Am I leaving anything on the table keeping r7tp irons?

[deadeye ruck]

I've started back playing regularly after a 6-7 year hiatus of only playing a couple of rounds a year. I'm in the process of updating my bag.  I'm still gaming a set of TM r7tp irons with tt black gold shafts.  I hit these high and have found them be a good fit for my game, so much so that I'm hesitant to switch.  Prior to that I played a set of Mizuno mp-30s which were practically blades.   

 

I don't work the ball much unless absolutely necessary and I find the r7tps difficult to shape more than a few yards either way anyway.  I'm far more concerned with accuracy of my irons vs distancen so I'm always looking for more forgiveness. I've always been a good iron player and generally struggle off the tee.  I'm looking at something like a set of t100s, t200 or p790.  What will I see if I switch compared to what I'm gaming now.  Is it even worth the ~$1200 investment for the gain over what I've got? 

 

Thanks in advance! 

[lefthack]

If you like them and they work for you, rock on. But if you are just looking for something shiny, the players distance or "power blade" might be what you need. A little forgiven without being huge or clunky.

 

<edit> of the ones you listed, I dig the p790. But don't expect a huge improvement, but it might give you more options.

Edited May 11, 2021 by lefthack

[PEI_Golfer]

I personally wouldn't update at this point until I was getting more games in.  Maybe go for a fit at the end of the season when you have a swing grooved and see the differences.  Loved the black gold shafts and keep eyeing sets on the bay.

Edited May 11, 2021 by PEI_Golfer

[Buzzkill]

R7TPs are great irons, not sure you need to change them other than just boredom.

[llaw999]

Oh wow... that is the first set of irons I purchased! There’s gotta be no grooves left?!

 

You want something modern? Just cross out the number on the bottom of your iron and sharpie in one # lower. Voila... profit! 🤣

 

Joking aside, they don’t feel all that great IIRC. And maybe the forgiveness department have improved a bit with the modern stuff. 

 

[iNeedMoreGolf]

I just bought a like new set of mizuno mp5 and those were the same year  your set was made 2015. I have a set of 2020 mp mmc and ive played other irons in the past few years and i can tell you the mp5 blades play just as good if not better thrn everything ive played. No need to chnage if you still love them and play well with them. Otherwise sure change but not much is to be had.

[deadeye ruck]

Sounds like I'll trend towards keeping them for the season.  Maybe by next year some of the manufacturing demand will have caught up and I'll look at a switch.  I bought these new in 2006.  I was around a 3 at the time.  Now I'm playing to an 8.

 

They have been solid sticks and some of the irons show a little wear but they are also cast and they must be some hard suckers because I've put them through their paces.  The only thing I could fault them is that that it's difficult to alter the trajectory of my shots.  I've got the high shot and the higher shot haha.  

 

Thanks again! 

Edited May 11, 2021 by deadeye ruck

[grm24]

1 hour ago, iNeedMoreGolf said:

I just bought a like new set of mizuno mp5 and those were the same year  your set was made 2015.

The TM R7 TP irons the OP is asking about were released 2005/6 not 2015.

 

To the OP. Keep playing your R7 TP irons. Great irons. 

[Jeff58]

I traded mine for a set of the newer version P790. I generally wish I had the R7’s back.

[Russ757]

The best Era of my golf life came with a  set of stripped down r7tp with peening blues. Any time a thread abt what do you wish you kept, I instantly think back to them. 

 

If there is nothing wrong w them physically.. I'd stay put

[iNeedMoreGolf]

11 hours ago, grm24 said:

The TM R7 TP irons the OP is asking about were released 2005/6 not 2015.

 

To the OP. Keep playing your R7 TP irons. Great irons. 

Ahhh ok my bad. Site i read said 2015.. ok so in this case id say yeah maybe there is a little being left on the table. How much really? im not sure. Has to be a little bit of distance, forgiveness and feel though. That being said... if you still love them and are only willing to lose a little bit then yes play them. If your just bursting for new shiny irons... then you know where to find them.

[cgasucks]

The R7 TPs are still very capable irons.  The only thing that is knocking against them is that their grooves may not be 2010 USGA compliant.

