Maltby TS-1 vs Maltby TS-1 IM
Side-by-side factory specifications. Differing values are highlighted.
Specification comparison
| Club | TS-1 loft | TS-1 IM loft | TS-1 lie | TS-1 IM lie | TS-1 length | TS-1 IM length |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 20 | 20 | 60.5 | 60 | 39 | 39 |
| 4 | 22.5 | 22 | 61 | 60.5 | 38.5 | 38.5 |
| 5 | 25 | 25.5 | 61.5 | 61 | 38 | 38 |
| 6 | 28.5 | 29 | 62 | 61.5 | 37.5 | 37.5 |
| 7 | 32 | 32.5 | 62.5 | 62 | 37 | 37 |
| 8 | 36 | 36 | 63 | 62.5 | 36.5 | 36.5 |
| 9 | 40.5 | 40 | 63.5 | 63 | 36 | 36 |
| PW | 45 | 44 | 64 | 63.5 | 35.5 | 35.5 |
| GW | 49.5 | 48 | 64 | 64 | 35.5 | 35.5 |
Highlighted cells differ between the two sets. Lofts and lies are factory standard.
Lofts compared
- TS-1
- TS-1 IM
What the differences mean
At the 7-iron, the TS-1 is 32° and the TS-1 IM is 32.5°, a 0.5° gap. Each degree of loft is worth roughly 3 to 4 yards of carry at the same swing speed, so the TS-1 should carry about 2 yards further with that club, on a slightly lower, shallower flight than the TS-1 IM. Across the 9 clubs both sets share, the differences roughly cancel out, with the largest gap at the GW (49.5° vs 48°). The pitching wedges are 45° and 44°; the stronger one leaves a 6° jump to a 50° gap wedge, which matters when planning wedge gapping. Beyond loft, the TS-1 IM 7-iron sits 0.5° flatter (62.5° vs 62°), which nudges start direction slightly right for a right-hander.
The TS-1 is a players iron and the TS-1 IM a game improvement iron, so they sit 2 steps apart on the forgiveness scale. The TS-1 IM is the more forgiving design, with a wider sole, more offset and more perimeter weighting for roughly 10 to 25 handicaps. The TS-1 trades some of that for a more compact head, thinner topline and more control over flight and shape, which suits roughly scratch to 10 handicaps.
The TS-1 is listed as three-piece billet forged hollow body, polymer filled, tungsten toe weight and the TS-1 IM as three-piece billet forged hollow body with injected polymer face backing ("Injected Muscle"). Both use hollow-body heads, so both trade a little feel for face flex and launch help. Both use tungsten weighting to lower the centre of gravity and steady the head on off-centre strikes. The TS-1 IM's muscle-back shape keeps mass directly behind the strike for feedback and control, where a cavity spreads it to the perimeter for forgiveness.
There are 4 years between these sets (2019 and 2023), more than one design generation. Over that time irons moved toward stronger lofts, thinner and faster faces, hollow and multi-material heads and wider use of tungsten, so the newer set is not simply a better version of the older one: it may launch and spin quite differently. Here the 7-iron loft moved from 32° to 32.5°.
Which should you choose?
The TS-1 IM is the stronger-lofted set — up to 1.5° stronger than the TS-1 on matching clubs. Expect longer carry per numbered iron but a flatter descent angle; gapping at the wedge end is where that shows up.
Both charts are reproduced in full on their own pages: Maltby TS-1 specs and Maltby TS-1 IM specs.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Maltby TS-1 stronger lofted than the TS-1 IM?
Yes. The Maltby TS-1 7-iron is 32° against 32.5° for the TS-1 IM, 0.5° stronger, which is worth about 2 yards of extra carry with the same swing.
What is the loft difference between the Maltby TS-1 and TS-1 IM?
At the 7-iron the difference is 0.5° (32° vs 32.5°). The largest gap on a shared club is 1.5° at the GW, and 7 of the 9 shared clubs differ.
Which is better for higher handicap golfers, the Maltby TS-1 or the TS-1 IM?
The TS-1 IM. As a game improvement iron it is the more forgiving design, suited to roughly 10 to 25 handicaps. The Maltby TS-1 is a players iron, better suited to roughly scratch to 10 handicaps.
Do the Maltby TS-1 and TS-1 IM have the same lie and length?
Not exactly. At the 7-iron the Maltby TS-1 is 62.5° lie and 37 inches, the TS-1 IM 62° and 37 inches. Both can be bent or built to your own fit.
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