Equipment
Justin Rose tweets out TaylorMade “Rose Proto” irons
On July 4th, while America was celebrating its Independence Day, Justin Rose dropped a firework of a Tweet; a photo of his new, shiny TaylorMade “Rose Proto” irons. They appear to have a similar construction to Rory McIlroy’s “Rors Proto” irons he put in the bag in 2017, although Rose’s have a different finish — chrome versus Rory’s satin.
ROSE•PROTO @taylormadegolf ???????? pic.twitter.com/YeAsF4SnC5
— Justin Rose (@JustinRose99) July 4, 2017
With two seemingly similar sets of forged blade irons from TaylorMade, that certainly makes us wonder if the company is considering a public release of the irons. Here’s what a TaylorMade representative had to say about the “Rose Proto” irons.
“These are proto forged irons that we milled for Justin here in Carlsbad following Rory putting a set of his Rors Proto irons into play at The Players. We’ll continue to source feedback from the athletes before we make a decision on a potential market introduction.”
For comparison: Rose Proto (left) vs. Rory Proto
Of course, GolfWRX members were quick to comment on the Rose Proto irons. Below is a collection of the notable takes on the matter.
- thedurtydurden: Dare I say these look better than Rory’s satin heads.
- noodle3872: I’m liking the chrome better. I guess I fall into the “blades should be chromed” camp.
- JJBonyai: Looks like P730 on the hosel?
- bladehunter: These look great! TM doing a nice job for sure.. only thing i could say as well is thats a wonky Font for the numbers.. BUT it wouldn’t stop me from hitting them!
- Z1ggy16: I wonder if the retail version will be offered in the satin or chrome finish, and just say PROTO on them, or whatever TM officially names it.
Discussion: See what GolfWRX members are saying about the Rose Proto irons
Neal Shipley was the first to admit that he enjoyed his food while in college. But since his days at Ohio State, he’s slimmed down and earned a PGA Tour Card.
That hasn’t stopped him from having fun with his wedge stampings, though it’s led to some misunderstandings.
On the 54 (degree), we have ‘Big Fudge,'” Shipley told GolfWRX. “It was supposed to be ‘Big Fridge,’ so this happened a little while ago. ‘Big Fridge’ was a nickname between my college teammates and I, with ‘fridge’ meaning stomach, a big stomach.
“We told the Ping guys to put … ‘Big Fridge’ on it, and I think maybe some bad cell service or something, and they thought I said ‘fudge,’ so they put fudge on it.”
On Shipley’s 50-degree he also continues the food theme, this time with his go-to order at the “Golden Arches,” and his stamping “DONS 7.”
“The number 7 meal, the two cheeseburger meal, that was my McDonald’s order, back when I would have McDonald’s frequently,” Shipley shared.
At GolfWRX, we are a community of like-minded individuals who all experience and express our enjoyment of the game in many ways.
It’s that sense of community that drives day-to-day interactions in the forums on topics that range from best driver to what marker you use to mark your ball. It even allows us to share another thing we all love – buying and selling equipment.
Currently, in our GolfWRX buy/sell/trade (BST) forum, @raw10628 has a L.A.B. DF3 putter and Masters putter cover up for grabs.
From the listing: “Some great items here today, time to thin out and make room for next set of gear. All prices include shipping.
LAB DF3 Purple 33.5” 68° lie with TPT – $725. LAB Masters release DF3 cover – $150.”
To check out the full listing in our BST forum, head through the link. If you are curious about the rules to participate in the BST Forum, you can learn more here: GolfWRX BST Rules
Driver: Ping G440 LST (9 degrees)
Shaft: Accra TourZ Green 5-M4
3-wood: Ping G440 Max (15 degrees)
Shaft: Accra TourZ Green 6-M4
5-wood: Ping G440 Max (19 degrees @18)
Shaft: Accra TourZ Green 6-M4
Hybrid: Ping G440 (23 degrees)
Shaft: Oban Isawa Red Hybrid Shaft 04 Flex 70 Gms
Irons: Srixon ZXi7 (5-P)
Shafts: Aerotech SteelFiber Private Reserve i80
Wedges: Cleveland RTZ (50-MID, 54-FULL, 58-MID)
Shafts: Aerotech SteelFiber Private Reserve i105
Putter: L.A.B. Golf OZ.1i
Shaft: ACCRA Putter Shaft
Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet
Aaron Rai’s winning WITB: 2026 PGA Championship
Russell Henley’s winning WITB: 2026 Charles Schwab Challenge
Photos from the 2026 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
CJ Cup Byron Nelson Tour Report: Koepka and Kim’s newest putters finally get hot
Charles Schwab Challenge Tour Report: MacIntyre, Åberg and Spaun all switch putters, TaylorMade launches new Spider
Details on J.J. Spaun’s surprise putter switch
GolfWRX Launch Report: 2026 Titleist GTS drivers
Photos from the 2026 Charles Schwab Challenge
PGA Championship Tour Report: Fitzpatrick, Koepka among big-name putter switches for Aronimink
Photos from the ShopRite LPGA
Maria Torres WITB 2026 (June)
Driver: Ping G440 LST (9 degrees) Shaft: Accra TourZ Green 5-M4 3-wood: Ping G440 Max (15 degrees) Shaft: Accra TourZ Green 6-M4 5-wood: Ping G440...
