taylormade tour preferred irons cb 2014

TaylorMade releases 2014 Tour Preferred irons

TaylorMade has released its long-awaited line of 2014 Tour Preferred CB, MC and MB irons, which will hit stores on Jan. 6. TaylorMade will be hosting a live chat about the new irons on its website from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. ET.

Tour Preferred CB irons: $899

The CB irons are the largest of the Tour Preferred irons and feature a cast construction. The 3 through 7 irons have TaylorMade’s refined handle-bar shaped Speed Pocket, while the 8 iron through ‘A wedge’ do not. The 3 through 6 irons are cast from 17-4 stainless steel, while the 7 iron through A wedge are cast from 431 stainless steel.

Click on the photo specification sheets below to enlarge them, and make sure to check out the comparison photos below of TaylorMade’s new Tour Preferred CB and MC irons along with the  SpeedBlade ,  RocketBladez Tour  and  2012 Tour Preferred MC irons .

Tour Preferred MC irons: $999

The Tour Preferred MC irons are smaller than the company’s CB irons. Speed Pockets were added to the 3 through 7 irons, where most golfers could use more distance and forgiveness, while the 8 iron through PW are forged to improve feel and control. The 3 iron through 7 iron are cast from 431 stainless steel, while the short irons are forged from 1025 carbon steel.

Tour Preferred MB irons: $1099

The MB irons are fully forged from 1025 carbon steel, and are the company’s smallest-sized iron for 2014. The do not feature TaylorMade’s Speed Pocket, giving purists the traditional feel that comes from a forged muscle back iron.

Photos of TaylorMade Tour Preferred CB 3 Iron

Photos of TaylorMade’s Tour Preferred MC 7 Iron

Photos of TaylorMade’s Tour Preferred MC PW (Forged, No Slot)

2014 Tour Preferred CB compared to 2012 TaylorMade TP MC

2014 Tour Preferred CB compared to the 2013/2014 TaylorMade SpeedBlade

2014 Tour Preferred MC compared to the 2013 TaylorMade RocketBladez Tour

2014 Tour Preferred MC compared to the 2013/2014 SpeedBlade

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76 Comments

Apr 2, 2014 at 1:16 pm

I hit every forged combo set; ap2s & cb/mbs, nike, mizuno and callaway, the TM Tour Preferred had the best overall feel, best carry distance and shortest roll out. The Nike vrs forged combo was nice as well. Hit C Tapers stiff, DG X100 and KBS Tour X. All were nice, good carry but averaged 18 feet of roll out with a 7 iron. Carry was 175, stopping at 180-182. Switched to a KBS Tour Stiff and got longer carry and shorter roll out. I’ve always hit X Flex, who knew. Got the MC/MB 4-W, love them. I’m a 12 hc.

Mar 22, 2014 at 7:08 am

I am going to eat my words a little here. While I still don’t like all the TMAG garbage they go in with and the new products every five minutes, I hit these tour preferred CB irons today and they were great. Have been using Ping S57 and S56 for a while now and I’ve got to be honest, they blew them away. While we might debate the TMAG way so to speak, you can’t argue with they way their clubs perform. I will be getting a set of these as soon as I can. I preferred them to Titleist AP2’s as well.

Feb 7, 2014 at 5:34 pm

why all the tm haters? I use a lot of tm equipment and am very satisfied. currently use rac lt2 irons, rocketballz tour driver and a tm 3 wood. if you don’t like tm stuff that’s fine, go use something else. cutting down good equipment because you don’t have game seems pretty immature to me. maybe practice a little more!

Feb 20, 2014 at 2:03 am

Hello Anyone else noticed that the MB blade looks exactly the same as a Mizuno MP 37

Jan 28, 2014 at 11:53 pm

Have yet to hit, but how bout just re-releasing smoke RAC MB’s and call it a day? I’m not a TMAG hater, but they haven’t put anything out as of late that really has a place on my gotta have list. Just my .02

Mar 4, 2014 at 8:12 pm

wonder if you’re going by looks or if you’ve actually hit what TM has to offer on a monitor compared to what you currently play.

I was always a TM hater, until I actually started comparing their irons to the others…better distance, better height, better spin (in my case means less)….

Gary hacker

Aug 26, 2014 at 3:16 pm

Just look at those new callaways they’re exact rac clones

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Jan 8, 2014 at 3:46 pm

My local golf store is installing a conveyer belt for all the TM equipment. The items that don’t end up in your trunk, end up in the dumpster out back.

JAMES WILSON

Feb 1, 2014 at 9:12 pm

I was a TM hater for years until 8 months ago. I was looking at drivers to upgrade from my Ping G15. I tried all the new models except TM. I average 220-230 and really didn’t get any extra distance from the ones I tested except the Calloway X Hot which I was hitting around 225 – 235 but not enough distance to shell out $300. On my way out the door I reluctant grabbed an R1 R flex just for heck of it. First drive, 256, all others 240-260. I have hit this driver 300 plus with a slight tail wind. Ball jumps off the face and gets up in a hurry. Needless to say I am a TM believer and will be on the TM band wagon until I can be proven wrong.

Sep 29, 2014 at 10:03 pm

but I’m a bit worried about my enigslh level and I think I just coulsnt be able to follow any classes … you need to make a “french” one Amanda and I’ll be there for sure 😉

Jan 8, 2014 at 11:35 am

kinda dumb the MC isn’t all forged and command a 999 price tag. I hit the CB last night and they are pretty nice. A big upgrade from the previous CB.

Jan 7, 2014 at 6:29 am

Whoa! whoa! Whoa! TM has a new club out? Now that’s news! sarcasm intended. If they keep up at this pace, they’ll have an iron that you can hit 1000 yards.

Jan 6, 2014 at 7:07 pm

I was fortunate to be in one of our local golf stores when the Taylormade rep came in with a bag full of the new releases to promo to the sales staff. I got to hit the MCs for about 45 minutes on a flightscope. I am a 1.8 index. I can tell you the irons felt great and I did gain about 6-7 yards over my current AP2s (that I had in my trunk and got out to hit at the same time). Spin rates and flights were very consistent as well. To me, they are much better looking at address than the RB Tours and Speedblades. Improved looks, consistent flight, spin and improved distance coupled with a great feel. What’s not to like. At least to me, they are much different than the clubs they are designed to replace and not just a cosmetic change for marketing/sales. Just for the record, I am not a Taylormade guy. I’ve bagged nothing but Mizuno and Titleist for a long time other than a R7 driver that I just can’t move out of the bag. I’ve tried every new driver that has come out but none out perform the incumbent.

Feb 1, 2014 at 9:20 pm

I’m was not a TM guy either but the R1 and RB2 5 wood made me a believer. My Ping G15 driver was 220-230, R1 240-260. Ping G15 3 wood was 190-200 and I was looking for something in the 180-190 so I tried several until I came to the TM RB2. 210-220 all day long. I now use my TM 5 wood for a 3 wood and my Ping 3 wood for a 5 wood if that makes any sense.

Jan 6, 2014 at 6:28 pm

Mc set are half forged? The old line was all forged incl the cb line… Poor effort I’d say even tho tmag forging a aren’t very good anyways some people say they are ‘fake forged’ simply pressed while kzg muria etc are heavily stamped to ensure no air bubbles etc for pure feel and cinsitancy.. Kzg are where it’s at.. Good luck with yet another huge release Tm I will not be buying into it sorry…

David Smith

Jan 6, 2014 at 3:30 pm

Yawwwwwwwn. These are just hideous much like the rest of TaylorMade’s stuff. I wish they hadn’t taken this route.

