Always at the forefront of cutting edge golf technology is TaylorMade. They seem to be the one company that puts themselves out there time after time and seem to be first with the latest and greatest equipment. Sometimes strategies like this backfire, and your products are seen as a joke or as gimmicky; other times you hit home runs. One technology that the company has been pushing over the last several years is its speed slot technology which has been found on both woods and irons. On the irons, it is a polymer filled slot found on the clubs sole. The idea behind the slot is that it allows the face to flex more, producing higher ball speeds across a larger portion of the face. In other words, more forgiveness and more distance. With the release of the RSi Irons, the company is pushing the bounds even more with the addition of slots on the clubs face.
One thing that the company learned is that 76% of all iron shots are mis-hits of one kind or another; in other words, they miss the center of the face. Because this is the area where the fastest ball speeds are achieved, there is a lot of distance being left on the table. The roots of these irons go all the way back to the RocketBallz fairway woods; the first TaylorMade club to use a speed pocket; and if anybody remembers, those were among some the the longest fairway woods available at the time. Over the last few years, that technology evolved into the Speed Slot, the slot found on the sole of company’s irons. This slot helped to increase ball speeds, especially on shots struck low on the face. With the RSi, irons, slots have been added to the face.
According to TaylorMade, Face Slot technology provides greater consistency across all of the face. This gives players increased performance, especially on those shots that miss the center of the face. The face slots are found both on the heel and toe of the club, just outside of the score lines and range between 35 and 38 mm depending on which iron it is. The slots are cut all the way through the face and then filled with a durable epoxy compound much like the slot found on the sole. What these slots do is allow the face to flex easily, and thus not lose much in the way of ball speed should the ball miss the center.
The Face Slots aren’t the only bit of new technology, however. The club also features an improved Speed Slot on the bottom which now features ThruSlot technology. This helps to activate the lower portion of the face by minimizing speed loss and aiding in higher launches. The Speed Slot is found on the 3-7 irons, where as the Face Slots are on the 3-8 irons.
The RSi irons aren’t just one model however, but rather an entire family of irons. To be exact, there are three different models the RSi 1, RSi 2, and the RSi TP; reached aimed at a different level of golfer. The RSi 1 is the version that offers the most forgiveness and uses what the TaylorMade calls their Advanced Face Design. These irons have the thinnest face the company has ever created as well as a deep under cut and Inverted Cone Technology, all of which goes to produce higher ball speeds. The club also uses several dampening systems to improve both the sound and feel of the club. Stock on this club is the Reax 90 steel shaft from True Temper.
The RSi 2 uses a Progressive Multi-Material Construction. Irons 3-5 are cast from 450 stainless steel and have tungsten weiths to lower the clubs CG and produce a higher ball flight. The mid irons (6 and 7) are also cast from 450 stainless steel. The scoring iron (8-PW) add in a forged face which the company says promotes feel and accuracy, and the wedges in the set are completely forged, giving them the look that better players prefer. The stock shaft for the RSi 2 is the new KBS Tour 105 shaft.
The TP version of the irons have the forged look and feel that better players seek out with the addition of the Face Slots. The 3-7 irons use an advanced two-piece construction that blends a 1025 forged carbon steel hosel and face with a 431 stainless steel back. This gives the clubs the look and feel of a forged irons with the benefits of casting. The 8-PW have classic forged heads and a slight muscle cavity. The tried and true KBS Tour steel shaft is the stock offering on the RSi TP.
The RSi 1 and RSi 2 are both available in stores now and carry a price of $799 and $999 respectively. Each can be had with graphite shafts for an additional $100. There will be individual wedges available for both (gap, sand, and lob for the RSi 1, only gap and sand for the RSi 2). The RSi TP will make their retail debut on January 15th and will go for $1199.
The RSi 1 irons are the largest and seem to be the most forgiving of the three irons in the RSi family in my experience. I found that they help deliver consistent ball speeds all over the face.