New from TaylorMade - Burner Irons & R9 Driver

ShriekingSheet

Our recent forum survey showed that significantly more of us are using TaylorMade drivers than any other brand so I thought this would be of interest to a few people.

As I write this, the official TaylorMade site counts down the 23 hours, 15 mins and 46... 45... 44 seconds remaining before they unveil their latest offering. This follows remarkably soon after the Burner range but I assume TM will say it's in fact been a lul of 2 years, as it's the R7 that they are replacing - a completely different segment of their portfolio. Obviously :rolleyes:



A little more under the radar, TM have also released the new Burner Irons, not to be confused with the Burner Plus and (my own) Tour Burner sets. "The set is Dead", proclaims the website, telling us how each of these new irons is an individual club, built to do it's own job and independantly designed from all others in the set. Great.

http://www.taylormadegolf.com/product_detail.asp?pID=234

Marketing shyte-talk aside, I do have the Tour Burners and in my personal opinion, as far as my game is concerned they are the best set of irons I've hit. The new Burner irons look similar enough. Aesthetically, the cavity is cooler looking compared to the Tour Burner cavity which is an eye-sore. The new Burners go a step further with a great feature of all recent TM irons in that they get progressively bigger, more offset and with a thicker top-line, the closer you get to the 3 iron. At the short end of the bag the clubs are more sleek and workable.

Having been in the market for a set of irons in mid 2008, I thought what was on offer at the time was frankly pretty poor (Titleist AP, Callaway X20) or else just not suitable for my game (Ping G10). If Callaway deliver on a good set in the form of the X22s as well as something by way of a X22 Tour version, 2009 could be a good year to revamp your set... if it wasn't for the crippling financial situation the world over.

Hobart

ShriekingSheet wrote: »

<snip>

Having been in the market for a set of irons in mid 2008, I thought what was on offer at the time was frankly pretty poor (Titleist AP, Callaway X20) or else just not suitable for my game (Ping G10). If Callaway deliver on a good set in the form of the X22s as well as something by way of a X22 Tour version, 2009 could be a good year to revamp your set... if it wasn't for the crippling financial situation the world over.

Despite the turndown in the economy I'm actually in the market for a set of Irons. I use the Calloway X18's, having upgraded from the X16's back in 2006. My heart is telling me to stay with Calloway, while my head is telling me to look (shop) around, which is probably what I will do.

The one area of my game which has greatly improved is my ball striking, especially with the irons. I actually only carry from a 6 iron up in my bag, and I really do love my Calloways, but they are due a trade-in. I put my drop in handicap down to 2 things. my iron play and my short game, and my iron play has been the area I most improved in, and I think some measure of that success goes to the X-18's, which I have loved from day 1.

Having said all that, and while bearing the marketing bs in mind, I do actually like the idea of those TM irons. I had it in mind to go out and test a few sets over the next couple of weeks, but I might give it another month.

ShriekingSheet

Hobart wrote: »

Despite the turndown in the economy I'm actually in the market for a set of Irons. I use the Calloway X18's, having upgraded from the X16's back in 2006. My heart is telling me to stay with Calloway, while my head is telling me to look (shop) around, which is probably what I will do.

The one area of my game which has greatly improved is my ball striking, especially with the irons. I actually only carry from a 6 iron up in my bag, and I really do love my Calloways, but they are due a trade-in. I put my drop in handicap down to 2 things. my iron play and my short game, and my iron play has been the area I most improved in, and I think some measure of that success goes to the X-18's, which I have loved from day 1.

Having said all that, and while bearing the marketing bs in mind, I do actually like the idea of those TM irons. I had it in mind to go out and test a few sets over the next couple of weeks, but I might give it another month.

TBH I think you'd be mad to change from your X18s! If you are dead set on it though, I'd certainly suggest hanging on and checking out the X22s as the X20s were a let down - I fancied them myself but trialing them and reading a wide variety of user reviews completely put me off.

The new TMs look great and I assume they come as standard with Project X shafts which are a great plus. If you do stick with Callaway make sure you exactly match the spec of your current X18s and if you move to a different brand try and get as close as possible in flex etc.

