Two new sets of irons plus a new wedge are the latest pieces of equipment produced by TaylorMade. The irons are the r7 TP, aimed at professionals and low-handicappers, and the r7 for the rest of the us. The wedge is the rac Satin TP. Here's a brief look at each new TaylorMade offering:
TaylorMade r7 TP Irons
The r7 TP is, as differentiated from the r7 Irons discussed below, aimed squarely at the best golfers - professionals and low-handicappers. The "TP" in this and other TaylorMade products stands for "Tour Preferred" and stamps the equipment as TaylorMade's top-of-the-line.
The r7 TP has a compact head, thin topline and thin sole, elements designed to produce blade-like feel for workability in a club that otherwise incorporates technology aimed at improving forgiveness.
The r7 TP iron has a cavity back that is large by the standards of player's irons, increasing the MOI for forgiveness. The center of gravity is higher than in game-improvement irons, helping achieve a more controlled "tour trajectory." Other player's elements include minimal offset, a slightly flatter lie angle and a tour-configured sole.
Also, on the back of the clubhead, positioned inside the cavity, is what TaylorMade is calling the "shock-absorption web." This is a thin layer of soft aluminum that reaches out to each corner of the clubhead. It is bonded by a special double-sided acrylic foam tape developed by 3M whose properties include extra shock absorption and sound softening.
The MSRP for a 3-PW set is $1,000 with steel shafts and $1,200 with graphite shafts. The r7 TP irons will be available at retail beginning in October, 2006.
TaylorMade r7 Irons
Most of us are not the "professionals and low-handicappers" to whom the r7 TP is aimed; so the r7 iron is sure to have a wider audience of consumers.
The r7 is a more typical game-improvement iron, with an oversized head and a deep cavityback that results is greater perimeter weighting and a center of gravity that is positioned farther back and deeper. These elements are designed to increase forgiveness and assist with a higher launch angle to get the ball airborne.
Like the r7 TP, the r7 irons have the same shock-absorption web positioned inside the cavity. Unlike the r7 TP, the r7 irons have moderate offset to assist the golfer in squaring the clubface at impact.
A set (3-PW) of TaylorMade r7 Irons carries an MSRP of $840 with steel shafts and $1,080 for graphite shafts. The clubs will be available at retail in October, 2006.
TaylorMade rac Satin TP Wedge
The rac Satin TP wedge is identical to the previously introduced rac Black TP wedge except that, of course, this one comes in a satin finish. This wedge will be available at retail beginning in mid-October 2006.
The rac Satin TP wedge utilizes TaylorMade's "Y-cutter" grooves, designed to generate more spin and promote a lower launch angle. First, the clubface is CNC-milled flat. Then, the grooves are individually milled with sharper edges and added width. TaylorMade says these groove edges are as sharp as the company could make them without damaging the high-performance balls most likely to be in play by golfers carrying these wedges.
The rac Satin TP wedge's sole is ground low on the trailing edge, toe and heel. This configuration allows players to open the clubface wide to play high, soft chips and pitches; but also to hit low, controlled shots without digging thanks to the radiused leading edge.
The rac Satin TP wedge comes with several different loft and bounce specifications: 52.08 (52 degrees loft, 8 degrees bounce), 54.10, 56.12, 58.08 and 60.06. MSRP is $140 per club.
See the TaylorMade Web site for more info on these and other clubs.
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