First Images of New TaylorMade Tour Irons in Sean O'Hair's Bag

[jamo]

The Zebra stripes reminds me of spy shots of future cars:

[sean_miller]

Originally Posted by jamo

The Zebra stripes reminds me of spy shots of future cars:

Put a shaft on it and that is essentially an RBZ 4-iron.

[mlf16507]

Reminds me of the Wilson Reflex irons from the 70's-- http://www.ebay.com/itm/WILSON-REFLEX-7-IRON-MENS-RH-STEEL-FLEX-R-/160896582562?pt=Golf_Clubs&hash;=item25762f03a2 --

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1978-Wilson-Reflex-Golf-Club-Flex-Face-Irons-Outdistance-Print-Ad-/150915700742?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash;=item232346d806

The ad tagline was "you can play with them or against them"!  I think most golfers at time chose to play against them. No new ideas in golf, just recyled ones!

[Jmdmbike]

That is pretty interesting. I don't think TM was first with the slot idea in their woods, and clearly not with taking this idea to an iron set. Having said that, they're sure to sell a boat load of them.

[Beachcomber]

These are the new Rocketbladez.  Taylor Made is going to make an announcement at 11:00 AM Eastern... But some photos and sites are already showing press releases and info is slipping out.  Here is a photo found searching for Rocketbladez.

The slot in the bottom is called a speed pocket... And it is suppose to help increase the ball speed off the face of the iron on shots low/near the sole of the clubface.

The shafts will have options referred to as Rocket Fuel...

http://tmag8624.jp/tm_japan/rbladez/

[LuciusWooding]

The tour version are so far from blades it's not even funny. The whole line's exactly the same as their current line with a speed pocket.

I expect a mutiny in TM's tour staff that use MBs, probably won't get more than half to switch. The tours are pretty borderline, not much of a players look. I like the diagram that shows, apparently, how you can utterly knife the ball beyond redemption, below the lowest groove, and still get a good flight.... Yeah sure. When they really design an iron with a sweet spot the size of my fist, I think I'll change sports.

If I were TM, I'd sell replaceable/adjustable inserts just to make more money. Have a steel one, A forged steel one costing triple, titanium, polymer, whatever. Advertise different feels for each one and prepare to stack the money.

I will pass. Maltby TEs with C tapers for me. I don't like the brand and this is really more of the same, possibly with an even more irksome name than last time. I expect the entire golfing population to redefine the meaning of "blade" based on this BS. There isn't even an MB model in the line, and they call the whole line blades? I weep for the golfing lexicon.

[Beachcomber]

Yeah the play on the word blade - in the form of an iron is pretty comical.  I'm actually surprised they didn't do the blade or more of a muscle back on the 'tour' iron.

I will say, I wouldn't mind hitting the 4i and 5i - just to see if I can actually get them to flight higher than my typical MP-59/KBS tour ball flight.  But outside of hitting the longer iron out of curiosity, I will not be buying these irons.

[saevel25]

Its an interesting concept, i can see how it can maintain MOI due to perimeter weighting. Then it increases feel because you have less metal directly behind were the ball is hit, so it will be softer. So you can have a softer feel with a stronger metal, and increase distance.

Also feel in clubs is less to do with how hard the metal is than we think, I believe it titleist who have done studies shown that the sound of the ball off the club gives us more feedback than feeling it through the hands. I started picking this up more the past two years, since is started noticing it. i can tell by sound if i hit the ball flush or not, and i by feel in my hands. It's improved my game a lot.

I'll be trying these out next year for sure.

[dsc123]

Here's more: http://www.golfdigest.com/golf-equipment/blogs/hotlist365/2012/10/taylormades-king-the-biggest-i.html

Quote:

A tour model (RocketBladez Tour) also will be available. The tour version, which also features the "speed pocket" design feature, is a cavity-back that is designed for enhanced speed while providing consistent distance. "It was eye-opening to watch our tour players hit these clubs," said Sean Toulon, executive VP for TaylorMade. "What they found was that they would pick up a club or even two in yardage, but with the same height and with very consistent distance. I can see this being the most-played iron on tour next year."

[Divotmaker77]

I am a Taylormade guy, but sorry not buying their marketing hype anymore.  I should be hitting my driver 400+ yards based on their marketing and am no further than I was with the first TM driver I bought in 2004.  I have the Burner 2.0 irons and they go as far as I need them to go.  Fact is, its the person using them and not the club. I constantly see folks spend a fortune on their equipment and have terrible mechanics and wonder why they do not get better.  I know what my weaknesses are and practice fixing them and not buying  magic club that will change everything.  Its just become complete nonsense TM releasing a new club every 6 months and people just keep soaking it up.  God Bless them though, TM is great at what they do and are marketing geniuses.

[GlobalGolf]

In case you folks weren't sure ;) we've got these available on GlobalGolf.com for presale now, although they won't ship until 11/30:

http://www.globalgolf.com/product/golfclub/-/pid--1025068/iron-set/taylor-made/rocketbladez.aspx

Our product page has a bit more info on them, as well as presale info of course.

[k-troop]

Originally Posted by Beachcomber

I will say, I wouldn't mind hitting the 4i and 5i - just to see if I can actually get them to flight higher than my typical MP-59/KBS tour ball flight.  But outside of hitting the longer iron out of curiosity, I will not be buying these irons.

That's doubtful--the loft on the 4i is probably 15*.

[glock35ipsc]

Originally Posted by k-troop

That's doubtful--the loft on the 4i is probably 15*.

Close!   I see that after the 6 iron, they are squeeking a little more length out of them too by going to 5/8" increments instead of 1/2" like 'normal'.

[MFrench]

I am ahead of the curve!  I just purchased a set of Wilson Reflex irons(3-pw) on ebay for $6.99. I figure I bought 2012 Technology for 1912 price!

[glock35ipsc]

Originally Posted by MFrench

I am ahead of the curve!  I just purchased a set of Wilson Reflex irons(3-pw) on ebay for $6.99. I figure I bought 2012 Technology for 1912 price!

Well aren't those way ahead of their time!

[Datsyuk]

Originally Posted by glock35ipsc

Close!   I see that after the 6 iron, they are squeeking a little more length out of them too by going to 5/8" increments instead of 1/2" like 'normal'.

I think the irons are not attractive but I like the loft gaps. I'd love an 18 degree longest iron then ending at 40, 45, 50, 55, 60 regardless what numbers or letters are stamped on the bottom.

[mvmac]

Originally Posted by Datsyuk

I think the irons are not attractive but I like the loft gaps. I'd love an 18 degree longest iron then ending at 40, 45, 50, 55, 60 regardless what numbers or letters are stamped on the bottom.

Just to be clear, those are the lofts of the standard RobetBladez irons, these are the specs for the Tour version