produces a lot of spin, so I chose the black shaft to fight it, which helped, but this club still produces quite a lot of spin. I believe the tungsten weighting in the sole has a lot to do with that.

Best shot with this club

This is my safety club. I haven’t hit any extremely glamorous shots with it, but I am positive it has saved me more than a few strokes. A low cut with this off the tee is one of my favorite shots for a tight fairway. When I find myself 240–250 yards out on a par 5, this is my go-to.

Value for the money vs. other options

This is a premium club that is right in line with other premium utility irons in terms of pricing. Its main competitors are the TaylorMade P790 UDI, Srixon ZX Utility, and PXG 0311X Gen 5 Utility Iron. I think the Titleist U-505 makes a strong stand for itself and offers a fair price for what is an excellent premium club.

Final verdict

The Titleist U-505 utility iron allows the better player an escape from hybrid-land. Finally, there is an option for the player who wants more ball speed and forgiveness than a traditional 2 or 3 iron but wants to avoid the high and spinny flight of a hybrid.