Jan 6, 2014 at 1:38 pm

I’m currently gaming RBZ Tours with the stock standard KBS Tour shafts. These irons are highly under rated and very easy to hit for a semi blade. Although I love the look of the new MC’s I see no reason to switch…

Mar 16, 2014 at 9:35 pm

I agree. While prettier, I don’t see any added benefit to RBZ Tour.

Jan 6, 2014 at 9:35 am

This is just a warning about some of the Taylor made equipment.

I do not hate taylormade in any way. I use one of their drivers and one of their hybrids and have no complaints about them.

I purchases two custom built irons from taylormade to replace my long irons about five months ago and have had nothing but trouble with them. The shafts have snapped at the hosel 3 Times since buying them. Taylormade replaced the shaft the first time this happened but due to the fact that they are custom irons there was a 6 week delay to get them back. The second time they broke I asked if Taylor made would replace the shafts with a different one as I had my doubts about the standard ones, they refused. I send the clubs to be repaired again, another 6 weeks to get them back…3 weeks later the shafts broke again.

Taylor made are not responding to any emails I send them now. I guess they are to busy preparing for the release of “rocket jet blade super distance” or whatever. All in all very very poor.

Jan 6, 2014 at 8:51 am

I dont mind the new looks. But i already committed to titleist irons so i wont change up any time soon.

Jan 6, 2014 at 12:00 am

Sep 29, 2014 at 11:31 am

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gocanucksfan123

Jan 5, 2014 at 10:28 pm

CB seems awfully similar to the Speedblades. Since they’re both cast wouldn’t it make more sense to buy the Speedblades instead of the CB because of the price difference?

Jan 5, 2014 at 10:41 pm

Yes, but the CB “looks” way cooler because of its simple silver color with the red writing as opposed to the funky blue of the SpeedBlade.

Jan 5, 2014 at 11:23 pm

so basically there’s going to be about a $200 difference just because of a different colour and a 1mm thinner top line. Got it.

Jan 5, 2014 at 9:08 pm

“TaylorMade has released its long-awaited line of 2014 Tour Preferred CB, MC and MB irons, which will hit stores on Dec. 6.”

I assume you meant Jan 6?

Sep 29, 2014 at 12:35 pm

The kind of people who can aoffrd these kinds of services are already rich enough not to be seriously affected by recessions. Although people often think of theme parks as only for those who are old enough for all the attractions, there is still something for even the tiniest of thrill seekers.

Jan 2, 2014 at 6:51 am

Was looking forward to the MC’s to replace my old trustworthy irons….woulda gone straight into the bag if the whole MC set looked like the PW in the pictures. But this slot crap? No thanks, distance irons. Bye TM, hello Cobra!!

Dec 28, 2013 at 7:29 am

I know there’s loads of people excited about TMAG products when they come out and I know it’s been said before but is anyone else really bored with the rate at which TMAG releases products? They have released 7 drivers in 2013. 7! And rocket blades then speed bladez within 6-8 months give or take? Really? I will never buy a new TMAG product ever again. Wait 6 mths and you’ll get it for half price (or less). Callaway’s going the same way with their hard goods too. I’m going Ping and Titleist all the way now. Only OEM’s that make products with integrity and longenvity.

Dec 29, 2013 at 3:59 pm

Ahh, I see… You want less choice in the marketplace vs more. And you’d prefer to see less innovation, or rather you want to wait till you see it everyone else’s bag for five years first. That makes sense.

Seriously, folks… what negative difference does it make to anyone if Cally and TMag release many products really fast? You don’t have to buy them. A fast product release schedule with planned obsolescence means rapid regular price drops for the savvy shopper! Don’t weep over the depreciation of a $399 driver, rejoice that you will be able to buy that driver for $175 in short order (if not immediately)!

All this carping of the plethora of TMag offerings comes down to one thing — Buyer’s Regret. This is different than Buyer’s Remorse, which is the fear you bought something bad. Buyer’s Regret is the fear you DIDN’T buy the best available option. Stop worrying about it and just find something that is good for your game.

I laud TMag for offering so many types of clearly differentiated irons from pure forged blades to super game improvements. Odds are I’ll find something that fits me.

Dec 29, 2013 at 7:34 pm

Very well said. I can’t wait for TMaG to come out with another TP set so I can get the new MC for 1/4 of the price.

Jan 5, 2014 at 9:48 pm

What if you owned the golf shop at a golf course? Every time you sell a new TM driver in 2-3 months there is a new one. Now you just sold your customer that the one he bought is the newest, latest and greatest, and then they drop a “better”, “longer”, and “more forgiving” driver. Everything you sold to that customer is out of the window. He thinks you sold him a driver that’s not what you said and you loose a customer for good. Just a thought!!! Seriously will consider not keeping TM in the golf shop for this very reason.

Jan 5, 2014 at 10:43 pm

“you loose a customer for good. ”

You don’t know golf addicts very well

Jan 6, 2014 at 8:36 am

Or spelling.

Dino from Australia

Jun 4, 2014 at 6:13 am

Jan 28, 2014 at 1:50 am

IF you owned a golf shop you would be on your knees thanking TaylorMade for helping improve your bottom line so much. They move the most product, they have the best range of choices for all types of players, and the new MC irons are sick! Ask Segio after Qatar…

ForgedIronsRBest

Jan 6, 2014 at 5:47 pm

Sadly, even when they finally cough up a clean, satin finished 100% forged iron set, they’re STILL offset yet say “Tour Preferred” ?? With the massive plethora of options out there, one would think TM would have the decency of at least releasing a forged i-set with 0 offset. There are players using Onset for God’s sake (I’m not one of them but they’re out there). If they’re going to step up to the attempted magic of yesteryear when some of their now decade-old RAC forged sets were pure magic, why not step it up all the way?? To weed through all the game improvement, half-forged, half-cast, progressive, injected, foam filled, this’s & that’s iron sets just to cough up 1 forged set that still isn’t really set up like Titleist or even Nike does/did with their MBs is difficult to fathom. TM should stick to the dozens of new released drivers they crank out every year & just about give up on irons all together if this is as good as it’s gonna get. Bottom line: even their “elite” products like these MBs are really more elite in price than in utmost performance compared to their competitors. With the amount of club options they offer, that’s just not good enough. :/

Feb 4, 2014 at 1:18 pm

What is an example of an onset iron. Ive been looking for years…

Jan 7, 2014 at 7:45 am

Where did you get your psych degree from? You got me in one bud. I’m going to regret it my whole life, buying that TMAG driver too soon. What am I to do?

Do you really believe TMAG when they said it took them years to perfect the first speed pocket and that they reinvented it in 6 months to release a second iron in quick succession that was so much better. Man, you’ll believe anything.

Have you noticed how TMAG haven’t released a new wedge in years. They know as well as everyone else that there’s no buzz in wedges (except when you tak about vokeys) so that means there’s no money.

TMAG don’t give a rat’s about innovation or technology. They are only interested in the $$$$$ and no one can disagree with that. Innovation and technology are only buzz words to them.

You might think I hate TMAG. I don’t. I often game a couple of their clubs from the past (R11 metal’s mostly). I just think it’s amazing (and boring) that they keep pushing out all these products and say each one is so much better then the last.

They must sit back and laugh that the golf community swallows their rubbish. I know I would if I were them.

