TaylorMade R7 Irons Review
When these irons first hit the shelves, they were all the rage. Even the best players in the world had them in their bag. Everyone was a fan of hot and forgiving these clubs were. It quickly became apparent that these clubs were most beneficial for higher handicaps that struggle with consistent ball striking. While TaylorMade has certainly released plenty of top-notch irons since the days of the R7’s, these clubs remain one of their most popular models.
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More than any other major club manufacturer, TaylorMade releases new products. Some years, the company puts out new equipment every quarter. And their equipment never disappoints either. Whether it’s the hottest drivers in the game, or irons that are loaded with technology, their clubs are popular with golfers of all abilities.
New doesn’t always mean better, however. That’s the case with TaylorMade’s R7 irons. Even though these clubs were introduced more than a decade ago, they’re highly sought after to this day.
That’s because these clubs are easy to hit, and deliver all the performance of modern clubs at a fraction of the price.
Key Features
- Inverted Cone Technology increases ball speed and shot distance.
- Deep cavity back design creates a low COG for high launch and increased stability through impact.
- TaylorMade Launch Control Technology allows players to optimize trajectory to their liking.
Who Should Buy the TaylorMade R7 Irons?
When these irons first hit the shelves, they were all the rage. Even the best players in the world had them in their bag. Everyone was a fan of hot and forgiving these clubs were.
It quickly became apparent that these clubs were most beneficial for higher handicaps that struggle with consistent ball striking.
While TaylorMade has certainly released plenty of top-notch irons since the days of the R7’s, these clubs remain one of their most popular models.
If you’re looking for a club that’s technologically advanced, and affords plenty of forgiveness, do what you can to get your hands a set of R7 irons.
TaylorMade R7 Irons Detailed Review
Design and Technology
Ask anyone that knows anything about golf equipment and they’ll tell you that TaylorMade is arguably the most innovative and cutting-edge when it comes to technology.
Even though the tech in the R7 iron heads is old, it’s more than stood the test of time. Testament to the fact that these irons are still so popular to this day.
These irons go a long way, even by today’s standards. That’s due in large part to Inverted Cone Technology that increases ball speed off the face.
When you think of distance, you probably think of a hard feeling face that lacks in the feedback and feel departments. It’s quite the opposite with R7 irons. The cavity is filled with a soft and sound dampening aluminum web that absorbs vibration and gives you the sense the you’re hitting a forged club even though these irons are cast.
Weight is also positioned low, and back in the clubhead. This lowers the COG and helps golfers launch the ball high in the air, even with the longer irons.
Lastly, I can’t help but mention the marketing genius of the folks at TaylorMade. They came up with the term “TLC” when they introduced the R7 irons. The acronym stands for TaylorMade Launch Control. This technology allows fitters to optimize launch angle and trajectory. It also affords players the ability to hit a variety of different and control distance.
Even though TaylorMade’s product cycles are the most frequent in the industry, they understand the value of not fixing something if it isn’t broken.
That’s why the R7 irons are still so popular to this day.
When these irons first hit the shelves, they were all the rage. Even the best players in the world had them in their bag. Everyone was a fan of hot and forgiving these clubs were. It quickly became apparent that these clubs were most beneficial for higher handicaps that struggle with consistent ball striking. While TaylorMade has certainly released plenty of top-notch irons since the days of the R7’s, these clubs remain one of their most popular models.
- High launch design characteristics increase playability and control.
- High MOI makes the R7’s more forgiving than other irons of the time.
- Price point can’t be beat.
- May be hard to find a used set custom-fit to your swing.
- Thicker than average top line may be off-putting to some golfers.
- Lower handicaps report some struggle with shaping shots compared to forged blade irons
Specs
A complete set of TaylorMade R7 irons (two-iron – sand wedge) are hard to come by. But lesser variations exist and can be found with a little research on your part.
The swing weight for all stock R7 irons is D1. The pitching wedge and approach wedge are D2, with the sand wedge coming in at D4.
Stock shafts are the REAX TaylorMade 65 gram lightweight graphite, and T Step 90 gram stainless steel. Grips are private label custom from TaylorMade, but can easily be changed out for something else by your local PGA Professional.
Our Experience
Back in the day, I played a set of R7 irons and still have them in my garage. Every once in a while, I show them some daylight and take them out for a round. And I must say, they perform every bit as well as any iron I’ve played since. When they first came out, these irons were ahead of their time. And they’ve remained timeless since then.
Put side-by-side with the irons I currently have in my bag, they perform comparably well.
What I love most about these irons isn’t just their forgiveness, but the fact that they’re both hot off the face and easy to control.
If I wasn’t such a geek about the latest and greatest gear, they’d still be in my bag on a full-time basis today.
Conclusion
I’ve always been a fan of TaylorMade golf equipment. Everything from their drivers and fairway woods down to their irons and wedges. This company has never been afraid to push the envelope, and they’re good at it.
That’s exactly why the R7 irons remain so popular to this day. They were way ahead of the technology and design curve at the time of their release, and still prove themselves are more than worthy contenders today.
If you’re looking for a high-performing iron, but don’t want to pay a premium price, do what you can to get your mitts on a set of TaylorMade R7’s. You won’t be disappointed.
