It’s the early run for the gear story of the year, but Rory McIlroy switches from his RORS PROTO blades to hollow back P7CB irons can say more about TaylorMade.
On this week’s episode of GOLF’s Fully Equipped, co-hosts Johnny Wunder and Jake Morrow discussed McIlroy’s change and what it could mean for the brand’s iron line moving forward.
In case you haven’t heard, McIlroy made a months-long turnaround official when he played a 5-9 iron set P7CB Cuff by TaylorMade last week in Dubai to open his season with a T3. Movement started in Australia last month, where McIlroy holed long P7CB cuffs before adding the rest of the batch by the weekend.
TaylorMade Custom P7CB Cuff
BEST-IN-CLASS FEEL Using tournament feedback and modal analysis, we’ve strategically designed the mass placement for best-in-class feel. Created using Compact Grain Molding and 2000 tons of pressure to deliver the purest possible feel of 1025 carbon mild steel. PACKAGED CONTROL Precision cut faces and grooves combined with a constant CG, the P•7CB is designed to provide an optimal combination of launch and spin for ultimate control and precision. CONSISTENCY Designed to maximize accuracy and consistency. The P•7CB weighs optimized perimeter and co-forged tungsten, designed to offer a nice blend of stability and workability. COMPACT TOUR SHAPING Every aspect of the shaping on this iron was intended to meet the needs of discerning ball strikers. The compact blade length and slim topline create a confident, clean look in the playing position, while the unique camber and progressive bounce profile provide consistent ground interaction.
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“If there’s help to be had, I’ll definitely take it,” McIlroy said last Thursday after an opening-round 66 at the Dubai Invitational. “And even in Dubai at the end of last year, I hit a couple of 5-irons that I hit a little bit wrong, and instead of it coming maybe five or seven yards short, it was more like 10 to 15 yards short.”
McIlroy’s set has a pre-compressed driver grind similar to that of his P760 long irons, but Wunder said it will take more work.
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Jack Hirsch
“And they’re working on a set – a very specific cavity back set for Rory,” he said. “I don’t know if it’s a prototype set or whatever, but they’re working on a set. It’s ongoing.
They have been doing this for several months. He’s not ready, but he wants to play these to get used to the idea of playing hollow irons.”
of The P7CB irons came out in the summer of 2024which means this summer will mark two years since their release. Could they be due for a refresh already? And is the “Rory-specific” cavity the one to replace them?.
“I think that’s probably the group they’re digging with right now,” Wunder said of a possible P7CB replacement. “So I think it helps if you’re a TaylorMade or a Callaway and you’re launching, you’ve got designs to release a new cavity back or a new tournament iron, you’ve got to make your core player that’s going to play that iron, get them in the bag sooner rather than later. So if I were TaylorMade, I’d try to push those who are in the summer to bring back the bag. the market, it’s already in them, it’s got already become famous and everyone loves them.”