Hobart

ShriekingSheet wrote: »

TBH I think you'd be mad to change from your X18s! If you are dead set on it though, I'd certainly suggest hanging on and checking out the X22s as the X20s were a let down - I fancied them myself but trialing them and reading a wide variety of user reviews completely put me off.

The new TMs look great and I assume they come as standard with Project X shafts which are a great plus. If you do stick with Callaway make sure you exactly match the spec of your current X18s and if you move to a different brand try and get as close as possible in flex etc.

It's more a needs must thing tbh SS. I have had to have the hosel replaced on a couple of them, and while I got them re gripped last year, they are definitely beginning to show their age. The faces are not what they used to be, although strangely I seem to be getting a bit more 'action' from the 7/8 iron of late (if only I knew how to control it ) . They are definitely due a trade, but I'm concerned about thier potential replacements, as half the battle for me is confidence in the irons, and I can just stand up and let it rip with the X18's.

For sure, they will be a hard act to follow.

stockdam

Sheet....why are the Pings not suitable for you?

Mister Sifter

Interesting discussion. I've a good few vouchers being built up at the moment and one thing i've been debating recently is using them for a new set of irons.

My current set (Titleist 704s) are around 4 years old or so i think now. Generally i strike them pretty well, but after doing a bit of reading and thinking about my game, i wonder whether an iron with a bigger profile might be better suited to me. I find the Titleists to be great for shot-making and working the ball, but at times i fell like they're possibly a little unforgiving.

I often think my old set, which were a midsized iron, were far more consistent.

That said, i'm also wondering whether i'd just be changing because i feel a need to change, rather than because i actually do need to change. (i think like most golfers, i have a sickness for buying new kit!)

gorfield

Graeme1982 wrote: »

Interesting discussion. I've a good few vouchers being built up at the moment and one thing i've been debating recently is using them for a new set of irons.

My current set (Titleist 704s) are around 4 years old or so i think now. Generally i strike them pretty well, but after doing a bit of reading and thinking about my game, i wonder whether an iron with a bigger profile might be better suited to me. I find the Titleists to be great for shot-making and working the ball, but at times i fell like they're possibly a little unforgiving.

I often think my old set, which were a midsized iron, were far more consistent.

That said, i'm also wondering whether i'd just be changing because i feel a need to change, rather than because i actually do need to change. (i think like most golfers, i have a sickness for buying new kit!)

My new sticks arrived yesterday frome fore Golf and they are so nice, i would rec you give these a try before you do anything.

PhilipMarlowe

Don't be posting porn like that on here, it's against the rules

Mister Sifter

gorfield wrote: »

If they play like it looks Gorfield, they'll be an absolute dream! If you don't mind me asking, how much did they set you back and where did you buy them?

PhilipMarlowe

He said he got them from Fore Golf...
I couldn't justify changing any of my clubs at the moment but a set of Irons like that is certainly next on my hit list.

madds

Graeme1982 wrote: »

If they play like it looks Gorfield, they'll be an absolute dream! If you don't mind me asking, how much did they set you back and where did you buy them?

+1, great looking sticks. What sort of shafts did you go for and what did Fore golf charge?

gorfield

madds wrote: »

+1, great looking sticks. What sort of shafts did you go for and what did Fore golf charge?

I got project x 5.5 1/4" longer. Id rather not share what i was charged as im a long term customer of fore golf. But the service is incredible.

george67

gorfield wrote: »

I got project x 5.5 1/4" longer. Id rather not share what i was charged as im a long term customer of fore golf. But the service is incredible.

Hi gorfield , do fore golf have a web site ?

f22

http://www.foregolf.ie/intro.html

First result on a google search surprisingly enough.

Dublin Spur

gorfield wrote: »

My new sticks arrived yesterday frome fore Golf and they are so nice, i would rec you give these a try before you do anything.

Lovely clubs, stunning. I had a set of the previous model RAC TPs.
Problem was they were very unforgiving. They are designed for 0 to 5 handicapers. Proper tour irons

If your handicap is above this range it's very hard to make them work for you consistantly. But because they were such lovely clubs I persisted with them for 2 yrs. In the end I threw in the towel and got a set of G-10s. This was the best move I ever made.

