Equipment
Titleist ZB/ZM Irons Preview
GolfWRX.com recently had the opportunity to take a look at the upcoming 2008 lineup of Titlieist Advanced Performance irons, the AP1, AP2, ZB, and ZM irons.
It was a rare peek into the technology, design, and fitting factors which are driving the next generation of Titleist irons. Today we will cover the ZB and ZM irons.
For the past few years, people have been asking for a mixed set from Titleist targed to better players. Titleist introduced the 735.CM to fill this void and many players took the plunge but some still yearned for a 695CB and 695MB combo set. The ZB now fills that void and modernizes the look, a move which should please many Titleist fans. The compact headed ZB is a blended Cavity set forged from 1025 carbon steel. The 2-4 irons are full cavity back, 5-7 partial cavity back, and 8-P muscle back. The main difference between the irons will center on the 2-7 clubs as the 8-P are identical in each set, only the logo changes. Common to both sets is the “Z” shape, which is not just for looks buts reflects the weighting that’s been moved from heel to toe in each club.
The major differences between the two sets lies in the 2-7 irons. The first thing to note is the hosel lengths on the ZB are shorter on the 2-7 irons to lower the center of gravity compared to the ZM. Next, a slightly wider sole on the 2-7 irons give them a moderate bounce compared to the ZM. Finally, there is also slightly more offset with the ZB 2-5 irons and 1* less bounce compared to the ZM. These factors combined, give the ZB a slightly higher ball flight than the ZM. The ZM and ZB 8-P irons are the same on both sets, only the logos differ.
ZB Specifications
|
Iron No. |
2
|
3 |
4
|
5
|
6
|
7
|
8
|
9
|
PW
|
|
LOFT( ° )
|
18
|
21
|
24
|
27
|
31
|
35
|
39
|
43
|
47
|
|
LIE ( ° )
|
60
|
60
|
61
|
62
|
62.5
|
63
|
63.5
|
64
|
64
|
|
BOUNCE ( ° )
|
0
|
1 |
2
|
3
|
4
|
5
|
6
|
7
|
8
|
| Offset |
.0150"
|
0.140"
|
0.130"
|
0.120"
|
0.110"
|
0.100"
|
0.090"
|
0.080"
|
0.075"
|
ZM Specifications
|
Iron No. |
2
|
3 |
4
|
5
|
6
|
7
|
8
|
9
|
PW
|
|
LOFT( ° )
|
|
21
|
24
|
27
|
31
|
35
|
39
|
43
|
47
|
|
LIE ( ° )
|
|
60
|
61
|
62
|
62.5
|
63
|
63.5
|
64
|
64
|
|
BOUNCE ( ° )
|
|
2 | 3 |
4
|
4.5
|
5
|
6
|
7
|
8
|
| Offset |
0.125"
|
0.120"
|
0.115"
|
0.110"
|
0.100"
|
0.090"
|
0.080"
|
0.075"
|
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Equipment
Why Rory McIlroy will likely use the new TaylorMade BRNR Mini Driver Copper at the RBC Heritage
Although we spotted Rory McIlroy testing the new TaylorMade BRNR Mini Driver Copper last week during practice rounds at the Masters, he ultimately didn’t decide to use the club in competition.
It seems that will change this week at the 2024 RBC Heritage, played at the short-and-tight Harbour Town Golf Links in Hilton Head.
When asked on Wednesday following his morning Pro-Am if he’d be using the new, nostalgic BRNR Copper this week, McIlroy said, “I think so.”
“I like it,” McIlroy told GolfWRX.com on Tuesday regarding the BRNR. “This would be a good week for it.”
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According to Adrian Rietveld, the Senior Manager of Tour at TaylorMade, the BRNR Mini Driver can help McIlroy position himself properly off the tee at the tight layout.
Here’s what Rietveld told GolfWRX.com on Wednesday:
“For someone like Rory, who’s that long at the top end of the bag, and then you put him on a course like Harbour Town, it’s tough off the tee. It’s tight into the greens, and you have to put yourself in position off the tee to have a shot into the green. It kind of reminds me of Valderrama in Spain, where you can be in the fairway and have no shot into the green.
“I’m caddying for Tommy [Fleetwood] this week, so I was walking the course last night and looking at a few things. There’s just such a small margin for error. You can be standing in the fairway at 300 yards and have a shot, but at 320 you don’t. So if you don’t hit a perfect shot, you could be stuck behind a tree. And then if you’re back at 280, it might be a really tough shot into the small greens.
“So for Rory [with the BRNR], it’s a nice course-specific golf club for him. He’s got both shots with it; he can move it right-to-left or left-to-right. And the main thing about this club has been the accuracy and the dispersion with it. I mean, it’s been amazing for Tommy.
“This was the first event Tommy used a BRNR last year, and I remember talking to him about it, and he said he couldn’t wait to play it at Augusta next year. And he just never took it out of the bag because he’s so comfortable with it, and hitting it off the deck.
“So you look at Rory, and you want to have the tools working to your advantage out here, and the driver could hand-cuff him a bit with all of the shots you’d have to manufacture.”
So, although McIlroy might not be making a permanent switch into the new TaylorMade BRNR Mini Driver Copper, he’s likely to switch into it this week.
His version is lofted at 13.5 degrees, and equipped with a Fujikura Ventus Black 7X shaft.
See more photos of Rory testing the BRNR Mini here
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It seems like the RBC Heritage is full of new gear to be spotted, and you can add TaylorMade’s P-UDI utility irons to that list.
