Equipment
TaylorMade prototype irons spotted at The Memorial
What we know: Select TaylorMade Staff Members were testing one-off, milled prototype irons from the company at the range of The Memorial. The irons had three slots: a “Speed Pocket” in the sole and two “Face Slots” that were positioned just outside the grooves on the club face.
What we don’t know: The club’s name, release date and potential construction (forged or cast). The irons appear to have a size and shape that’s similar to the company’s current RSi TP irons.
TaylorMade’s prototype irons (left) and John Huh’s custom RocketBladez Tour irons.
Click here to see what GolfWRX Members are saying about the iron in our forum.
This week, we have our Tour Photographer, Greg Moore, on the ground at the OccuNet Classic at Tascosa Golf Club in Amarillo, Texas, for the 14th event of the 2026 Korn Ferry Tour season. With that, we see some great things in the Lead Tape Report as we roll into Amarillo.
Joel Thelen
Monday Qualifier, Joel Thelen is in the field this week. He has played on the Korn Ferry Tour for a full season in 2023, and he is back in action this week. A couple of clubs caught my eye this week in his bag.
First off: His trusted Titleist 816 H2 hybrid. This club came out in October of 2015, and it still remains strong in the bag. Also, take a look at this Odyssey White Hot OG 7, putting a capital S in the 7S model. This custom neck has some impressive lean for an arm-lock-style putter. The bottom of the putter is covered in tape for optimal weighting.
Mitchell Meissner
Taking a look at Mitchell Meissner’s bag this week, we have some great lead tape coverage. Top to bottom working from fairway metals, irons, and wedges. We can see on the short irons and wedges that there is tape at the base of the grip, adding a little counterbalance. Along with that, some tape on the short irons and wedges as well. Moving to his putter, he rolls the Odyssey 7 Bird putter. Meissner putts left-handed and strikes the ball right-handed.
Bud Cauley had >14 clubs in his bag when photographed prior to the Memorial Tournament.
Driver: Titleist GTS2 (8 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 6 X
3-wood: Titleist GTS3 (15 degrees, B1 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Chemical Tensei 1K Pro Red 70 TX
7-wood: Titleist GTS3 (21 degrees, D1 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Chemical Tensei 1K Pro Red 80 TX
Irons: Titleist U505 (3), Titleist 620 MB (4-9)
Shafts: Fujikura Ventus Black HB 8 X, True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue
Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM11 (48-10F, 52-12F, 56-14F), WedgeWorks (60-K*)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400
Putters: Scotty Cameron Tour Prototype, Scotty Cameron GOLO 6.3 Prototype
Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet Align
Ball: Titleist Pro V1
In our forums, one user has offered up a prompt for the true sickos, inviting fellow forum members to share every set of irons they’ve ever owned. As to be expected, this is a lengthy forum topic.
@Lamosteve began:
Can you name every set of irons you’ve owned? Here’s mine
Spalding Dots
Spalding Eclipse
Ram Lazer FX
Lynx Parallax
Mizuno EZ Comp
Ben Hogans
Cleveland CG Red
Taylor Made R9s
PING i20
PING iE1
Taylor Made M6
Our members in the forum have been offering up their own collections. Here are a few posts from the thread, but make sure to check out the entire discussion and have your say at the link below.
- macedan: “Started with a hand-me-down Golden Bear set from my brother when I was in high school, never really played more than once a year or got into the game until about summer of 2017. First purchased a set of Cleveland CG4’s (I actually really miss this set sometimes, soft & not terribly large for a GI iron), moved into Nike Vapor Fly’s by the end of the year. Those lasted until spring of 18 when I decided I wanted new, so I traded them in for TM Rbladez. Honestly, although I liked the Rbladez, poor decision on my part, I think this was really about the only time so far that after a week or two I was kicking myself for not staying with what I had. Rbladez stayed with me until late last summer when I switched to P790’s and (knock on wood) I am hoping this will be my longest lasting set.”
- JimmyC59: “MacGregor Jack Nicklaus Triple Crown. Palmer The Standard. Still play these.”