Geoffrey Alter

Jan 7, 2014 at 9:20 pm

Rich, you are dead on. Unless we are pros, we won’t be able to discern the difference between the variances of mid year technology advances. Mostly, of we would all take the money from buying new clubs and out it into learning how to flush it, we would all be on the right oath. MArketing, consuming… Lather, rinse, repeat.

Jan 7, 2014 at 7:59 pm

And if you wait 6 months you will get a screaming deal. Odds are technology won’t change so much that you will be able to tell. Unless you are a plus 2 or 3 like everyone else on WRX. They don’t let people post on this site unless someone is that good, do they?

Sep 29, 2014 at 10:55 am

There are some interesting cut-off dates in this alctire but I don? know if I see all of them center to heart. There may be some validity but I will take maintain opinion until I look into it further. Good alctire , thanks and we would like more! Added to FeedBurner as well

Jan 29, 2014 at 12:10 am

How is it that “the others” can make an iron that holds its value, and satisfy its player for two years, not two months. You can take all the offerings from this company you want every couple of months, bottom line, your a sucker if you buy into their inferior product, and will never be satisfied, therefore you continue to replace with their “next best”. Have fun! At least their half off:)

Would anyone play these irons over Titleist, Ping, Mizuno? Majority who cares about a great product will say NO.

Jan 29, 2014 at 12:20 am

Keep playing inferior equipment and typing novels to support a gimmick we have seen through for years that you have yet to see, or play real gear.

May 14, 2014 at 11:33 pm

You must get smoked on the course regularly by someone who plays TM gear, why else would you care so much for a product you don’t care for? Just go buy some TM gear, old stuff if it makes feel any better about it, and get it over with. I’m sure everyone is tired of your whining. Just do it! (Ha ha)

Feb 1, 2014 at 9:28 pm

You nailed it. I was a TM hater but now own their R1 and RB2 five wood. I hit both 30 to 40 yards longer than my Ping G15 driver and 5 wood. Like you said, don’t have to buy them as there are plenty of substandard clubs in the market.

Feb 1, 2014 at 9:33 pm

You nailed it. I was a TM hater but now own their R1 and RB2 five wood. I hit both 30 to 40 yards longer than my Ping G15 driver and 5 wood. Like you said, don’t have to buy them as there are plenty of substandard clubs in the market.

Jan 5, 2014 at 10:29 pm

I have to agree with Rich here… BUT we being the consumers are the ones that are making the choice to buy the product… I think the worst is when you are really looking for that new club and settle on it.. and then 1 month later, another one comes out and you watch your “new” club drop $100 in price.. that’s what hurts the most.. TMAG is always saying X yards longer on everything they sell.. that’s their marketing strategy and it draws a lot of people to the product. I know Im looking at the SLDR stuff now, in the back of my mind I’m thinking wait another 2 months cause you know TMAG already has SLDR 2 TP ABCXYZ on the production line waiting for us…

Jan 6, 2014 at 12:25 pm

I think that you must get the equipment that will improve your game. I had the R11 and hit a Sunday best 290 yd drive from time to time on kikuyu fairways. I had been battling with high spin rates, so when I heard about the low-spinning SLDR I got fitted for one. The consequence was low bullet drives averaging +290. When I really crank one, I easily reach 350. In the same vein I changed my previous face-balanced putter to a Yes! Pippi-12 and am now averaging under 30 putts per round.

May 14, 2014 at 11:48 pm

I’ve got news for you Chris, that new club didn’t drop $100 when the new stuff came out. It dropped $100 the second you hit a ball with it, they all do, because it became a used club.

Brady Wilson

Jan 5, 2014 at 11:58 pm

yeah, products with integrity and longevity that don’t perform as well. Enjoy!

Jan 6, 2014 at 7:55 am

I wonder how many people got sucked into the RBZ being “17 yards longer” I play all TMAG stuff and I admit it.. I like the stuff, but the marketing hype is kind of ridiculous… the average guy on the street gets sucked into a lot of it.. and the big brand stores are gonna push it like crazy!!!!!! I wish I owned a golf shop so I could retire!!!

Jan 6, 2014 at 11:47 am

They perform only as well as the hands that hold them.

Jan 7, 2014 at 7:31 am

According to TMAG anyway. Guess they sucked you in with their marketing rubbish.

Sep 29, 2014 at 8:42 pm

My husband watned this club and it was a much better deal here than on other sites or at the sporting good stores in our area. He loves it and was really pleased. We also got a deal for a free golf magazine.

Dec 27, 2013 at 9:40 pm

I have had them for two weeks and I can tell you that they feel as soft as butter. Even the long irons feel much softer than the RBladez tour. I have the MCs and if you are looking for height in your mid-long irons you may want to consider the CB model as the MCs launch it pretty low.

Jeffrey Trigger

Dec 26, 2013 at 3:20 pm

These are the best looking TaylorMade irons in quite some time. I’m glad they finally toned down all the weird colors (seriously, yellow, on an iron?), funky gimmicks, and just made a solid iron. Those CB’s look like a great set, it looks like a mid handicapper who is solid with irons could play those. I’m hoping to blend the CB’s in the slotted irons with MC’s in the short, you know, in my fantasy world in which I can actually afford a set of tour irons.

Dec 27, 2013 at 2:29 am

Shame that they feel like sh_t in the mid to long irons with the slot.

Dec 27, 2013 at 12:17 pm

How do you know that? Did you hit then? I bet you didnt

Dec 27, 2013 at 5:11 pm

I could give a rats butt about feel. I care about score.

Jan 5, 2014 at 10:45 pm

You will care when you can’t feel whether you hit it good or not and can’t figure out what the club head is actually doing, not giving you enough feedback to be able to control the next time you hit it because you don’t really know if it’s going to do what you want it to do because you can’t feel the hit

Jan 8, 2014 at 6:00 pm

I play 17-4 steel irons now, and have never had a problem identifying where I hit the ball. I’ve played golf for 26 of my 34 years playing everything from a Persimmon Whale, Mizuno MP-14, to the RBZ irons I’m playing now. I’ve never had a problem identifying a good shot from a bad shot, ever.

Jan 5, 2014 at 11:10 pm

I’ve hit the long irons…they are butter! Besides who needs feel in those irons anyway!

Jan 20, 2014 at 3:57 pm

Well, I’m an idiot, and spent a lot of money. I put the CB 4 through AW in my bag. The A wedge is absolutely beautiful, and I can’t believe doesn’t have a complete wedge set. The irons are ridiculously long, unbelievably forgiving for their size, and unlike some game improvement irons, really consistent gaps between clubs. Today was the first time I’ve played in 2014, and I broke 40, with steady winds and cold temperatures. I absolutely can’t wait for better golf weather to see what these irons can do!

Dec 26, 2013 at 1:44 pm

I really appreciate the comparison photos because I couldn’t see the subtle differences between the Speedblades and the CB’s, I thought it was purely badging. Now I can. CB’s have ever so slightly less offset. This tells me that I should stay with my SB’s because I need that extra offset and any other changes or advantages would probably be minimal.

Dec 28, 2013 at 2:33 pm

When are they going to be released to consumers ?

Jan 6, 2014 at 12:01 am

speedblades are out, Tour Preferred irons drop this week.

Markymark032884

Dec 26, 2013 at 12:25 pm

Why do the comparison shots show the old MC vs. the new CB and last years RBZ tour vs. the new MC….. Why no pics of the old MC vs. the new MC?

