Equipment

Photos of TaylorMade irons from the last 35 years

Published

8 years ago

Apr 29, 2016

TaylorMade has been making irons for more than 35 years, and depending on how long you’ve been playing golf, there’s a decent chance you’ve used one or more of the iron sets below.

Our slideshows cover each decade of TaylorMade irons, and we’ve captioned certain photos to help put the company’s iron launches in historical context. For more on the past, present and future of the iron-design process, make sure to read our deep dive on the topic: How TaylorMade designs its next set of irons.

What’s your favorite set of TaylorMade irons from the ’80s, ’90s, ’00s and ’10s? What did you like about them? Which sets did you buy, and which ones would you still use today? Let us know in the comments section at the end of this article. And remember, you can click the photos to enlarge them and read the full captions.

1980-1989

: TaylorMade’s first iron was released in 1980. It was a design inspired by PGA Tour player Ken Venturi, thus the name KVD.

: The PR1 irons were also released in 1980.

: The EL1 irons were released in 1982.

: The Tour Preferred F irons were released in 1985.

: The Iron Cleeks hit shelves in 1986.

: Released in 1987, the Tour Preferred TD were players irons with a hollow cavity in the 1-4 irons

1990-1999

: 1991: The ICW-5 irons were designed for better players, while the ICW-11 were for average golfers. Both had progressive offset.

: The ICW Mid Tour irons were released in 1992.

: Released in 1993, the Burner Midsize irons had a foam-filled club heads to increase perimeter weighting.

: The Burner Bubble Tour irons (1996) won two major championships and were the first TaylorMade irons to gain a big following on the PGA Tour.

: 1996: Burner Bubble Oversized

: The Burner Bubble LCG irons were released in 1997.

: Released in 1997, the Ti Bubble 2 irons used tungsten and copper weights to lower CG for a higher launch angle.

: The FireSole Forged irons were released in 1999.

: 1999: The FireSole long irons were titanium and the mid irons were steel. Both used tungsten weights to lower CG. The short irons were made of nickel to improve feel.

: The FireSole Tour irons were released in 1999.

: The SuperSteel irons were released in 1999.

2000-2009

: 2000: The 300’s were forged, and the smallest of the 300-Series irons.

: 2000: The 320’s were slightly larger, and offered a higher launch angle and more forgiveness.

: 2002: The RAC LT irons used an energy vibration system to improve sound and feel.

: 2002: The RAC OS irons were larger, and had a lightweight cartridge that allowed engineers to reposition 32 grams of weight in the club head.

: 2002: The RAC HT irons used larger club heads with wider soles to launch shots higher and farther.

: 2006: At $1,300, the RAC CGB irons were expensive, but they were easily the longest, most forgiving irons in company history when they were released.

: 2006: The RAC MB TP irons were one of the most beloved TaylorMade muscleback sets of all time.

: 2006: The R7 irons introduced Inverted Cone Technology (ICT) to deliver more ball speed and better distance control.

: 2007: The R7 TP irons were smaller irons, and used on the PGA Tour.

: The Burner Plus irons were released in 2008.

: The Burner XD irons were released in 2008.

: The Tour Burner irons were released in 2008.

: The Burner ’09 irons are considered by many to be golf’s first “distance iron.” They sold exceptionally well for TaylorMade.

: RAC MB TP Smoke: Everyone’s favorite TaylorMade muscleback iron, released in 2008 with a “smoke” finish.

: The R9 irons were released in 2009.

: The R9 TP irons were released in 2009, and were popular with PGA Tour players.

: So were TaylorMade’s Tour Preferred TP irons, which were also released in 2009.

2010-2016

: 2010: The Burner 2.0 irons had a thinner face and more precise weighting than their predecessors.

: 2011: TaylorMade Staffer Daniel Berger still uses TaylorMade’s Tour Preferred MC irons.

: The R11 irons were released in 2011.

: The RBZ irons were released in 2012.

: The RBZ Max irons were released in 2012.

: 2013: RocketBladez used a slot in the sole to deliver more distance and consistency. Smash hit for TaylorMade.

: The RocketBladez Max irons were larger, longer and more forgiving, and also released in 2013.

: 2013: The Tour Preferred CB irons were the follow-up to TaylorMade’s RocketBladez Tour irons.

: 2013: Dustin Johnson and Justin Rose still use TaylorMade’s Tour Preferred MB irons.

