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TaylorMade releases “RocketBladez” Irons

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Longer and more forgiving.

That’s what TaylorMade promised in 2012 with its RocketBallz line of fairway woods and hybrids, and what the company is promising again with the release of its latest iron sets, “RocketBladez.”

Like the fairway woods and hybrids before them, they key technology behind Rocketbladez irons is their speed pocket, a 2 mm-wide slot in the sole of the 3-through-7 irons that flexes and rebounds at impact, which the company says promotes faster ball speed, a higher launch and a ball flight that lands on a steep, quick-stopping angle. The Speed Pocket is filled with a specially formulated polyurethane developed by 3M that quiets vibration without significantly slowing or inhibiting the flex of the pocket. It keeps debris out of the pocket as well.

Watch the official TaylorMade Webcast launch of the RocketBladez irons below.

[youtube id=”uOEGkJjSJbk” width=”600″ height=”350″]

TaylorMade studies showed that 68 percent of iron shots by amateur golfers were mishits below the center of the face, which is where the Speed Pocket helps golfers the most. It was designed to significantly increase ball speed and distance on those low-face mishits, adding up to 10 COR points to the face compared to TaylorMade’s Burner 2.0 irons.

TaylorMade will also be offering RocketBladez in more compact Tour model that will appeal to better players and its tour staff. Click here to see TaylorMade RocketBladez Iron Review

TaylorMade studies showed that 68 percent of iron shots by amateur golfers were mishits below the center of the face, which is where the Speed Pocket helps golfers the most. It was designed to significantly increase ball speed and distance on those low-face mishits, adding up to 10 COR points to the face compared to TaylorMade’s Burner 2.0 irons.

TaylorMade will also be offering RocketBladez in more compact Tour model that will appeal to better players and its tour staff.

“We created RocketBladez irons for amateurs, but when our Tour Staff pros tried it, they wanted it,” said Mark King, TaylorMade’s President and CEO. “The genius of the Speed Pocket is that not only does it deliver more speed for more distance, it delivers consistent speed, so shots fly a consistent distance. That combination of speed and consistent distance is what made the eyes of our tour pros light up.”

Both versions of RocketBladez are made of maraging stainless steel and employ TaylorMade’s improved Inverted Cone Technology, which the company says delivers two critical benefits:

  1. It increases the size of the clubface area that delivers high ball speed.
  2. It influences how the face flexes and rebounds at impact to control the angle at which the ball leaves the face, promoting straighter shots and a tighter dispersion.

The non-Tour version boasts the thinnest iron face TaylorMade has ever created — the top section is 1.6 mm, compared to the 1.8 mm-thick faces of the RocketBallz irons, making the faces 11 percent thinner. Each of the 11 individually designed clubheads (3-LW) is tailored in size, shape and features to improve distance, control and feel.

TaylorMade engineers fine tuned the CG in both models to a low-and-centered location on the face by shortening the hosel to save weight. They also removed weight from the top of the club and redistributed it more optimal locations. In the RocketBladez non-tour design, 17.5 grams of redistributed weight enabled engineers to lower the CG 2.5 mm more than the Burner 2.0 iron.

Both models also feature an external notch on the outside rear-portion of the hosel, as well as an internal notch on the inside of the hosel that makes it easier to adjust loft and lie angle.

RocketBladez irons are priced at $799 with steel shafts and $899 with graphite shafts. They are available for pre-order on Oct. 23. The irons will be available at retail Friday, Nov. 30. RocketBladez Tour Irons will be available at retail Feb. 1 for $899.

Click here to discuss and read what GolfWRX members are saying about the new RocketBladez Irons.

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91 Comments

91 Comments

  1. Rino

    Apr 4, 2013 at 10:49 am

    Got the Rocketbladez demo set yesterday and played 18 holes. They are longer and distance was consistent. I have seen all the specs that the loft is stronger plus the longer shafts and that is why you get the extra distance. All that doesn’t mean squat is you can’t hit them. I struggle with my mid to long irons but I had good success with Rocketbladez. When I set up over the ball I felt like I was gonna hit a good shot and to me that is worth more than the tech and spec talk.

  2. darrin

    Mar 24, 2013 at 9:25 am

    we all get hung on specs entirely too much. But if the equipment is doing what it claims you have the choice to buy or not to buy. Im a TM loyalist so im impartial but i still play r7 tp just love TM style and looks but with all this chatter about these iron i might just have to try them who doesn’t want more distance and accuracy.

  3. Russ

    Mar 17, 2013 at 8:49 am

    Just got my Rocketbladez in the mail. I am a PGA Member, I play Adams A-4 forged, Titleist CB forged before that. Played rifle 5.5, I play s300 sl stiff now. Have not hit them yet, but they do look good. I have not played a cast club in over 10+ years but these do look good. A bit more offset than I am use to but I will see how they preform. My review will follow.

    • Russ

      Mar 20, 2013 at 10:24 pm

      OK played 18 holes yesterday on a golf course that I had never played. Temp was 50 and windy 10-15 mph a bit chilly. The ball was not carrying, but imho I hit the irons straighter, higher and farther. They had a feel of a forged club, the ball flight was nice not to high but penetrating. I generally hit about a 7-10 yard draw and I was hitting these dead straight with a fade drop. I had it 2 under for the first 7 holes but I am a bit rusty coming out of winter. I hit a few irons shots 8-12 feet and hit one 8 iron 1 foot. I need a few more rounds to shake off the rust and to get a better feel for the clubs. I will have another report after I get some more rounds under my belt. I was very very unpressed with the clubs

      • Russ

        Mar 20, 2013 at 10:59 pm

        oops impressed with the irons not unpressed sorry.

