2009 TaylorMade BURNER Irons Mini-Review - WHOAAAAA !!!

[phanker]

My set is definitely soft. Tried the store's set again and they seem the same so TM didn't make a booboo and stuck non R shafts in my set.

 

I found the stiff a bit harsh but they would have been better for me. My 6iron SS is about 80mph.

 

Hitting them on the sim is very deceiving which is why I went regular. Hiting them on the range was a different matter.

 

If you get these, I would just spend the extra $$$ and spec them with some better shafts right off the bat.

[volchris]

Mine are regular steel, and they are certainly nor senior flex. The 4 and 5 are a little weaker than I prefer, but 6-AW are the same as any others I have used. For reference, I hit my 7 iron ~150 yds.

 

Chris

[Chris5573]

I found the stiff a bit harsh but they would have been better for me. My 6iron SS is about 80mph.

 

Hitting them on the sim is very deceiving which is why I went regular. Hiting them on the range was a different matter.

 

If you get these, I would just spend the extra $$$ and spec them with some better shafts right off the bat.

 

I hit the reg and stiff on the simulator too, I got much better results with the regs. The stiff felt kind of harsh to me too. My local store does not have a demo that I can take outside, they just tape up a new set that they are selling. When I hit the stiff, I was missing to the right almost every time. The reg felt effortless and was straight and pretty far.

 

Mine are regular steel, and they are certainly nor senior flex. The 4 and 5 are a little weaker than I prefer, but 6-AW are the same as any others I have used. For reference, I hit my 7 iron ~150 yds.

 

Chris

 

My driver swing speed is about 95, and my 6i is about 85. I am always right on the border of stiff and reg, but I usually prefer reg since I can swing smooth and get a nice high flight.

[hardten]

Here is my question with these irons. Are they designed and made for a lighter shaft?? If so how will affect those of us who prefer a heavier shaft?? Say a KBS Tour Stiff or S300? Even S400?

 

 

When I spoke with fitters at both Golfsmith and Roger Dunn, they told me the clubs were specially designed for the stock shafts, and to be real careful about swapping them out. I figure maybe that is what the TM reps are telling them to say, but who knows?

I think there is a high degree of truth in the reps comment. The designers don,t just say "lets slap this shaft on um". Of course they can be reshafted and for some guys they should be but I guess you have to know if your one of those. Who knows?

[DrSchteeve]

Here is my question with these irons. Are they designed and made for a lighter shaft?? If so how will affect those of us who prefer a heavier shaft?? Say a KBS Tour Stiff or S300? Even S400?

 

 

When I spoke with fitters at both Golfsmith and Roger Dunn, they told me the clubs were specially designed for the stock shafts, and to be real careful about swapping them out. I figure maybe that is what the TM reps are telling them to say, but who knows?

I think there is a high degree of truth in the reps comment. The designers don,t just say "lets slap this shaft on um". Of course they can be reshafted and for some guys they should be but I guess you have to know if your one of those. Who knows?

 

I would agree. I think these posts that say "the stock shaft is ****" are generally out of line. The manufacturers are obviously trying to make clubs that people like, and that work well for a wide range of people. Actually, most clubs are probably aimed at a market that is not representative of this board: mid to high handicaps with average swingspeeds.

[phanker]

I think I know what it is. The light shafts are very sensitive to how your swing tempo is like.

These are more suited for smooth tempo swings which doesn't upset the shaft too much on the down swing.

I have a pretty quick tempo swing which really exaggerate the issue with the longer irons. 8-AW are great I find. 7-4i, not so much.

I have a compact swing with a lot of torque which flexes the shaft quite a bit so I could never make clean consistent contacts the longer the irons get. When I do, they definitely go far indeed.

I tried slowing and smoothing my swing out a bit and I fair much better but I lose distance.

[mplee]

After reading the amazing review of the Taylormade burner's , i decided to pick them up and give them a go. I picked up a set on ebay for a decent price. They are set to arrive on Thursday. Anxiously awaiting, I opened up the ebay listing again to find that the set i purchased was actually the "burner xd's". My understanding is that the burner xd has a titanium face while all the other burner irons have a stainless steel face w/ slightly different lofts. Not sure what else is different (other than the way they look). Are there real differences in terms of playability, consistency, and feel between these iron sets? I'm totally bummed!

 

Little background: I am a decent ball striker with a 12 index. I am currently playing mp60 with dgs300. I wanted to give game improvement irons a chance for the rest of the season so that I could focus on improving my short game.

