My Favorite in the Bag:TaylorMade Burner Irons

Category: Max Game-Improvement Irons
Golf magazine tested: 3-PW, AW with Burner SuperFast 85 steel shaft

Company line: "We used our ‘SuperFast' technology which features progressive COR, MOI and shaft length for each individual iron, in addition to ultralight shafts and grips, to make the Burner our longest irons ever. Our ‘Inverted Cone' technology also expands the effective hitting area on the clubface for added performance."

Our Testers say:
PROS: One of the highest-rated irons; these babies are long, as much as five to ten yards longer than testers' own sets; short irons hit it straight and accurate; shots get airborne with ease, even with less-than-solid contact; gorgeous look inspires confidence; Burner is a good choice for all abilities.

CONS: Long irons aren't as easy to hit as some hybrids; short irons actually go too far sometimes.

From Sports Illustrated Golf+ Equipment Issue (February 8, 2010)
TaylorMade's revolutionary Burner irons  was the top-selling iron in the U.S. last year, its popularity based on how easy the clubs are to hit and the distance they promote. "Burner irons are long, straight and easy to launch, and will continue to be played by everyone from skilled players to 30 handicaps," says Sean Toulon, TaylorMade's executive vice president of innovation.

From Golf Magazine (Buyer's Guide, May 2009)
Bret Wahl, Senior Director of R&D/Irons, TaylorMade: "Burner is created in a totally different manner than other irons. We look at each club individually and identify the functional needs and aesthetic preferences as dictated by golfers' needs and expectations. We use a thin, 1.9 mm face and incorporate ‘SuperFast' technology to achieve our highest COR in an iron, and to ensure that your irons produce the trajectory and distance expected in an easy-to-play package."

How it works: The year's most intriguing iron set exhibits out-of-the-box thinking. The design team first built the 4-iron (the process typically starts with a 6-iron). In fact, long, mid and short irons are engineered within their own pods to achieve proper distance gapping. A large, thin "unsupported" face and deep undercut cavity contribute to increased COR (for more ball speed and distance). The .810 COR (legal limit is .830) marks the first time that a mass-market iron has exceeded .800. The larger, heavier head (high MOI) boosts forgiveness, and the longer, lighter shaft helps you swing faster and hit it longer.

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