  4. Dan

    Mar 14, 2013 at 8:29 am

    Had a custom fit yesterday and tried out the TM Rocketbladez amongst others. Yes, they were good but for me not as consistent as the new Calloway X Hot. I then tried out the X Hot pro club and found it to have a much better feel and ball flight and was consistent on mishits. Each to their own, every swing is different, TM are good clubs but there are lots of other good clubs on the market and in my opinion it is what works for you that is important rather than the hype around owing a particular brand of club. I walked away with a new set of X Hot pro(on order) but will keep my TM driver and hybrids.

  5. Chris

    Feb 27, 2013 at 3:05 pm

    I played 5 rounds with a custom set of Rocketbladez and I have to say i have never hit the toe so much. I played Pebble Beach and Spyglass and hit them like crap. even missing short irons from 120 yards or less. I then moved on to Las Vegas and played a few rounds and was equally unimpressed. Yardage was shorter than advertised, feel is non-existent and overall i know I wasted my hard earned money. Going back to my Adams CMB’s as soon as my confidence returns…if ever.-…these things did my head in.

  6. Deece

    Feb 17, 2013 at 4:55 pm

    Playing golf is supposed to be for enjoyment. Surely that enjoyment is increased by quality of strike? If an individuals strike is improved by using these who cares what the manufacturers specs say. TM 6 iron 180yd flushed and confidence oozing from the player or a 5 iron of another make with little or no confidence I know what I’d take. I cannot understand the preoccupation with loft when someone with 8.5 of loft with a driver can hit it shorter than someone with 10.5. Quality of strike is key not an arrogance linked to lofts and model of club. No wonder fewer people are joining golf clubs when established players constantly look down on everything poorer players do from their choice of club to not hitting every shot ” perfect”. It’s just like the kid at school that couldn’t play football but had the best boots

  7. ronniemac

    Feb 13, 2013 at 11:23 am

    Will my old FCT shafts with FCT work with the Stage2 driver?

  8. Tour player

    Jan 14, 2013 at 1:21 am

    Hi everybody,

    I was just checking this site out after finishing today in Hawaii, and I’m shocked with all the comments above. Personally, I’m with Ping but tried these out recently and they are GREAT. I hit my Ping 7-iron 185 yards, and with the RocketBladez I was averaging 210– averaging! I highly recommend these to all amateur golfers. Don’t judge a book by its cover!

  9. dapadre

    Jan 11, 2013 at 11:57 am

    Sorry about the typos.

  10. dapadre

    Jan 11, 2013 at 11:56 am

    In someways I do get the backlash. TM does go really deep with the marketing thing, though to be fair, THE REST DO IT TOO. But in honesty I could see the smirks when you read the their website and see their ads……BUT……….till you hit them. I dont consider myslef a TM fan. I owned one set (Burner 09) in the past, but with al the talk, both positive and negative I had to try them our for myself. I have contact who works in a Golf shop, so I arranged that I could come and hit thee clubs using the flightscope, Im sorry but these irons are one word SICK. I was hitting a 5 iron ( ok I get it lofts are actually a 4 iron) 195-201 with such tight disepersion that I asked my friend to reset the machine as I doubted if it was calibrated correctly. Back on, SAME THING. Tried the 7 iron, same story. Im no fool, bought 5-p (have my own wedges, but may come back for the ATW) on the spot using his special employer reduction. I actually like the look and not put off by it, but I couldnt care less if they were purple, my scorecard is colour blind. These may not be for the scratch to low HC, but for a majority of golfers like myself with HC 18.9, this will make playing much fun. You see I have to the realisation that I will never will a major let alone an event on the Web.com tour.

  11. Don

    Jan 5, 2013 at 6:40 pm

    Wow, with all the comments about looks and names you would think we were talking about shoe shopping with our wives instead of a golf club. I really don’t understand why all you supposedly “better” golfers even bother commenting on a GI iron. If you’re really that good, these irons should not even concern you. I suspect the reality is that most of you haters should probably be playing a GI iron, but your ego will not allow it… which is why your game suffers. I used to play TM Rac TP forged blades with stiff shafts, because that’s what worked with my swing. In my 30’s I was a 4-5 handicap. I destroyed my shoulder a while back and when I was able to play again, my swing wasn’t what it used to be. My game suffered because I tried to continue to use my old irons. After a few bad rounds I decided to leave my ego locked in the car and try out some irons that would improve my game, not my image. I did not even know these irons existed when I went in to the local golf store to shop for a new set of irons. I hit every major brand out there, Adams, Titleist, Calloway, Ping, Mizuno, Cobra, TM, etc. After about 5 separate trips to the store and logging seemingly hours in the booth, I decided on the Rocketbladez, not because of the slot or the “jacked up” lofts, or the TM marketing machine, or the color scheme, or the name, or anything other than the only thing any of us should care about… performance. These irons simply worked for me. I was hitting them straighter and with more satisfactory distances than any other iron set out there. Does that make them better than any other iron? For me, yes… Will they work for you? Who knows? Do I give half a rat’s arse if you don’t like the mfgr or the name or the color? Nope! Will I gloat when I beat you on the scorecard? Nope! Well, maybe… Like the saying goes, “Haters gonna hate”. I compare TM to Apple, there are those that hate them simply because they are successful. Either way, if their stuff didn’t work, they would cease to be… that hasn’t happened to either of them.

