REVIEW: Fourteen Golf TB-5 Irons
Fourteen Golf TB-5 Forged irons.
The new Fourteen Golf TB-5 irons are an incredibly designed forged option in the player’s distance category. Boasting a truly beautiful aesthetic coupled with the perfect amount of forgiveness, the TB-5 irons are a pleasant surprise this golf season.
Fourteen Golf TB-5 Technology and Background
For those who might not have heard of their brand, Fourteen Golf has been around for awhile. Established in 1981, the renowned Japanese club designer, Takamitsu Takebayashi, took on the challenge of introducing his small business to a hugely competitive global golf market. Fourteen Golf has had it’s fair share of ups and downs over the years, with this latest rendition featuring unique takes on forgiveness, distance, and design.
The TB-5 irons are a forged cavity-back design that feature a slightly longer clubhead and enough “heft” to give golfers all the forgiveness they need. Per their website, “the cavity step in the back face is removed which allows the face thickness to flow naturally in the curved shape of a theater creating an optimal center of gravity and a reduction in vibrations transmitted to the hands.”
If that sounds a bit colorful in description, believe me when I say it’s entirely on-point and accurate. Each iron is forged from a soft S20C mild steel, specifically molded to provide a muted feel fans of forged love and expect. Each iron features a larger head and sweet spot to boost confidence thanks to fast ball speeds and ideal launch, engineered for consistent performance on every shot.
Performance and Feel
Having been a fan of Fourteen Golf for years — wishing they would come out with new products, faster — I admittedly went into this review with high expectations. There’s nothing that feels better than a well-designed, soft steel set of forged irons.
The Fourteen Golf TB-5 irons are exactly that, and more.
At impact, the TB-5 irons feel incredible. The sensation of a forged iron trapping the golf ball against turf, followed by a sweet percussive sound is one of golf’s most pleasurable, and which the TB-5’s deliver. You almost don’t feel the golf ball when hit squarely in the center, which is a testament to the S20C steel used for each iron. It’s hard to name another iron that feels better than the TB-5’s.
In terms of distance and forgiveness, these irons are exactly what you expect from their category. Off-center strikes lose a decent amount of distance, but dispersion was still within reason and not too punitive. I’m in the camp of players who want to know when they made a poor swing, providing me feedback on how to improve. Golf is as much a game of constant learning and improvement as it is skill and repetition, and the TB-5’s protect this enjoyable element of the game.
When struck pure, the irons were similar in distance to my gamers. For example, I usually carry a 7-iron 160 yards, and the TB-5’s provided this yardage without difficulty. While they are slightly on the “stronger loft” side of the spectrum, I didn’t notice any abnormally long distance jumps from the irons… and that’s a positive thing. Irons are meant for precision, and you don’t necessarily want a distance surprise you weren’t expecting.
Overall Impression
I was incredibly impressed by the Fourteen Golf TB-5 irons. Everything from their look, design, feel and performance were absolutely fantastic, and I could easily game these immediately. While there wasn’t an individual feature that screamed “better” than what I currently play, it’s safe to say that any golfer who tries these irons will fall in love after the first swing.
Each Fourteen Golf TB-5 iron retails for $199.99 and can be purchased individually or in a full set. For more information, visit their website at fourteengolf.us.
