TaylorMade r7 irons were a group of iron sets released in 2005 and 2006 under the same r7 name as the company's drivers, and the main models were the r7 CGB Max, the r7 XD, the standard r7 and the r7 TP. What tied them together was Inverted Cone Technology, a thickened cone shape on the back of a thin face that TaylorMade also used in its R500, r5 and r7 drivers. Of the four, the r7 CGB Max is the one we see most often in trade-ins by a wide margin.
The 2005 sets: r7 CGB Max and r7 XD
TaylorMade brought out the r7 XD in late November 2005 and the r7 CGB Max that December. The CGB Max was presented as the company's top game improvement iron at the time. Its face was made separately from the body, which let TaylorMade make it very thin, and the head placed the center of gravity low and deep for an easier launch. Left-handed and women's versions were offered. The XD paired the inverted cone with a tuned performance cartridge, a design carried over from TaylorMade's rac OS2 and LT irons, and it used stronger lofts for a more penetrating flight.
The 2006 sets: r7 and r7 TP
In the fall of 2006 TaylorMade followed with the r7 and r7 TP irons. Both used a revised inverted cone that was oval instead of round, which TaylorMade said enlarged the high COR area of the face, and both had a thin aluminum web bonded into the cavity with 3M VHB tape to soften feel at impact. The standard r7 had a larger head, moderate offset and a deep undercut cavity for a higher launch. The r7 TP, short for Tour Preferred, had a more compact head, a thinner topline and sole, minimal offset and True Temper Dynamic Gold shafts, and it was aimed at low handicaps and tour players.
Common questions
What is the difference between r7 CGB Max and r7 TP irons?
The CGB Max is a 2005 game improvement iron with a large head and a low, deep center of gravity for forgiveness and launch. The r7 TP is a 2006 player's iron with a compact head, thin topline and minimal offset, built for stronger ball strikers.
Do r7 irons use the same technology as the r7 driver?
They share the name and the inverted cone face design. The movable weights found on some r7 drivers are not part of the irons.
You can see the r7 irons we have in stock in our used TaylorMade r7 irons collection. For the TaylorMade game improvement line that came after the r7 era, read our post on TaylorMade Burner irons.
