As part of the global launch of the new revolutionary RSi irons, TaylorMade Golf staged multiple European launch events on 15th and 16th October at Wentworth, The Belfry, Bro Hoff in Sweden and at Club De Campo Del Mediterraneo in Spain. These events saw TaylorMade Tour players, media and customers come together to demo the new iron, designed to improve consistency and distance on off-centre strikes.
In conjunction with RSi launch events held across the globe, golfers of all abilities were afforded the chance to experience new Face Slot technology in an iron and witness the performance benefits for themselves. TaylorMade Tour players were in attendance at each of the venues to talk about their experiences with mis-hits and how the RSi irons will help their game.
European Tour Professional Graeme Storm was joined at Wentworth by England cricket legend Kevin Pietesen and the pair hosted a golf clinic for those in attendance, with both commenting on the huge levels of forgiveness on off centre strikes with the RSi irons. The audience were in awe as they watched Kevin (who plays off 15) hitting a RSi 1 7-iron over 200 yards!
Greg Pearse, Marketing Director EMEA, and Sean Toulon VP TaylorMade Golf introduced the event talking of the excitement of bringing this product to market. Sean spoke of how 76% of shots from amateur golfers are mis-hit and how the RSi irons help to maintain ball speed across the face of the club making mis-hits manageable.
Storm commented “the irons feel unbelievable … if I can benefit from those shots which I slightly mis-hit as well, then it’s a huge advantage”. Talking about the RSi irons, Pietersen added “Unbelievable. They’ve changed the face of golf … I’ve now got the ability to hit the ball more consistently and my mis-hits, which happen on a regular basis, will go a similar distance”.
Also in the UK, the TaylorMade Performance Center at The Belfry welcomed European Tour Player Johan Carlsson to showcase the new irons to key media as well as YouTube reviewers Rick Shiels, Peter Finch and MeandMyGolf. Johan spent time hitting both the RSi 1 and RSi 2 irons, demonstrating the increase in ball speed and overall distance compared to his current irons.
Johan has used the same bladed irons since before his days on the Challenge Tour but both the looks and the performance of the RSi irons had him excited about the prospect of gaming the TP version when it becomes available in early 2015.
Sergio Garcia returned to his home club at Club De Campo Del Mediterraneo in Spain to demo the RSi irons at another launch event. One of the best ball-strikers on the PGA TOUR, even Sergio has seen added performance benefits from the RSi which can be seen in this first hit video:
After another successful year, the Spaniard is currently second in the Race to Dubai standings after winning the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters at the start of the year, and second place finishes as both The Open Championship and the WGC – Bridgestone Invitational.
In addition, on 16th October, TaylorMade staff professional Peter Hedblom headed to Bro Hof in Sweden to demonstrate the RSi range to local media, retailers and members of the club. Peter has played with bladed irons since 1996 but found that he picked up 8mph ball speed with the RSi 2 irons, with his mis-hits going only marginally shorter than centred strikes. Hugely impressed with the RSi irons, Hedblom said: “even with my mis-hits, I’d still have a birdie putt; and it’s the birdies which put money in the bank.”
Overall, reaction was hugely positive with golfers of all abilities commenting on how easy the RSi irons are to use. Ball flights were high and long, with people seeing their more poorly struck shots travel further than ever before.
TaylorMade Golf http://taylormadegolf.co.uk