I still managed to get €300 for my 2 yr old TMs which again goes to show the quality of the clubs.

Good luck with them, you might need it

ShriekingSheet

Dublin Spur wrote: »

Problem was they were very unforgiving. They are designed for 0 to 5 handicapers. Proper tour irons

If your handicap is above this range it's very hard to make them work for you consistantly.

Good luck with them, you might need it

I wouldn't lose too much sleep Dublin Spur...

Gorfield plays off +1

ShriekingSheet

stockdam wrote: »

Sheet....why are the Pings not suitable for you?

Well, it seems to me the G10 irons are a really good club - pretty much everyone I know who has them loves them. They're too bulky for me though, especially in the sole. I was going from a smaller headed iron (similar to the S58) to a midsize one. The G10 would be closer to Oversize in my view.
From what I can tell, really great club for many people. Maybe not so much the single figure market.

I didn't find the i10 as nice, even though they fit the bill for what I was looking for. Them and the S58s were too much like what I was ditching anyway. I preferred the Taylormades.

george67

ShriekingSheet wrote: »

Well, it seems to me the G10 irons are a really good club - pretty much everyone I know who has them loves them. They're too bulky for me though, especially in the sole. I was going from a smaller headed iron (similar to the S58) to a midsize one. The G10 would be closer to Oversize in my view.
From what I can tell, really great club for many people. Maybe not so much the single figure market.

I didn't find the i10 as nice, even though they fit the bill for what I was looking for. Them and the S58s were too much like what I was ditching anyway. I preferred the Taylormades.

hi ya , you should have a look at new callaway x-22 tour irons
a little forgiving but still very workable ,comes with precision x shafts as standard
I have x-forged and x-20 tour and i find the latter more solid hit (probably because they are heavyer)

ShriekingSheet

george67 wrote: »

hi ya , you should have a look at new callaway x-22 tour irons
a little forgiving but still very workable ,comes with precision x shafts as standard
I have x-forged and x-20 tour and i find the latter more solid hit (probably because they are heavyer)

Cheers George, yeah I'd say the X22 tours are good. Haven't seen them though and I'm not in the market because I'm very happy with my TM Tour Burners.

george67

ShriekingSheet wrote: »

Cheers George, yeah I'd say the X22 tours are good. Haven't seen them though and I'm not in the market because I'm very happy with my TM Tour Burners.

unfortunatly i'm always in the mood for buying if not always in the "market" (a bit of retail terapy in the rain/sleet/snow)

ShriekingSheet

george67 wrote: »

unfortunatly i'm always in the mood for buying if not always in the "market" (a bit of retail terapy in the rain/sleet/snow)

Ah yeah, alot of us are the same. Although I genuinely think that I have the right set of clubs for me from putter to Driver. I have great shafts, the right loft/lie on everything, no real gaps in yardage, a good combination of wedge lofts and only 14 clubs - no interchangable ones for different types of courses or conditions etc, just 14 clubs I like.

In short, if I miss the target, I know it's indian, not the arrow that's at fault

All that said, I still get tempted by shiny new things...

PhilipMarlowe

ShriekingSheet wrote: »

Ah yeah, alot of us are the same. Although I genuinely think that I have the right set of clubs for me from putter to Driver. I have great shafts, the right loft/lie on everything, no real gaps in yardage, a good combination of wedge lofts and only 14 clubs - no interchangable ones for different types of courses or conditions etc, just 14 clubs I like.

In short, if I miss the target, I know it's indian, not the arrow that's at fault

All that said, I still get tempted by shiny new things...

In a similar situation to yourself Sheet in that I have pretty much everything covered, custom fit for me and happy with all the clubs I have.
A higher handicap friend I often play with has buckets of different clubs and I keep telling him to cut right down to the the minimum... no point in having 5 different drivers and changing every day to a different one just because you hit a poor shot. Find the one that is the most consistent and sell the rest, get them out of your reach. Same with sets of irons and putters too IMO.