- jgrzask: “Tommy Armour 845u
Mizuno MP-32
Mizuno MP-33 (2 sets)
Bridgestone J33cb – still own
Srixon i-302 (2 sets) – still own
Tourstage X-Blades – still own
Mizuno Hot Metal – still own
Nike Forged Blades – still own
Titleist 714 AP1 – still own
Cobra Forged SS – still own”
Justin Rose WITB 2026 (April): Full WITB breakdown with new McLaren irons
What’s the story behind Webb Simpson’s custom-stamped irons?
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Kristoffer Reitan’s winning WITB: 2026 Truist Championship
Aaron Rai’s winning WITB: 2026 PGA Championship
J.T. Poston’s winning WITB: 2026 Memorial Tournament
Cameron Young’s winning WITB: 2026 Cadillac Championship
Best irons 2026: Best irons overall, most forgiving irons, and more
Bud Cauley WITB 2026 (June)
Bud Cauley had >14 clubs in his bag when photographed prior to the Memorial Tournament. Driver: Titleist GTS2 (8 degrees) Shaft: Fujikura...
Hannah Green WITB 2026 (June)
Driver: Titleist GTS3 (10 degrees, D4 SureFit setting) Shaft: Mitsubishi Chemical Diamana RB 53 S 3-wood: Titleist GT3 (15 degrees,...
Asterisk Talley WITB 2026 (June)
Driver: TaylorMade Qi4D (9 degrees) Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Blue 6 S 3-wood: TaylorMade Qi4D (16.5 degrees) Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Blue...
Brianna Do WITB 2026 (June)
Driver: Callaway Quantum Triple Diamond (9 degrees) Shaft: KBS PGW 3-wood: Callaway Elyte Titanium (15 degrees) Shaft: KBS PGW 5-wood:...
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dcorun
Jun 12, 2015 at 6:17 pm
I play the TM RBZ Stage 2 Bonded driver and have for 2 years. I compare it to all the new ones that have come out since I bought it and it hasn’t been worth trading in yet. The Fly-Z and D200 came awful close though. I play the Cleveland 588 MT irons (1 1/2 yrs), a Cobra T-Rail+ Baffler hybrid (1 1/2 yrs) and a Ping Karsten TR PAL putter (1yr). My point is… who cares if TM and Callaway come out with new clubs every 3 months, just play what you like and feels right to you. Try them out against the new clubs and see if it’s time for a change but, like I said, who cares how many or how soon some companies come out with new clubs. No one is twisting arms to run out and buy them but, I do feel for the guy who just bought that new long distance driver to find out 3 months later that a new one just came out that’s even faster and longer. 🙂
Christosterone
Jun 7, 2015 at 3:13 pm
Like with all clubs, I see Ping influences….the s series in particular.
tim
Jun 5, 2015 at 11:28 am
The “they release too many clubs” comments are so beyond stale at this point. And I’ not a TM guy either. I didn’t like the feel of the RSI’s or any iron with a slot, at least not yet.
Graeme
Jun 4, 2015 at 8:15 am
Love the way people on here see a prototype and start hating on TM bringing out too many clubs too often. If it’s a prototype, good luck seeing it in any shops this year.
Also, no one is making you buy it or even making you read this article. It’s not like people buy the newest range of clubs every time they are released. Plus it’s better for the buyer because the ‘older’ technology will drop in price with each new release.
Sean Paul
Jun 3, 2015 at 3:58 pm
Love how people rip on Taylormade for coming out with new clubs “every four weeks” when Callaway does the same exact thing in addition to coming out with a new paint job for their putters every 4 months and marketing it as a whole new putter. Y’all just mad that Taylormade wins more tournaments than anyone else.
Jeff C
Jun 3, 2015 at 10:22 pm
What tournaments are you watching. TM isn’t even close to the #1 OEM winning the
most tourny’s. Different winner every week.
I really doubt you’re so poor you can’t pay attention………
mike
Jun 6, 2015 at 12:42 pm
Last time I checked tm doesn’t win that many. Go back and check this years winners. Not many tm.
Dan
Jun 3, 2015 at 3:27 pm
Mizuno MP-59 influence?
Tom p
Jun 3, 2015 at 2:44 pm
All these haters that keep commenting on the frequency of release need to get over it and get a life. We would have 12 different models of they released every 4 weeks. They have released a new iron and a new wood every year since 2015.