: 2014: The follow-up to RocketBladez. SpeedBlade flew higher with improved consistency.

: 2014: The SLDR irons were a very expensive set of irons to produce. They were intended for golfers deciding between a distance iron and a players iron.

: 2015: TaylorMade puts Face Slots on the RSi 1 irons, which replaced SpeedBlade.

: 2015: The RSi 2 irons used a complex, multi-material construction and a progressive design to appeal to a wide range of golfers.

: 2015: TaylorMade focused on looks and feel with the PSi, shrinking the heads when compared to RSi 2 and adding Hybrar for a softer sound at impact.

: 2015: The PSi Tour irons are popular on the PGA Tour, and are forged from 1025 carbon steel. They have milled Speed Pockets and Face Slots.

: 2016: TaylorMade’s longest-flying iron in history. An ultra-low CG drives their performance.

: 2016: A smaller version of the M2 irons.

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42 Comments

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Reply Report comment
rex235

May 6, 2016 at 12:22 am

The 1987 TM TD Tour Preferred Iron was one of the best irons ever, and a LH model was available.

Some of these newer models like the TM TP Forged from 2005 were a nod to the MacGregor MT Wingbacks from 50 years earlier. Coin Forged? Smoke? RH only to be sure, and Miura made?

Taylor Made golf made a LH Forged 300 set for Mike Weir and he won the Masters, then promptly said they would NOT make this model available to other LH golfers. DID NOT CARE.

The current TM Tour Preferred blade iron is also RH only, and is a nod to the first Ben Hogan Precision model from 1954-55.

TM’s first Pittsburgh Persimmon Models were game changers, but for the most part their iron models remain Right Hand only.

Reply Report comment
RB

May 2, 2016 at 1:51 pm

Interesting – had kind of forgotten how popular TM irons were in the past decades, and how well regarded they used to be.
All those clubs listed, and it doesn’t include the only TM irons i ever played – Rocketbladez Tour. Completely different club than the std. Rocketbladez

Reply Report comment
Brando

Apr 30, 2016 at 3:59 am

I hit a friends 1993 or so Taylor Made original Burner Driver last week 10 degree. Hit it great on a tight hole 260 yards right down the middle or so at 43.5 inches long. My sldr I probably hit 280-288 yards avg. The old Taylor hit it nice and low very boring flight. I am about a 7 handicap and had it to two under yesterday after 14 holes great for me. The home stretch the holes were all dead into a 20mph wind and I fell apart sprayed a few drives and finished 3 over par. I think if I had that original burner driver on those last few holes things may have been different. When hit on the screws the clubs from the 1990’s still preform very well. I hit a original burner 5 wood 1993 model all through high school golf and I really don’t find that club much different than today’s hybrid clubs in head shape trajectory or ease of hitting the sweet spot. Sure on down wind drives the new stuff will really crush the small headed drivers but I am thinking to pick up one of those original Taylor Made Burners for tight tracks and windy days is good to have.

Reply Report comment
- Ballz
  
  May 1, 2016 at 1:56 am
  
  It’s the ball. Pick the right ball, the one that has lower trajectory. So much technology is in the balls now.
  
  Reply Report comment
Adam Scott

Apr 29, 2016 at 10:00 pm

Too many products!

Reply Report comment
gdb99

Apr 29, 2016 at 9:59 pm

What happened to the ferrules?

Reply Report comment
- emb
  
  Apr 30, 2016 at 12:44 pm
  
  these are just heads, no shaft. A loose shaft was just put in so show the address position better, hence no ferrule
  
  Reply Report comment
Chuck D

Apr 29, 2016 at 6:59 pm

@ The Man! Fantastic list!! The ICW 11’s!! Oh, those bring back memories. I did some serious damage to courses with those sticks!

Reply Report comment
Nath

Apr 29, 2016 at 4:48 pm

Its great that GOLFWRX has put up these photos of TAYLORMADE irons over the last 35 years.
What is not so good is that taylormade removed the whole history of their irons from their website some 3-4 years ago, completely removed it! Dumb move taylormade.

Reply Report comment
- skip
  
  May 6, 2016 at 5:07 pm
  
  Can’t agree more.
  
  Reply Report comment
jrp

Apr 29, 2016 at 4:40 pm

They didn’t show the X-300 FCI limited edition forged in Japan by Miura for the Us market. Those were soft & sweet!