Dec 26, 2013 at 12:29 pm

Not complaining its cool to see the comparison pics.. just would have been even cooler to see the (old MC vs. the new MC)…. and the (RBZ tours VS the new CB’s)

WarrenPeace

Jan 1, 2014 at 2:38 pm

Because the old MC is better and more reliable distance wise. The higher lofted irons without slot look ok- sort of a Mizuno remake but the older MC/MBs feels like butter all the way through the set. Combine the old head design with the right shaft and you have a great iron.

Shawn Smith

Dec 26, 2013 at 11:20 am

So these are just speedblade tours then? Was thinking of getting the MC’s but the wife bought me a set of mizuno 825 pros for christmas to replace my old burners. The wife just might have saved me from myself…

Dec 26, 2013 at 2:10 pm

She’s a keeper 😉

Dec 27, 2013 at 2:30 am

Dec 27, 2013 at 6:25 am

Thanks for the affirmation. 🙂

Dec 27, 2013 at 12:19 pm

These are way harder to hit then the speed blades, the only thing that is the same is te slot.

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Whats in the Bag

Collin morikawa witb 2024 (april).

• Collin Morikawa what’s in the bag accurate as of the RBC Heritage. More photos from the event here.  

Driver: TaylorMade Qi10 LS (9 degrees) Shaft: Mitsubishi Diamana D+ Limited 60 TX (45 inches)

3-wood: TaylorMade Qi10 (13.5 degrees) Shaft: Mitsubishi Diamana D+ Limited 80 TX

• Check out more in-hand photos Collin Morikawa’s clubs here.

5-wood: TaylorMade Qi10 (18 degrees) Shaft: Mitsubishi Diamana D+ Limited 80 TX

Irons: TaylorMade P770 (4), P7MC (5-6), P730 (7-PW) Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue Mid 115 X100 (4-6), True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100 (7-PW)

Wedges: TaylorMade MG4 (50-SB09, 56-LB08), TaylorMade MG4 TW (60-TW11) Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400

Putter: TaylorMade TP Soto Grip: SuperStroke Zenergy Tour 2.0

Grips: Golf Pride Z-Grip Cord

Ball: TaylorMade TP5x

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REVIEW: TaylorMade Tour Preferred Irons Series

First, the boring specification stuff

All three irons are meant for mid- to low-handicap players (15 or lower; hence, "Tour Preferred") with the MBs being more on the low-handicap spectrum. Those suckers are about as close to a true blade as you'll see in today's golf equipment world, meaning the MBs could probably also double as a butter knife at the breakfast table. Forged from 1025 carbon steel, there is little to no technology inherent in the MB irons, so what you see is what you get. Shankers need not apply.

Conversely, both the MC and CB irons feature more muscle behind the club face, helping those of us who need a boost in power and lift. For example, the MC irons come equipped with a 'muscle cavity' backing that lowers the MOI in each club, allowing for higher ball-flight across the set. TaylorMade's patented Speed Pocket is on the 3- through 7-irons while the scoring clubs are more traditional.

Finally, the CB irons feature the most technology among the three, which includes the same muscle cavity but adds more perimeter weighting for increased accuracy. They also feature stronger-than-standard lofts, meaning the CBs are designed for distance.

Performance and Feel

Overall, I was very pleased with all three TaylorMade Tour Preferred iron lines. The CB irons were by far the most forgiving, and the ball felt soft off the clubface. I was also able to hit the ball much further than I'm typically used to, which are a result of the stronger lofts. The look of the club might be a bit robotic or sci-fi for my liking.

The MC irons were also quite forgiving, but you definitely know when you missed the sweet-spot. I found distance numbers and spin rates to be about the same as my current iron set. The club's appearance was closer to traditional, which I preferred. I could definitely see these clubs in my bag.

The MB irons were extremely unforgiving, which is expected of a pure blade design. However, once I made solid contact, I actually liked the feel of these irons the most of the three. The trick, of course, is to find the center of the clubface every time. I can't do that as often as I'd like. I also preferred the look of the MBs the most.

Why you should buy these clubs

If you are a better player looking for a set of scoring machines, try out the MB irons. If you're a weekend warrior who can break 90 consistently, either the CB or MC irons would treat you quite well. Plus, due to their strong lofts, the CB irons would be my recommendation if you struggle in distance. If you would like to upgrade to a newer set of irons that will play similar to your current set, try out the MC series.

Why you should not buy these clubs

If you are a 9-handicap or higher, do not buy the MB irons. You simply will not enjoy them enough to appreciate how great the irons are; you simply are not good enough. Furthermore, if you are below a 9-handicap, I'd shy away from the CB irons as they will produce inconsistent yardages than you are typically accustomed to. If you are looking for something mind-blowingly different from your current irons, do not buy the MC irons.

Adam Fonseca is the owner of Golf Unfiltered and host of the Golf Unfiltered Podcast. He has been writing about golf for over 20 years. His work has appeared on multiple outlets, including SB Nation, the Back9Network, USA Today, Yahoo Sports!, and others.

Fantasy Golf Picks: Arnold Palmer Invitational 2014

Fantasy golf picks: valspar championship 2014.

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New gear: TaylorMade Tour Preferred irons 2014

TaylorMade has annouced the launch of three new TaylorMade Tour Preferred irons for 2014: Tour Preferred MB, Tour Preferred MC and Tour Preferred CB iron lines

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Click here for a gallery of the new TaylorMade Tour Preferred irons 2014

TaylorMade has annouced the launch of three new TaylorMade Tour Preferred irons 2014: Tour Preferred MB , Tour Preferred MC and Tour Preferred CB iron lines.

"We don't believe you can call yourself a great iron company unless you create irons that great players want to play," said Sean Toulon, TaylorMade's Executive Vice President.

"That's why these clubs bare the name Tour Preferred. The head has to look right from every angle. The leading edge and sole have to react a certain way with the turf.

"We've taken each of these things into careful account to make these irons especially appealing to better players."

The TaylorMade Tour Preferred MB irons are an authentic muscle-back blade forged from soft, 1025 carbon steel with a classic and compact shape, a thin top line and minimal offset.

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The TaylorMade Tour Preferred MC irons featuree a muscle-cavity to boost the moment of inertia, creating an all-round iron product with feel, workability and stability.

The 3- 7-irons feature TaylorMade's Speed Pocket to promote increased ball speed in the lower portion of the clubface and more consistency across the entire face.

The head, top-line and sole-width of the Tour Preferred MC are all slighty larger than those on the Tour Preferred MB.

The TaylorMade Tour Preferred CB is a complete cavity-back which combines the shape of a player's iron with the look of a blade at set-up.

The Speed Pocket in the 3- 7-irons feature micro-slots for fast ball speeds across the whole face, as well as higher launch for more distance.

TaylorMade claims the Tour Preferred CB is one of the longest player's irons it has ever created.

The heads of the short irons are compact with minimal offset, and long and middle iron heads are a touch larger with progressive offset, offering more stability and easier launch.

The TaylorMade Tour Preferred CB, Tour Preferred MC and Tour Preferred MC come in 3-iron to pitching wedge with a satin nickel-chrome finish. All three models come with KBS Tour steel shafts and tour velvet grips.