    • bill

      Feb 15, 2013 at 12:36 am

      I have to say I applaud your informative opinion. After reading all of the above reviews, “that’s a good one”, I really got tired of hearing how Wilson invented the slot, loft was the only reason for distance gain and the name bladez turned them off. If a lot of these guys had their way, we’d all be driving model T’s with a crank to start them. I have tried them on the launch monitor several times. Sadly, they blow my i20’s away on the monitor…as well as everything else. I will have to demo on the course before I make another large dollar leap though. I expect TM to sell a ton of these irons. I also expect to see most of the rest of the OEM’s copy….uh…Wilson’s innovative slot idea by this time next year…if not sooner. We’ll have to see if their hype is more acceptable at that time. They’ll probably stay away from the Rocket and the bladez. Maybe Slotmachines! ;-\

  12. Jeff Black

    Dec 30, 2012 at 9:24 am

    Wilson had the “Reflex” iron in the 70’s
    with a very similar cut out behind the face
    Just no 3m goo in the cavity. I hit them a few
    times and they felt good
    Jeff Black

  13. tom

    Dec 21, 2012 at 7:22 pm

    So everyone wants to hit every club further and further … what’s gonna happen when everyone’s pitching wedges are going 160 yards? You’re going to have a huge gap somewhere. I don’t get it.

  14. pb

    Dec 20, 2012 at 5:40 pm

    As they say, there are no pictures on the scorecard, I used to hit an 8 iron 150 yards from divot to pitch mark. Now I use a 7 iron for the same distance. What matters most is how the club feels and sits. I’ll certainly give them a try out, and if I magically gain 10 yards in distance it might just do my confidence some good. And golf is all about confidence!

  15. Vg27co

    Dec 19, 2012 at 2:11 am

    I tried these irons out and I have to say they are the best irons Taylormade has made in a long time. I feel it is more than anything the help they have gotten from Adams. See I used to own the Adams CB2’s which I loved a lot. Got the RBladez, took them out on the range, and was very amazed by the distance. On the range I know about how far I hit my CB2’s. Anyways the distance I was getting out of these clubs was amazing. I picked up 15 extra yards on normal shots and about 25 on strong. On top of that each shot sounds perfect and has that solid noise to back it up. I am glad that I had bought and tried these out.

  16. Zeus

    Dec 13, 2012 at 6:18 pm

    TM sent us a few demo set’s, 3 weeks later the plastics backings are popping of left and right. Plastic Chinese junk, Stay Mizuno boys and girls, just strengthen the lofts to get your extra “30”

  17. Dan

    Dec 8, 2012 at 12:06 am

    HaHa. I just read all the threads. Lots of strong opinions.
    I am not a TM groupy and aware TM is marketing guru machine. I’ve won over 20 amateur tournaments and know golf. One other benefit I found in the Rocketbladze is the ability to work these irons which I still like to do. These are the only game improvement irons that allowed me to work the ball both in direction and height.
    Believe me, it was humbling to go to game improvement irons, but at age 59, my ego took 2nd place to performance. These irons may not be for scratch golfer or golfers with 110 mph driver swing speeds. But for the the 5-12 handicap golfer, these are pretty special irons, albeit with very weird feedback in the speed slot irons. I can quickly get used to weird if the the results are strong.

  18. Dan

    Dec 7, 2012 at 11:36 pm

    Late 50s, play 20-25 times per year, still play the tips, shoot 74-85, was playing 125g Rifle steel shafts on Callaway X-16, lost 15 yards in past 2 years and had to muscle every iron shot, Also needed graphite shafts for tendinitis in wrists and elbows.
    Tried the new Mizuno JPX 825 with 65g shaft. Felt like feathers. Shifted to Project X 90g shaft for a week,but still couldn’t feel club head,even though the feel was like pure forged irons.
    Tried the Rocketbladze with stock 65g graphite shafts and decided to keep. Got my distance back as of 3 years ago,much having to do will Rocketbladze jacked down lofts. The 8-SW do not have the speed slot. These are solid irons with a feel between cast and forged. 4-7 have the speed slot. The feel and feedback are very strange. It feels like there’s a sponge behind the face. But the results are outstanding. For me,with 90 mph driver speed, they only add 5 yards more distance compared to similar lofted new game improvement irons. The biggest gain is the huge sweet-spot, straightness and ball flight. The ball comes off with little spin and tends to self correct minor draws and fades by actually straightening ball flight near apex of flight.
    These are major game improvement clubs, but make no mistake. It will take good players a while to get used to the feel and feedback of the 4-7 iron. But the results are strong.

  19. Steve

    Dec 7, 2012 at 4:16 pm

    God these irons are AWEFUL. Awesome, you can hit it a mile, but with no spin. Have fun trying to hold greens while hitting the worst feeling clubs ever.

  20. Andrew

    Dec 7, 2012 at 5:04 am

    If distance (or kidding yourself you now hit your “6 iron” 15 yards further) is what you’re after these clubs are for you.
    They feel awful though and are definitely not for a better player.