Reply Report comment
- Mark
  
  Apr 30, 2016 at 10:36 am
  
  Oh yeah. Those had a good design. Figures… Miura.
  
  Reply Report comment
Regis

Apr 29, 2016 at 4:31 pm

I played Mizuno then Miura forged but as my swing speed and ball striking declined with age, I started looking for a GI alternative with graphite shafts. The RACs were good, as were the R7 CGB Max irons ( I turned a friend on to them and he’s an avid golfer and he has no interest in upgrading) but my favorites are the SLDR irons which I re-shafted with Matrix Kujoh shafts. For me they’re the best heads ever made by TMAG

Reply Report comment
golfbum

Apr 29, 2016 at 3:52 pm

TPF irons are probably the finest iron design ever. In fact still made today by a number of japan forging houses: vega irons Kyoei. The funny story here is that LOU ORTIZ of Orlimar designed them; chose to go in on the tooling with Taylormade. Have the whole story from Jesse Ortiz. Fine iron design and still playable today. LOVE looking at quality clubs of yesteryear!

Reply Report comment
Mark

Apr 29, 2016 at 3:37 pm

No ICW5s? They were gorgeous. I understand the tour heads were cast softer to improve feel.

Reply Report comment
The man

Apr 29, 2016 at 3:07 pm

According the the PGA below (not in release order) is the full list of every TM iron set.

200 Steel
300
320
360
360 XD
Aeroburner
Burner 1.0
Burner 2.0
Burner 2009
Burner HT
Burner LCG
Burner Midsize
Burner Oversize
Burner Plus
Burner SuperFast 3.0
Burner Superlaunch
Burner Superlaunch Rescue
Burner Tour
Burner XD
EL-1
F81
Firesole
Firesole Tour
ICW 11
ICW 5
Iron Cleek
Kalea
KVD
LCG

M2
M2 Tour
Miscela
Miscela 2006
PR 1
PSi
PSi Tour
R11
r5 XL
r7
r7 cgb MAX
r7 cgb MAX 2008
r7 Draw
r7 Draw Rescue Hybrid
r7 TP
r7 XD
R9
R9 TP
RAC CGB
RAC Forged CB TP
RAC HT
RAC LT
RAC LT 2005
RAC MB
RAC MB TP
RAC MB TP Smoke
RAC OS
RAC OS 2005
RAC TP 2005

RAC TP Combo
RBZ Pro
RBZ Pro Combo
RocketBallz
RocketBallz HP
RocketBallz Max
RocketBladez
RocketBladez HL
RocketBladez HP
RocketBladez Max
RocketBladez Tour
RSi 1
RSi 2
RSi TP
SLDR
Speedblade
Speedblade HL
SuperSteel
Titanium Bubble 2
Tour Burner
Tour Preferred
Tour Preferred 2009
Tour Preferred CB
Tour Preferred CB 2014
Tour Preferred MB
Tour Preferred MB 2014
Tour Preferred MC
Tour Preferred MC 2014
X-300 FCI

Reply Report comment
- Nath
  
  Apr 30, 2016 at 9:44 pm
  
  Now why cant we get this info from TM site?
  
  Reply Report comment
Dan

Apr 29, 2016 at 3:01 pm

What about the Tour Prefered MCs? Great sticks.

http://www.fairwaygolfusa.com/taylormade-tour-preferred-mc-irons-p-67936.html?language=en&gclid=Cj0KEQjwjIy5BRClh8m_9Zu64d8BEiQAtZsQf8vGnM6TRxqtYdDqaZxtCNrT7evbnBn2zRDnqissV60aAvW48P8HAQ

Reply Report comment
Hawk

Apr 29, 2016 at 2:51 pm

I’m sure it’s not just me, but following the time line it appears that TM’s production line used to be 2-3 years until 2007 where it went to a year, and now it is like 6 months….WTF Taylormade…

Reply Report comment
Al Cleaver

Apr 29, 2016 at 2:37 pm

Blindfold me, take off the logos, let me hit 10 different brands of similar irons and I still end up with Taylormade.

Owned Firesole Titanium Tungsten, RAC LT, now Rocket Bladz. All have been satisfying to play with. Each suited my skills at the time.