[DrSchteeve]

After reading the amazing review of the Taylormade burner's , i decided to pick them up and give them a go. I picked up a set on ebay for a decent price. They are set to arrive on Thursday. Anxiously awaiting, I opened up the ebay listing again to find that the set i purchased was actually the "burner xd's". My understanding is that the burner xd has a titanium face while all the other burner irons have a stainless steel face w/ slightly different lofts. Not sure what else is different (other than the way they look). Are there real differences in terms of playability, consistency, and feel between these iron sets? I'm totally bummed!

 

Little background: I am a decent ball striker with a 12 index. I am currently playing mp60 with dgs300. I wanted to give game improvement irons a chance for the rest of the season so that I could focus on improving my short game.

 

XD's are more of a true SGI set - large heads, thick topline, wide soles - all the way through the set. The Burner's are more of a SGI set in the longer irons morphing to a GI in the short irons. It may depend on what you can stand to look at, as the Burner's hide their somewhat thicker topline pretty well. XD's will probably have a higher ballflight and be more difficult to work than the Burner's. Sorry to say it, but if you are coming from MP60's the transition to the Burner's is likely to be a lot easier than to the XD's.

[Deadpool_25]

After reading the amazing review of the Taylormade burner's , i decided to pick them up and give them a go. I picked up a set on ebay for a decent price. They are set to arrive on Thursday. Anxiously awaiting, I opened up the ebay listing again to find that the set i purchased was actually the "burner xd's". My understanding is that the burner xd has a titanium face while all the other burner irons have a stainless steel face w/ slightly different lofts. Not sure what else is different (other than the way they look). Are there real differences in terms of playability, consistency, and feel between these iron sets? I'm totally bummed!

 

Little background: I am a decent ball striker with a 12 index. I am currently playing mp60 with dgs300. I wanted to give game improvement irons a chance for the rest of the season so that I could focus on improving my short game.

 

That's unfortunate. The Burner XD is a completely different animal. The design features that make the Burners stand out is not all in the XD. I think the main things about the 09 Burner irons are the very thin faces for higher COR and non-standard lengths. I think there's also some stuff going on with the weight of the head, but that's just a wild guess.

[mosesgolf]

One of the other members on the other site did a comparison from his current TPs vs. 09 burners. Everything was the same grips, shafte, shaft length, weight loft and lie. He still hit these 12 yards further due to the ultra hot face. They posted the comparison chart and the burners were the clear cut winner in every category. So you Einsteins out there explain that!

wow...the misinformation just keeps coming and coming..this einstein will take a crack

 

All tp's have more loft than the burners ferris....in the test which tp's? the 2009? the 2008? all tp's have more loft than the burners? so which magic tp's with the same specs are you talking about? All tp's would go less distance...look below and pick out which magic tps have less loft and match the burners?

how did they do this magic test...cut off shaft length on the burners and have a club fitter custom bend each iron to match the burners? ....sheesh.

 

2009 tp

3-21... 4-24... 5-27... 6-31... 7-35... 8-39... 9-43... pw-47

2008 tp mb

3-21... 4-24... 5-28... 6-32... 7-36... 8-40... 9-44... pw-47

2007 tp

3-21... 4-24... 5-27... 6-31... 7-35... 8-39... 9-43... pw-47

 

2009 burner juiced lengthened irons

3-19... 4-21... 5-24... 6-27... 7-31... 8-35... 9-40... pw-45

 

ps Classic 1950's specs to show how bizarre we have gone

3-22... 4-26... 5-30... 6-34... 7-38... 8-42... 9-46... pw-51...wow...no need for a GW?

And here are specs of Mizuno MP 67's

3-22, 4-25, 5-28, 6-32, 7-36, 8-40, 9-44, PW-48

TheTM Burners are litterally juiced up by one full club.

 

In all honesty, who cares if you hit pw or 9 iron into a green. Once you get used to your set and know your yardages, that's the club you play for a given yardage. I know that when I play Mizuno's that what I hit a 9 iron yardage will be PW for GI clubs from Cally, TM, etc. Mizuno PW 48 vs TM Burner PW 45 with a 1/4 inch longer shaft. Doesn't take a genius to know which one's going to go further.

 

My R7 TP irons have a 47* PW w/ DGX100 steel shafts. I hit the R7 TP's with the weaker lofts further than my gi irons. Go figure. The Cally shovels are so forgiving so that's what's in the bag right now.

[sdiddy]

Jeez this post cracks me up. I am a loyal taylor made customer (play rac OS irons) and i tested these burners myself. Let me shed some light on this subject for some of you:

 

I tested every iron along with mine BUT i choked up to the exact length of my current irons to compare apples to apples. Guess what??? SAME. EXACT. DISTANCE.

