TaylorMade CGB Max Irons

Golfshopthailand.com is carrying these new irons from Taylormade golf:

TaylorMade Golf Company has unveiled a new iron, the r7 CGB MAX, the name of which tells a lot about the performance of the product

The letters "CGB" stand for "centre-of-gravity back," a reference to the iron?s exceptionally low and deep CG position that contributes to the kind of optimum launch conditions that promote added distance and control. "MAX" alludes to maximum COR, maximum COR zone, maximum clubhead speed, maximum ball speed and maximum forgiveness. The point being that the r7 CGB MAX is engineered to launch high, long, accurate shots with extraordinary ease. It is the most technologically advanced iron TaylorMade has ever created, and represents the pinnacle in terms of a game-improvement iron design.

The r7 CGB MAX?s distance-producing capabilities begin with the clubface, which is created separately from the clubhead thanks to TaylorMade?s Pull-Face method of construction. The clubface, which consists of 455 stainless steel, is exceptionally thin yet exceptionally strong, and boasts a large, unsupported area that helps to generate an uncommonly high COR for an iron, helping to promote faster ball speed and increased distance.

Pull-Face construction makes it possible for the r7 CGB MAX to employ TaylorMade?s exclusive Inverted Cone Technology, which was pioneered three years ago in TaylorMade?s R500 Series drivers and is still employed in TaylorMade?s r7 and r5 driver models, including the No. 1 driver on the PGA Tour, the r7 quad. With the r7 CGB MAX, the inverted cone is milled directly into the rear side of the clubface. The precise geometry of the inverted cone changes the way the clubface behaves at impact and effectively increases the size of the club?s COR zone, so that a larger area of the clubface delivers a higher degree of ball speed. TaylorMade engineers have been working to find a way to incorporate ICT into irons for three years, and the fact that they have succeeded represents a breakthrough that allows the r7 CGB MAX to deliver consistently long distance even on off-centre hits.

Pull-Face construction also allows TaylorMade engineers to mill the front of the clubface as well as the back, so that the grooves can be created to exacting specifications and the clubface can be milled perfectly flat. The clubface and clubhead are joined by way of plasma welding, which offers a superior level of consistency and control for an extremely precise and strong bond

The r7 CGB MAX also features a hollow top-line, which allowed TaylorMade engineers to save 17 critical grams of weight. That weight is relocated to the lower-rear portion of the clubhead, at the toe and heel, in the form of four permanently installed tungsten cartridges. That, combined with the MAX?s wide sole, moves the CG location to an uncommonly low, deep-back position, making it almost effortless to launch the ball high, strong, long and deep.

The r7 CGB MAX's tungsten cartridges add to its high MOI, but that?s only part of this iron?s forgiveness story. The MAX features the largest clubhead of any steel iron TaylorMade has ever created, and because of that boasts an inherently high MOI as well as the largest steel clubface area of any TaylorMade iron, resulting in an extremely large hitting area and an extremely high level of stability on mis-hits, equaling long, straight results on off-centre hits.

The r7 CGB MAX's distance-producing capabilities extend to the shafts it is available in, either ultra-light graphite or the new TMTK AM T-Step ultra-light steel. Both, thanks to their light weight, encourage faster swing speed for increased yardage.

"For those who wonder why we call this iron r7 when it doesn't incorporate Movable Weight Technology, the way our r7 drivers do, the answer is simple," says Benoit Vincent, chief technical officer. "The concept of 'r7' has never been expressly about movable weight, but more about the precise management of launch conditions and the players' freedom to choose the launch conditions that work best with their swing. When TaylorMade engineers created the groundbreaking r7 quad driver, they developed the ability to properly and precisely change a club's playing characteristics to deliver a specific set of launch conditions ? launch conditions that make it easier to launch a ball on a high, powerful flight. They applied that knowledge to two new TaylorMade irons ? the r7 XD and r7 CGB MAX. Each delivers launch conditions like no iron TaylorMade has ever created, which makes them longer, and easier to launch than any iron in TaylorMade's history."

Myths About Golf Equipment and Performance

Myths About Golf Equipment And Performance

Can you separate fact from fiction when it comes to golf equipment performance?

By Dick Rugge
Senior Technical Director, United States Golf Association

To show how perceptions can be misleading, the following is a list of items prepared by Dick Rugge, senior technical director at the USGA, that separate golf equipment fact from fiction.

The United States Golf Association acts to regulate equipment so that skill remains the most important tenant of the sport. The USGA is often asked to address the needs of a game that appears to be changing. Facts and opinion need to be considered when the USGA makes important decisions about golf equipment.

1. Golfers with faster swing speeds get disproportionately greater distance benefits from new golf balls that have been introduced after 2000.

False. Physics, scientific tests, and actual results on the PGA Tour all confirm that faster swinging players have not gained a disproportionate amount of distance from modern golf balls. An example: Corey Pavin, the shortest hitter in 2000, gained about the same amount of distance from 2000 to 2005 (7.4 yards) as the longest (John Daly at 8.7 yards).

2. Golf ball distance is not currently limited.

False. Golf ball distance has been regulated since 1976 and golf ball rebound characteristics have been regulated since the 1940s. In 2004, the USGA updated its testing methodology to more closely reflect the athleticism and clubs of today's Tour pros. All golf balls played on Tour and the vast majority of golf balls sold have passed the USGA’s distance limit test.

3. Driving distance on Tour is increasing rapidly

False. While average PGA Tour driving distance significantly increased over the past 10 years, it has leveled off during the past three. The average increase since the level of 2003 to the current level in 2006 is only about 1 yard per year.

4. The longest hitters on the PGA Tour finish higher on the money list.

False. While some long-driving professionals have been very successful, on average, the top 10 driving distance players have actually been falling down on the money list in recent years. From 1980-85 the average rank was 64.2; in 2000-2005 it was 77.1. The second worst single year average rank on the money list of the longest 10 drivers was in 2004 with an average rank of 103.3.

5. Most of the PGA Tour professionals swing at 120 mph or more.

False. The average swing speed on the PGA Tour is approximately 113 mph. There are some who swing at or higher than 120 mph, but they are clearly in the minority.

6. The USGA ball test doesn't control ball distance well enough because actual pro golfer swings are different than the test method.

False. The test method employed by the USGA, using a 120 mph swing speed, is representative of the swing conditions used by the longer PGA Tour professionals. The USGA tests balls like the PGA Tour pros hit balls.

7. The average distance for 5-irons on Tour is more than 200 yards.

False. The PGA Tour Shotlink system, which records virtually all shots throughout the season, shows that the average 5-iron shot from fairway to green is approximately 185 yards. From the tee on par threes, the average 5-iron distance is about 197 yards.

8. You get more distance when you put topspin on a drive.

False. Every normally struck drive has backspin. Backspin generates lift and keeps the ball in the air. You can put topspin on a ball – but only when you 'top' the ball. It will go a very short distance and dive into the ground.

9. Accuracy off the tee isn’t as important as it used to be on the PGA Tour.

That’s no myth, it’s true. During the '80s driving accuracy was almost as strong a predictor of money-winning as putting. Today it has fallen to the lowest level ever.