In a Hurry? Here’s Our 60-Second Review of the TaylorMade Speed Blade Irons!
“The Taylormade SpeedBlade Irons are perfect for the mid to high handicapper who is looking for more launch and swingspeed. If you typically hit your shots thin or shallow, these will be some serious game improvement irons for you.”
The Taylormade SpeedBlade irons are an incredible set that truly has stood the test of time.
They first made their appearance in 2013, and it’s now 2021 and we’re still talking about these amazing game improvement irons!
Generally speaking, most golfers try their hardest to increase their clubhead speed. And, the manufacturers of drivers and fairway woods concentrate on adding distance with forgiveness.
But, with the Taylormade SpeedBlade irons, the primary focus is directed at golfers who want to improve their launch trajectory to give more distance and height on their iron shots.
Personally speaking, I tend to have a very steep swing plane, so the Taylormade Speedblade irons wouldn’t be a very good fit for me. (I think I’d need the opposite)
But, if you tend to have a bit of a shallower swing where the ball doesn’t get enough height, that’s where these irons can really improve your ball flight.
Are Taylormade Speedblade irons, “game improvement irons”?
What is the “Speed Pocket” on the TaylorMade Speedblades?
The Speed Pocket is a handle-bar shaped slot in the sole of the long and mid-irons that helps a larger area of the club face with flex and rebound at impact.
Hitting the sweet spot of the Speed Pocket helps the face to flex and allows for greater ball speed and a high launch.
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- More TaylorMade Speedblade Reviews
By all accounts, the SpeedBlades are longer off the tee.
Many players report that the irons are at least one club-length longer than their previous set, a blessing on parkland courses where hilly approach shots demand the high trajectory and soft landings afforded with a shorter iron.
Positive Speedblade reviews have also mentioned the sharp look and feeling of confidence at address.
But there are some dissenting opinions…
A few golfers have criticized the feel in their SwingBlade irons review, pronouncing the clubs “dead” on impact and panning the line-drive aspect of the shot pattern.
On teed shots such as approaches to Par 3 holes, strikes near the top of the head have resulted in weird ball flight and an uncomfortable feel, probably due to the low-end weighting of the heads.
But, that being said, every swing is different. Golfers who indeed tend to hit their iron shots high on the face are probably ill-suited for this particular set while those with a thin-hitting pattern will likely end up pleased.
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- For the Low Handicapper
In The Little Red Book, Harvey Penick advises “hit it thin to win,” meaning that in a clutch situation a thinly hit iron shot can be a safety valve as it will tend to travel farther.
Overall, there is more trouble in front of greens than behind them, so a “fat” shot hit high and short can ruin many a great round while a thin shot can help you save that par.
In a U.S. Open at Congressional, Colin Montgomerie had perhaps his best chance to win a major U.S. tournament but hit a fat wedge shot short of the green near the end of his final round, making bogey.
An iron set such as the SpeedBlade could provide a buffer against similar disasters when your match is on the line. 🙂
However, due to the Speed Pocket design, evaluating your swing path is critical. Golfers who hit their irons in a long, sweeping motion with a tiny divot will probably receive great feel and consistent flight path from these clubs.
Meanwhile, those who tend to attack downward with a large divot Lee Trevino-style may find that they are striking the ball closer to the top of the head, resulting in the “dead” feel and line-drive flight that some reviewers have complained about.
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- For the High Handicapper
A common problem with beginners and high-handicap golfers involves “skulling” the ball, or pulling the body up drastically on the downswing and impacting the ball at the very bottom of the club head, causing a worm-burner or very low line-drive shot that bounces short of the target – and often into serious trouble.
These irons could help solve that problem, at least as far as results and overall score if not actual help with the swing path itself.
For most novices, distance is crucial. A longer-hitting set of irons can come in handy by allowing the beginner to swing in a relaxed motion, not as concerned with blasting the ball as hard as possible.
However, feel is also extremely important for the newbie, a category in which these clubs can be inconsistent from player to player.
If the beginning golfer is receiving an unpleasant vibration in his wrists and arms with every strike, not only will follow-throughs be adversely affected but it may simply keep her from wanting to tee off again the next day. Therefore, we advise that many practice shots be hit to discover how these clubs feel when hit well (and hit poorly) before a purchase is made.
Also, the price of these irons may be prohibitive for the new hobbyist simply looking for a solid set of sticks to start out with.
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- For the Power Hitter
For those who already hit their shots long, is investing in a long-hitting iron set really worth it? Aren’t there more important considerations such as control, backspin and forgiveness?
Perhaps. But consider that courses are getting longer all the time. Before the advent of modern golf balls and muscle conditioning, courses such as Chambers Bay with its 500+ yard Par 4s were unheard of. But as scratch players hit longer and longer shots, architects continue to expand course length to compensate.
If your favorite course is always adding light-years to the length of holes from the back tees, a power-hitting set of irons may improve your score…even for the power hitter.
- For the Short & Straight Hitter