  21. Chris

    Dec 6, 2012 at 4:50 pm

    Hi, I find this fascinating. When any of you say these clubs give you more distance do you bother to look at the lofts. From the specs of most of the clubs outperformed the real test would have been to hit the TM 7 iron! against the other irons. The TM 6 is 3-4 deg stronger and 1/2 longer.
    Next the slot in the longer irons.
    I’ve yet to see an average swing speed golfer who can hit fast enough to make the face flex sufficiently to achieve any real advantage from this sort of technology.
    The real benefit for the majority will most likely be the improved launch in the long irons which I suspect is more to do with weight positioning in the head and the shaft. aka Mizuno 800HD . By the way Mizuno say exactly the same thing about the HD. It was necessary to strengthen the lofts to stop the ball ballooning.These also launch the ball higher and longer ( must get into marketing).
    Never mind next year we will have have a gap and a gap+ wedge as the gap wedge will be 47 deg and you will need two to get to your sand wedge

  22. HJD

    Dec 6, 2012 at 2:02 pm

    Wow… Never thought I’d see so much venom on a golf site. All the hate speech over a new set of clubs that most hated, not because they tried them, but because of the name, the manufacturer, or the design. Really? Sure, the looks, the loft, or even TM isn’t everyone’s cup of tea but jeeeesh, calm down people. Even some commenters hated them just because they play blades and because TM had the nerve, the gall, to use a similar term in the name! Holy S#*! The world is going to Heck in a handbasket! If you’re a low handicap golfer and don’t need GI clubs, great for you. Next, relax, play your blades and go enjoy a round. If not, go demo the clubs and give everyone else a more educated opinion.
    I tried them myself (along with my own clubs – Ping G20’s) and like almost everyone else who demo’ed them, I gained 10-15…almost 20 yards…great! Isn’t technology about making the game better/easier for most golfers? If so, then these clubs are a step in that direction. Who cares if whatever company did something similar back in the 70’s or 80’s. My grandfather said the same about my iPad, saying they made a similar product back in the 70’s or 80’s, referring to an Etch a Sketch! You complainers sound like grandpa, stuck in the past! Relax guys, it’s not that serious, go play golf, enjoy life, and play the clubs you have in your bag…even if they are persimmon!

  23. Andre

    Dec 6, 2012 at 12:32 am

    I am a 11 handicap player. I had a set of RAC LT. I went for a demo on the Rocketbladez and took my 6 and 4 iron with. I am hitting both 15 meters further and much higher than the old clubs. This is done on flightscope. My club head speed is a constant 84 mph using the 6 iron. I bought the club immediately

  24. Casey

    Dec 5, 2012 at 12:47 pm

    OK… I work at a golf retail store. I only golf twice maybe three times a month. At the moment I hit Mizuno, MP-59 with PX 5.5 flighted. I love them, I love the look, feel and sound and I dont think I would trade them for anything. All but a few of my coworkers AGREED with me that TM are just marketing gurus and the majority of their clubs are more gimmick then anything else. However, I gave these a long hard look today and can tell you from expierence that Rocketbladez are for real. My average distance with my MP-59 6 iron is about 195-200 yards, around 91-92 mph swing speed. The Bladez 6 iron average distance 205-210 and the ball flew considerably higher and stopped on a dime. And with the 85 gram shaft my club head speed averaged 95-96 mph. I do not like the way they look, but for all of you wondering, they are higher and longer than anything I have ever hit.

    • Hep Tailor

      Jan 30, 2013 at 3:00 pm

      Adjusted internet distances for you.
      MP-59 6 iron is about 165 – 175
      Bladez 6 iron average distance 175 – 185

  25. Andrew

    Dec 4, 2012 at 2:28 pm

    I hit these recently, not to my spec to be fair, and have to say they felt awful with a really weird sound at impact. Definitely avoid if you’re a single digit handicap. As a game improvement iron they’ll work-if you can live with the sound and harsh feel.

  26. Falcon

    Dec 4, 2012 at 12:28 pm

    I have seen SG use these in Dubai recently and the ball flight he was getting was just unreal…almost a sand wedge sort of trajectory (triangular) with a long iron…I am an engineer with serious interest in golf physics and the magic slot is truly a brilliant idea…simple but genius…one of those eureka moments in golf…other manufactures will be playing catchup for a long time…wish to see a low volume driver head with a deeper slot and shorter shaft and total weight less than 250gms…

  27. Steve

    Dec 3, 2012 at 4:49 am

    I was in disbelief until I tried these for myself ,they are awsome , I have had my tm rac os’s for years and tried lots of other clubs but nothing comes even close to these

  28. DF

    Nov 28, 2012 at 7:22 am

    Collected my new rocketbladez yesterday believe the hype they are incredible.

  29. DJ

    Nov 26, 2012 at 8:56 pm

    Just plain bloody ugly!!!

  30. Joe

    Nov 6, 2012 at 6:08 am

    How can so many people complain about clubs that 99% of haven’t even hit. Just for the record, we’re all equally sh&t. If you’re not on a tour winning money, your not a great golfer. So any assistance to any golfers of all level should be welcomed.

  31. DG

    Nov 6, 2012 at 6:02 am

    I see a lot of great comments from great golfers….

    Have any of you actually hit these clubs? Horses for courses gentleman. If you don’t like it, don’t buy it. Go hit your old clubs and enjoy your round of golf.

    Oh, go look at some the clubs that some of the real golfers play with…

  32. Rob

    Nov 3, 2012 at 7:01 pm

    Horrible, nothing but gimmicks!