We spotted a 17-degree P-UDI 2-iron in Nick Dunlap’s bag yesterday, and now have some photos of both the 3- and 4-irons. Nick has his P-UDI 2-iron setup with a Project X HZRDUS Black 4th Gen 105g TX shaft.
From what we can tell, this new P-UDI utility iron looks to have some of the usual TaylorMade technology as we can see the Speed Slot on the sole of the club for additional face flexibility. A toe screw is usually used to close off the hollow body design that will probably be filled with a version of TaylorMade’s Speed Foam that is present in the current iron lineup. This hollow body, foam-filled design should offer additional ball speed, soft feel, and sound, as well as an optimized CG for ball flight.
“Forged” is etched into the hosel, so we can assume that either the face, body, or both are forged for a soft and responsive feel. The club looks good from behind and at address, where we can see just a little offset and a topline that I would consider medium thickness. We don’t have the full details on what is under the hood or how many loft options will be available yet.
TaylorMade P-UDI 3-iron – 20°
TaylorMade P-UDI 4-iron – 22°
- Check out the rest of our photos from the 2024 RBC Heritage
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- Collin Morikawa what’s in the bag accurate as of the RBC Heritage. More photos from the event here.
Driver: TaylorMade Qi10 LS (9 degrees)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Diamana D+ Limited 60 TX (45 inches)
3-wood: TaylorMade Qi10 (13.5 degrees)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Diamana D+ Limited 80 TX
5-wood: TaylorMade Qi10 (18 degrees)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Diamana D+ Limited 80 TX
Irons: TaylorMade P770 (4), P7MC (5-6), P730 (7-PW)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue Mid 115 X100 (4-6), True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100 (7-PW)
Wedges: TaylorMade MG4 (50-SB09, 56-LB08), TaylorMade MG4 TW (60-TW11)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400
Putter: TaylorMade TP Soto
Grip: SuperStroke Zenergy Tour 2.0
Grips: Golf Pride Z-Grip Cord
Ball: TaylorMade TP5x
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Dave Portnoy places monstrous outright bet for the 2024 Masters
John Daly stuns fans into silence with brutal opening tee shot on PGA Tour Champions
Things got heated at the Houston Open between Tony Finau and Alejandro Tosti. Here’s why
Tiger Woods arrives at 2024 Masters equipped with a putter that may surprise you
Scottie Scheffler WITB 2024 (March)
Photos from the 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational
Report: Tiger Woods has ‘eliminated sex’ in preparation for the 2024 Masters
Two star names reportedly blanked Jon Rahm all week at the Masters
Joaquin Niemann names 3 PGA Tour events he’d love to play each year ‘in a perfect world’
Spotted: Bettinardi irons at the Arnold Palmer Invitational
Collin Morikawa WITB 2024 (April)
Collin Morikawa what’s in the bag accurate as of the RBC Heritage. More photos from the event here. Driver: TaylorMade...
WITB Time Machine: Jordan Spieth’s winning WITB, 2022 RBC Heritage
At the 2022 RBC Heritage Jordan Spieth defeated Patrick Cantlay on the first playoff hole after nearly holing his greenside...
Jason Day WITB 2024 (April)
Jason Day what’s in the bag accurate as of the RBC Heritage. Driver: Ping G430 LST (9 degrees @10) Shaft: TPT...
Ludvig Åberg WITB 2024 (April)
Ludvig Åberg what’s in the bag accurate as of the RBC Heritage. Driver: Titleist TSR2 (9 degrees, D4 SureFit setting)...
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Glenn
Feb 2, 2014 at 8:14 am
I purchased these irons second hand as my second set with 3-5 cavity, 6 & 7 partial and 8-PW blade and I am incredibly happy I found them. I would advocate that any caliber of player would benefit and improve their distance and accuracy with these irons.
Grant Horsfall
Feb 23, 2012 at 6:12 am
bought a SET of the ZM which are 3-5 cavity
6-7 semi blade
8-pw blade
what an awesome set of clubs. and they go miles!
Michael
Jun 17, 2009 at 4:36 pm
I upgraded from the 735.CM to ZB irons. I say upgraded, but I still have the735’s and play them. I learned to play on forged irons, so the feel of these is great. I had the PW upped to 48-deg and the clubs are +1/4″. If you have a good, smooth rhythm, with no wonky action in your wrist or in the backswing, and you stay out of the shade 90% of the time, you will like these clubs. You can undeniably control your shots with these irons. A salesman at the local store suggested the AP irons, but the feeling wasn’t there. He kept harping about distance is the key. Well, that is true. We would all like to play long, get to the green sooner, and finish. But, if you can control your shot, and all the elements are there, with these clubs, your greens in regulation will increase, subsequently boosting your confidence (positive feedback) and your putting focus will be improved because you are not disturbed from already being at 4 on a par 4 and just putting because you bombed the ball off the tee and overshot.
If you are looking to improve your game, these clubs will not be the answer without a serious commitment to proper practice several (+4) times a week plus playing a couple of times per week. The feel from mats to grass on the practice range, to the fairways is very much a different feel. I think you should give these a try. NOT IN THE NETTED AREA OF A LOCAL STORE. GO TO A golf course with a GRASS practice area and try these out. In most cases, you can call the pro shop and ask when Titleist demos will be available.
I’ll end on this note. The clubs swing play themselves so well, that I carry the 2-iron and 3-irons instead of the brand new 2 and 3-hybrids. They are simply that nice.
good luck
Dave
Apr 1, 2008 at 8:20 pm
Great irons with exceptional feel. Just my opinion but I would only get these if you are better than a 7 handicap. No question good ball strikers will enjoy these clubs. Very happy I got them..
Josh
Mar 16, 2008 at 10:12 pm
i got em and i love em
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