The Hottest Iron of 2009?
Fourteen Golf has long been known for super soft irons that have beautiful lines and simply perform. The original TC-770 Forged released back in 2006 was one of the best selling irons and a favorite of lower handicap athlete golfers. In 2008 Fourteen released the TC-550 Forged as well as the TC-1000 Forged which were also among the best selling irons of the year while the TC-770 Forged fit right in between the two models target audience wise. Alas the original TC-770 Forged ended its model run early last year to the dismay of many golfers who preferred the 770 over both the 550 and 1000 models. Fourteen has heeded the Japanese golfers demands by releasing the New TC-770 Forged for 2009.
Very Clean Design…
Initial visual impressions are that the New TC-770 look very similar to previous TC Forged models. The cavity has the Fourteen logo and the word forged and the TC-770 model number on the toe towards the sole. This is one clean looking iron and will be very attractive to those who prefer the minimalist look. The iron is finished in a nickel chrome satin which gives it some shine but not enough to be distracting. This is not noticeable at address at all.
The New TC-770 is forged from very soft S25C and maintains many of the strong qualities of its previous generation. The smaller head with minimal offset are very appealing for its intended player group, the athlete/scratch golfer. Fourteen has also decided to keep the standard 5 iron length for steel at 38.00″ which is more inline with US specs as Japanese irons tend to be around a 37.75″ 5 iron. Lofts are more towards players lofts with a 26* 5 iron unlike many sets today in Japan which have stronger lofts and 5 irons around 24* for a focus on distance.
Impact Like Butter
Make no mistake the TC-770 Forged focuses on feel and control. While the head is not tiny like a blade it is small enough that it is not distracting and yet has enough size to provide some sense of confidence and forgiveness. Setting up the club at address is almost blade like as you can see from the pictures of the 5 iron on the right. There is very little offset on these irons. Fourteen boasts an MOI of 2282gcm2 which is reasonably forgiving but in order to get full satisfaction from these irons its best to be a good ball striker. Perfect strikes are rewarded with a smooth buttery feel. If you miss the so called “hitting point” as Fourteen calls it you will feel it, though distance loss is minimal especially towards the heel. For some this may be a good thing as many better players want feedback from their irons. They don’t want an iron that feels the same no matter where on the face you hit it as that doesn’t tell the player anything about the shot they just hit.
Paired with the NS Pro 950GH, the TC-770 Forged is very smooth and produces a high and controllable trajectory with no ballooning. This allows you to attack the pin knowing you will not overshoot your target. I forgot to mention that the grooves on the TC-770 Forged do comply with the new USGA Groove Rules for 2010 however I could not tell any difference feel or spin wise versus the old TC-550 forged I had previously with U grooves. The new grooves do not seem to sacrifice feel or spin at all on the New TC-770 Forged as balls still dropped and stuck close to the intended target.
Consistency brings… consistency
The New TC-770 has a very consistent feel across the entire set. Consistent swings provide consistent performance. This is an iron that will excel with good iron players or force you to become a good iron player by training with the TC-770 Forged and that is a good thing as players are always looking for irons to bring their game to the next level.
Another way to judge the quality of an iron in Japan is its popularity. The New TC-770 Forged sold out within weeks of its release in Japan. It took over the number one spot for iron sales on Golf Digest Online in June and apparently Fourteen is back on track with getting sets back in stock. Customers have raved about this new iron and its feel and performance. You can find the New TC-770 Forged here at TSG. Just check with us first to be sure we have stock!
I am one of the owners of the original TC-770 forged and I loved it for exactly the reasons you mentioned, minimal offset and very pure feel. I am glad to see that they have re-released a new version as I have been struggling to find a replacement for these irons. Luckily I did not find one so I can get these new models!
I’ve been eying out the Fourteen line up for awhile. I’m drawn by the clean look of their products.
@onthefringe: does the 2008 TC770 you got have a similar feel as the 2009’s are reviewed?
I can’t wait to try the new version. IMO they should throw more marketing behind it because it shares the same name and almost identical look to the last 770 model. I havent tried the new one but plan on doing so soon, one thing about the old model i loved was it was traditional looking yet modern if that makes sense and it’s feel at impact was awesome.