They are available from January 20 . TaylorMade Tour Preferred irons 2014 RRPs:

Tour Preferred MB - £899 Tour Preferred MC - £849 Tour Preferred CB - £749

Click here for a Tour Preferred CB irons gallery Click here four a Tour Preferred MB irons gallery Click here for a Tour Preferred MC irons gallery

Nick Bonfield joined Golf Monthly in 2012 after graduating from Exeter University and earning an NCTJ-accredited journalism diploma from News Associates in Wimbledon. He is responsible for managing production of the magazine, sub-editing, writing, commissioning and coordinating all features across print and online. Most of his online work is opinion-based and typically centres around the Majors and significant events in the global golfing calendar. Nick has been an avid golf fan since the age of ten and became obsessed with the professional game after watching Mike Weir and Shaun Micheel win The Masters and PGA Championship respectively in 2003. In his time with Golf Monthly, he's interviewed the likes of Rory McIlroy, Justin Rose, Jose Maria Olazabal, Henrik Stenson, Padraig Harrington, Lee Westwood and Billy Horschel and has ghost-written columns for Westwood, Wayne Riley, Matthew Southgate, Chris Wood and Eddie Pepperell. Nick is a 12-handicap golfer and his favourite courses include Old Head, Sunningdale New, Penha Longha, Valderrama and Bearwood Lakes. If you have a feature pitch for Nick, please email [email protected] with 'Pitch' in the subject line. Nick is currently playing: Driver:  TaylorMade M1  Fairway wood:  TaylorMade RBZ Stage 2  Hybrid:  Ping Crossover  Irons (4-9):  Nike Vapor Speed  Wedges:  Cleveland CBX Full Face, 56˚, Titleist Vokey SM4, 60˚  Putter:  testing in progress!  Ball:  TaylorMade TP5x

Canada's Taylor Pendrith leads a tightly-bunched field by one heading into the final round of The CJ Cup Byron Nelson

By Jonny Leighfield Published 5 May 24

The Spaniard triumphed at Hidden Grace Golf Club by a single shot after the third round was cancelled because of heavy rain

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• Single Iron
• TaylorMade 2014 Tour Preferred CB Single Iron

TaylorMade 2014 Tour Preferred CB Single Iron 3 Iron FST KBS Tour Steel X-Stiff Right Handed 41.0in (D-82333343140)

Product details, show all details +.

TaylorMade 2014 Tour Preferred CB Single Iron 3 Iron FST KBS Tour Steel X-Stiff Right Handed 41.0in

The 2014 TaylorMade Tour Preferred CB irons maintain the look of a player’s blade iron while adding distance with higher launch angles and faster ball speed. The set features 3-through 7-irons made from 17-4 stainless steel and shorter irons cast from 431 stainless steel. These clubs are a combination of the precision found in the other Tour Preferred irons, and increased distance. The clubheads are compact, though bigger than their muscleback and muscle cavity counterparts, with progressive offset in the longer irons. These clubs offer increased distance and forgiveness without compromising style and appearance.

TaylorMade Tour Preferred CB Irons - 2nd Swing Golf

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Golf News, Reviews, and Commentary

TaylorMade 2014 Tour Preferred MC Review

After going missing for a couple of years, the Tour Preferred line of irons are back. Read on to see if they are really worthy of that name.

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That’s all well and good, and during that time, they’ve done a great job marketing to the weekend warrior but at some point, it seemed like they lost touch with the more serious golfer. This year, that tune has changed and the company has brought back their “Tour Preferred” line of irons. The line has three different models; the first is their muscle back or MB model and is for the best of players. On the other end of the spectrum of the Tour Preferred line are the CB’s. These clubs, as you can tell by the name, have a cavity back and have a much larger foot print. In the middle, there are the muscle cavity or MCs.  These clubs combine ideas from the two sets around them to produce a club with a slight cavity, a smaller shape, and thin top lines in a package that also has some of the technology that’s missing from the MBs.

Read on to find out if TaylorMade’s newest irons are as good as they’d have you believe or if they are just another club that will be replaced in a few short months. Specs For the purpose of this review, I received the standard 3-PW set of the TaylorMade Tour Preferred MC irons. The set came with the stock KBS Tour shafts, which have become the go-to for many TaylorMade irons. The set has fairly standard lofting for a modern players irons. The irons also came equipped with the standard TaylorMade branded Tour Velvet grip. Detailed specs are as follows:

Design and Technology While these are player’s clubs, no doubt, they still feature quite a lot of technology, which is something that you rarely see in a club in this category. Perhaps the most touted feature of the new set is the inclusion of the Speed Pocket. While the company’s Speed Pocket technology dates back to last year and made its debut on the RocketBladez, it wasn’t around for the previous version of the Tour Preferreed irons. Like the CB model, the MCs have the Speed Pocket milled into the 3-7 irons. This slot, which is filled with a specially formulated polyurethane by 3M, is said to increase ball speeds across the lower portion of the face where miss hits tend to happen the most. This is a technology not found in the MB irons.

However, the inclusion of the Speed Pocket means that the MCs aren’t completely forged clubs, which they had been in the previous version. Instead, only the 8, 9, and PW (the clubs without the Speed Pocket) are forged, while the rest of the set is cast. Some would worry that might effect the feel, however, TaylorMade says that the cavity of the clubs have been precision engineered to produce the perfect blend of feel, workability, and stability. The grooves have also been precision milled onto the face to give optimal spin out of the rough. The company says that they have paid extra attention to detail with these clubs checking every curve, line and angle throughout production to give a great product. In fact, along with the irons, the company has launched the Tour Preferred 360 program. By registering your 2014 Tour Preferred irons with them, they will give you (through 2015) annual loft and lie checks, annual re-gripping, as well as access to additional content on their website and the Tour Preferred Hotline..

Esthetics From a looks point of view, these clubs are among the cleanest that the company has ever produced. When you put as much technology into clubs as TaylorMade does, it isn’t necessarily easy to hide. While not quite as sleek as the muscle backs in the series, they do have a very simple design, especially when compared to the previous versions of the Tour Preferred irons. While those had kind of an industrial look with the screw and weight port featured prominently in the club’s cavity, these have a beautiful satin chrome chrome finish and limited markings. Above the top of the cavity is the TaylorMade word mark, and in the cavity are the words “Tour Preferred” and MC. The short irons also have “Forged” stamped on the hosel. The only bit of visible technology is the Speed Pocket which spans the length of the sole on the mid and long irons. Also, the clubs with the Speed Pocket, also have a notch cut out from the heel, presumably to save weight. Other than the Speed Pocket on the long and mid irons, the only other marking on the soles is the clubs number.

At address, the sleekness continues. The clubs have minimal offset (actually less than the MBs in the long irons and just slightly more in the short ones), and thin top lines. While they are a bit larger than their blade counterparts, they still are fairly small clubs, so if you want some meat behind the ball, you may wish to continue on to the CB irons. As stated earlier, the clubs have a satin chrome finish that not only looks great in the bag but also frames the ball beautifully at address. Being as I play my golf in sunny southern California, I like these clubs as the finish helps to reduce glare as it’s kind of hard to hit the ball when you’re being blinded.

Performance I started a thread a couple years back about my clubs being stolen and while it’s never fun to have that happen to you, I was lucky enough to have the clubs covered and wound up with the previous version of the Tour Preferred MC clubs. I played those for a little over a year, and ended up selling them off after getting some new sticks. That maybe one of the only times I’ve regretted selling clubs. Those clubs had great feel and performed well for me, and while the looks of them weren’t loved by all, I liked them. Because of this, I when the opportunity to review these clubs came about I jumped all over it and had high expectations for them. I must say, that I am not one bit disappointed with these clubs.

To start, as I mentioned, I received these with the stock steel shafts, which in this case were KBS Tour. I have found this to be my favorite shaft as it has a softer feeling compared to either the True Temper Dynamic Gold or Project X shafts that I’ve played previously while launching the ball high. At 120 grams, the shafts are among the heavier ones out there, but, the balance of the club feels right to me and I feel that I can control the shot with them.

