TEST: TaylorMade RSi Irons

GA HANDICAP: 14.1

Three different models give all levels of golfer an iron set to suit.

MODEL AND SHAFT PLAYED:

TaylorMade RSi 1 3-iron to pitching wedge, fitted with stiff-flex steel shafts.*

FIRST IMPRESSIONS:

These irons feel light – lighter than I’m used to – but I wouldn’t say that’s off-putting in any way. The overall balance of each iron feels good. I also like the look and the thinking behind the face grooves, plus the more forgiving clubface design.

VERDICT:

Contact with the TaylorMade RSi 1 irons feels fantastic. The ball flies straight and they are very forgiving on mis-strikes as there was no jarring through the club at all whenever I hit one out of the toe. Impact when you catch one flush is excellent. The sound and feel of impact is a level above what I’m used to and the ball flight was strong. It’s hard to tell in one round, but I sense these were a little longer for distance than my irons.

I found the ball still flew on a very straight path any time I didn’t find the centre of the clubface. There was minimal loss of distance and almost zero loss of accuracy. I haven’t hit a 3- or 4-iron for a very long time as generally they’re hard to hit, but I found both long irons in the TaylorMade RSi 1 set were quite easy to hit.

WHAT I LIKED:

Contact. How they felt at impact and the forgiveness factor.

WHAT I DIDN’T LIKE:

Nothing. I really can’t find fault in these irons.

*Editor’s note: For comparison’s sake, we asked the same tester to trial both versions of the RSi irons.

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1. Better Speed Pockets help improve the results of mis-struck iron shots. 2.All RSi irons feature Face Slot Technology in a bid to provide greater consistency across the clubface.

MODEL AND SHAFT PLAYED:

TaylorMade RSi 2 4-iron to sand wedge, fitted with stiff-flex steel shafts.

FIRST IMPRESSIONS:

Another week and another set of irons to trial! These feel a little heavier in the clubhead, but generally the two models are very similar to look at while standing at address. I like how the 4- and 5-iron of the RSi 2 set have a weight insert in the toe.

VERDICT:

When I found the middle of the clubface with the TaylorMade RSi 2 irons the ball flew in the same impressive fashion as the RSi 1 irons, but there’s no question the sweet spot was more difficult for me to find. Miss that sweet spot and there’s a real jarring of the hands at impact. Perhaps unsurprisingly, the RSi 2s are nowhere near as easy to hit as the RSi 1s. A few of my better iron shots reminded me of the good strikes I enjoyed with the RSi 1 set but overall I struggled with the RSi 2s. However, as an exercise I think it was absolutely worthwhile to try both options. My mid-range handicap is primarily down to an ordinary short game; my iron play is not normally a weak point. I guess what trying both versions of TaylorMade’s RSi range proved is to understand the difference in the builds of the two sets and what they do for the higher handicappers to make clubs more forgiving.

WHAT I LIKED:

The cavities and the design of the RSi 2 clubheads.

WHAT I DIDN’T LIKE:

The jarring sensation at impact on mis-strikes.