[hammergolf]

15 hours ago, deadeye ruck said:

I've started back playing regularly after a 6-7 year hiatus of only playing a couple of rounds a year. I'm in the process of updating my bag.  I'm still gaming a set of TM r7tp irons with tt black gold shafts.  I hit these high and have found them be a good fit for my game, so much so that I'm hesitant to switch.  Prior to that I played a set of Mizuno mp-30s which were practically blades.   

 

I don't work the ball much unless absolutely necessary and I find the r7tps difficult to shape more than a few yards either way anyway.  I'm far more concerned with accuracy of my irons vs distancen so I'm always looking for more forgiveness. I've always been a good iron player and generally struggle off the tee.  I'm looking at something like a set of t100s, t200 or p790.  What will I see if I switch compared to what I'm gaming now.  Is it even worth the ~$1200 investment for the gain over what I've got? 

 

Thanks in advance! 

Dont fix what isnt broken.

[Chip Out Sideways]

One of the best set of irons I have owned. For me the only thing against them was that I also had Mizuno MX300 which I preferred the feel of but otherwise the R7TPs were great. Shape, offset, ball flight. I might have to go to Ebay now.....

[Mike_C]

I played these for several years, like them so much had two sets.  I play now and then with a guy who still plays them.  But the grooves are non-conforming post 2010, which is the reason I moved on from them.  But if you are not playing in USGA/state association type events I guess it is not an issue 

[phizzy30]

Keep them and save that 1200 for something else.  Iron tech for player's irons hasn't changed much the last oh I don't know 30 years?  You could always get them refinished if they are beat up for a lot less than buying another set.   

[JAY-Y]

I owned a set about 10 years ago and played great with them (as far as I can remember, lol). Newer irons imo can be a bit more forgiving with a shorter blade length but nothing wrong with the r7tp’s. 

Edited May 12, 2021 by JAY-Y

[Old Tom Morris]

9 hours ago, cgasucks said:

The R7 TPs are still very capable irons.  The only thing that is knocking against them is that their grooves may not be 2010 USGA compliant.

Didn’t Daniel Berger use those irons to win the Bing Crosby Pebble Beach Pro Am this year?

[grm24]

15 minutes ago, Old Tom Morris said:

Didn’t Daniel Berger use those irons to win the Bing Crosby Pebble Beach Pro Am this year?

No. He used 2011 TM MC irons.

https://golf.com/gear/irons/daniel-berger-taylormade-mc-irons-high-school-ebay/

 

[grm24]

13 hours ago, iNeedMoreGolf said:

ok so in this case id say yeah maybe there is a little being left on the table. How much really?

The only thing really being left on the table for the OP is that newer irons for the most part are going to be stronger lofted than the R7 TP irons. The R7 TP iron lofts are based off of a 47* PW. 

 

 

 

[RogerinNewZealand]

Jeff58  buy backs are a wrx thing...on my 3rd set mp33,happily buy a 3rd set mp60...on my 3rd Rapture 10.5 driver...

Them TpR7s..

buy the T100 and test and tune the T100..so a lower flite would likely help...

I bought a 7wood V Steel 20 9 months ago.....so the old TM stuff remains near ...only sold the R7 Quad after i got the Rapture driver sorted!

[kiwihacker]

3 hours ago, grm24 said:

The only thing really being left on the table for the OP is that newer irons for the most part are going to be stronger lofted than the R7 TP irons. The R7 TP iron lofts are based off of a 47* PW. 

 

 

 

The 4-9 iron is basically the modern 5-PW. Skip the 47° PW and jump straight to a 49° or 50° GW and voila! You have modern 'distance' irons. 

 

I still play them and whilst I'm tempted by the modern irons when I'm hitting them well these are still as sweet as anything else I've ever hit. Perfect size for my eye too. Not as small as a true players CB but not as chunky as a typical GI iron.

 

I'm tempted by modern irons but the delays in shipping due to covid mean these will probably remain in the bag for some time to come. Bought them new in 2007 and still in great shape. 

