Taylor Made Iron Model History

Driving in a New Direction
The First Major Breakthrough
Burning Up the Competition
3, 2, 1, Blast Off

Written by Brian Lancette

08 July, 2011

In 1979, golf equipment salesman Gary Adams quit his job and took out a $24,000 loan against his home to rent a 6,000-square foot former television factory. With that, TaylorMade golf was born 1. Adams and his three employees devolped the groundbreaking "metalwood." The company released its first set of irons in 1987, and as of 2014 it is a leading brand in golf equipment across many platforms, including irons.

Driving in a New Direction

At the urging of tour professionals who carried TaylorMade’s Tour Preferred driver, the company expanded into irons in 1987. The irons were simple blade designs, not unlike anything else on the market at the time. Nevertheless, TaylorMade’s foray into irons shifted the company’s focus away from strictly drivers and woods.

The First Major Breakthrough

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The company’s first breakthrough in iron design came in 2002, when an increased commitment to research and development yielded RAC Technology. Relative Amplitude Coefficient irons featured “feel pockets” milled into the back of each clubhead that channeled vibration to certain areas to affect feel and sound. TaylorMade released its RAC irons in oversized, lower trajectory and muscleback models.

Burning Up the Competition

TaylorMade's Burner irons, which made their debut in 2009, were designed so each iron in the set was individually modeled to yield maximum distance and playability. The Burner 2.0, which was released the following year, contained a thinner face that utilized high-COR technology. The company used the slogan "Unstoppable Distance" for the Burner irons due to the faster ball speed and increased distance that the clubs produced. TaylorMade’s Burner series of irons ranked as the No 4. 1 iron model in the United States, the company’s first ever iron to reach such heights.

TaylorMade's Burner irons, which made their debut in 2009, were designed so each iron in the set was individually modeled to yield maximum distance and playability.

3, 2, 1, Blast Off

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TaylorMade's RocketBladez design, introduced in December of 2012, features an ultra thin face and a slot in the sole of the iron called a “speed pocket.” When coupled with the speed pocket, the flexible face acts as a trampoline, launching the ball off of the clubface. Each club has the forgiveness of a cavity back iron, but its smaller head and thinner top-line appeal to players who play muscleback or blade designs. TaylorMade President Mark King calls RocketBladez a “once in a lifetime innovation,” while Executive Vice President Sean Toulon added, “We think RocketBladez will change the way people play golf. 1”

TaylorMade's RocketBladez design, introduced in December of 2012, features an ultra thin face and a slot in the sole of the iron called a “speed pocket.” Each club has the forgiveness of a cavity back iron, but its smaller head and thinner top-line appeal to players who play muscleback or blade designs.