Reply Report comment
- B Clizzle
  
  Apr 29, 2016 at 5:55 pm
  
  You must like that plastic feel at impact
  
  Reply Report comment
Steve C

Apr 29, 2016 at 2:32 pm

Of course we all have our personal favorites on the trip down memory lane. For me, the tour preferred TDs of 1987 were my club of choice. I played them for years eventually finding the two iron 2 iron to add to add to the set. Those long irons were soooo easy to hit. (Of course I never broke a 4 hdcp., so what do I know?)

Reply Report comment
simon Burrows

Apr 29, 2016 at 1:26 pm

The TM300s are still in the bag. Yet to find anything better.

Reply Report comment
- B Clizzle
  
  Apr 29, 2016 at 4:55 pm
  
  Must not be looking since it’s like every iron ever
  
  Reply Report comment
Dlygrisse

Apr 29, 2016 at 12:29 pm

I can sum up TM irons with one general statement over the years….meh….

Reply Report comment
- MT
  
  Apr 29, 2016 at 12:52 pm
  
  http://taylormadegolf.jp/PreviousModel_Irons_2009.html
  
  All the Forged version have been awesome in Japan.
  
  Reply Report comment
Pandhandle Loki

Apr 29, 2016 at 12:25 pm

Wonder who will comment 50 million times on this article

Reply Report comment
adan

Apr 29, 2016 at 12:04 pm

My first set in golf was the TM RAC OS. I only care about their drivers anymore.

Reply Report comment
- B Clizzle
  
  Apr 29, 2016 at 4:56 pm
  
  What irons are you playing now?
  
  Reply Report comment
Miquel Angel

Apr 29, 2016 at 11:52 am

Thanks for the sentimental journey. I shot in the 70’s for the first time usign the icw5 – and those RAC MP TP Smokes…wowza…

Reply Report comment
CCTxGolf

Apr 29, 2016 at 11:41 am

This was cool. It would be interesting to see for all of the top brands.

Reply Report comment
- Hawk
  
  Apr 29, 2016 at 2:57 pm
  
  I heard they thought about it, but the other brands didn’t have half the total number of irons during the same time period so they thought it would be less interesting….
  
  Reply Report comment
  - B Clizzle
    
    Apr 29, 2016 at 4:58 pm
    
    Still for the club ho….
    We’d like to see it but want someone else to do the work for us
    
    Reply Report comment
Matty

Apr 29, 2016 at 11:41 am

To be honest, does anyone think that the look of the M2 and M2 Tour irons would be better if they took out those 2 bars at the back of the iron?

Reply Report comment
- MT
  
  Apr 29, 2016 at 12:46 pm
  
  No.
  lol
  
  Reply Report comment
Poi

Apr 29, 2016 at 11:34 am

Awesome stuff.

Reply Report comment
cody

Apr 29, 2016 at 11:08 am

missed a few sets but pretty cool to see.

Reply Report comment
Matt

Apr 29, 2016 at 10:18 am

The 300 Forged irons were some of the best irons ever made. Could easily still be gamed today.

Reply Report comment
- dapadre
  
  Apr 29, 2016 at 11:18 am
  
  You beat me to it…….yes indeed the 300s were simple but efficient.
  
  Reply Report comment
- Johnny
  
  Apr 29, 2016 at 11:34 am
  
  Indeed, the 300 forged was the best they have made. Still see them in bags at the club sometimes.
  
  Reply Report comment
- cgasucks
  
  Apr 29, 2016 at 2:57 pm
  
  My heart still flutters every time I see those irons…they as beautiful as they perform…
  
  Reply Report comment

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Equipment

A shocking Backstryke putter appearance + 7 interesting gear photos from the Zurich Classic

Published

49 mins ago

Apr 25, 2024

Andrew Tursky

Welcome to New Orleans, where TPC Louisiana plays host to the 2024 Zurich Classic. In between breakfast beignets and nightly Creole feasts, PGA Tour players are also competing in the unique two-man format at the Zurich this week.

Although the vibes in Nawlins are a bit lighter-fare than the recent back-to-back competitions the Masters and the RBC Heritage signature event), the gear news was no less serious this week.

We spotted some recent changes from Rory McIlroy, a very rare Odyssey Backstryke putter, dove into the bag of legendary New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees, and spotted Patrick Cantlay continuing to test new equipment.

Get your beads out and crack your crawfish, because it’s time for an equipment rundown from The Big Easy (meaning New Orleans, of course, not Ernie Els).

