TaylorMade RAC MB irons 3-sw
Shaft:TaylorMade rifle steel 6.0(stiff flex)
Grip:TaylorMade

Looks:TaylorMade have long been noted for their quality metal woods,but their irons have been a mixed bag at best.The 300 series were fine clubs,but the Firesole series were a little cheap looking although solid performers.
Their forays into the forged blade sector of the market has ranged from the elegant Tour Preferred model of the mid 80's to the chunky and not so much loved ICW model of the early 90's.
These modern day blades are a beautiful club to look at.They feature all the standard blade traits (thin topline and soles,minimal offset,compact head and high chrome finish),but have 2 "feel pockets" milled out of the back of each head at either side of the sweet spot.
This has the effect of giving them a slightly more game improvement look than they deserve.The purpose of these precision milled pockets (not visible at address) is to dampen vibration at impact and give a smooth feel through impact.
The shaft is a Royal Precision Rifle steel which is a top of the range product and the Tour Velvet grip is an industry standard and gives a great combination of both grip and comfort.The finished package is both elegant and understated.
Marks:(out of 10

Performance:Despite the inclusion of the modern feel pockets at the rear of these clubs,do not be fooled into thinking that these clubs will suit a wide range of handicaps.
Only confident and accomplished iron players should give these a look.
The long irons are very intimidating to the eye with their thin toplines and tiny heads.Pure strikes are rewarded with low,raking trajectories which pierce through the air like missiles.
Less than perfect blows go nowhere but low and right and indeed struggle to get airborne.The mid irons give contolled trajectory (medium high),but hit for average distance in comparison to other models (Callaway X-16,Cleveland TA7).This could be due to the practice of using weaker lofts in blade irons to give more control on approach shots.
The short irons are a joy to use,giving plenty of spin and punch through the impact area.Through the set it is easy to play knockdown shots and little cuts and draws and compared to some blades (Cleveland TA1,Reid Lockhart) they are quite forgiving while giving a solid feel through impact on good strikes (this is aided by the Rifle shaft which is a lot more user friendly than the Dynamic Golf shaft of some other sets.).
Because of the thin soles and lack of any real offset they are a struggle from rough and it is best to find the fairway from the tee to get the most from this set.
Marks: 7

Value: $799 is about the norm for a top manufacturer's forged iron.The limited appeal of these clubs will limit resale and trade in value.
Marks:7

Verdict:These are very fine clubs for the good iron player or staunch traditionalist but if your iron game is in need of help and you struggle for consistency on approach shots you should steer well clear of these.If you find the centre of the clubface on a frequent basis then these clubs are classy looking and high performing and are as good a forged blade as you can find today.
Marks:8