  33. Rob

    Oct 30, 2012 at 3:08 pm

    Wow – when I read these comments, so many people hate that a product may help other golfers. I carry a 2 handicap and welcome technology that can make the game easier. I am not a bomber (driver clubhead speed of 98 -100 mph) and I have been playing the Burner 09s for 3 years. I feel that I am sacrificing some control with my short irons but I haven’t moved back to my old Titliest. The game of GOLF needs new technology that can make the game easier. Just about every club in the Mid-Atlantic area needs more players/ members and not everyone is going to be a scratch golfer.

  34. Johan

    Oct 30, 2012 at 6:28 am

    Hello!
    I use rocketballz and I love them! I need to change to stiff from regular.

    Now when I seen this I must try them.

    Any one tried the Tour version?

    I’m not a TM neard but I like the looks on RBZ, maybe I’m not a traditionalist.

    I will buy the Rocketbladez stiff or Rocketbladez Tour stiff, but I need a review of tour first and of course try them. I’m hcp 18 with goal at 12 next season

  35. Brad

    Oct 29, 2012 at 12:29 pm

    Wilson did this in the late 1970’s with their Reflex. This isn’t a new idea, and for that matter neither is the idea of lightweight shafts since that was done in the 1980’s. Frankly it’s about time for low profile irons like the Browning 440’s to start making a comeback.

    • bill

      Feb 14, 2013 at 11:34 pm

      Why? So you can say it’s already been done?

  36. Gus

    Oct 29, 2012 at 10:06 am

    The Gap wedge looks pretty cool – blade top and very wide sole….

  37. Def Spinmaster

    Oct 27, 2012 at 10:42 am

    Could have been packaged so much cleaner. Never thought I’d see the day when the official name of any golf product would use a “z” in place of an “s”. It would benefit the game to prevent more of this, so I’m listing some names that I’m considering trademarking in order to vault them away: swingcredz, swingcredz pro, diggity swingcredz, (actually from this point on just add pro, dope, def, diggity, bomb, or any combination of them to any names I’m claiming)
    greenskillz, conkerbomb, conkerbomz, conkindam, streetbladez, purecredz, gangstabladez. I’m sure there are more names to consider . . . .

  38. Jim

    Oct 27, 2012 at 9:45 am

    I hit the Rocketbladez irons yesterday and let me straighten out these comments. I am a fan of TM, but not biased in any way. I have an assorted bag. Mizuno MP-59 irons, Cleveland putter, SM4 wedges, and an R11s driver with RBZ woods. I am a plus 3 handicap as well. I compared the Bladez 6 iron with my MP-59 6 iron and a TM MB 6 iron. The average for my iron and the MB iron was 170 carry with mis-hits obviously going shorter ( about 164). The Bladez I hit had the stock rocketfuel shaft 85g stiff (not what I would be fitted for). The feel was OK and the sound was OK, very weird actually. However, the average carry was consistently 8-10 yards farther. 178-180 even a couple around 185. The flight was much, much higher and it came straight down. The dispersion was much tighter as well. The craziest thing was an off center hit never went under 178. Toe or heel shots felt terrible, but still flew the same yardage. I’m sure the Bladez Tour irons will be slightly shorter in distance than these, but possibly paired with the correctly fitted shaft for me and they may go the same distance. As for the comments, first of all the Rocketbladez are game improvement irons not “players” irons. None of the PGA pros will play the regular Rocketbladez. They will play the Bladez tour irons. So stop calling these “players” irons or “blades” because they are not. Secondly, They put less loft on the iron because if they were at standard loft along with the “slot” they would fly way too high, balloon and go nowhere. TM adjusted the lofts to launch with the perfect height and spin to maximize the distance. With my shots I hit with the iron, it launched noticeably higher than my 6 iron that had more loft. So no, it is not a “distance gimmick” to hit the ball farther. In conclusion, the Rocketbladez have an ok feel and sound and look. But, they do go farther and higher which is what really intrigues me. So before you knock on the way they look and all the so called “marketing bs” just go and try them. I was wowed by the performance and I think everyone else will be too.

    • BOB

      Jan 23, 2013 at 2:09 am

      Hit the Rocketbladez 85, Steel R shaft for the first time in a simulator. WOW! My 7 iron I hit roughly 165 yards, and the TM was consistently at 180 yards with a tight pattern, and the 4 Hybrid was also about 10% plus longer. When asked to crank it up I hit the 7 iron 210 yards! I’m frothing at the mouth to buy a set but you guys are making me nervous, and $900 bucks will have to be saved.
      I am a 5 handicap and never believed the technology could help alot, I’m a believer after my simulator experience.

  39. Rodger

    Oct 26, 2012 at 5:04 pm

    figures a Titleist AP2 guy would compare lofts of the forgiving iron instead of the tour iron……… TM haters use their own marketing ploys

  40. deej

    Oct 25, 2012 at 5:21 pm

    such hatred up in here.

    if you heard the tm interview on tee’d off with brian katrek on xm you’d know that everything you guys are spittin was thought about by tm already. not that most of you would, or could, listen.

    the new implimentation of wilsons speed slot PLUS the super thin face PLUS the inverted cone technology, is what makes it different. it’s what’ll keep my distances similar when i hit it off the toe (constantly) to flushin it off the sweetspot (rarely). i hear thats what the good players hate, nukin it 15 yards long from the middle of the fairway because they pured it.

    and if one manufacturer’s clubs hit it farther AND higher than another’s can that only be from stronger lofts? i’m no physicist, but common sense says no. and apparently these fly higher too.

    technology is scary. its okay. let your wife/girlfriend get them first because she likes the colors and paula/natalie picked up 12 yards with their 5 iron (pure speculation). then sneak the 6 out to the range one day and if HER club hits it with/past YOUR club blame the whippy shaft/smaller grip/lighter weight. technology is your friend. embrace it. or don’t.

