Test Review: Fourteen TB-5 FORGED Irons
Today, I had the opportunity to test the Fourteen TB-5 FORGED irons.
The club I tested was the Fourteen TB-5 FORGED 7-iron.
It was equipped with the FS-90i steel shaft.
Specs: 30° loft, 37.5-inch length, S flex, total weight 407g.
This is Fourteen’s latest forged iron model.
The cavity back design looks very forgiving, and the minimalist appearance truly reflects Fourteen’s elegant style.
It’s a slightly larger head, offering a strong sense of forgiveness and playability.
The cavity is quite deep—almost as if it’s been carved to the absolute limit. It’s a full cavity back, not a pocket cavity, and maintains a simple, clean design.
Unlike the busy, multi-material looks often found in overseas brands, this iron is refreshingly straightforward.
In today’s age of complex materials, this one-piece forged iron feels like a return to basics. You can really enjoy the pure feedback of the material.
If I were to make an analogy, this is like a black coffee compared to a cafe au lait (multi-material irons). Both have their own appeal—it all comes down to personal preference.
The top line is slightly thick, but not distracting.
The sole is average in width, but shaped with a smooth curve rather than a straight or tapered edge.
That curved shape may give many players the impression that it’s easier to square the face at impact.
The neck is on the shorter side, giving the clubhead a slightly “top-heavy” look.
There’s also a modest amount of offset (goose neck), which is clearly noticeable.
The word “FORGED” is stamped on the sole—a bit unusual, as it’s typically placed on the hosel.
Perhaps there’s a design reason for that choice?
There’s no face milling on this iron.
It features stamped score lines, but unlike some rough examples, the stamping here is clean and well-executed.
The grip offers a soft feel and is quite comfortable.
The Fourteen logo adds a sleek, stylish touch.
The logo even appears on the grip end—a nice detail.
It immediately tells you it’s a Fourteen club. I’ve had good experiences with Fourteen clubs in the past, so seeing that logo gives me a comforting sense of familiarity.
Taking a few practice swings, the club felt light, but not overly whippy or unstable.
I focused on compact swings and precise timing.
While lighter clubs tend to encourage overly large or hand-dominant swings, I made sure to use my entire body—especially the back muscles—for better balance and control.
At address, the club sets up nicely behind the ball.
The head looks a bit large, which may make the top line appear thicker, but nothing stood out as a dealbreaker.
While I usually prefer a straight top line, the slight curve here may help some players visualize a better release.
With the moderate offset and curved top line, this iron has a subtle draw-biased look. Still, it’s not exaggerated or intimidating—just easy to align and aim naturally.
Test Session Begins
The feel at impact was quite decent.
It felt slightly thin, but the ball stayed on the face just long enough to provide satisfying feedback.
The ball launched easily, making the club feel approachable—though that’s fairly common among modern irons.
Despite being an easy-to-hit model, it avoids the artificial feel that often comes with overly engineered “game improvement” designs. That natural sensation is a big plus.
Stability is excellent, providing the kind of forgiveness you’d expect from a full cavity back.
With this level of forgiveness, I think most golfers would be happy to trade a little feel for extra consistency.
Distance performance is average.
It’s clearly longer than traditional forged irons, but not especially long compared to other modern players-distance models.
In fact, I imagine many golfers would prefer it not to go any farther. Sometimes, too much distance can become a problem.
Workability is also average. While it’s a stable club, I found it fairly easy to shape shots left or right.
Although it’s primarily a game-improvement iron, it still allows for some intentional shot shaping when needed.
Despite the larger head size, the ball consistently launched on target with minimal fade or unintentional right-side misses.
Post-Test Impressions
Although it’s designed for ease of use, the TB-5 FORGED avoids flashy gimmicks and maintains Fourteen’s signature simplicity—a big plus in my book.
My impression of this club didn’t really change before and after testing—which I think is actually a good thing.
With irons, unlike drivers, performance often matches the visual design. But in recent years, that hasn’t always been the case.
There are more irons now that look one way but perform quite differently.
This iron, however, performs exactly as it looks—there’s no disconnect, which actually gives it a unique personality.
If you prefer highly engineered, multi-material clubs, or you like oversized, heavily offset designs—or if you’re someone who prioritizes extreme distance and uses ultra-lightweight carbon shafts—this might not be the best fit.
However, if you’re looking for a game-improvement iron that still retains the essence of a basic forged design, this one is worth checking out.
It isn’t overly high-tech, which allows your feel and experience as a golfer to shine through.
In an industry where most brands are leaning into hollow-body and pocket cavity constructions, I really admire Fourteen’s decision to release such a straightforward full cavity model.
I definitely look forward to what Fourteen comes up with next.
☆ Performance Ratings ☆
Ease of Setup: ★★★
Feel at Impact: ★★★
Launch: ★★★★
Forgiveness: ★★★★
Distance Performance: ★★★★
Workability: ★★★
※ (Rated out of 100 points)
★1 = 0–20 pts
★2 = 21–40 pts
★3 = 41–60 pts
★4 = 61–90 pts
★5 = 91–100 pts
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