Although the focus of this blog is travel, golf, and documenting the whole damn thing, I figured that I could break from the norm and give a 2025 shout-out to the tools that make all my fun possible. So allow me to introduce the (occasional) bane of my existence, the TaylorMade RocketBladez Irons. This TaylorMade RocketBladez Used Irons Review (2025), should cover specs, performance, pricing, and what to inspect before you buy.
I originally bought these around 2015 after a quick google search for the best irons from years prior. Being cheap at the time and not believing in buying brand new clubs, I figured, “why not just buy the best irons from like two years ago? Technology hasn’t changed THAT much!” Since you’re here and reading this, that puts you on a whole different level of “shopping around” (aka: being cheap). The review will explain why, but I don’t see me getting rid of these any time soon.
TL;DR
- 2013’s “Speed Pocket” distance sticks still hold up—if you understand the loft trickery.
- Expect to pay $220 – $440 for a 6‑piece to 8‑piece set in “very good” condition. eBay2nd Swing
- Ideal for mid‑handicappers (8‑20) who want high launch and forgiveness without shelling out for 2025 jacked‑loft models.
- Watch for cracked Speed Pockets and worn grooves—both kill ball speed.
1 | Quick‑Spec Cheat Sheet
| Club | Loft° | Lie° | Length (″) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4‑iron | 20 | 61.5 | 38.88 |
| 7‑iron | 30.5 | 63.0 | 37.00 |
| PW | 45 | 64.5 | 35.50 |
| Full spec table from the original TM catalog TaylorMade Golf |
Translation: each number is effectively one club stronger than traditional “players” lofts—so a 7‑iron is really a 6‑ish. That explains the “OMG 10 yards longer!” hype back in 2013. Rotaryswing.com
2 | Why They Mattered
- Speed Pocket (3‑7 irons): slot in the sole adds face flex low‑on‑the‑face for extra ball speed and launch.
- Low CG: 17.5 g of weight pushed low/center = skyscraper trajectories that actually hold greens. I can not reiterate this enough… The ball flys sky high.
- Elastomer insert: tamps down vibration so they don’t sound like frying pans.
Bottom line: RocketBladez were the first mainstream “distance‑iron” that didn’t feel like a shovel.
3 | Performance in 2025 Terms
Distance: still long, but modern hollow‑body irons (think P‑790) have caught up. Expect ~2–3 mph less ball speed compared to 2024 distance irons if you center‑strike. These things hold up with any modern day club in terms of distance.
Launch & Spin: high launch, mid‑low spin—great for slower to moderate swing speeds (<95 mph 6‑iron). I can’t tell how many times I’ve hit my irons and the 3 others I’m playing with are dumbfounded by how high thej ball goes.
Forgiveness: generous—heel & toe strikes drop ±5 % carry, versus ±8‑10 % in classic forged sets. These are meant for that mid to high handicappers. I’ve yet to hit a shot (or not hit a shot) that I can blame on the clubs.
Workability: meh. Thick sole + offset = plenty of draw bias, limited ability to flight it down. Speaking of keeping it down, if you’re like me, and in the trees often, trying to find a working shot out of the trees with the low hanging branches, can be quite tough. On the other side, if posed with a scenario where I have no other shot than to go over the trees, I have full confidence in these clubs.
4 | Used‑Market Reality Check
| Source | Condition | Typical Price* |
|---|---|---|
| eBay 5‑PW/SW auctions | “Good” | $210 – $260 eBay |
| 2nd Swing 4‑PW+GW | “Average‑Above” | $302 – $440 2nd Swing |
| RockBottomGolf 8‑pc set | “Value‑Excellent” | $305 (playability guarantee) Rock Bottom Golf |
*Prices from April 2025 listings; fluctuate with shaft, flex, and region.
Pro tip: sets missing the GW/SW run cheaper but leave a nasty gap—budget $40‑$60 to add a 50° or 54° wedge.
5 | Buy‑Smart Checklist
- Speed Pocket integrity – hairline cracks = dead face. Pass.
- Groove wear – look at the 7‑iron; if grooves are polished smooth, budget for a re‑groove or walk away.
- Shaft labels & grips – mismatched shafts sink resale; ageing grips knock $30 off but are cheap to replace.
- Lie & loft – strong lofts already; bending more risks snapping the pocket irons (3‑7).
- Serial number – legit TM serial on the hosel; fakes are still floating around.
6 | Who Should (and Shouldn’t) Bag Them
| Handicap | Swing Speed | Verdict |
|---|---|---|
| 5 ↓ | any | Skip – you’ll want more spin & shape‑ability. |
| 6‑20 | <95 mph | Buy – perfect game‑improvement value. |
| 20 + | any | Maybe – forgiveness helps, but look at super‑GI sets with wider soles. |
7 | RocketBladez vs. 2025 Equivalents
| Category | RocketBladez | Modern Equivalent (TM Qi HL) |
|---|---|---|
| 7‑iron loft | 30.5° | 28° |
| Ball speed (avg*) | 117 mph | 119 mph |
| Dispersion (yds) | ±8 | ±7 |
| Used cost | $250 | $880 (new) |
*Based on 90 mph clubhead swing on GCQuad.
8 | FAQs
Q: Can I bend them weaker to fill gapping?
A: Yes—up to 2° safely on non‑Speed‑Pocket heads (8‑LW). Pocket irons risk fracture.
Q: Are the Tour version heads better?
A: Thinner topline, less offset, no hot‑face “spring”—great for single‑digit players if you can find them (<5 % of listings).
Q: Do I need the stock RocketFuel shafts?
A: No—any .370 parallel‑tip shaft fits. If you swing >95 mph, dropping in a KBS Tour 120 stiff tightens dispersion.
Final Verdict
If you’re a mid‑cap chasing high launch, forgiveness, and 2025‑beer‑money pricing, RocketBladez remain a killer value—provided you inspect the pocket and don’t mind jacked lofts. They’re not miracle sticks, but they’re still plenty of club for weekend warriors who’d rather spend extra cash on green fees (or, let’s be honest, beer).
That wraps up this TaylorMade RocketBladez used irons review 2025—shoot me a comment when you flush one and feel the power of that speed slot.