 

this really isnt rocket science and I am not dissing taylor made, but there is a lot of mistaken hype on these clubs. They are longer and slightly lighter shafts...thats all. Add an inch to any of your clubs and youll get the same results. For that matter, why dont we all add 2 inches to our shafts and then marvel at the distances! make it 5 inches!!! or for that matter, why not just use graphite driver length shafts for every club in our bag. wait...old men already do that. no wonder they bomb it down the middle without even trying.

 

The reality is i dont want to add an inch. In fact i prefer my clubs shorter than standard for more control, which is what many pros do as well. Taylor made is smart. To quote another guy in this posting:

 

"all I care about is I (not anyone else, just me) hit it 10 yards longer and that I have added distance to my mid irons, with no difference in my swing or affecting my feel. That's all I care."

 

thats EXACTLY what taylor made is banking on.

[sdiddy]

After reading the amazing review of the Taylormade burner's , i decided to pick them up and give them a go. I picked up a set on ebay for a decent price. They are set to arrive on Thursday. Anxiously awaiting, I opened up the ebay listing again to find that the set i purchased was actually the "burner xd's". My understanding is that the burner xd has a titanium face while all the other burner irons have a stainless steel face w/ slightly different lofts. Not sure what else is different (other than the way they look). Are there real differences in terms of playability, consistency, and feel between these iron sets? I'm totally bummed!

 

Little background: I am a decent ball striker with a 12 index. I am currently playing mp60 with dgs300. I wanted to give game improvement irons a chance for the rest of the season so that I could focus on improving my short game.

 

 

THATS WHAT YOU GET FOR DRUNK EBAYING!!!

[kmoff77]

After reading the amazing review of the Taylormade burner's , i decided to pick them up and give them a go. I picked up a set on ebay for a decent price. They are set to arrive on Thursday. Anxiously awaiting, I opened up the ebay listing again to find that the set i purchased was actually the "burner xd's". My understanding is that the burner xd has a titanium face while all the other burner irons have a stainless steel face w/ slightly different lofts. Not sure what else is different (other than the way they look). Are there real differences in terms of playability, consistency, and feel between these iron sets? I'm totally bummed!

 

Little background: I am a decent ball striker with a 12 index. I am currently playing mp60 with dgs300. I wanted to give game improvement irons a chance for the rest of the season so that I could focus on improving my short game.

 

 

THATS WHAT YOU GET FOR DRUNK EBAYING!!!

 

I am guilty of this on many occasions. I need to stay off ebay after midnight!!

[bytehoven]

I'm currently working over a set with Dynamic Gold "Tour Issue" S-400's and will be putting together a review of them soon. My advice for folks looking at these would be to spec them with whatever shaft they prefer, instead of going with the stockers.

 

Can you comment on what the various the head weigh in at? Also what is their hosel size?

[sdiddy]

Its not hostility. Its frustration. My guess, and i think i am probably right, you read one or two of my last posts. I say that because if you had read every one of them, from the beginning of this thread til now, it was with frustration from the start of original poster announcing how astonishingly long and hot these irons are.

They are not. So i took issue with that. I am not angry, i think that TM overall makes good product but they have started a dangerous trend in last few years.

 

So you took offense on my posting? Wow... what a jerk. Let me say that I am not a techie guy. YES, to me, I feel that these irons are astonishingly LONG and HOT. So what? Why do you care... You sounded like someone who is frustrated with TM and tried to defend other manufacturers.

 

Shark, you sound like a mad angry poster from your initial posting - grow up! Some of the people here who read could not care less about 0.25 inch longer shaft and 1 degree stronger loft. But they do need longer irons. You can read other postings if you will. You made your point, and I have said yes you are correct about the shaft length and loft. Shut up now and stop being a pissy cranky little man!

 

LETS CHILL. I think he really means that its annoying that people are going around talking about these irons like they are the next coming of jesus or something. and i agree. They are simple longer and mismarked. I am going to scratch off the numbers on my irons and change them also (change my 5 to a 6 and so forth). I agree that this is an alarming trend. I mean whats next? keep changing until our PW until its a 9.5 degree lofted titanium head fairway wood? then we have to start inventing MORE clubs to fill in all the eventual gaps! its stupid for TM to do this and really not fair to mislead an average joe consumer, since they wont know all of the things we know. oh but jeez nick faldo said it was longer! oh but jeex TM failed to mention to him the clubs were 3 degrees off and .5 inch longer than his! DOH!!!