Eric Cole WITB 2026 (June)
Driver: PXG Lightning Tour Max (9 degrees) Shaft: Project X Titan Yellow 70 TX 3-wood: TaylorMade Qi4D (15 degrees) Shaft:...
Si Woo Kim WITB 2026 (May)
Driver: Callaway Quantum Triple Diamond (8.5 degrees) Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 6 X Mini driver: Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Mini...
Wyndham Clark’s winning WITB: 2026 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
Driver: TaylorMade Qi4D (10.5 degrees) Shaft: Project X Titan Yellow 60 TX 3-wood: TaylorMade Qi4D Tour (15 degrees) Shaft: Project...
Pingback: Tommy Fleetwood’s TF Proto “2.5” iron at the 2022 U.S. Open – GolfWRX
Mark Walgren
Jul 17, 2017 at 7:18 pm
gross
Speedy
Jul 9, 2017 at 2:12 pm
Nothings too original with the blades these days. The heads are made a little bigger, that’s all.
Mike
Jul 8, 2017 at 8:02 pm
I could be mistaken but don’t these look a little like the Cobra blades from the 80’s They were thicker on the topline but same idea
Matt
Jul 7, 2017 at 9:08 pm
Irons schmions, stuff all difference between anything made after 2000 or thereabouts. So long as they’re fit correctly, not worn out and make you feel good.
Jacked_Loft
Jul 7, 2017 at 8:52 am
Only logical that TM needs to follow up on the discontinued 2014 MBs.
I’d love to make a combo set with my P770s.
Tom Duckworth
Jul 6, 2017 at 7:28 pm
They are some very pretty blades.
We are going to see every manufacturer coming out with some “high end” special irons
that will cost twice as much as their other products. I hope they are a giant flop as it would just make them bolder feeling they could creep up prices on their other products. Don’t think for one second they won’t if they feel like they can get away with it. I don’t have a problem with a company trying to make an honest buck but these luxury high end products tend to trickle down and raise prices across the line. If they can sell a $2000,00 set of irons why not just bump that $1000.00 set up to $1200.00
rex235
Jul 6, 2017 at 5:37 pm
Its 2017-
Another RH Only Prototype from TaylorMade.
setter02
Jul 7, 2017 at 8:10 am
The blade market is already tiny, add in that the lefty population is like 10% of the total golfers out there (like 50% in Quebec). The market for these is so tiny its not even close to worth it, not sure why the constant complaining.
rex235
Jul 7, 2017 at 11:07 pm
Because it is 2017.
Anyway, don’t these TaylorMade Proto Blades look a lot like Mizuno MS-9s? RH Only.
i bogey alot
Jul 6, 2017 at 10:18 am
so JR had to feel special too and tweet out “prototype” that are just like Rory clubs haha
golfraven
Jul 6, 2017 at 10:09 am
TM is very generous with their Protos at this moment. Seems like the new management is taking things in their own hands. Treat your cattle well and then you can milk them.
Za
Jul 6, 2017 at 2:15 am
Yeah, a nice turd color will you do great
Gorden
Jul 5, 2017 at 11:20 pm
Before going off the wall on these irons remember these were hand milled for one person.. unless you are on the payroll for Taylormade best you will ever see is an overpriced copy of these irons…
Traj
Jul 5, 2017 at 10:32 pm
We’ll make one for you in turd
Prime21
Jul 5, 2017 at 8:31 pm
It’s the replacement for the MB & will launch this summer.
Ben Jones
Jul 5, 2017 at 6:01 pm
So what.
golfbum
Jul 5, 2017 at 4:53 pm
TAYLORMADE…here is a sales and marketing tip for you.
Create a web page that I can order personalized irons: GOLFBUM PROTO irons sound pretty good.
golfraven
Jul 6, 2017 at 10:12 am
That would be an easy one and they could close the gap between the “Japanese” premium brands and likes of PXG.
jgpl001
Jul 5, 2017 at 4:50 pm
Wow, these are gorgeous
Yes, please TM – when, when, when?????