    • sean_miller

      Oct 25, 2012 at 5:40 pm

      Okay Taylor, let me expand on my comment earlier. These are not blades. Maybe they’re “bladez” but they’re not blades. I don’t actually want to hit my irons longer or higher. Consistency would be nice and I’ll give them kudos for addressing that, but sometimes I actually do want to hit the ball a little more toward the toe and have the ball react differently. I get less spin and slightly less distance for the same swing. It’s nice to have that in the bag when you’re in between distances and if you chip with anything other than a lob wedge. So, in summar. they are unattractive x 11. They have a cutesy name that will be like nails on a chalkboard to everyone not decked out in tmag from head to toe within a month. They’re not blades. At least they’re not white and green though.

      • deej

        Oct 25, 2012 at 11:36 pm

        taylor??? um, okay. i admittedly read these responses in the hope that someone not on the payroll actually hit these and would make an unbiased review. i suppose i expect too much.

        sean, you speak the truth that these are not blades. regardless of what “blade” meant originally or people think it means, it was probably wilson that cemented it with the 1981 Tour Blade.

      • SingleDigit

        Oct 29, 2012 at 5:03 pm

        If you’re between clubs and can hit it on the toe on purpose with consistency and accuracy then you probably need to be cashing some tournament checks. If not, these probably help your game as any GI club would. Baffles me why anyone that’s worse than a 5 handy thinks GI clubs won’t help them score better. If I’m not mistaken, scoring better is the point, not bragging about how cool your clubs are.

        • sean_miller

          Nov 2, 2012 at 2:22 pm

          I won’t comment on TM products any more. They don’t look good and any club designed to hit the ball higher is not for me. TM isn’t alone as every OEM has clubs I’d never consider for 1 second. I think it was just simply the “bladez” portion of the name that made me gag so I vented.

  41. Nic

    Oct 25, 2012 at 10:47 am

    @BVS It is easy to get Tour Victories when you pay half of the guys on tour to use your product! Surely that gives you the competitive advanatage over other brands?

    • Ruthless137

      Oct 26, 2012 at 5:58 pm

      Nic, TM still doesn’t win on the tour even with over half of the field playing their product! Its either TMs players are not that good or its that TMs products are not very good

      • NG

        Oct 28, 2012 at 2:17 am

        46 driver wins this year for TM…nearest brand, 30…

  42. Darkest86

    Oct 25, 2012 at 3:33 am

    who cares what they are called or what they look like. Cavity, speed slot and whatever else they have or dont have. people will still pick these up to try.

    • NG

      Oct 26, 2012 at 5:17 pm

      Exactly! Change is a good thing and this little thing I think will be unreal, can’t wait to try them also

  43. Pingback: GolfWRX.com – TaylorMade releases “RocketBladez” Irons | Golf Grip Instruction

  44. nikebyfar

    Oct 24, 2012 at 8:23 pm

    the best ever talor made clubs are the
    TP MB with the KBS shaft

  45. nikebyfar

    Oct 24, 2012 at 8:20 pm

    thanks to talormade for all the innovation in golf…innovation make this sport easier for who have no talent but don’t say you’re the best compagny for all player…come on you say the rocketbladez are for all player,seriously? for me there’s no club can be good for all .that’s why all compagnies make clubs for different range of players.
    i don’t say talor made is a bad clubmaker butt for me,talormade club don’t fit

  46. Displayname

    Oct 24, 2012 at 10:16 am

    I knew I’d seen this before. My first thought was the Nike CCI cast, but Wilson was kind enough to remind me on their Facebook page! (link below)
    Turns our this technology is actually older then the young professionals that came up with the genius marketing pushing these products. I’m a huge fan of TM, and I’ll likely give them a swing, but bravo to Wilson for just flat out saying it publicly.

    https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10151125009477675&set=a.80492297674.80818.55676157674&type=1&theater

  47. Gman

    Oct 24, 2012 at 9:44 am

    So the slit is filled, right? It’s got that 3M rubber thingy in it, huh? Weird. I don’t get how this club can be legal by USGA standards. It has to trampoline like crazy, right?

  48. Gman

    Oct 24, 2012 at 9:42 am

    RocketLadles

  49. Gman

    Oct 24, 2012 at 9:40 am

    RocketScoops.

  50. Steve St Clair

    Oct 24, 2012 at 8:40 am

    Another brilliant marketing move (and I mean that in a complimentary way) – they took the phenomenally successful Burner irons and split them into a much more SGI model (RBallz) and then a players cavity back (RBladz). No, they are not blades, nor are they rockets, but they are probably very well performing irons for the mid-handicap market.

  51. BVS

    Oct 23, 2012 at 11:26 pm

    All you haters out there we will see next year on tour just how many tour wins there are with these RocketBladez Tour irons . there are always those who hate a company when they are on top. I bet half of you guys will buy a set after your buddy’s start taking your money week after week. P.S. I like the Van driver name Steve I don’t smoke Crack but I like drinking the Taylor Made kool-aide.Made a lot of happy customers over the years fitting them in Taylor Made golf clubs.