One of the more touted features of the club is the Speed Pocket, which TaylorMade says adds distance by increasing ball speed and consistency across the face of the club. In fact, when they debuted the Speed Pocket in last years RocketBladez they challenged consumers to try their 7 iron versus their own, guaranteeing that their’s would be longer. So, is this true, does the Speed Pocket really give more distance? Quite simply, yes. For me, I’ve seen an increase of about 1/2 club in the irons; which while not a huge amount is still nice. With the addition of the Speed Pocket comes a couple of questions and one of those is about the durability of the pocket itself. The pocket is milled into the sole of each of the clubs and then, to prevent dirt and debris from getting in, is filled with a specially formulated polyurethane by 3M. While I’ve only had the clubs a few months I’ve played an average of 3 rounds a week plus practice sessions with them, and they have held up just fine. As far as I’m concerned, durability here shouldn’t be an issue.

Probably the bigger plus of the Speed Pocket is the increased consistency of the club rather than the added distance. Especially as the clubs get longer, the swing tends to get a little bit more inconsistent leading some shots a little towards the heel or toe or maybe a little thin or fat. The simple truth is that long irons are harder to hit than the short ones. While the Speed Pocket doesn’t completely change this, I’ve noticed a lot more consistency in my distances. No longer is a 4 or 5 iron 10 yards short of where I thought it should be and just as important, shots that I feel like I absolutely got a hold of aren’t flying the green. Sure those shots go a few yards further, but it’s a few yards, not 10.

Another big question that comes up due to the addition of the Speed Pocket is feel. With the Tour Preferred MC irons, only the short irons (8-PW) are forged, and those clubs are also missing the speed pocket. I was curious if, and a bit concerned that, the long and mid irons would feel substantially different from the short irons due to the Speed Pocket and different processes by which they would made. The short irons, as expected, felt just as good as any other forged iron I’ve ever hit. Center hits feel almost like nothing. In the long and mid irons, I don’t really think that the feel is really any different. Good strikes still feel very solid, and not so good strikes feel just a little bit worse. I had a friend hit both the 7 and 8 irons without seeing the clubs sole, and he couldn’t tell a difference in feel. If this is a concern for you, I don’t think it should be.

Playing in some rather windy conditions as of late has led to situations where it was necessary to hit a few variety of shots. Whether I needed to flight the ball low to stay out of the wind or high to take advantage of it, I don’t feel that these clubs limited me at all. That’s not to say that I pulled the shot off every time, but I’m an 11 handicap. Though these clubs come with the KBS Tour shafts, which tend to hit the ball a bit higher in my experience than Dynamic Golds, I haven’t seen any issues with hitting the ball too high. However, I never would describe myself as a high ball hitter anyways, so if you are, maybe a different shaft choice would be in order. As always, it’s probably best to get fitted and see what works well for you.

Conclusion So, what’s the bottom line on these clubs? I feel that in the TaylorMade Tour Preferred MCs, the company has created a set of irons both for everybody and nobody at the same time. What I mean by that is even as a low double digit handicap, I don’t find these clubs all that hard to hit, which is good news, but much worse than my level, and I might suggest the Tour Preferred CB irons instead. On the other hand, players with better ball striking abilities than myself might prefer the all forged MBs. On the other hand, these clubs kind of give the best of both worlds; you still an iron with a smallish profile and thin top lines as you would in the MBs as well as forged short irons, but you don’t give up the benefits of having the Speed Pocket in the long and mid irons.

However you want to look at it, I truly believe that TaylorMade has created a set that will last for years in the bags of many. I said earlier that I had high expectations for these clubs based upon my experience with the previous Tour Preferred MC irons, and these clubs have more than lived up to those expectations. The looks of the irons have been toned down since the last version and where they were once a bit industrial looking are now the sleekest that TaylorMade has produced in a long time. Couple that with the fact that these irons perform great and you have a recipe for a set worthy of the Tour Preferred name. While I’m sure that I’ll be trying different irons out in the future, it’s going to take something really special to get these out of my bag for good.

1 thought on “TaylorMade 2014 Tour Preferred MC Review”

Got a used set on eBay with DG X100 and what a gulf between these irons and the RBladz. I really do not know what I have been doing with R-Flex shafts all this time!!! Handicap tumbling down from day 1. Smile…

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TaylorMade 2014 Tour Preferred TP CB Irons #3-PW KBS TOUR SHAFT STIFF-FLEX

About this item.

• Art and science converge to create the ultimat combination of speed, stability and clean design
• Ideal iron for the better player who wants maximum performance technology in a compact and elegant head shape.
• Speed Pocket in 3- through 7-irons increases ball speed low on the face to deliver mor consistent ballspeed and launch conditions across the entire face.
• Beautifully shaped sole for better players who prefer slightly more effective bounce.
• Compact short-irons with minimal offset, slightly larger mid- and long-irons with progressively more offset.

Top Brand: TaylorMade

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Shooter Files by f.d. walker

Street Photography Tips, Interaction, Travel, Guides

Apr 24 2017

City Street Guides by f.d. walker: A Street Photography Guide to Moscow, Russia

*A series of guides on shooting Street Photography in cities around the world. Find the best spots to shoot, things to capture, street walks, street tips, safety concerns, and more for cities around the world. I have personally researched, explored and shot Street Photography in every city that I create a guide for. So you can be ready to capture the streets as soon as you step outside with your camera!

At over 12 million people, Moscow is the largest city in Russia and second largest in Europe by population ( Istanbul is #1). An urban, cosmopolitan metropolis with more than enough glitz and glam to cater to the elite, but without losing its fair share of Soviet era roughness around the edges. It can be fast paced, brash, busy, and trendy like other big cities, but it has its blend of West meets Russia atmosphere and beauty that provides plenty of unique interest. The Red Square is as famous as it gets, but there’s so much more to this city, including the most beautiful subway system you’ve ever seen. It would take years to capture all of Moscow, but that means you have an endless amount of areas to discover.

So here’s a Street Photography guide so you can be ready to capture all that Moscow has to offer before you even arrive!

• Patriarch’s Pond
• Old Arbat Street
• Maroseyka Street
• Tverskoy Boulevard

Top 5 Street Spots:

1. red square.

The Red Square is the most famous square in not just Russia, but all of Eastern Europe. The name actually doesn’t come from the color of the bricks or communism, but from the name in Russian, Krásnaya, once meaning “beautiful” before its meaning changed to “red.” This large plaza is what you see on the cover of guide books and magazines for Moscow, with St. Basil’s Cathedral being the center piece next to Lenin’s Mausoleum surrounded by the Kremlin Wall. Of course, the Red Square attracts hordes of tourist due to the main attractions, but all that activity around an interesting atmosphere does provide street photo opportunities. It’s also the central square connecting to the city’s major streets, providing a good starting point to explore outward.

You’ll also find the popular pedestrian only Nikolskaya Street connecting the Red Square to Lubyanka Square. This line of expensive shops includes plenty of activity, while also leading you to another popular square. Filled with history rivaling any city, the Red Square and surrounding areas are the heart and soul of Russia.

2. Patriarch’s Ponds

Patriarch’s Ponds is one of the most exclusive neighborhoods in Moscow. Despite the name being plural, there’s only one large pond, but it’s worth a visit with your camera. It’s a popular spot for locals and expats to come relax or take a stroll around the pond. You get an interesting mix of young and old too, from young love to “babushkas” feeding pigeons. It’s a very peaceful park atmosphere in one of the nicer areas within the city center, while bringing enough activity for street photography. 