[jomatty]

On 5/11/2021 at 1:17 AM, deadeye ruck said:

Sounds like I'll trend towards keeping them for the season.  Maybe by next year some of the manufacturing demand will have caught up and I'll look at a switch.  I bought these new in 2006.  I was around a 3 at the time.  Now I'm playing to an 8.

 

They have been solid sticks and some of the irons show a little wear but they are also cast and they must be some hard suckers because I've put them through their paces.  The only thing I could fault them is that that it's difficult to alter the trajectory of my shots.  I've got the high shot and the higher shot haha.  

 

Thanks again! 

That may be the shafts as much as the irons or a combination of the shafts and the irons.  I’m sure a new fitting would benefit you and therefore getting new clubs might be a benefit.  That said, I think your plan of using these clubs through the season and then looking at your options is a smart way to proceed.  Even if there is something that can help you with controlling your trajectory it is not like you will be leaving a bunch on the table sticking with what you have.  It seems like it is hard to get more than a slight  improvement unless your clubs are very poorly fitted, which yours clearly are not.  
 

It’s not how I would proceed, for the record, as I rarely do the smart thing, if the less smart option lets me get some exciting new clubs! but it’s good that you are a little smarter...

[the bishop]

Brings back memories.  I had a set of those at one time.  Great irons.  I say keep 'em.

[puttingmatt]

Chances are, you have been leaving advantages on the table for some time now.

Fittings were not that prevalent when these irons  were introduced.

Get fit and compare.

Equipment decisions are on you, and you alone. 

Do your due diligence 

[NRJyzr]

20 hours ago, iNeedMoreGolf said:

Site i read said 2015.. ok so in this case id say yeah maybe there is a little being left on the table. How much really? im not sure.

 

I've put the assorted specs below....

 

The R7 TP is more forgiving than the modern players stuff, including the P790; quite a bit in a couple cases.  The CG is lower for the R7TP, as well.  

 

No real reason I could see for switching.  

 

 

[fj_magni]

Post COVID golf equipment market is nuts. I personally have come to terms with the fact that equipment acquisition will be toned down for the foreseeable future.

New clubs are back ordered to the point where you won't see anything until the end of the summer. That's if you can get a fitting. Fitter are scheduled you in some cases even longer than that.

Because of the demand for instant golf clubs the used club market is insane. In my mind it isn't even worth it for so many reasons. 

My plan, let all these people that came to golf because of COVID realize that golf can be a miserable game and like many in our current society will lose interest. 

Keep looking at all the new clubs that interest you, because come next year I think the bottom falls out. We will all be in used club paradise. Back to ho'ing to our hearts content,

Stick with the set you got.

[cgasucks]

11 hours ago, Old Tom Morris said:

Didn’t Daniel Berger use those irons to win the Bing Crosby Pebble Beach Pro Am this year?

 

Does it look like R7 TPs to you?

 

PEBBLE BEACH, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 13: Daniel Berger of the United States reacts to a shot on the 14th hole during the third round of the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am at Pebble Beach Golf Links on February 13, 2021 in Pebble Beach, California. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)

Edited May 12, 2021 by cgasucks

[leeux]

As most already stated, you may leave something by using an older driver, but irons and putters have not made big improvements. I played Ping S58, replaced them with Mizuno EZ Forged, gained some distance due to stronger lofts and more feel and this year returned to the old Ping again, as I feel they are more accurate and consistent for me. Just make sure to have the loft and lie checked every now and then. I went to a club fitter and all the lofts and lies were slightly off, now they are more consistent again and my gaps are tighter again.

 

Plus grips of course, I exchange mine every 2 years.

 

My favorite irons are even older, MacGregor VIP V-Foil 1025 CM with Project x 6.0 shafts, but I am not good enough for them anymore, the Pings are far more forgiving. 

 

I would put your R7 TP in a similar category as my Ping S58, look like player irons but have way more forgiveness.

[Chief Penguin]

I switched last year from the r7 tp’s I’d had since college to Apex 19 pro. Honestly the biggest difference was going from s300 shafts to PX 6.5, which I love.  All things equal, I bet the 4 iron is 5 yards longer but for the most part, if you’re hitting the middle of the club face you’re hitting the middle of the club face and it doesn’t matter.

That being said I love the new irons and no regrets on switching