The 716's came out in late 2015, the 718's came out in late 2017. Since they were out of production by a year by September, 2018, if you purchased them off the internet, there is a possibility that they may be counterfeit.

The warranty is for 1 year from date of sale. Assuming you bought them from an authorized Titleist dealer and it is only a cosmetic issue, just consider it the smoke of battle coming off the clubs.

I flip my 7 iron over and use for a left handed club when I have to chip out where I cannot swing with a right handed club. You would hate the look of my club but I do what I got to do to get back in the fairway they are tools not abused but used. Proud of my battle scars....

At my age, I currently play the T300s and thank goodness for currently technology. Keeps me competing. I do have a set of of 2008 AP2s setting in the corner of my man cave and they are in pretty good shape. I bought them second hand, played with them a couple of years, sold them to my brother in law, he played them, then his son and I got them back from him and the paint has held up real well. Have had 714 and 716 models of the AP2s and 718AP1s and never had any issues with the paint chipping. Maybe having to fill in the paint on the numbers from playing golf so much and practice on matts. Sometimes riding in a golf cart will chip the paint on irons, if you are playing on a course that is somewhat uneven. Me, never thought about the looks of a club, only about how the face is lines up to my target. Something my instructor preaches to me. With respect.