Let's take a look at what the Titleist's engineers have been working on.

The release may not come as a huge surprise, since Tour seeding began several months ago and Jimmy Walker won the PGA using a 917 driver. But with days of Fall left to play in even the coldest parts of the country, the Oct. 21 availability might allow you to get some reps in before you put away the clubs for the season, dreaming of the fairways you'll hit and extra distance you'll find on the Florida trip or next spring. (Not that we worry about that here at AGC World HQ in Carlsbad, California.)

CHECK OUT OUR REVIEW OF THE TITLEIST 917 FAIRWAYS

Now, we're not suggesting that everyone needs (or can afford) a new driver every year, but the way Titleist releases product -- on a two year cycle -- they build in plenty of pent-up demand from players on older models like the 915, 913, and 910. What all of these have in common with the 917 is the two model standard, meaning both come in the well- known D2 and D3 monikers. And the SureFit adjustable hosel is also the same as on the 915, meaning you can swap out shafts easily if you have one you absolutely love.

Titleist isn't content on relying on upgrades from current players of their drivers. The 917 series has all of the bells-and-whistles to allow their fitters to fit just about anyone into a model that works for them, while keeping the tradition lines that we've come to expect from a company that has long been known for its appeal to better players.

The 917D2 is a 460cc head and produces slightly more spin than the 440cc 917D3. Jimmy Walker used it to win the PGA. The 917D3 will typically produce a more boring trajectory and appeal to higher spin players since it produces 250 rpm lower spin rate, all things being equal.

Titleist 917's SureFit adjustable weight system

New to the 917 is the SureFit CG adjustable weight system, found in the sole of the club. The drivers ship with two 12-gram weights (shown right). The pre-installed weight has a neutral effect on ball flight, while replacing that weight with the second one provides either a draw or fade bias.

What we love about it is the combination of minimal difficulty with maximum efficiency. Flip this little cylindrical-weight, reinsert and lock it in, and you can start seeing the effect on ball flight immediately. Many players have drivers with adjustable shafts, but leave them in the neutral position or where the fitter placed them, without ever changing. Here you have an easy-to-use option for giving you just the help you need.

So when what's the difference in the way ball flight is changed by the SureFit hosel versus the SureFit CG?

MORE TECHNICAL STUFF:

Enhanced Active Recoil Channel: This popular feature, which allow the face to flex more efficiently at impact, now flexes even more than the one on the 915 because its walls are thinner in non-stress areas.

Easier to Hit: Similar to the 915, the 917 face is thicker on the edges, but this time with a constant thickness on the outside instead of a gradual tapering. The result? A larger sweet spot, which even the best players enjoy.

MODELS, LOFTS, AND SHAFTS:

The 917 drivers are available with  five different stock shafts, including the new Aldila Rogue Max, Mitsubishi Rayon Diamana Limited White and Fujikura Speeder Pro at $550 MSRP. The 917D2 comes in 8.5, 9.5, 10.5 and 12 degrees models, while the 917D3 comes in 8.5, 9.5 and 10.5 degree setups.

917 LAUNCH EVENTS:

On Saturday, Sept. 17 (9/17), facilities around the country will host trial and fittings days for new Titleist 917 drivers and fairways. For more information and a list of participating facilities, golfers should visit Titleist.com/917.

“If you purchase a 917 driver off the rack in its neutral settings, you’ll be getting exceptional all- around performance. It's the best driver we’ve ever made,” said Josh Talge, Vice President, Titleist Golf Club Marketing. “But if you can give us about 30 minutes and 30 swings to get properly fit into 917’s adjustable technologies, you’ll also be getting a driver that is essentially designed for you, a driver that is custom built to get the absolute most out of your golf swing. We’re confident you’ll experience significant performance gains.”

Golfweek Equipment Editor David Dusek covers the key points in his video, shown below. Learn even more at www.titleist.com. And don't forget to put some time on the calendar to find a fitter on 9/17!