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Taylormade RocketBladez Irons - Best TaylorMade irons ever?


golfnhack

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So... before you shake your head at this question.

rb.jpg

I bought a set of these irons when the first came out. I played them for 5 years. I would dabble with other irons, but always went back to them. Eventually I bought an exact replacement set since the original had worn out. I played them for another 2 years. Then I bought a set of Srixon z785's. I have played them for the last year. Recently my game has been shocking. I am just not scoring the way I used to. Out of frustration, I pulled out the old RBladez and played a round with them. It was night and day difference. Dispersion improved and distance control was back. They feel great and are so forgiving. The 785's are going to eBay and I am going to buy another backup set.

 

So.. back to the comment of are they "The best TaylorMade irons ever"

Let me present my evidence.

 

TaylorMade released 3 more versions of the exact same iron.

 

The HP (high polish version

rbhp.jpg

The HL (high launch) version

rbhl.jpg

The 2.0 version (which is literally the same as the original.. but with green paint fill) PS: Speaking of paintfill.. I never liked the yellow... so changed it to white and scraped off the tiny little R on the back. Looks A LOT better.

rb2.jpg

Not only that, but if you go to other countries (like South Africa)... they still sell the 2.0 version with NEW MODEL PRICING!!!!

 

So.... anyone else still use them? I have 36 holes coming up tomorrow. Can't wait!

Edited by golfnhack
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"Some emotions cannot be endured with a golf club in your hand." - Bobby Jones

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5 minutes ago, PEI_Golfer said:

The 3 versions were because they have so much inventory from bad sales...  GT couldn't give these away when they went down to $399 a set CDN...

Not going to buy that... they still sell them. You don't make enough sets in 2012 to STILL have stock 9 years later. Sorry.. they are not that stupid.

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"Some emotions cannot be endured with a golf club in your hand." - Bobby Jones

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7 minutes ago, PEI_Golfer said:

The 3 versions were because they have so much inventory from bad sales...  GT couldn't give these away when they went down to $399 a set CDN...

PS: And if you know of a GolfTown that still has them in stock, please let me know... because I would like to buy another set.... ESPECIALLY at $399 CDN... that's like $10 USD right?

Edited by golfnhack

"Some emotions cannot be endured with a golf club in your hand." - Bobby Jones

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34 minutes ago, golfnhack said:

Not going to buy that... they still sell them. You don't make enough sets in 2012 to STILL have stock 9 years later. Sorry.. they are not that stupid.

 

It's fine if you don't buy it, I can only lead you to water...

 

This entire line was a colossal flop in sales top to bottom.  TM figured that with how well the RBZ line was accepted and sold, it would continue, it didn't.  As I said, GT couldn't give this stuff away and the Stg2 woods could be found 3 years later in abundance.  I'm sure there is a warehouse full of this crap and TM figured a rebranded version would prolong shelf life and maybe recoup some money.

 

There was a reason the SLDR line was rushed, and it wasn't all to beat Cally to market for a weight tracked driver.  2013 had the Stg2, R1 AND SLDR release, 8 months after the others...

Edited by PEI_Golfer
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A Revolving Door

 

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I loved these. I started with a weird set of Cobras that a salesman who posed as a fitter got me into. Then I bought these and my ball striking was money. I've since moved on to AP1s circa 2018/2019? and I have to say that the fit and finish of them is superior to the rocketbladez, but hats off to them. They were so good in my (never ending) journey.

Driver: Cobra LTDx 10.5° Helium Nanocore

Fairway: Cobra RADSPEED 18.5° Motore X

Hybrids: Titleist TSi2 21°, 24° TENSEI AV RAW Blue

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I used a rental set of these in AZ once and thought they were great. I tried to recreate the feel and distance by buying a set of TM Speedblades a year or two later and they did not feel or play the same, even though they were really good. Not a lot of improvement in irons tech over the years, so if you still get along with them, enjoy!

 

Haters always going to hate.

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From the information you gave, I believe it’s much more likely that you simply fit much better into a super game improvement iron like the rocket bladez than you do a players cb like the z785.

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Had a set of Rbladez tour irons - the performance was OK but they were basically cheap rock hard cast irons.

 

Today, even the SGI irons have a better feel to them then these do. They were the most difficult irons to bend that I have ever come across.

 

I'm glad the OP enjoys his irons, and if they work great. However I cannot get behind the statement that these were the best irons ever made by TM. 

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3 minutes ago, Rosco1216 said:

From the information you gave, I believe it’s much more likely that you simply fit much better into a super game improvement iron like the rocket bladez than you do a players cb like the z785.

I would second this, also I felt that the 

Taylormade 300's were some the best irons that TM made.



Play Golf.....Play Blades......Play Something Else.....Just Go Play.....

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2 hours ago, golfnhack said:

So.. back to the comment of are they "The best TaylorMade irons ever"

 

But not as good as my old Calla X20 Tours. Back around 2012, I took the springtime RocketBladez Challenge:

  • Bladez 7i, with lighter RBZ Steel (85 gram) shaft and loft of 30.5*.
  • My 7i, with a heavier PX 5.0 (115 gram) shaft and a loft of 34*.