 

Let me save you all $500. dont buy these clubs just yet. do this instead: next time you want to hit a 5 iron to the green, pull your 4 iron instead and hit it smooth. I just saved you 6 strokes. thank me later.

[sdiddy]

If you do not at least try these clubs then you are really cheating yourself. Bottom line!

 

 

this coming from the guy wearing a pink boa in his profile pic. i question the source...

[buster]

Have had these in my bag for 6 months..DGsl's.. 46 PW.. Best set I've ever played. Have a scratch (+1) buddie..ss 115.. never had a GI or Players GI in his bag before these and loves them..."they could not improve these"... and I have a Buddie who as a 2 could not get around these and went back to his i10's.. not for everyone, but a darn good set for me...

[DrSchteeve]

Well, I was one of the original "so what if they are longer since the shafts are longer and the lofts are stronger" posters. Now notice my sig.

 

As for being longer, in my case I put the Burner's being longer down to lighter shafts (I was playing 95 gram graphite in my I5's) and then presumably to a hotter clubface, since I ordered my Burner's shorter than standard Burner length to make them the same length as most current clubs today (and the same as my I5's) and I5's were 2* strong, so the lofts of the Burner's matched either exactly or within 1 degree of my I5's. My personal progression is that I hit the Burner AW exactly the same as my I5 AW (UW to Ping), but I hit the clubs progressively longer than my I5's to the 5 iron that I am now hitting 170-175, whereas my I5 was 160-165. I agree that ultimately the length is not the issue - it just so happens that I am hitting them straighter and with a good degree of more forgiveness on mishits than the I5's. Although there are some other changes to my bag, my golf partners are now commenting primarily on my iron play. This past Sunday, my 4th round with the Burner's, I shot my second to personal best score - 77 - and I shot a 79 on the second round with them. For me, they just work very well.

 

Conversely, my playing partners (now 3) have all hit them a few times with no success at all, so like everything else, they are going to work well for those that fit well into them and not so well for those that don't.

[sdiddy]

I've been a TM user for many years, going back to the 320 irons and the original LT irons. I also use an R7 Limited driver. That being said, I can't believe the public has been taken in by the jacked lofts and longer shafts of these irons. Considering the 09 Burners just hit the shelves, I am strongly suspicious of all the great reviews on this and other sites. How many of these reviewers were "invited" to try a set by a TM staffer and now own a set a no cost? What a sham the marketing practices of TM have become; they are truly the laughing stock of the golf industry.

 

As someone famously said , "No one ever went broke underestimating the taste of the American public".

 

By the way, the OP has gone completely over the top in his responses.

 

 

I like the 12 capper who claimed he shot 75 his first time out.

 

Believe what you want. I did not get a demo set, nor do I or anyone I know work for TM. I did shoot a 75 and I am a 12 hcp. It was a par 70 and I got dialed in quick with the Burner irons. But I do not need to justify anything to any of you. I am not selling anything, just telling it how it is TO ME!!!

 

I do not care about the so called jacked lofts or added length, as I only play the 6-AW and the specs on those are similar to the RAC OS I used to play before the Tour Burners I just got rid of.

 

I have been in these forums along time, and I do not post much unless I feel a need to share info. Maby you guys should consider doing the same.

 

you dont need to justify to anyone brotha. im a 12 handicap too (also a rac os player), and i shot a 77 followed by a 75 the day i switched from a nxt tour to a prov1. sometimes these things just happen!!!

[sdiddy]

no problem, buddy.

 

buztech, sorry to jack your thread, but I don't like being called out.

 

 

 

get a room.

 

hahahhahahhahaha oh man jk. hahahhahahaha

[designdog]

I tried the Burner 09s with TM REAX steel regular flex. They are on the way back to TGW on their 30 trial plan, and I will get another set, with custom shafts - PX Flighted 5.0. Meanwhile, here are my thoughts after 6 rounds:

 

Likes

• Appearance - subtle, disguised GI features, no iron number on face
  
• Offset - minimum on 7-AW
  
• Face - seemed pretty hot to me
  
• Sole - no problems from a variety of lies
  

 

Dislikes

• Shaft - too light and flimsy. Affected my tempo.
  
• Grip - seemed cheap to me
  
• Offset on 4-6 irons took getting used to
  

 

The other, underlying, dislike is that I have grown wary of TaylorMade marketing, with their constant model changes, performance hypes, and "badges." Nonetheless I was pleasantly surprised with the relatively low key look of these irons. They are going to be my "forgiveness" clubs - for a while at least...

