Two years ago TaylorMade-adidas Golf introduced “Speed Pockets,’’ a small slot in the sole of the iron to improve shots struck low on the face of the iron. TMaG says it now has now has taken “everything it’s learned’’ from the development of the Speed Pocket technology (originally introduced in its RocketBallz fairway wood) and applied it to the iron face to activate the toe and heel areas to provide more uniform flexion across the face and protect ball speed on off-center hits.
The result is “Face Slot’’ technology in TMaG’s new RSi family or irons that will be available Nov. 14.
TaylorMade’s Rsi iron
“Face Slot Technology provides greater consistency across the face, giving players improved performance on mis-hits,” said Tomo Bystedt, TaylorMade’s Director of Product Creation for Irons, Putters & Wedges. “No golfer is perfect, not even the best players in the world hit the center of the club every time. So with RSi, we’re giving all golfers a technology that can help their mis-hits perform more like pure strikes.”
Face Slots are found in the 3-8 irons. Positioned at the toe and heel, just outside the score lines and vertically spanning 35 to 38mm (depending on the iron number), the slots are cut all the way through the face and filled with a durable epoxy compound. The heel and toe slots, according to TMaG, allow the face to flex easily and protect ball speed for more consistent distance across the face.
In addition to Face Slots, the improved Speed Pocket in the RSi iron features ThruSlot technology, which TMaG says is engineered to activate the lower portion of the face by minimizing speed reduction and creating higher launch on shots hit below center. Like Face Slots, TMaG says the Speed Pocket (found in the 3-7 irons) protects ball speed, launch angle and spin rate, especially on shots struck low on the face.
TMaG says the two combine to give RSi a larger sweetspot with forgiveness near the toe, heel and bottom of the club.
The RSi will be available in three models.
RSi 1 (suggested retail price $799 steel, $899 graphite) features TaylorMade’s Advanced Face Design – an engineering feat the company says that incorporates the company’s thinnest face ever, a deep undercut and Inverted Cone Technology (to extend the COR zone) in order to promote greater ball speed.
RSi 2 (SRP $999 steel, $1199 graphite) features Progressive Multi-Material Construction. The 3-5 irons are cast from 450 stainless steel with tungsten weighting to promote a lower CG and slightly higher flight. The mid irons (6-7) are cast of 450 stainless steel, as well. The high-strength material, TMaG says, allowed engineers to make the face thinner, undercuts deeper and accommodate slot technology. The short irons (8, 9, PW) incorporate forged faces to promote feel and accuracy; and the wedges are completely forged.
“The RSi 2 provides the ideal blend of performance and beauty,” said Bystedt. “We have combined a progressive multi-material construction with our most innovative performance technologies to provide the best of all worlds in a slim, beautiful package.”
The RSi TP (SRP $1199 available Jan. 15) irons combine the forged look and feel preferred by better players with Face Slot Technology. An advanced two-piece construction merges a premium 1025 forged carbon steel hosel/face with a 431 stainless steel back using plasma welding in the 3-7 irons. This construction, according to TMaG, provides the precision and feel of a forged iron with the advanced geometry of cast irons – delivering the best of both worlds. The short irons (8-PW) are classic forged heads with a slight muscle cavity.