 

Outcome: X20T flew four yards longer than the Bladez. The TM rep still gave me a sleeve of TM golf balls for my efforts.

 

In defense of TM: In 2014 the SLDR irons came out, clearly superior to the Bladez. I did a review and got to keep SLDRs. Solid club, easily as good as the RSi follow-ons. SLDRs still in my backup bag.

 

Edited by ChipNRun
Correct syntax.
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Driver:  Tour Edge EXS 10.5° (base loft); weights neutral   ||  FWs:  Calla Rogue 4W + 7W

Hybrid:  Calla Big Bertha OS 4H at 22°  ||  Irons:  Calla Mavrik MAX 5i-PW

Wedges*:  Calla MD3: 48°... MD4: 54°, 58° ||  PutterΨSeeMore FGP + SuperStroke 1.0PT, 33" shaft

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RocketBladez the best TM irons ever?!?!?  Ooookayy.....

 

Me personally, I feel the 2005 Forged RAC TPs and the 2003 RAC CB (Forged my Miura) are pretty much up there.

Edited by cgasucks
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"Loft for loft, length for length, and shaft for shaft, the ball will go the same distance when hit on the sweet spot regardless how old the iron."

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I play the tour issue n head, it's probably the head they should have used for the retail tour heads, the set is amazing.  They're still in my bag.  The 8,9 and especially the PW are starting to show some big time wear/age, on them so I'm slowly trying to figure out my next step.  I honestly wish I bought a couple sets, I have these things dialed in hard, so they're going to be a struggle to replace.

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8 hours ago, Rosco1216 said:

From the information you gave, I believe it’s much more likely that you simply fit much better into a super game improvement iron like the rocket bladez than you do a players cb like the z785.


That is what I was thinking as well. Also worth checking specs in general to see if there is a weight/length/lie angle element working for you here. The RBladez in general have a CG that is much lower and a little more toe side than the Z785's, much more suitable to a shallower/pickier swing. 

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16 hours ago, MountainKing said:

I play the tour issue n head, it's probably the head they should have used for the retail tour heads, the set is amazing.  They're still in my bag.  The 8,9 and especially the PW are starting to show some big time wear/age, on them so I'm slowly trying to figure out my next step.  I honestly wish I bought a couple sets, I have these things dialed in hard, so they're going to be a struggle to replace.

 

I play the Tour Issue "F" heads.  Picked them up new at the beginning last year and they are amazing.  The feel, setup and control are amazing.  Just love the fact that they are smaller heads with no offset.

 

Luckily they are made out of the same 17-4SS so they still look relatively new and I have at least 40 rounds on them.  Not sure what I'll do when it's time to replace them.

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Personally the rac lt irons were amazing and I could play them now if I could find a set in reasonable condition. I’d also say the p790 was a much better set as it’s sold like hot cakes. 

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Rule #1 of GolfWRX:  Everyone here plays forged players irons or blades so never ask opinions about GI irons.

 

Okay, not exactly true.  But you have to tune your question appropriately.  Asking if a GI irons is "best ever" will put you straight into the dog house here.

 

Back on topic, I think the Rocketbladez irons were fine to excellent.  I think the RB irons replaced the Burner's which were also excellent if not iconic.

 

What really matters is if you like them.  Nothing else matters.  

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I play blades and I'd say people should play what they like and what they hit the best w/o worrying about others opinions. Make your statement on the course hitting good approaches.

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"Shirtsleeve" swing technique:

1. Setup: Elbows bent forearms pressed together against shaft slightly forward of center with "Hogan" "active/flexed" leg tension left foot turned out slightly and the right leg slightly farther to the right - weight mostly on balls of feet butt of left hands sits on the top of the grip with very light grip.

2. Swing - W/o disturbing weight distribution of legs and feet lower hands while doing a forward press "swing trigger" then the left upper arm takes over on the backswing, it needs to go out in front of the body then back in front of the chest as the hands trace down initially then up to over the right shoulder "Torres". The goal is to not disturb the pressure of the feet during the initial takeaway.

 

Notes:

1. Only swing thought after swing trigger - extend left arm at shirt sleeve when reaching left hand over right shoulder "Shirtsleeve technique".

2. The upper left arm move "Shirtsleeve technique" can be practiced independently without a club, sitting down for instance

3. The correct feet tension can be felt by doing very short hops on the balls of the feet then holding the same feeling of pressure on the front of the feet and then taking three practice swings with the grip very loose in order to not disturb the same pressure on the feet and on the 3rd swing actively do the "Shirtsleeve" move. From there the swing should be done within a matter of seconds to not lose the feel of the legs resisting, this way this is not a learned technique as much as it is a setup technique.

 

 

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If Bobcat hadn't gone and gotten himself banned he'd chime in with a different answer.

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