The name of the TaylorMade r7 CGB MAX iron tells a lot about the performance of the product. The letters “CGB” stand for “center-of-gravity back,” a reference to the iron’s exceptionally low and deep CG position that contributes to the kind of optimum launch conditions that promote added distance and control. “MAX” alludes to maximum COR, maximum COR zone, maximum clubhead speed, maximum ball speed and maximum forgiveness. The point being that the r7 CGB MAX is engineered to launch high, long, accurate shots with extraordinary ease.

The TaylorMade r7 CGB MAX’s distance-producing capabilities begin with the clubface, which is created separately from the clubhead thanks to TaylorMade’s Pull-Face method of construction. The clubface, which consists of 455 stainless steel, is exceptionally thin yet exceptionally strong, and boasts a large, unsupported area that helps to generate an uncommonly high COR for an iron, helping to promote faster ball speed and increased distance.

Pull-Face construction makes it possible for the r7 CGB MAX to employ TaylorMade’s exclusive Inverted Cone Technology, which was pioneered three years ago in TaylorMade’s R500 Series drivers and is still employed in TaylorMade’s r7 and r5 driver models. With the r7 CGB MAX, the inverted cone is milled directly into the rear side of the clubface. The precise geometry of the inverted cone changes the way the clubface behaves at impact and effectively increases the size of the club’s COR zone, so that a larger area of the clubface delivers a higher degree of ball speed. TaylorMade engineers have been working to find a way to incorporate ICT into irons for three years, and the fact that they have succeeded represents a breakthrough that allows the r7 CGB MAX to deliver consistently long distance even on off-center hits.

Pull-Face construction also allows TaylorMade engineers to mill the front of the clubface as well as the back, so that the grooves can be created to exacting specifications and the clubface can be milled perfectly flat. The clubface and clubhead are joined by way of plasma welding, which offers a superior level of consistency and control for an extremely precise and strong bond.

The TaylorMade r7 CGB MAX irons also feature a hollow top-line, which allowed TaylorMade engineers to save 17 critical grams of weight. That weight is relocated to the lower-rear portion of the clubhead, at the toe and heel, in the form of four permanently installed tungsten cartridges. That, combined with the MAX’s wide sole, moves the CG location to an uncommonly low, deep-back position, making it almost effortless to launch the ball high, strong, long and deep.

The r7 CGB MAX’s tungsten cartridges add to its high MOI, but that’s only part of this iron’s forgiveness story. The MAX features the largest clubhead of any steel iron TaylorMade has ever created, and because of that boasts an inherently high MOI as well as the largest steel clubface area of any TaylorMade iron, resulting in an extremely large hitting area and an extremely high level of stability on mis-hits, equaling long, straight results on off-center hits.

The r7 CGB MAX’s distance-producing capabilities extends to the TMTK AM T-Step ultra-light steel shaft to encourage faster swing speed for increased yardage.

“For those who wonder why we call this iron r7 when it doesn’t incorporate Movable Weight Technology, the way our r7 drivers do, the answer is simple,” says Benoit Vincent, chief technical officer. “The concept of ‘r7’ has never been expressly about movable weight, but more about the precise management of launch conditions and the players’ freedom to choose the launch conditions that work best with their swing. When TaylorMade engineers created the groundbreaking r7 quad driver, they developed the ability to properly and precisely change a club’s playing characteristics to deliver a specific set of launch conditions – launch conditions that make it easier to launch a ball on a high, powerful flight. Each delivers launch conditions like no iron TaylorMade has ever created, which makes them longer, and easier to launch than any iron in TaylorMade’s history. The r7 CGB MAX is engineered for players that desire an iron that incorporates and delivers the highest performance possible in terms of power, distance, forgiveness, playability and ease of use."