 

-ddog

[DrSchteeve]

I tried the Burner 09s with TM REAX steel regular flex. They are on the way back to TGW on their 30 trial plan, and I will get another set, with custom shafts - PX Flighted 5.0. Meanwhile, here are my thoughts after 6 rounds:

 

Likes

• Appearance - subtle, disguised GI features, no iron number on face
  
• Offset - minimum on 7-AW
  
• Face - seemed pretty hot to me
  
• Sole - no problems from a variety of lies
  

 

Dislikes

• Shaft - too light and flimsy. Affected my tempo.
  
• Grip - seemed cheap to me
  
• Offset on 4-6 irons took getting used to
  

 

The other, underlying, dislike is that I have grown wary of TaylorMade marketing, with their constant model changes, performance hypes, and "badges." Nonetheless I was pleasantly surprised with the relatively low key look of these irons. They are going to be my "forgiveness" clubs - for a while at least...

 

-ddog

 

Yes, if you had told me a few months ago that my bag would go from 13 Ping clubs to 13 TaylorMade (well, it is 13 of 15 since I'm playing the FT-9 alternating with the Burner, but I do think the Burner's going to win out), I wouldn't have believed it. But its happened, and I'm playing way better for it. No, I don't think it's as much fun being a TaylorMade player as a Ping player, since I had lots of great experiences with Ping customer support, but I'm hoping I won't need customer support at TaylorMade, at least for a while.

 

Steve

[buster]

 

 

love 'em

[alpsburner]

Try do find right setup - but only 12 clubs

Prefer L, S, A-6, ?, ?,

 

Thanks for help

 

 

In my bag

 

Burner 09 10,5

?

?

Burner 09 6-L

Putter: Kramski HPP 330

Ball: TM red

[Polymer]

So has anyone out there actually played these at a standard length (off of a 38" or 37.75" 5i with .5" increments) with a heavier shaft?

 

I'm more interested in the distance gaps people are getting between clubs with this type of setup rather than the light steel with a light grip with extra length in the shaft...None of those are the characteristics I want but a more forgiving club that doesn't look too huge would be great...

[DrSchteeve]

Try do find right setup - but only 12 clubs

Prefer L, S, A-6, ?, ?,

 

Thanks for help

 

 

In my bag

 

Burner 09 10,5

?

?

Burner 09 6-L

Putter: Kramski HPP 330

Ball: TM red

 

See my sig. I find the '07 Burner 3 wood and '08 Burner Rescues 17* (2) and 22* (4) and then a 5 iron provide perfect 10-15 yardage gaps.

[yoonie]

Saw these in person the other day and I was shocked. These things basically hollow! REALLLY want to try them.

 

Btw, the reason these clubs can use stronger lofts is their very low cog. You wouldn't get the same performance out of any club by just strengthening the lofts.

[DrSchteeve]

So has anyone out there actually played these at a standard length (off of a 38" or 37.75" 5i with .5" increments) with a heavier shaft?

 

I'm more interested in the distance gaps people are getting between clubs with this type of setup rather than the light steel with a light grip with extra length in the shaft...None of those are the characteristics I want but a more forgiving club that doesn't look too huge would be great...

 

Mine are standard length but with the lighter Reax graphite.

 

AW 100

PW 120

9i 130

8i 140

7i 150

6i 160

5i 170

[alpsburner]

QUOTE (alpsburner @ Jun 11 2009, 01:56 AM) Try do find right setup - but only 12 clubs

Prefer L, S, A-6, ?, ?,

 

Thanks for help

 

 

In my bag

 

Burner 09 10,5

?

?

Burner 09 6-L

Putter: Kramski HPP 330

Ball: TM red

 

See my sig. I find the '07 Burner 3 wood and '08 Burner Rescues 17* (2) and 22* (4) and then a 5 iron provide perfect 10-15 yardage gaps.

 

--------------------

Callaway FT-9 10* Draw Fuji ZCom or 2007 TaylorMade Burner 9.5* Reax regular

2007 Burner 3 wood Reax regular

TaylorMade Burner Rescue 17* Reax regular

TaylorMade Burner Rescue 22* Reax regular

TaylorMade Burner 5-AW Reax regular

TaylorMade Tour Burner SW & LW Reax regular

Guerin Rife 2 Bar Hybrid Mallet Center Shaft 33"

 

 

Thank you helped a lot

 

CU :wave:

[DrSchteeve]

 

love 'em

 

Are those special headcovers on the driver and (presumably) 3 wood?

 

What version TM standbag is that, and does it work well? Looking for plenty of pockets and ease of getting clubs in and out of the bag.

 

Thanks for any info.

 

Steve