Go complain about phones and tvs and cars that get released every year. The Taylormade bashing is getting old. Some of us like to see what is coming out or a prototype.
By the way if you are counting Callaway has released more than TaylorMade the last three years…might want to give them some hateraid too.
Steve
Jun 3, 2015 at 9:02 am
Hard to make any judgements with the pics here. But sounds like the same old with the speed slots and a new 7 yards longer campaign.
G
Jun 3, 2015 at 3:32 am
Did TM actually say they were launching this iron? didn’t think so…hint for future, learn to read…
Lee
Jun 3, 2015 at 12:50 pm
Hint for commenter, the title of this article says nothing about Taylormade “launching” anything.
Steven
Jun 3, 2015 at 2:40 pm
I agree. Reading is fundamental. Such a bias against TaylorMade these days. Jealous much?
mike
Jun 6, 2015 at 12:58 pm
Jealously no, tired of the market being flooded with crap and over marketing more distance…… yes. Last time I checked the usga hasn’t changed the rules.
moses
Jun 3, 2015 at 2:12 am
All good by me. Can’t wait for the RSi TP’s to come down to about $300
Lowell Madanes
Jun 5, 2015 at 9:45 am
Im on the same mind set…. Or should I say RSI TP/MC’s since they are very similar
Go TMAG!!!
gabriel
Jun 6, 2015 at 7:03 pm
the mc are 599.99 right know AT GOLF TOWN
Jengus
Jun 3, 2015 at 2:05 am
lel @ everyone
golfprotj
Jun 2, 2015 at 9:49 pm
They change there line more often than some people change the underwear! J/k, lol/sorry T-Made fans, Complete joke, Any makes you wonder!!!
Lee H.
Jun 2, 2015 at 9:45 pm
Who cares if they put out a club every 6 months? If people are buying it, Taylormade will keep building it. If we, as consumers, don’t like the latest and greatest that seems to be coming out quite often from them, then we don’t buy it. If it ever gets to the point where Taylormade feels their marketing strategy is not working, then they will ease back. But until then, they will come out with as much new stuff as they feel is needed. We can choose to buy it or stick with what we got. The good thing about living in a democratic society is that no one is forcing us to do or buy anything that we don’t want to.
cb
Jun 3, 2015 at 1:00 am
we don’t have to buy it but unfortunately the golf shops have to stock it
jcorbran
Jun 3, 2015 at 1:24 am
no they dont
Tom p
Jun 3, 2015 at 2:46 pm
Well said.
Haters gonna hate hate hate…
Barack
Jun 2, 2015 at 9:17 pm
I was getting worried, they haven’t put out a new club in a couple of weeks
BigBoy
Jun 2, 2015 at 8:22 pm
How long is this BS going to go on for by the manufacturers, they chop and change and go no-where….at least the Japanese forged boys produce something you can hit till they wear out and not give you a new model every 4 weeks.
Winmac80
Jun 2, 2015 at 7:24 pm
Am I the only ones that feels weird of a mark on John Huh’s heel that could indicate a shank? maybe more than once? But RSi has been quite a solid iron and we should expect better irons from TM (and better price for RSi)
chad ryan
Jun 2, 2015 at 6:43 pm
Yea looks like a slightly chunkier mp 15. Not bad though. Their “slots” kinda ruin their irons for me though.
Sherwin
Jun 2, 2015 at 6:33 pm
More new TaylorMade irons! What is up with their product cycles?
RValdez
Jun 2, 2015 at 5:50 pm
If that is a tungsten weight behind the sweetspot it kind of reminds me of the Mizuno MP-59 with the TM/Adams slots.
Rip Torn
Jun 2, 2015 at 6:23 pm
Or it’s a TITANIUM slab to move the weight distribution to the heel and toe like the MP-59 or MP-15.
Yet another TM rip of Mizuno.
It’s a bit thick looking but I like it.
MHendon
Jun 2, 2015 at 6:23 pm
That would be titanium not tungsten
StG
Jun 2, 2015 at 6:27 pm
You mean Titanium. Not tungsten. Titanium is light, so that helps to distribute the steel’s mass towards the heel and toe and also adds anti-vibration feel to the middle.
Richard Valdez
Jun 2, 2015 at 11:29 pm
My fault on that one. I forgot it was titanium.