Sub 70 TAIII Irons

This honestly might be one of the most anticipated reviews we’ve ever had on this site. It’s EASILY in the top 5. People have been clamoring for more information on the Sub 70 TAIII irons for months! Over two full years of collaboration and design alongside Tommy Armour III (affectionately referred to as TA3), Sub 70 built a set of irons where each club is specifically designed for a specific ball flight and playability that low-handicap player’s demand. Though these are some incredibly sick irons, they aren’t for the faint of heart as they are every bit of a player’s iron.

The Looks

I would classify the aesthetic of the Sub 70 TAIII irons as “contemporary mechanical” with the sharper lines and the visible milling marks. However, in true Sub 70 fashion, the TAIIIs still have a classic smooth flowing look to them at the same time. Just so silky and perfectly executed. The set pictured here is in the raw finish which will rust over time depending on how you maintain your clubs. Sub 70 is also offering the TAIII in a black finish which looks fantastic as well.

From address, the toplines are minimal and the profile is compact. The TAIII irons have every bit of a player’s look as you stand over the club. Keep in mind that these are designed to have a progressive offset. There is noticeable offset in the longer irons while still maintaining a blade profile. As you work through the set, the offset reduces until you get to the short irons and it’s very minimal. Like I said, the TAIIIs look every bit of a player’s blade over the ball so don’t expect anything less.

One thing worth pointing out that the irons pictured here do have some custom grinding/shaping. Standard sets from Sub 70 will have a little rounder toe and a sole/leading edge that’s a little more forgiving. Check back on this site soon for the whole story about my set of TAIIIs.

How Does it Feel?

One thing I give Sub 70 a lot of credit for is that even their forged player’s irons tend feel pretty smooth and forgiving. That’s by design and it tends to make their blades a little more playable for a wider range of players. That said, Tommy Armour III is not your average player. He’s literally grown up on classic golf clubs (his name should sound familiar) and knows what he wants in a set of blades! As such, the TAIII irons have a very precise feel with a ton of response. The sweet spot is fairly small, a touch larger in the long irons, but man…are they pure!

My first experience with the TAIIIs came by way of a prototype last summer golfing with Sub 70’s Jason Hiland. My very first shot with it was as perfect as a golf shot felt for me all year. The strike was perfectly crisp on the face and so pure, and the sole was so smooth through the turf. Just a nice little sliver of turf clipped right off the top. I knew at that point that I had to have a set!

How Does it Sound?

The first thing I want you to do here is take a look at the sole in the photo above. Though the Sub 70 TAIII irons are a progressive set, that sole represents how thin each club is. As a result, the sound is exactly what you’d expect from a tightly forged classic blade. It’s a very definitive tone, but a pure shot results in a nice easy “tick”. Swing a little harder and it’s a more pronounced “whap”. Misses will sound a lot more solid, but that’s to be expected from a forged player’s blade. Assuming your iron game is a match for these clubs, the sound of the soles through the turf is a subtle little “pop”. On a steeper, but clean, swing with a larger divot, the sound thumps a little more.

On-Course Performance

Though a definite player’s iron, there is still a little help in the Sub 70 TAIIIs. Each of the long irons are a little extra offset to help close the face at impact. This allows for more control and straighter shots. Then they have extra tungsten weights ported into the weight pad on the back to keep the center of gravity (CG) low and centered. Adding this weight promotes a higher flight which well help with more distance a softer landing into greens. Though offset and a lower CG, trust me, the TAIII long irons will still play like a player’s blade. They’ll just be a little easier to play than most player’s long irons.

The mid and shot irons get a little more traditional in terms of setup and performance. The offset continues its progression toward minimal and the CG is located in a more traditional higher location for a blade. These adjustments promote more piercing flights for shot diversity and control. Additionally, there is a little extra weight toward to the toe which prevents the club from over rotating and the face stays more square. Low-punch approach shots, soft easy floaters, or somewhere in between are all built into these clubs. Both mid and short irons allowed for a lot of creativity in shot making. More importantly, I felt I could really rely on these clubs to hit a lot of fun shots.

Final Thoughts – Sub 70 TAIII Irons

I’ve been fortunate to have a little insight into the development of the TAIIIs going back about a year now. Sub 70 and the legend Tommy Armour III did an excellent job in getting these irons just right. Getting a view into that process, I promise you, these guys poured everything into these irons and made sure they got every single detail correct before releasing them to the public. These TAIII irons turned into a major labor of love for Sub 70 and I know they really appreciated the opportunity to be able to get TA3’s perspective from start to finish.

What these guys all came up with is a really nice set of irons that’s the total package. The TAIIIs look good, they feel good, they play great. Just as Sub 70 intended. Also in true Sub 70 fashion, when you buy a set of these irons, you’re going to get the full experience. These irons will be built to your spec and get shipped with a custom box containing your new clubs and a few other special items. Think of the extras Sub 70 already includes with their orders, and kick it up a few notches.

Oh, and since you’re here wanting to talk TAIII irons, check out our episode of That Range Life with Tommy Armour III below.

Stock Sub 70 TAIII Irons Specs

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