The pond is shallow and in the winter becomes a popular spot for ice-skating too. The area is also well-known for the location in the famous Russian novel, The Master and Margarita. 

3. Old Arbat (Stary Arbat)

Old Arbat is the most famous pedestrian street in Moscow, and dating back to the 15th century, also one of its oldest. Originally, it was an area of trade, but soon became the most prestigious residential area in Moscow. During the 18th century, Arbat started attracting the city’s scholars and artists, including Alexander Pushkin. Cafes lined the streets and impressive homes filled the neighborhood. Since then, New Arbat street was created as a highway in the area, while Old Arbat was paved for a 1km pedestrian only walkway.

Due to the historic buildings, famous artists that lived here, and the bohemian atmosphere, Old Arbat has become a big attraction for tourists today. Now, there’s a mix of cafes, restaurants, souvenir shops, street performers, street merchants and other attractions for visitors, and some locals, to come enjoy. It can get really busy here and there’s usually something interesting going on so it’s a good street to come walk with your camera for guaranteed life.

4. Gorky Park

One of the most famous places in Moscow is Gorky Park. The official name is Maxim Gorky’s Central Park of Culture & Leisure, which gives you an idea of what goes on here. When built, it was the first of its kind in the Soviet Union. Divided into two parts, it stretches along Moscow River. One end contains fair rides, foods stands, tennis courts, a sports club, a lake for boat rides, and more. This end brings more active life due to its number of attractions, while the other end is more relaxed, where you’ll find gardens, trees, older buildings, and an outdoor amphitheater.

Gorky Park attracts mostly locals so it’s a good spot to capture the non-tourist side of Moscow life. Muscovites come here to escape the city and unwind in a picturesque setting. The park remains alive outside of the warmer months too, especially when the lake turns into the city’s largest outdoor skating rink. I’d recommend taking the metro out here to spend at least half a day exploring the massive park’s life with your camera.

5. Maroseyka Street

Maroseyka Street is a popular area not too far from the Red Square. The long, winding street turns into Pokrovka and is lined with restaurants, cafes, bars and places to stay. It’s actually where I like to stay when I’m in Moscow due to its location and solid street photography opportunities itself. You have Kitay-gorod station near and if you keep walking southwest, you’ll get to the Red Square. But if you walk northwest, as it changes to Pokrovka, you can find a long street of activity for photography with its own interesting atmosphere.

6. Tverskoy Boulevard

Tverskoy Boulevard is the oldest and longest boulevard in Moscow, beginning at the end of Nikitsky Boulevard, and finishing at Pushkin Square, a spot to come for activity itself. The boulevard is made up of two avenues, with pedestrian walkways in-between. You’ll find grass, shrubbery, trees, benches and more walking it’s almost kilometer length. Many people come here to enjoy some relaxation, walk their dog, or just to use it to walk wherever they’re going. Its center location also provides a nice place to walk with your camera near plenty of other spots you’ll want to check out anyway.

Sample Street Walk:

For a full day of Street Photography, covering some of the best spots, you can follow this sample street walk for Moscow:

• Start your morning walking around the Red Square (1), while exploring the surrounding area, including Nikolskaya Street
• Then walk northwest to Patriarch’s Ponds (2) and slowly walk the pond and surrounding area with your camera
• Next, walk east to the Pushkin Monument and stroll down Tverskoy Boulevard (6)
• Once Tverskoy Boulevard (6) ends, it will turn into Nikitsky Boulevard. Follow this down until you get to the start of Old Arbat Street (3), across from Arbatskaya station
• After you’re done walking down Old Arbat Street (3) for more street photography, spend some time checking out Moscow’s beautiful metro stations
• To finish off the day with more street photography, get off the metro near Red Square (1) again, Maroseyka Street (5) or wherever you’re staying for the night.

3 Things I’ll Remember about Shooting in Moscow:

1. museum metro.

The Moscow metro system was the first underground railway system in the Soviet Union and today includes 203 stations across 340km of routes. The elaborate system has some of the deepest stations in the world too, with escalators that seem to go on forever. None of this is what makes it so special, though. Many of its stations feel like stepping inside a museum, making it without a doubt the most interesting and beautiful metro system I’ve been in.

When built, Stalin wanted to make the metro stations “palaces for the people” with marble, chandeliers, and grand architecture. The best part is the variety of architecture and styles used, making many of the stations a completely different experience visually. You could easily spend a whole day traveling the stations and there are even tours available for people who wish to do just that. My advice, though, would be just to buy a ticket and hop on and off at different stations, while exploring different lines. The museum-like surrounding mixed with the crowds of characters can make for a great photography experience.

Since there are so many stations, here are some of my favorites to check out:

• Novoslobodskaya
• Mayakovskaya
• Elektrozavodskaya
• Komsomolskaya
• Ploschad Revolyutsii
• Dostoyevskaya
• Prospekt Mira

2. Moscow is Big

It’s no secret that Moscow is a big city, but it can feel even bigger with how spread out much of it is. This is especially true if you compare it to cities outside of Asia. If I compared it to cities in Europe, I’d probably say only Istanbul would warrant more time to really discover the depths of this city. Most only explore around the Red Square and surrounding area, but that is such a small part of the city. Although, that central area does give you plenty to see on its own.

Fortunately, I had a good friend living in the city to show me around, but it opened up my eyes even more to how much there is to discover in Moscow. It’s a big city with a variety of atmosphere that can take you from “east” to “west” and trendy to rugged depending on where you go. I’d imagine you’d have to live here a while to really know the city.

3. Cosmopolitan Mix of East meets West

Modern skyscrapers mixed with amazing architecture, a world-class metro system with museum-like beauty, trendy fashion and chic clubs, Moscow is a rich mix of Russian culture and history in a more western cosmopolitan package. There is a push to keep the Russian culture, while also pushing forward with a modern metropolis the whole world will envy. This comes with an impressive skyline, that continues to grow, and endless modernities, but with soviet nostalgia and atmosphere mixed in for good measure.

Mixed in with this grand western cosmopolitan atmosphere, is a strong national pride in Russia. This includes their famous leader, Vladimir Putin. Maybe no other place will you see a country’s leader more often. All over, from the pricey tourist shops to the underground walkway stalls, you’ll find goods with Putin’s likeness covering them. From t-shirts to magnets to Matryoshka dolls. There’s a strong national pride that can be seen around the city, which also extends to their leader. Moscow is many things. It’s East meets West, modernizations meets Soviet era, and a whole lot more.

What To Do For a Street Photography Break?:

Eat at a stolovaya.

Stolovayas are Russian cafeterias that became popular in the Soviet days. You grab a tray and walk down the line of freshly prepared local dishes, and select whatever you want from the chefs. They’re usually inexpensive and a much better value than restaurants, while giving you the opportunity to try from a wide selection of everyday Russian food. They’re also very tasty. I always include some borsch on my tray and go from there. The places themselves are all over Moscow and usually come with Soviet-era aesthetics to complete the experience.

Street Safety Score: 7

*As always, no place is completely safe! So when I talk about safety, I’m speaking in general comparison to other places. Always take precaution, be smart, observe your surroundings and trust your instincts anywhere you go!

