New speed pocket delivers extraordinary distance, performance and forgiveness
TaylorMade Golf, which became the No. 1 iron brand in the game by releasing breakthrough products like Burner®, RocketBallz® and RocketBladez®, today announced SpeedBlade™ – a game-improvement iron that launches the ball exceptionally high and far.
Visually, the SpeedBlade iron is striking, combining a two-tone, satin nickel chrome plating with dark smoke satin ion plating (IP). Internally, the key performance feature that separates SpeedBlade from the pack is the Speed Pocket, a handle-bar shaped slot in the sole of the 3-7 irons that enables a large area of the face to flex and rebound at impact, resulting in faster ball speed, higher launch and better feel.
“The Speed Pocket performs where golfers need it most,” said Brian Bazzel, TaylorMade’s director of iron, wedge and putters development. “Our research indicates that 72% of shots by 5-25 handicap golfers are impacted below the center of the face. That typically results in low-launching shots of inconsistent distance. The Speed Pocket helps you launch those low-impact shots on a consistently higher, longer carrying and softer-landing flight.”
Research also indicates that, the average replacement cycle for irons among core golfers is 4.9 years* – a significant length of time given the advances TaylorMade has made in improving iron performance. When tested, the new SpeedBlade 6-iron traveled almost ten yards farther with a 4% higher peak trajectory than TaylorMade’s Tour Burner iron, which was introduced in 2009.
“Five years ago we challenged ourselves to create the best iron we could,” added Bazzel. “We’ve taken everything we’ve learned since then and created our most complete iron ever in SpeedBlade.”
Since Tour Burner, TaylorMade iron engineers have strategically worked with the company’s metalwood team to better understand how to incorporate driver design into an iron. The result of that effort is the SpeedBlade, which combines a low center of gravity (CG) with TaylorMade’s thinnest/fastest iron face to date. Along with the company’s renowned Inverted Cone Technology (bigger sweet spot on off-center hits) and an improved Speed Pocket, SpeedBlade is truly in a class of its own.
Low CG and Speed Pocket = Powerful Combination
No other TaylorMade iron delivers such desirable launch conditions as SpeedBlade. The low CG promotes superior energy transfer from club-to-ball for consistently high launch and fast ball speed.
The improved Speed Pocket has been widened and lengthened, giving golfers more face area toward the toe and heel that promotes a high launch angle, strong ball flight and a steep, quick stopping descent angle. The Speed Pocket also features a cut through slot internally, which allows for more flex and rebound on the bottom part of the face, making the SpeedBlade iron set the fastest face TaylorMade has ever created, measuring right up to USGA COR limit.
Individually Engineered Heads/Distance Gapping
Critical to the overall performance of the SpeedBlade is progressive shaping throughout the set. The slender topline and sole in the short irons promote better workability, feel and control. The long irons feature a bigger topline to inspire confidence at address, and have each been optimized not only to promote phenomenal distance, but also to promote fantastic feel and sound – thanks to the vibration-dampening qualities of the Speed Pocket polymer and multi-material badge.
As metalwoods continue to evolve and deliver more and more distance, TaylorMade has engineered SpeedBlade to close the gap between the longest iron and the shortest metalwood in your bag. TaylorMade engineers have carefully managed the distance-gaps between clubs by meticulously controlling loft, face thickness, CG location, shaft, club length and most importantly through the Speed Pocket. The result is a complete iron set that delivers generous and consistent gaps between every club.
SpeedBlade Wedges
The SpeedBlade Attack Wedge (50°), Sand Wedge (55°) and Lob Wedge (60°) have a classic tour shape and blade construction and are sure to suit the eye of any player. Distinguished from the rest of the set by their dark gray finish, each wedge is optimized for feel and performance. The sand and the lob wedge feature TaylorMade’s All Terrain Versatility (ATV) to promote great feel, spin and control from a wide variety of greenside lies. Each is equipped with a heavier steel shaft for improved performance and consistency.
Pricing, Options and Availability
SpeedBlade irons are available in 8-piece sets (4-AW being the most popular) and are equipped with a stock 85-gram steel shaft ($799) or a VELOX-T 75-gram (stiff), 65-gram (regular), 55-gram (senior), or 45-gram (ladies) graphite shaft ($899). SpeedBlade irons hit retail starting Friday, October 4. Wedges are available separately for $100 apiece. Learn more at taylormadegolf.com.
*2011 NGF Study