See all of our photos from the Zurich Classic here

Rory’s on-and-off lob wedge

Since the end of 2023, Rory McIlroy has had an on-again, off-again relationship with a Titleist Vokey K-Grind lob wedge. In his last start, it was on, and the wedge is back in the bag again this week. We got a great look at the complicated grind that McIlroy uses.

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A full look into McIlroy’s bag above also shows that he switched out of the TaylorMade BRNR Mini Copper that he used at the RBC Heritage, and he’s back into the Qi10 core 3-wood. As we discussed last week, McIlroy will likely keep the BRNR around as a course-specific club, trading it in and out for the 3-wood.

See Rory McIlroy’s full 2024 WITB from the Zurich here

Turning Back the clock

Unless Tommy Gainey is in the field, it’s unlikely you’ll ever see Odyssey’s Backstryke technology make an appearance on the PGA Tour.

But then, when you least expect it, Russ Cochran shows up.

For more than a decade – since the 2013 Sony Open in Hawai’i – Cochran has been stuck on 599 PGA Tour starts. This week will be his 600th.

Cochran is in the field at the Zurich this week playing alongside Eric Cole, whose regular caddie is Reed Cochran, Russ’s son.

The Backstryke putter was first released back in 2010, and its unique design helps shift the axis point of the putter closer to the CG of the head. And, the putter is getting a nod this week at the Zurich Classic, thanks to Cochran’s 600th career PGA Tour start.

The putter is certainly awesome, but don’t forget to check out Cochran’s full WITB from this week.

Drew Brees with a Super Bowl winning Scotty Cameron putter

Drew Brees, a legendary retired quarterback for the hometown New Orleans Saints, made an appearance at the Zurich’s Wednesday Pro-Am, playing alongside Zach Johnson, Ryan Palmer, and current Saints QB Derek Carr.

Brees’ bag included a TaylorMade Stealth2 Plus driver, a BRNR Mini 13.5-degree, a Stealth 5-wood, a mixed set of P-790 and P-760 irons, Milled Grind Hi-Toe wedges, and a custom Scotty Cameron “New Orleans Saints” putter, which Scotty made for Brees following his Super Bowl MVP-winning performance in 2010.

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It should also be noted that Brees has his Venmo QR code as a bag tag.

If you’re gambling with Brees on the course, just know that not having cash won’t work as an excuse.

Brilliant.

See Drew Brees’ full WITB from the Zurich here

Stricker’s unrecognizable putter

Steve Stricker has made numerous upgrades to his bag recently, including a new TSR3 driver and T100 irons, but his longtime Odyssey White Hot No. 2 putter is still going strong. It’s the most recognizable unrecognizable putter ever.

Here’s a better look at Stricker’s flatstick, which he started using back in 2007.

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Patrick Cantlay has opened the equipment-switching floodgates

Over on the PGA Tour’s Equipment Report this week, we covered Cantlay’s recent switch into Ping Blueprint S irons, and a Titleist TSR2 driver.

Cantlay hadn’t switched irons for about seven years, so the iron switch he made at The 2024 Masters came as a shock to the norm. He simply isn’t one to change gear very often, so anytime Cantlay makes a switch, it’s news.

It seems the floodgates of equipment testing have opened up a bit for Cantlay, who was also spotted testing a custom Scotty Cameron blade putter on Tuesday this week. By Wednesday, Cantlay was back practicing with his familiar Scotty Cameron T5 Proto mallet, but it’s certainly something to keep an eye on going forward.

Daniel Berger’s custom Jailbird site lines

Berger, who’s currently using Odyssey’s Ai-One Mini Jailbird mallet putter, has a unique 3-dot, 2-line alignment on the crown of his navy-white-navy-white mallet putter. Looking down at the putter, it’s easy to see why this alignment system would help; it just seems impossible to set up to the ball off-center, or misaligned to the target.

Also, for anyone worried, you can rest easy. Yes, he’s still playing the 2013 TaylorMade TP MC irons, which we highlighted in our recent “Modern Classics: Old vs. New” video testing series.

FitzMagic teams back up

Brothers Matthew and Alex Fitzpatrick are teaming up once again at the Zurich this year, and Bettinardi Golf hooked them up with some festive “FitzMagic” headcovers to match this week.

See what else is in Alex Fitzpatrick’s WITB here

And, with that, we say goodbye to the Zurich Classic in New Orleans. Don’t forget to check out all of our photos from this week, including 30 unique photo galleries full of equipment photos.

We’ll see you next week in Texas for the 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson!

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