Being the 2nd largest city in Europe with over 12 million people, you’re going to have your dangerous areas, but for the most part, it feels safe walking around. Russia is statistically higher in crime compared to most of Europe, but this generally doesn’t apply to tourists and visitors. Around the Red Square and surrounding city center, you should feel completely safe walking around. Pick pocketing can happen, but no more than other touristic places. I always explore Moscow freely without coming across too much to worry about. It’s a spread out city, though, so of course it matters where you are. Just use basic street smarts, know where you are and Moscow shouldn’t give you a problem. 

People’s Reaction Score: 7

Moscow is fast paced, big city life, which usually means people aren’t too concerned with you, or your camera. I don’t find people notice or pay much attention to me when I’m out taking photos in Moscow. For the most part, people just go about their day. You shouldn’t get too many looks or concern. But it can depend on the area you are in. The more you stick out, the more you might get noticed with suspicions. I’ve never had any problems in Moscow, or Russia, but just be careful who you’re taking a photo of if you get out of the city center. Other than that, it’s about average for reactions. 

Street Tips:

Learn the alphabet .

Much of Moscow, including the metro system, doesn’t use english. The Russian alphabet uses letters from the Cyrillic script, which if you aren’t familiar with it and don’t know the sounds, can be hard to decipher the words. This is most important for street names and metro stops when trying to get around. It can save confusion and make it easier getting around if you learn the basic alphabet. At the very least then, you can sound out the words to see which are similar in the english conversion, which can help matching them to maps. When out shooting street photography, getting around is as important as anything. So save yourself some time and frustration by learning the Russian Alphabet.

Use the metro

While Saint-Petersburg feels very walkable for a city its size, Moscow can feel very spread out, even for its bigger size. Outside of the Red Square area, you can have plenty of walking before getting anywhere very interesting, so you’ll need to take the metro a lot if you really want to explore the city. Maps are deceiving here too, it will always be further than it looks.

Another reason it’s less walkable than Saint-Petersburg is its completely different set-up. Moscow’s streets are mostly contstructed in rings with narrow, winding streets in-between. This is common with medieval city cities that used to be confined by walls, but you usually don’t have it in a city this massive. Saint-Petersburg has a more grid-like pattern that also uses the canals to help you know your way around. When it comes to navigating on foot in Moscow, it can be more difficult, so bring a map and take the metro when needed. It’s why Moscow’s metro carries more passengers per day than the London and Paris subways combined.

Explore other areas if you have time

Moscow is really big. While most people stay around the Red Square within the Boulevard Ring, there’s so much more to the city. I covered some other spots outside of this circle, but if you really want to see the city, you’ll need time. If you do have time, some other areas I’d check out first are Zamoskvarechye, along some of the south and western Moscow.

Inspiration:

For some more inspiration, you can look through the Street Photography of Moscow photographer Artem Zhitenev  and check out 33 of my photos taken in Moscow .

Conclusion:

Moscow’s name brings a certain mystique, but once you’re there it might bring a different atmosphere than you expect. It’s big and sprawling, but beautiful in many ways. It can feel like a European capital on a grand scale, but you can definitely find its Russian side in there.

The urban sprawl of Moscow can be intimidating, but give it enough time and you’ll be rewarded with plenty to discover. All with the world’s best metro system to take you around.

I hope this guide can help you start to experience some of what Moscow contains. So grab your camera and capture all that Moscow has to offer for Street Photography!

If you still have any questions about shooting in Moscow, feel free to comment below or email me!

(I want to make these guides as valuable as possible for all of you so add any ideas on improvements, including addition requests, in the comment section!)

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The exhibition of French prominent architect Le Corbusier, held in The Pushkin Museum, brings together the different facets of his talent. Source: ITAR-TASS / Stanislav Krasilnikov

The largest Le Corbusier exhibition in a quarter of a century celebrates the modernist architect’s life and his connection with the city.

Given his affinity with Moscow, it is perhaps surprising that the city had never hosted a major examination of Le Corbusier’s work until now. However, the Pushkin Museum and the Le Corbusier Fund have redressed that discrepancy with the comprehensive exhibition “Secrets of Creation: Between Art and Architecture,” which runs until November 18.

Presenting over 400 exhibits, the exhibition charts Le Corbusier’s development from the young man eagerly sketching buildings on a trip around Europe, to his later years as a prolific and influential architect.

The exhibition brings together the different facets of his talent, showing his publications, artwork and furniture design alongside photographs, models and blueprints of his buildings.

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Irina Antonova, director of the Pushkin Museum, said, “It was important for us to also exhibit his art. People know Le Corbusier the architect, but what is less well know is that he was also an artist. Seeing his art and architecture together gives us an insight into his mind and his thought-processes.”

What becomes obvious to visitors of the exhibition is that Le Corbusier was a man driven by a single-minded vision of how form and lines should interact, a vision he was able to express across multiple genres.

The upper wings of the Pushkin Museum are separated by the central stairs and two long balconies. The organizers have exploited this space, allowing comparison of Le Corbusier’s different art forms. On one side there are large paintings in the Purist style he adapted from Cubism, while on the other wall there are panoramic photographs of his famous buildings.

Le Corbusier was a theorist, producing many pamphlets and manifestos which outlined his view that rigorous urban planning could make society more productive and raise the average standard of living.

It was his affinity with constructivism, and its accompanying vision of the way architecture could shape society, which drew him to visit the Soviet Union, where, as he saw it, there existed a “nation that is being organized in accordance with its new spirit.”

The exhibition’s curator Jean-Louis Cohen explains that Le Corbusier saw Moscow as “somewhere he could experiment.” Indeed, when the architect was commissioned to construct the famous Tsentrosoyuz Building, he responded by producing a plan for the entire city, based on his concept of geometric symmetry.

Falling foul of the political climate

He had misread the Soviet appetite for experimentation, and as Cohen relates in his book Le Corbusier, 1887-1965, drew stinging attacks from the likes of El Lissitsky, who called his design “a city on paper, extraneous to living nature, located in a desert through which not even a river must be allowed to pass (since a curve would contradict the style).”

Not to be deterred, Le Corbusier returned to Moscow in 1932 and entered the famous Palace of the Soviets competition, a skyscraper that was planned to be the tallest building in the world.

This time he fell foul of the changing political climate, as Stalin’s growing suspicion of the avant-garde led to the endorsement of neo-classical designs for the construction, which was ultimately never built due to the Second World War.

Situated opposite the proposed site for the Palace of the Soviets, the exhibition offers a tantalizing vision of what might have been, presenting scale models alongside Le Corbusier’s plans, and generating the feeling of an un-built masterpiece.

Despite Le Corbusier’s fluctuating fortunes in Soviet society, there was one architect who never wavered in his support . Constructivist luminary Alexander Vesnin declared that the Tsentrosoyuz building was the "the best building to arise in Moscow for over a century.”

The exhibition sheds light on their professional and personal relationship, showing sketches and letters they exchanged. In a radical break from the abstract nature of most of Le Corbusier’s art, this corner of the exhibition highlights the sometimes volatile architect’s softer side, as shown through nude sketches and classical still-life paintings he sent to Vesnin.

“He was a complex person” says Cohen. “It’s important to show his difficult elements; his connections with the USSR, with Mussolini. Now that relations between Russia and the West have improved, we can examine this. At the moment there is a new season in Le Corbusier interpretation.” To this end, the exhibition includes articles that have never previously been published in Russia, as well as Le Corbusier’s own literature.

Completing Le Corbusier’s triumphant return to Russia is a preview of a forthcoming statue, to be erected outside the Tsentrosoyuz building. Even if she couldn’t quite accept his vision of a planned city, Moscow is certainly welcoming him back.

All rights reserved by Rossiyskaya Gazeta.

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