The Mystery of the Taylormade rac CB

[agentXIV]

So I was able to track a set of these irons down for a fantastic price. Regardless if they’re Miura made or not I remember them being great irons and I thought they’d be ideal for a backup set so I took the plunge. 
 

Of course this led me down the rabbit hole to figure out if these were in fact forged by Miura. There are conflicting reports that only a percentage of the number of sets released were Miura (sets intended for the tour and for the Japanese market) and the rest were sourced out to a forging house elsewhere. Other things I read stated that all of the sets were Miura-made. Some articles said that the Miura heads had a different sole and the 5-iron had a ‘T-stamp’ in the s/n.

 

Then I can across an interesting timeline on the Miura website that states that the 2004 CB and MB were “overlooked” by Miura. The plot thickens.

 

https://miuragolf.com/pages/yoshitaka

 

Does anybody have anymore information on the history of these irons?

[rsiehr]

Didn’t know that, very interesting. I have nothing to add that would solve your mystery, I just remember thinking those irons were so cool back in the day.

[LowAndLeft32]

Where did you get them from? I saw a set recently as well. 

[iNeedMoreGolf]

And i would have gotten away with it too if it wasnt for you pesky golfers and your hoeyness. Feels like a scooby doo mystery to me.

[agentXIV]

1 hour ago, LowAndLeft32 said:

Where did you get them from? I saw a set recently as well. 

A guy posted them on Kijiji (like Craig’s List for my neighbors south of the 49th).

[agentXIV]

1 hour ago, iNeedMoreGolf said:

And i would have gotten away with it too if it wasnt for you pesky golfers and your hoeyness. Feels like a scooby doo mystery to me.

This comment adds nothing to the thread….but dammit if it isn’t everything!

 

well played sir, well played 😂😂😂😂

[Steele47]

1 hour ago, agentXIV said:

This comment adds nothing to the thread….but dammit if it isn’t everything!

 

well played sir, well played 😂😂😂😂

 

LOL!

[Tupperwolf]

I had a set of these 2-PW.  Really enjoyed them but they were too flat for me and I wasn't in a position to adjust them.. think I sold them on.  Maybe they're in storage?  Cool clubs.  I always felt special when I hit the 2i.

[iNeedMoreGolf]

1 hour ago, agentXIV said:

This comment adds nothing to the thread….but dammit if it isn’t everything!

 

well played sir, well played 😂😂😂😂

Lol thank you. I must say this is intresting though. Jinkys. Whoever solves this mystery sure will earn themselves a scooby snack!

Edited May 2, 2021 by iNeedMoreGolf
Scooby dooby dooo!!

[cgasucks]

Here an article by Ryan Barath about TM's Greatest Irons.  No surprise, the Miura RAC CBs are on that list.

 

https://www.golfwrx.com/601242/ranking-the-greatest-modern-taylormade-irons/

 

Bottom line, Miura made these irons for a short time but stopped because they couldn't keep up the demand that TM required without sacrificing quality.  That is why they are so rare.

Edited May 2, 2021 by cgasucks

[agentXIV]

1 hour ago, cgasucks said:

Here an article by Ryan Barath about TM's Greatest Irons.  No surprise, the Miura RAC CBs are on that list.

 

https://www.golfwrx.com/601242/ranking-the-greatest-modern-taylormade-irons/

 

Bottom line, Miura made these irons for a short time but stopped because they couldn't keep up the demand that TM required without sacrificing quality.  That is why they are so rare.

Great article! 
 

so it’s safe to assume that I scored a set of Miuras for peanuts.

[cgasucks]

1 minute ago, agentXIV said:

Great article! 
 

so it’s safe to assume that I scored a set of Miuras for peanuts.

I don't know how much you paid but if it's peanuts to you then yes....it is a great score!

[LukeDonaldsTiger]

Nothing to add here as well, except now I know where New Level got their inspiration for their 902 Forged irons- it’s pretty obvious to me!

[Christen_The_Sloop]

I live in Japan. You see the CB in shops from time to time. There is a CB etched in the hosel. Sometimes you will here folks say the 'coin forged' model is the one. Ask them to show you where they got that idea. I've never known Miura to do coin forging. Over time, you can spot different design elements that Miura has and certain buzzwords in their OEM lines. That being said, my favorite OEM models have been made by Endo.

 

[TiScape]

Remind me of the BSG 💣 days. Those and these (see pic) ‘tour issued’ were the “it” irons for a while there. 

Edited May 2, 2021 by TiScape

[agentXIV]

58 minutes ago, Christen_The_Sloop said:

I live in Japan. You see the CB in shops from time to time. There is a CB etched in the hosel. Sometimes you will here folks say the 'coin forged' model is the one. Ask them to show you where they got that idea. I've never known Miura to do coin forging. Over time, you can spot different design elements that Miura has and certain buzzwords in their OEM lines. That being said, my favorite OEM models have been made by Endo.

 

Having had Miuras in the past, you can certainly see the influence in the rac CB. I’ve been comparing them to the P7MC that I’m gaming and the CB has the Japanese aesthetic in every aspect. 

