Virginia Golfer November / December 2014 | Page 41

TaylorMade
RSi irons

TAYLORMADE RSi irons
No one hits the ball perfectly every shot—not even tour professionals. TaylorMade set out to make irons that help golfers’ misses perform as if
they were purely struck. Three new RSi irons feature clubface slots on the 3-iron through the 8-iron that improve consistency and distance on
off-center hits. The vertical slots are on the heel and toe, just outside of the grooves, and are filled with an epoxy compound. They allow those
areas to flex more at impact, thus boosting ball speed. Additionally, proprietary “Speed Pockets” in the 3-iron through 7-iron help improve ball
speed and launch from shots struck low on the face. Available models include the RSi 1, which has the company’s thinnest ever clubface, deep
undercut, inverted cone technology for more ball speed and vibration dampening. The RSi 2 has cast steel long irons with
tungsten weighting for higher flight. They feature cast middle irons with a thin face and deep undercuts and forge-faced
Nike Golf Vapor
short irons. Meanwhile, the RSi TP has a forged carbon steel hosel/face and stainless steel back in the long irons, and
Flex driver
forged short irons with a slight muscle. ($799-$1,199 per set, depending on shaft and iron model; taylormadegolf.com)

NIKE GOLF VAPOR FLEX driver

MIZUNO MP-15 irons

The latest of Nike’s new drivers is the Vapor Flex,
which the brand calls its “pinnacle” model. Like
the new Vapor Pro and Vapor Speed drivers, it
boasts a stiffened cavity back, boosted springlike effect across the face and adjustable loft
and clubface angles. But the Vapor Flex model
also sports “FlexFlight” adjustability, consisting of a
15-gram RZN tube with a high-density weight on one
end, called the FlightPod, in the cavity. By flipping it using an
accompanying wrench, players can quickly relocate the mass
within the clubhead, which in turn moves the center of gravity to
optimize launch conditions—from low/forward to low/back. This affects
launch angle, spin rate, forgiveness and workability. In other words, it helps
golfers further tune in to the shot shape and ball flight they’re seeking. The driver,
which arrives in golf shops on Jan. 10, 2015, will be adjustable to lofts of 8.5 to 12.5
degrees. It comes standard with a Mitsubishi Diamana S+ 60G (Blue Board) shaft, in
regular, stiff and extra stiff flexes. ($600; nikegolf.com)

CALLAWAY Big Bertha irons
Callaway is promoting the 360 Face Cup
in its new Big Bertha irons and justifiably
so—it’s a large dose of instant power.
The company borrowed the face
structure from its fairway woods
and hybrids and put it in irons for
the first time. The result is increased
ball speed across the entire clubface,
making irons that the company claims are
up to two clubs longer.
The new face cup is more flexible than a standard iron face,
so the ball jumps off the face with more velocity. Thanks to
hollow body construction, the clubs are also forgiving and sport
a low center of gravity that helps the ball get airborne quickly.
The sole is wider in the longer irons, preventing digging and
encouraging cleaner ball contact for more distance. Meanwhile,
the short irons feature a more compact profile. The topline is
also progressive, providing players with visual confidence at
address. For an up-charge, the set is available with hybrids as
iron replacements. ($1,199 per set with graphite shafts; $999
per set with steel shafts; callawaygolf.com)

Callaway
Big Bertha iron

Aimed at better players, Mizuno’s forged MP-15
irons were developed in part by incorporating
PGA Tour professional Luke Donald’s feedback
regarding impact feel and sound.
“Our goal was to deliver a forgiving MP iron
while designing a compact players’ head to
accommodate golfers looking to gain an edge
in ball striking, feel and forgiveness,” explains
Chuck Couch, Mizuno’s vice president of golf
product development. “To have one of the
game’s truly elite ball strikers and iron players
involved in the development process of our
irons to ensure they meet his standard and gain
his seal of approval cannot be underestimated.”
The forged steel of the clubhead helps emit
Mizuno’s renowned soft, solid and consistent
feel at impact. They also have proprietary
vibration management technology, giving
impact a pleasant, buttery feel in players’
hands. The compact clubhead features a
re-engineered titanium muscle insert behind
the face that adds forgiveness, giving golfers
the sensation of hitting a game-improvement
cavity-back iron. A rounded leading edge on
the sole lends the versatility needed to get
down to the ball cleanly in trouble lies, while
a satin nickel chrome plating looks elegant.
($1,100 per set with graphite shafts; $1,000 per
set with steel shafts; mizunousa.com/golf)

Mizuno
MP-15 irons

Author Scott Kramer is a writer from Carlsbad, Calif., and a
regular contributor to Virginia Golfer.

w w w. v s g a . o r g

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2014 | VIRGINIA GOLFER

39