Golfstead is reader-supported. When you buy through links on the site, we may earn an affiliate commission at no extra cost to you. Our affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network and Amazon Associates.
In this review, I’ll take a look at the TaylorMade RSi 1 irons, the game-improvement alternative to TaylorMade’s RSi 2.
Read on to find out what you need to know about these golf irons to make an informed purchase.
Note: Unless otherwise stated, stock shafts and stock grips are used when evaluating this club. In most cases, the golf clubs reviewed on Golfstead are acquired temporarily for testing purposes and are not purchased. The review that follows is based on the personal experience and research of the author. Because everyone’s swing and body are different, results with a particular club may differ from person to person.
What are the reviews like?
As you might expect for a set of irons in this price range, the TaylorMade RSi 1 irons are generally rated very positively. You can read customer reviews on Amazon here.
The irons also have an average rating of 4.9/5 (over 100 reviews!) on Global Golf.
Most reviewers have lauded these irons for their outstanding mis-hit forgiveness, consistent ball flight and long distance.
Overview & Features
TaylorMade’s “distance” RSi irons feature slots on the face in the heel and toe, as well as cuts on the sole and cavity.
The company says that this allows for unparalleled consistency and forgiveness regardless of whether the ball makes contact low or high on the clubface, near the toe or near the heel.
FaceSlot Technology
The RSi 1 irons are the first to feature what TaylorMade calls “FaceSlot Technology” in the 3-8 irons — this provides uniform flexion across the clubface and produces more consistent ball speed and distance on mis-hit shots.
Speed Pocket
Another technology called “Improved Speed Pocket with ThruSlot” in the 3-7 irons has been improved; this also helps protect ball speed for mishit shots.
As a successor to TaylorMade’s SpeedBlade irons, the RSi 1 iron has an extremely thin face and a deep undercut.
The sound and feel of the irons have been improved over past versions. The ball speed is kept consistently high over a larger area on the face than previous irons.
Additionally, the ATV sole grind on the lob and sand wedges allow great playability from a variety of different lies.
Below is a table of the iron specs (loft, lie, etc.) if you’re interested.
| Name | Loft | Length (men) | Length (women) | Lie | Offset |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 17° | 39.5" | 38.5" | 60.25° | 6.3 |
| 4 | 20° | 38.88" | 37.88" | 61° | 5.8 |
| 5 | 23° | 38.25" | 37.25" | 61.75° | 5.3 |
| 6 | 26.5° | 37.63" | 36.63" | 62.5° | 4.7 |
| 7 | 30.5° | 37" | 36" | 63° | 4.2 |
| 8 | 34.5° | 36.5" | 35.5" | 63.5° | 3.5 |
| 9 | 39° | 36" | 35" | 64° | 3.0 |
| PW | 44° | 35.5" | 34.5" | 64.5° | 2.6 |
| AW | 49.5° | 35.5" | 34.5" | 64.5° | 1.8 |
| SW | 55° | 35.25" | 34.25" | 64.5° | 1.5 |
| LW | 60° | 35" | 34" | 64.5° | 1.5 |
How do these irons perform?
Are these irons all that they are hyped up to be in terms of forgiveness, distance and consistency? The answer is: more or less.
Tests have found that mis-hit shots go nearly as far as pure shots.
These irons have a relatively low launch and low spin-rate. For example, the 3-iron has a loft of 17°, which is lower than the standard 3-iron loft of 20°.
This means that if you tend to hit a high trajectory with your irons, you will likely gain much in the way of distance by using these clubs.
If you generally hit your irons very low, on the other hand, you will likely hit the RSi 1s irons even lower and could potentially lose distance.
What about look, sound & feel?
The irons themselves look pretty good. The top line is fairly thick, and there is plenty of offset.
Although the slotted soles provide more forgiveness for off-center contact, they end up making your strikes feel and sound a bit hollow and “clicky”.
If you’re a skilled golfer who hits the sweet spot on the clubface regularly, it probably won’t do you much good to go with slotted clubs like these; solid hits with non-slotted irons will generally feel firmer and more satisfying.
In terms of weight and feel in the hand, the clubhead is relatively heavy, and people who are used to more weight in the shaft may find these clubs a bit uncomfortable at first.
Where should you buy these irons online?
The RSi 1 irons used to be readily available on Amazon and the official TaylorMade website, but they’re now more than a few years old.
There are two places where you can get them at a great discount now.
The first is eBay, which is a fantastic source for new and used sets.
The second is Global Golf, which offers many attractive deals and programs that save you a lot of money and hassle. Check the current coupons on their site.
Conclusion
The TaylorMade RSi 1 is a very good iron at a reasonable price point, and if you’re someone who wants any of:
- great forgiveness, more consistency and more distance on your iron shots
- modern golf irons with the latest technology
… then these irons are definitely an option you should consider. They are among the best TaylorMade has to offer. A quality set of irons such as these can help you play better golf for many years and more than pay back their value over time.
With that said, there are other game-improvement irons from other brands that perform just as well as the RSi 1s at comparable price points. The best thing you can do is try them out and discover if they are or aren’t for you.
Have you tried the RSi 1 irons yet? Feel free to share your thoughts by writing a comment below!
I like this article. I can tell you’re very knowledgeable in your field. I do have a few questions though, can you give me a guesstimate as to how long these golf clubs last? I know you said they’re very durable, but I would like to know this information. Another thing is, what do you suggest buying these clubs from, Amazon or Taylormade? The reason I ask is because, I’m interested in knowing if there really is a big difference or not. Thank you
Thanks Jake.
It’s not really possible to say what the useful life of the clubs will be; it depends on how much you use them and how well you take care of them. Often they’re good to you for 10+ years. Generally, you want to replace or regroove your irons when you’re not getting as much spin (groove wear) and/or you start hitting strange looking shots. Honestly, though, if you look after them, you shouldn’t even need to worry about it.
As for where to buy, it doesn’t really matter because they’re the same price in both stores. As I mentioned in the review, the price is protected by TaylorMade and so you generally won’t be able to find a retailer selling at a lower price. Both are great and trusted places to buy, but it appears that Amazon has a little bit of a wider selection in terms of shaft types for each set. Combine that with their excellent return policy and free shipping, and a case could be made for buying on Amazon. Up to you though.
This sounds like the set of irons for me. I have more off hits than sweet spots. But I also have many other problems with my golf game. I won’t go into that here tho.
I do have a problem of hitting high and these sound like they would help me with that problem. Thanks for the info.
The RSi 1 is a quality game-improvement iron, and if what you said is true (and you’re willing to handle a price that is a little on the expensive side) then you should definitely consider them. Good luck with your shopping, and let me know if you have any questions.
Im more of a beginner are tyese irons best for me
I presume you’re looking for a forgiving iron as a beginner. If that’s the case, yes, the RSi 1 irons are the game-improvement entry in the RSi line. If you don’t want extra forgiveness, consider the RSi 2.
Whwt are they wirth brand new because i can get them brand new in the packaging for 650 Canadian
The RSi 1 is an old model that is nearly impossible to find in new condition these days. If you can get a new set at $650 CAD, that seems like a pretty good deal. Otherwise, you’ll have to look for used sets on places like eBay.
I can do you know anything about the r15 adjustable driver and adjustable 3 and 5 wood because any information i couod get in them would help like what a new 1 of those is worth in Canadian i know there the same year as the irons
Sure, I’ve actually reviewed both the R15 driver and R15 fairway wood. You should be able to get them new for a couple hundred bucks on eBay. Otherwise, you’ll have to do some searching for ones in new condition.