[agentXIV]

20 minutes ago, TiScape said:

Remind me of the BSG 💣 days. Those and these (see pic) ‘tour issued’ were the “it” irons for a while there. 

Ahhhh….good ol’ BSG. Lime green shafts and Superquad 282s. 

[spring70]

13 minutes ago, agentXIV said:

Ahhhh….good ol’ BSG. Lime green shafts and Superquad 282s. 

Don’t leave yards on the table lol

[ShowMe]

I had set of these back in the day.  They were the bomb at the time.

[Tupperwolf]

Whoops!  It was the TP Forged irons I had... to be fair, they say RAC on the hosel.

[95124hacker]

Which RAC CB models were coveted? Just the TP’s or the LT’s as well?  I still have a set of X-300 FCI which have the same mystery of Miura forged vs Mexico forged.

[BobbyFray]

Interesting thread!  Thanks for the insights, all.

[agentXIV]

3 hours ago, 95124hacker said:

Which RAC CB models were coveted? Just the TP’s or the LT’s as well?  I still have a set of X-300 FCI which have the same mystery of Miura forged vs Mexico forged.

Just my opinion but the TP and the CB, being that they were both forged, had a little more mystique to them. Even the combo set had some panache, although the fact that TM decided to include a cast PW with an otherwise forged set raised some eyebrows at the time. 

[Christen_The_Sloop]

7 hours ago, 95124hacker said:

Which RAC CB models were coveted? Just the TP’s or the LT’s as well?  I still have a set of X-300 FCI which have the same mystery of Miura forged vs Mexico forged.

As far as I know, all the x-300 were made in Japan. I have a set too. I wonder why Miura doesn't mention that Ernie won with them at Muirfield?

[rorykoepka]

Do you guys think these rac cb keep up with modern day irons?  I have a chance to purchase a set and was wondering if anyone had an opinion on the forgiveness/performance.  Thanks!

[JungleJimbo]

11 minutes ago, rorykoepka said:

Do you guys think these rac cb keep up with modern day irons?  I have a chance to purchase a set and was wondering if anyone had an opinion on the forgiveness/performance.  Thanks!

@rorykoepka: My 2 cents =IMHO, I prefer these solid 1-piece irons (cast/ forged) over modern irons (without slots, multi-material, etc) for the more solid feel. 

 

Albeit distance-wise, the sole-slots/ face slots🎰 might give better off-centre performance (eg if hit=a few grooves too low). 
 

And the Low price for some of these 2nd-hand irons =also attractive! I bought a great-condition set of these TM RAC CBS for <$100

 

 

Edited July 24, 2021 by JungleJimbo

[rorykoepka]

1 minute ago, JungleJimbo said:

@rorykoepka: My 2 cents =IMHO, I prefer these solid 1-piece irons (cast/ forged) over modern irons (without slots, multi-material, etc) for the more solid feel. 

 

Albeit distance-wise, the sole-slots/ face slots🎰 might give better off-centre performance (eg if hit=a few grooves too low). 
 

And the Low price for some of these 2nd-hand irons =also attractive! I bought a great-condition set of these TM RAC CBS for <$100

Awesome! Are they conforming to the groove rule? I play in quite a few tournaments and wanted to make sure before picking up a set

[JungleJimbo]

13 minutes ago, rorykoepka said:

Awesome! Are they conforming to the groove rule? I play in quite a few tournaments and wanted to make sure before picking up a set

@rorykoepka

I’ve heard they’re conforming until 2024 (beyond that... I believe it’ll depend on the competition-level)

 

you can check specific irons/other clubs, via this USGA Link (somehow I didn’t find these RAC CB specific model in the USGA Listing... so I’ve Linked the nearest model time-wise here ie RAC MB)

 

https://www.usga.org/InfoClubsDB/ResultDisplay.aspx?clubtype=Iron&Manf=TaylorMade Golf Company&Prod=rac MB

 

 

 

 

Edited July 24, 2021 by JungleJimbo

[rorykoepka]

55 minutes ago, JungleJimbo said:

@rorykoepka

I’ve heard they’re conforming until 2024 (beyond that... I believe it’ll depend on the competition-level)

 

you can check specific irons/other clubs, via this USGA Link (somehow I didn’t find these RAC CB specific model in the USGA Listing... so I’ve Linked the nearest model time-wise here ie RAC MB)

 

https://www.usga.org/InfoClubsDB/ResultDisplay.aspx?clubtype=Iron&Manf=TaylorMade Golf Company&Prod=rac MB

 

 

 

 

I just checked the USGA database and the 2004 RAC CB is not conforming...is that right?

 

Edit: I'm an idiot. It's exactly like you said, conforming till 2024

Edited July 24, 2021 by rorykoepka

[tssgj65]

14 hours ago, rorykoepka said:

Awesome! Are they conforming to the groove rule? I play in quite a few tournaments and wanted to make sure before picking up a set

They are not conforming.  I played a set of these for about 8 years and had to ditch them to play in USGA events.  Longest I have ever played an iron set.  Took me a long while to find something playable.