Of course you can change things around a little if that's what you like but I'd recommend getting custom fit for a decent level of equipment if you are of a certain standard and can afford it. It is better and cheaper than shelling out more regularly for the 'next big thing'.

All that said, if I could sell one of my children for a shiny new set like Gorfields I'd be giving it fair consideration

gorfield

ShriekingSheet wrote: »

I wouldn't lose too much sleep Dublin Spur...

Gorfield plays off +1

Your a wee bit off the mark there shriek......Im actually +3 (+2.6). I refer back to our previous conversation re interprovincial players hcaps?? I should be able to manage the irons though as they look HUGE compared to my old Bridgestone blades......

ShriekingSheet

gorfield wrote: »

Im actually +3 (+2.6).

We're not worthy

george67

ShriekingSheet wrote: »

Ah yeah, alot of us are the same. Although I genuinely think that I have the right set of clubs for me from putter to Driver. I have great shafts, the right loft/lie on everything, no real gaps in yardage, a good combination of wedge lofts and only 14 clubs - no interchangable ones for different types of courses or conditions etc, just 14 clubs I like.

In short, if I miss the target, I know it's indian, not the arrow that's at fault

All that said, I still get tempted by shiny new things...

Pretty much the same myself +/_2 iron for 5 wood depending on wind conditions , mind you i added a 64 degree wedge for new 6/7 foot sheer deep bunkers i hit it hard and it nearly goes straight up

gorfield

ShriekingSheet wrote: »

We're not worthy

Sorry for coming across arrogant there but ive worked damn hard to get there so idont mind correcting someone....:D I shouldnt say anything in future as it dosent protect my identity. Thats the difficult part of being a low hcap, no matter what you say its taken as arrogance,when most of the time im just glad to give advice or info as asked! Thats my rant for the day.........:p

PhilipMarlowe

The was no arrogance in your post from my view anyway and I too would be mucho proud to point out my correct handicap if I were that damn good

Blunder

Hobart wrote: »

Despite the turndown in the economy I'm actually in the market for a set of Irons. I use the Calloway X18's, having upgraded from the X16's back in 2006. My heart is telling me to stay with Calloway, while my head is telling me to look (shop) around, which is probably what I will do.

The one area of my game which has greatly improved is my ball striking, especially with the irons. I actually only carry from a 6 iron up in my bag, and I really do love my Calloways, but they are due a trade-in. I put my drop in handicap down to 2 things. my iron play and my short game, and my iron play has been the area I most improved in, and I think some measure of that success goes to the X-18's, which I have loved from day 1.

Having said all that, and while bearing the marketing bs in mind, I do actually like the idea of those TM irons. I had it in mind to go out and test a few sets over the next couple of weeks, but I might give it another month.

I think you should definately start trying out new irons over the next few weeks!:D I'll even give ya feedback for free if you want!

ShriekingSheet

gorfield wrote: »

Sorry for coming across arrogant there but ive worked damn hard to get there so idont mind correcting someone....:D I shouldnt say anything in future as it dosent protect my identity. Thats the difficult part of being a low hcap, no matter what you say its taken as arrogance,when most of the time im just glad to give advice or info as asked! Thats my rant for the day.........:p

Licksy wrote: »

The was no arrogance in your post from my view anyway and I too would be mucho proud to point out my correct handicap if I were that damn good

Guys, in no way was I accusing Gorfield of arrogance! I totally posted that in jest. It was "we're not worthy " and not "we're not worthy :rolleyes:"... I can see how you could take me up wrong but I was completely taking the p*ss.

It's great to have very low players on the forum and if anything, you've been over sensitive to coming accross as arrogant in the past. You haven't so don't worry about it. Just post!

(ps: I made a similar joke on the interclub thread just 5 mins ago )

gorfield

ShriekingSheet wrote: »

Guys, in no way was I accusing Gorfield of arrogance! I totally posted that in jest. It was "we're not worthy " and not "we're not worthy :rolleyes:"... I can see how you could take me up wrong but I was completely taking the p*ss.

