TaylorMade Burner 2.0 irons

[NeilTappin]

Morning all,

We've just uploaded a story about the new TaylorMade Burner 2.0 irons http://www.golf-monthly.co.uk/tours-and-...-2-0-irons.html

We will have more pictures coming this afternoon with a comprehensive gallery.

As an aside, I was involved in a conference call with Mark King (CEO of TMAG) on Wednesday. It is exactly 10 years since they re-launched the brand as a decade ago they were at risk of drifting towards obscurity. It was then that they decided to focus on becoming the number one metal wood company and improve their coverage on Tour. The success they had in this area allowed them to invest and improve their offerings in all categories. They are now a very big player indeed.

Interestingly, Mark had to field quite a lot of questions about the short product life-cycles that TalorMade has been criticised for. He said that this was inevitable as the technology and manufacturing processes improved. He said that to remain number one in different categories they have to regularly release new products that gradually evolve the technology, even if these steps in improvement are relatively small. This isn't going to change. He also mentioned that there are a significant number of people that look to invest in new equipment each year. To ensure TaylorMade always remain current, they have to release regularly. Revolutionary products come round once every four or five years and in between time, they tweak these products to make them better.

Just thought I'd would mention this as I know that TaylorMade has received plenty of criticism for their high frequency of product turnover on our forum. Any thoughts?

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Not sure I agree with the significant number looking to upgrade annually and given the depth of feeling on here as a fairly broad consensus it would seem to actually detract potential customers. I can understand the need to refine the product and the manufacturing processes to stay competive and profitable but I thought once they reduced to two main lines (R9 and Burner) they would look to revise every 15-24 months in line with competitors.

Surely it would be much better in terms of market position for club golfers to produce new specs on a longer turnaround but to make the new releases significant in the way Ping have done (I15) and the new Mizuno lines.

That said they do look a nice club and wondered if a) you've seen any yet, b) want a really average golfer (like me) to test them and c) know the RRP and UK release date.

 

[Twire]

As you can see from my bag, I quite like Taylor Made. I was converted about 3 years ago when I tried a mates R7 425 and loved it. It was the first driver I had hit that was longer than my old Callaway GBB 3 wood. I went straight out and bought the R7 Superquad loved that and the rest as they say is history, I now have a full bag of Taylor Made.

Now the downside. When TM first released the R9, the idea of being able to adjust or DIY custom fit the driver characteristics was a great one, and I was keen to get hold of one. The price put me off so I thought I'd hang on a while, and I'm glad I did. Within a few months they had launched the R9 460. Imagine if I had bought the new driver to see it superseded a few months later. Now they have the R9 Supertri plus new Burners. It's all becoming a bit of a joke, as soon as you buy TM gear it's superseded by a new model, which then devalues the model you have.

Because of this my next set of irons will definitely not be taylor made, although I think I'll be sticking to TM woods.

 

[chrisd]

Hi Neil

Interesting to understand their philosophy on here. The truth is that in recent years everything that you buy is superseeded before you get it unpacked, your car, toaster, television etc etc and golf gear has ineviatably followed the same path. I suppose that you now have to take a short term view as to the monetary value in the equipment and assume a set of, say £500 clubs to be worth £150 after 2 years as they are likely to be 3 series old by then. If you dont mind taking the "hit" to upgrade there is no problem.

There is no doubt in my mind though. that the "model on model" technological advances dont make upgrading onto every new model worth while, and maybe, the advances over 3 to 4 years would reap rewards in improved playability if thats the frequency that you upgrade.

TM are criticised because it seems virtually impossible to replace lost or broken clubs when they are barely out of warrenty and their service department, in my experience, are pretty poor. I am still waiting after about 4 months for the promised "call back" regarding bolts shearing on my R7 CGB max driver!

Having read much on here about TM though, I use their Burner 08 irons and Superfast Rescue club and am delighted with them. Everyone is free to use who they want for equipment and their are canny ways to buy TM gear (end of range, internet etc) and save money - I got my Burners from Jam golf on the internet about £125 cheaper than my local supplier and with a sandwedge extra.If I use them for 3 years and get £150 when I sell them, they will have cost me a little over £1 per week to own, I dont think thats too bad

Mark says that a significant number of people invest in new equipment each year and that may be truer before the recession than now, but this forum shows that there are always new golfers looking for good secondhand gear, you just take more of a hit on the value when the models change more frequently, but, it's a well known fact, that expenditure on hobbies stays high even in a recession


Chris

 

[NeilTappin]

Homer, the RRP is £549 steel, £599 graphite. The irons only arrived at the start of this week in the office and have been with our photographer ever since. Paul O'Hagan has taken a couple out to test this morning and his review will be in the next issue.

With regards to someone testing them, I'm sure we will send them out but not just yet!

Release date I'm not sure about but sometime in the next two or three weeks.

 

[chrisd]

With regards to someone testing them, I'm sure we will send them out but not just yet!

Can you put my name on the list - please!


Chris

 

[User 105]

I think I can understand what Mark is getting at.

An individual might not change his driver, irons, putter etc every year but there will always be a lot of people looking to change for some reason each year.

So by constantly updating there range they are always going to compare favorably with any other manufacturer in tests as they will always have the latest developments.

Now compare a new model TM club with say another manufacturer who hasn't changed his design in 18-24 months then the TM equivalent is going to have an advantage.

Personally it doesn't bother me how often they release new gear. If I'm looking and what they offer is the best option for me then I'll get it. If they release something better in 2 months, so what, I got the best that was available at the time I needed\wanted something.

It's the same for phones, computers etc. Probably more so. You get the best at the time knowing within weeks if not days something better will be out. If you didn't you'd never change.

 

[steveyjd81]

know wonder they claim they are so long, lofts are really strong, 19*3iron and 45 pw, at least 2* stronger than standard

 

[Ethan]

With all due respect to the TM guy, that argument is nonsense. TM is driving the faster cycling of product lines. You can be certain that whatever product they bring out, there will be an incremental update along in a few months. I quite like new stuff and keep up to date with new equipment, but even my head spins when I look at TM, and I would not choose their equipment because of the cynical nature of the planned obsolescence they build in.

 

[DCB]

Good job Mizuno haven't done such a thing eh

 

[Smiffy]

Your washing can only get "so" white.
Yet every new, improved washing powder guarantees to get your whites "whiter" than ever before.
How much "longer" can golf clubs get?

 

[Ethan]

Good job Mizuno haven't done such a thing eh

Well, they don't do it nearly the same extent as TM. The Mizuno equipment line is updated on a 2 yearly cycle, and the recent update has reduced the range of irons by one. The woods are pretty simple and will stay as they are until their cycle completes.

But TM brought out the R9 woods, then the R9 TP, then a few months later the R9 460, and added the R9 Ti fairways to the R9 fairways. At least if I buy a Mizuno driver now, I know when it will be replaced.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

To be fair though they did get rid of all their iron models and focussed on just the R9 and burner range and these haven't had numerous reincarnations. We all know that a lot of golfers fall for the ego boosting new driver when they can't even use the one they have but it is exactly those that fuel these reincarnations

 

[GB72]

To be fair though they did get rid of all their iron models and focussed on just the R9 and burner range and these haven't had numerous reincarnations. We all know that a lot of golfers fall for the ego boosting new driver when they can't even use the one they have but it is exactly those that fuel these reincarnations

The Burner irons have had 3 or 4 updates at least (Burner, TP, Max, Superfast)