Titleist 681 Forged vs Titleist 690.MB
Side-by-side factory specifications. Differing values are highlighted.
Specification comparison
| Club | 681 Forged loft | 690.MB loft | 681 Forged lie | 690.MB lie | 681 Forged length | 690.MB length |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 17 | — | 57.5 | — | 39.75 | — |
| 2 | 19 | 19 | 58 | 58 | 39.25 | 39.25 |
| 3 | 22 | 22 | 59 | 58.5 | 38.75 | 38.75 |
| 4 | 25 | 25 | 60 | 59.5 | 38.25 | 38.25 |
| 5 | 28 | 28 | 61 | 60 | 37.75 | 37.75 |
| 6 | 32 | 32 | 61.5 | 61 | 37.25 | 37.25 |
| 7 | 36 | 36 | 62 | 61.5 | 36.75 | 36.75 |
| 8 | 40 | 40 | 62.5 | 62 | 36.25 | 36.25 |
| 9 | 44 | 44 | 63 | 62.5 | 35.75 | 35.75 |
| PW | 49 | 48 | 63.5 | 63 | 35.5 | 35.25 |
Highlighted cells differ between the two sets. Lofts and lies are factory standard.
Lofts compared
- 681 Forged
- 690.MB
What the differences mean
At the 7-iron, the 681 Forged is 36° and the 690.MB is 36°, identical at the club most golfers compare on, although other clubs in the sets differ. Across the 9 clubs both sets share, the differences roughly cancel out, with the largest gap at the PW (49° vs 48°). The pitching wedges are 49° and 48°; the stronger one leaves a 2° jump to a 50° gap wedge, which matters when planning wedge gapping. Beyond loft, the 690.MB 7-iron sits 0.5° flatter (62° vs 61.5°), which nudges start direction slightly right for a right-hander.
The sets are built differently: the 681 Forged runs 1-iron to PW (10 clubs), the 690.MB 2-iron to PW (9 clubs).
Both are blade irons, built for low single-digit handicaps who strike the ball consistently. Compact muscleback irons with minimal offset, thin toplines and the smallest sweet spot — built for shot-shaping over forgiveness. Because they target the same golfer, the decision comes down to the specific loft, feel and shaping differences rather than who the sets are made for.
The 681 Forged is listed as forged blade and the 690.MB as forged muscleback. With the build method this similar, differences in feel come down to head size, sole width, topline and offset rather than how the heads are made.
The 690.MB arrived 1 year after the 681 Forged, a typical one-generation refresh. Changes over that span are usually incremental: refined face thickness, revised weighting, updated looks and small loft tweaks rather than a new concept.
Which should you choose?
The 690.MB is the stronger-lofted set — up to 1° stronger than the 681 Forged on matching clubs. Expect longer carry per numbered iron but a flatter descent angle; gapping at the wedge end is where that shows up.
Both charts are reproduced in full on their own pages: Titleist 681 Forged specs and Titleist 690.MB specs.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Titleist 681 Forged stronger lofted than the 690.MB?
Not at the 7-iron, where both are 36°. Other clubs in the sets differ, so compare the full table above.
What is the loft difference between the Titleist 681 Forged and 690.MB?
At the 7-iron the difference is 0° (36° vs 36°). The largest gap on a shared club is 1° at the PW, and 1 of the 9 shared clubs differ.
Are the Titleist 681 Forged and 690.MB aimed at the same golfer?
Yes. Both are blade irons, built for low single-digit handicaps who strike the ball consistently. Choose on feel, looks and gapping, ideally after hitting both.
Do the Titleist 681 Forged and 690.MB have the same lie and length?
Not exactly. At the 7-iron the Titleist 681 Forged is 62° lie and 36.75 inches, the 690.MB 61.5° and 36.75 inches. Both can be bent or built to your own fit.
Shop Titleist 681 Forged
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