    • Ruthless137

      Oct 26, 2012 at 5:52 pm

      You must be drinking more than the TM kool aid! How many TM wins on any tour this year? For a company that has more players playing their product than callaway Titleist, ping and cobra combined, You think you would have a ton of wins! But they don’t…

  52. Drew

    Oct 23, 2012 at 7:14 pm

    If these are supposed to be players irons, why is Taylormade’s best marketing point the face flexing. I’m a 4 handicap and would absolutely hate that type of feel at impact.

  53. Steve

    Oct 23, 2012 at 7:09 pm

    Bob Vandriver, (2time National Clube Fitter of the year)

    Have you been at the crack pipe mate ???

    Those clubs look horrendous and theres no suprise they go a long way judging by the ridiculous lofts !

    I will be amazed if any of the better ball strikers who play taylormade will ever carry those in the bag… look forward to seeing Garcia hitting them… NOT !

    lmao

    • Hep Tailor

      Jan 30, 2013 at 2:47 pm

      Hey Steve. 1990 called and they want their NOT joke back.

  54. Christian

    Oct 23, 2012 at 7:04 pm

    Taylormade is the king of gimmicks, these irons are a joke to be called blades. I don’t care what the tour players use and what you label it. It looks like a game imporovement iron at address even. This is precisely why I’m not a TM guy. And Bob Van Sweden, these in no way are like the Eye 2s. I played with them for since I began and grew to love them. I will have to applaud them for their advertisement though, you’ll see mid and high handicappers claim to be sporting “blades” and “player irons”. And last but not least, I’ll stick to my trusty Pings and Titleist, never let me down.

  55. Andrew

    Oct 23, 2012 at 5:26 pm

    Go to taylormade website. They have better pictures of the tour iron. It’s not as bad looking as those game improvement irons up above.

  56. jgpl001

    Oct 23, 2012 at 5:14 pm

    These are absolutely TERRIBLE, but guess what TM ho’s will drool and TM will sell them by the bucket load.

    Is this what everyone on the 27 page thread was waiting for???

    I am speechless…………

  57. Murph

    Oct 23, 2012 at 5:02 pm

    “rocketshuvelz” !!!! LOL

  58. Bob VanSweden

    Oct 23, 2012 at 4:56 pm

    If you are a retail Golf store or a Golf Club Fitter this new iron from TaylorMade called RocketBladez will be the number one iron in 2013 that you will sell in your shop. And if you are a golf customer you need to find a club fitter in your area that fits for TaylorMade and go test this iron against your own iron. This set of iron will change your golf game but more then that it will change your life. This could be the best iron ever made since Ping Eye Two came out in the 80?s . All the best Bob Vansweden (2Time National Club Fitter of the Year .)

  59. sean_miller

    Oct 23, 2012 at 2:05 pm

    Was “rocketshuvelz” taken?

  60. sicc

    Oct 23, 2012 at 1:04 pm

    Huge cavity back…why even pretend to call it a blade

    • ds

      Oct 25, 2012 at 12:47 am

      It’s only a name not a description…you will complain it doesnt look like a Rocket soon.

  61. Desmond

    Oct 23, 2012 at 12:36 pm

    I think the speed slot concept is great, but I don’t need it in irons. I pick up a 6i about once per round, and like to use a hybrid below that. Most of my iron shots are 7-GW and the speed slot doesn’t cover 8-GW. But it’s a great concept for guys who frequently use long to mid irons.

    • sean_miller

      Oct 24, 2012 at 4:39 pm

      So you’d need to pull the 6-iron zero times per round with the Rocketshuvelz. That shot will be taken with your new 7-iron. Or maybe a hard 8.

  62. Louis Battaglia

    Oct 23, 2012 at 11:20 am

    Look at the lofts on those things! A 26.5* six iron? No wonder its going to play a club longer than my AP2s its 4.5* degress stronger not to mention .25 longer! Just another distance gimmick by TMAG.

  63. Bobby Jones

    Oct 23, 2012 at 10:48 am

    Nothing new here. Jacked up lofts for more distance and a slot gimmick to cover it up.

    • BG

      Oct 26, 2012 at 5:13 pm

      You have to ‘jack’ the lofts up because of the much lower CG location to get the launch right because the CG location is so low! Jacking the lofts up doesn’t always mean the ball will travel further, it depends on how the club head is reacting on impact….

      • Kc

        Nov 2, 2012 at 10:47 am

        Thank you BG for being one of the few that doesn’t see just lofts. All reports are that balls fly higher with these irons, mostly because of the lower cg, higher ball speed and increased spin. If the lofts were not “strong” enough, the ball would balloon too much. Plus, the point is to cover the distance gaps between irons and feel comfortable hitting certain distances, especially with long irons.

        I’d prefer to hit a TM rocketbladez 7 iron into a green 165yds away than my callaway diablo 5 iron. Or a 4 iron 195 yds away than a fairway wood. I think most amateurs are simple seeking more consistency as well as distance as the reviews of rocketbladez irons have confirm.

        • Paul Askey

          Dec 8, 2012 at 3:02 am

          I demoed these yesterday, I know it is a challenge, but if you leave out looks, leave out slots, leave out jacked up lofts and whatever else I can not argue the marketing hype that each club was genuinely at least 1.5 times longer than my current irons. The fitter at the range kept trying to extol the virtue of hitting each club so far, which I confess annoyed me, but what it does mean is that I came down at least 1 club for each distance with resulting better accuracy and ease of hitting. It worked for me, that is all I can say.

