Ram irons question

[Thinset]

Hi, 

I have a set of Ram irons; I'm wondering if they're forged or cast.  Interestingly to me, I can't tell just by hitting them.  

They're not stamped "FORGED USA" on the hosel.  

 

Markings:

"Tour Grind" stamped into the sole, with the iron number, 

"Golden Ram" 

"Vibration Matched" 

stamped into the back.  

 

The pro who adjusted the loft as needed said he thought they might be forged, as he had no problem bending them.  

Any clues?  

Thanks.

 

[Foozle]

5 hours ago, Thinset said:

Hi, 

I have a set of Ram irons; I'm wondering if they're forged or cast.  Interestingly to me, I can't tell just by hitting them.  

They're not stamped "FORGED USA" on the hosel.  

 

Markings:

"Tour Grind" stamped into the sole, with the iron number, 

"Golden Ram" 

"Vibration Matched" 

stamped into the back.  

 

The pro who adjusted the loft as needed said he thought they might be forged, as he had no problem bending them.  

Any clues?  

Thanks.

 

Forged. Not only forged but amongst the best forged irons ever made.

There is a thread on here entitled "Who forged Ram irons" which will give you lots of information - if I wasn't so inept I would insert the link for you. 

Lots of Ram love out there so others such as NRJyzr may well chime in too.

I played a set of the original 80-82 Tour Grinds to destruction through the 80's/90's and only last year rekindled the love affair when I picked up a replacement set.

I don't have the Vibration Matched version but know they are rated very highly by many.

[Thinset]

7 hours ago, Foozle said:

Forged. Not only forged but amongst the best forged irons ever made.

There is a thread on here entitled "Who forged Ram irons" which will give you lots of information - if I wasn't so inept I would insert the link for you. 

Lots of Ram love out there so others such as NRJyzr may well chime in too.

I played a set of the original 80-82 Tour Grinds to destruction through the 80's/90's and only last year rekindled the love affair when I picked up a replacement set.

I don't have the Vibration Matched version but know they are rated very highly by many.

Thanks for your attention.  I do like to hit them!  

I got the idea to ask about them when I was drooling over the pics you just uploaded in your "Tom Watson WITB" thread.  

I bought "my" set used, in great shape, but it didn't come with the 1-iron, 2-iron, or a sand wedge, but I was able to pick up a Frequency Matched 2-iron separately, so it "hangs out" with the VM set.  

I like what you're doing with the Tom Watson set rebuilding effort . 

My Toney Penna #1 is a Mod 12; the model number can be seen stamped into the wood on the sole out at the toe, but that's as far as the similarities of our two sets goes.  

I found the "Who forged Ram Tour Grinds" thread; thanks also for that hint.  

[NRJyzr]

19 hours ago, Foozle said:

Forged. Not only forged but amongst the best forged irons ever made.

There is a thread on here entitled "Who forged Ram irons" which will give you lots of information - if I wasn't so inept I would insert the link for you. 

Lots of Ram love out there so others such as NRJyzr may well chime in too.

I played a set of the original 80-82 Tour Grinds to destruction through the 80's/90's and only last year rekindled the love affair when I picked up a replacement set.

I don't have the Vibration Matched version but know they are rated very highly by many.

 

Well said, Brother Foozle 🙂

 

[NRJyzr]

On 11/2/2022 at 9:20 PM, Thinset said:

Hi, 

I have a set of Ram irons; I'm wondering if they're forged or cast.  Interestingly to me, I can't tell just by hitting them.  

They're not stamped "FORGED USA" on the hosel.  

 

Markings:

"Tour Grind" stamped into the sole, with the iron number, 

"Golden Ram" 

"Vibration Matched" 

stamped into the back.  

 

The pro who adjusted the loft as needed said he thought they might be forged, as he had no problem bending them.  

Any clues?  

Thanks.

 

 

Brother Foozle already answered this, these are definitely forged.  Forged in the USA, also, for what that's worth.

 

There are some Golden Ram models as early as the late 60s, but what comes to mind for most with Golden Rams run from the mid-70s (maybe a bit earlier?) to the early 90s.  

 

Golden Ram in oval in the 70s

"Tour Grind" in 1980-82

Vibration Matched from 1983-86

Frequency Matched from 1987-1992

 

Also in 1992 are the two TW sets, the TW276 and TW282 grinds.  The 276 and 282 represent his number of strokes in two of his majors (77 Masters and 82 US Open, respectively).  These are both also labeled as Frequency Matched.  The TW276 have fairly thin soles, with some front to back and horizontal camber (though with little bounce).  The TW282 have a very square toe, and a straighter leading edge; it's said this was Watson's preferred grind (so I've heard it said, no idea how true it actually is).

 

In the Frequency Matched era, Ram released the Axials.  They are an oversized version of the Tour Grinds.  You can see these here and there on ebay.  Haven't owned a set, have seen it suggested they have a bit more offset than the "regular" Tour Grinds, in addition to the larger size.

 

Across the Tour Grind, VM, and FM sets, you can find TW Custom Grind sets.  These are very similar to the TW282 sets.  I've owned a Frequency Matched set of these (no longer have), and have seen early 80s Tour Grind TW Customs on ebay.

 

Ram's custom shop was pretty active.  🙂

 

Following the Frequency Matched sets are the FX Tour Grinds.  Largely the same as their Golden Ram predecessors.  And in the late 90s, the TG-898 Tour Grinds were released.  They are slightly larger than the VM, FM, or FX sets, but otherwise share the same Ram "genetics."

 

There's also a cast nickel set of FX Tour Grind blades, from 1996-97.  They are somewhat oversized, which was a 90s trend.  Not bad, but I'd rate them a bit behind the assorted forged sets above.

 

It's likely obvious, but I am rather taken with the various Ram Tour Grinds.  In spite of my steeper swing suggesting I need more bounce or wider soles, I've generally played my best golf using some form of Ram Tour Grinds.  

 

sorry for the length  🙂

 

(I've skipped past the Ram Tour models and RT70s)

 

Edited November 4, 2022 by NRJyzr

[Thinset]

On 11/4/2022 at 6:10 AM, NRJyzr said:

sorry for the length  🙂

 

Ha!  

Quite the opposite, here; thanks for the extra detail.