It's great to have very low players on the forum and if anything, you've been over sensitive to coming accross as arrogant in the past. You haven't so don't worry about it. Just post!

(ps: I made a similar joke on the interclub thread just 5 mins ago )

No bother fella. Im prob over sensitive as i hear a lot of bullsh1t in my club regarding category 1 players and it pisses me off. If i can be of help at any time just ask. G

f22

Gorfield, did you try out anything else before settling on the TP's as a matter of interest.

Beautiful sticks by the way.

DonkeyPokerTour

ShriekingSheet wrote: »

Ah yeah, alot of us are the same. Although I genuinely think that I have the right set of clubs for me from putter to Driver. I have great shafts, the right loft/lie on everything, no real gaps in yardage, a good combination of wedge lofts and only 14 clubs - no interchangable ones for different types of courses or conditions etc, just 14 clubs I like.

In short, if I miss the target, I know it's indian, not the arrow that's at fault

All that said, I still get tempted by shiny new things...

Shame that post is so long, would make a great signature. I genuinely LOL'd at the last line.

Cheers for that Shreik

gorfield

f22 wrote: »

Gorfield, did you try out anything else before settling on the TP's as a matter of interest.

Beautiful sticks by the way.

Yeah i tried the tp smoke blade and also titleist ap2.
The tp cavity gave me much better ball flight so i went with them!

f22

Interesting, I have the AP2's on my shortlist. Just waiting to test a demo set.

PhilipMarlowe

Your tp's don't come in lefty... ho hum, that's that temptation out of the way.

Dublin Spur

gorfield wrote: »

Your a wee bit off the mark there shriek......Im actually +3 (+2.6). I refer back to our previous conversation re interprovincial players hcaps?? I should be able to manage the irons though as they look HUGE compared to my old Bridgestone blades......

They'll be perfect for you then. Fastastic irons.
Enjoy...

jimjo

After much deliberating I’ve finally come to the conclusion I need to upgrade my irons. I’m not exactly one for buying new gear at the drop of a hat but with any new gear once you go looking you end up very keen to buy! The set I’m looking at is the Taylor Made Tour Burner Irons, so I’m keen to know anyone’s views….?? Back playing proper since June this year after a few years out of the game so I’m a mid handicapper so looking for a bit of forgiveness but clubs that will stand the test of time and with practice get down towards single figures, how long is anyones guess !!

madds

My father (62 y/o, playing off 11) bought a set of these 4 weeks ago and his game/scores/confidence have improved hugely. I've yet to see him playing with them but he says they are a full club stronger than his last set of Titleist irons and he loves the feeling confidence he has when addressing the ball. He's won two prizes in club competitions in recent weeks.

jimjo

madds wrote: »

My father (62 y/o, playing off 11) bought a set of these 4 weeks ago and his game/scores/confidence have improved hugely. I've yet to see him playing with them but he says they are a full club stronger than his last set of Titleist irons and he loves the feeling confidence he has when addressing the ball. He's won two prizes in club competitions in recent weeks.

Cheers madds, just to confirm that he got the new taylor made tour burners 2009 model?? before spending a few bob I always like to do a bit of research first. They look impressive and feel quite good. Like the sounds of this extra distance, hope I can control them !

http://www.discountgolfstore.co.uk/ProductImages/fullsize/tour_burner_iron_3_4.jpg

madds

Ive just checked with him and they're actually the older Burner irons he bought. Don't get carried away with the increased distance I mentioned. No two manufacturer's clubs are the same so you are no comparing like with like in that his new 9-iron may be a degree or two more closed than the 9-iron in his old Titleist set. Good luck with your research.

G1032

gorfield wrote: »

Sorry for coming across arrogant there but ive worked damn hard to get there so idont mind correcting someone....:D

Hi Gorfield
How hard/how much do you practice? I could never get my handicap down below 4 (nearly 6 again now!!)and often find that I can hit the balll really well and still end up 5 and 6 over becasue of poor putting. Do you practice putting a lot or do you need to? How do you divide your time? Sorry for all the questions!!

Diageo1

+1