  64. Bman

    Oct 23, 2012 at 9:58 am

    Sorry, that’s just fugly. Myabe the worst hosel-to-face integration I’ve ever seen.

    • ds

      Oct 25, 2012 at 12:45 am

      Hey Bman, you have bigger issues to worry about…like you spelling! .

    • ronniemac

      Feb 13, 2013 at 11:21 am

      Will the old FCT sleeves work with the stage2 driver?

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Whats in the Bag

Chesson Hadley WITB 2024 (March)

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Driver: Titleist TSR3 (10 degrees, D1 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Diamana D+ 70 TX

3-wood: Titleist TSR2+ (14.5 degrees, A1 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Diamana D+ 80 TX

Irons: Titleist T200 (3), Titleist 620 CB (4, 5), Titleist 620 MB (6-PW)
Shafts: Graphite Design Tour AD DI 105 X (3), True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100 (4-PW)

Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM10 (52-12F, 56-14F), WedgeWorks (60-K)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400

Putter: Odyssey White Hot OG 2-Ball
Grip: Odyssey

Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet

Ball: Titleist Pro V1x

Check out more in-hand photos Chesson Hadley’s clubs here.

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Whats in the Bag

Gary Woodland WITB 2024 (March)

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Driver: Cobra Darkspeed X (8 degrees)
Shaft: Accra TZ5 70 M5

  • The white circle that appears at the top of the face a removable sticker that’s used for launch monitor tracking, and Woodland removes it for competition!

3-wood: Cobra Darkspeed X (14 degrees)
Shaft: Accra TZ5 GW100 Prototype

7-wood: Cobra LTDx LS prototype (20 degrees)
Shaft: Accra TZ5 GW100 Prototype

Irons: Wilson Staff (18 degrees), Cobra King MB (4-PW)
Shafts: KBS Tour C-Taper Limited X

Wedges: Cobra SB (48), Titleist Vokey Design SM10 (52-08F, 56-14F), Cobra King (60)
Shafts: KBS Tour C-Taper Limited X (48 degrees), KBS Tour V-Ten 125

Putter: Scotty Cameron T-5 Proto
Grip: SuperStroke Zenergy Tour 3.0P

Ball: Titleist Pro V1x

Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet Cord

See more in-hand photos of Gary Woodland’s WITB in the forums.

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Equipment

Q&A: Martin Trainer on his Bobby Grace “Greg Chalmers” putter, 6.5-degree driver, and “butter knife” 2-iron

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As unbiasedly as I can put it, Martin Trainer has one of the coolest club setups in professional golf. (At some point soon, I’ll put together a top-10 list of “coolest club setups on Tour,” but I know that Trainer will be in the top-10)

What a lineup. He plays a 6.5-degree Wilson prototype driver, a 13-degree Wilson prototype 3-wood, a true blade Wilson Staff Model 2-iron, and a Bobby Grace “Greg Chalmers Commemorative” putter!

 

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I mean, look at this 2-iron from address…

To quote the great author R.L. Stine: “Goosebumps.”

On Wednesday at the 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open, I caught up with Trainer to learn more about his bag setup.

Here’s what he had to say:

You have the Internet going crazy over your bag setup, and your putter. Where’d you pick the Bobby Grace-Greg Chalmers putter up? How long have you had it?

MT: This was from when Bobby Grace came to my course in California: Cal Club. And for whatever reason, they just started having them in the shop. So then I took my buddy’s, started using it, and made, like, a million putts in a row, which is how every putter story begins, I guess.

And then, I bought a couple of my own, used it for years, got to the Tour with it, won on Tour with it (the 2019 Puerto Rico Open). Then, about a year later, started using another putter, did that for a couple years, but now it’s back in the bag.

When did it come back in the bag?

MT: December of this past year. So a few months ago.

What year would you say was the first time you threw that in the bag, or, like, when you bought it?

MT: God…Probably, 2016, maybe? 2018?

Do you remember how much you paid for it?

MT: I don’t know, actually. Maybe $100-150 bucks or something. I think that’s the only golf club I’ve bought between high school and now. Well, two, since I bought two of them.

The driver is interesting, too. What went into the prototyping process?

MT: That was a version of the current driver, but it was the prototype that they first came out with for Tour guys to try. And for whatever reason, I just never switched out to the new one.

It’s just 6.5 degrees, right?

MT: Yeah. Very low loft, yeah.

What kind of ball speed do you have with that these days?

MT: Like high 170’s.

Yeah, that’ll work. And then a 2-iron blade? We’re seeing fewer and fewer of those out here.

MT: Yeah. The butter knife.

Very cool thing to have in the bag. Have you done any testing with driving irons? 

MT: Yeah, I used to have a thicker one, but it was a little offset, and I never hit it that well. And then finally, I started messing around with the butter knife. And I remember the first time I looked down at it, I was terrified. And then I ended up getting used to it, putting it in play, and it’s been in place since. It’s a pretty good club for me.

How far do you carry that? 

MT: Like 235.

A good little wind club, I’m sure.

MTL Yeah, exactly. I can hit it very low. It’s great.

I love it. You have people shook looking at that. Thanks for the time, man. 

MT: Absolutely.

To see more photos and discussion of Trainer’s bag, click here.

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