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RomaRo MC vs PRGR id Nabla RS Forged


needmoregolf

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Happy New Year fellow TSG'ers!!

Well, I had some time off during the holidays, which allowed me some range and course time with a couple clubs that Chris sent to demo, and will put together some thoughts here on my experiences with them.
First off, let me say that both clubs were very nice and produced great results, but of course they each had their own nuances and things that I liked about them. Also, I tested a 7i for the Nabla RS and a 4i for the RomaRo MC, so it's not exactly an apples to apples comparison in this review, so please keep that in mind.
A bit about me: I'm a mid capper and tend to find myself in different types of places on the course every other hole or so, so my scramble game is important. Perfect for demoing clubs right?? ;) Let's just say I was able to try these 2 clubs in several different types of lies to see how they performed overall.
When it comes to golf gear, the areas that are important to me and stand out the most are: Looks, Feel and Performance
*note: Nabla RS is always first in the pics*
Looks
This was an easy call, as the RomaRo MC just has a very nice classy profile and shape. Looking down at address inspires confidence with its thinner top line and lower offset, so there was no adjusting for me eyes, just a classic player's CB here. The cavity is not too busy and overall, it has a clean look that is easy on the eyes with it's matte finish.
The Nabla RS, on the other hand, takes some getting used to visually with it's thick cavity and high polish finish. The top line is noticeably thicker than the RomaRo, the overall head is bigger and I detected more offset, although I have to admit this is all by eye-balling the clubs at address. For me, the thicker top line took some getting used to standing over the ball, so it definitely didn't feel quite as natural and took some adjustment for my eyes.
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Feel
I'd have to give this to the RomaRo MC as they are just a very classic feeling player's CB. Soft forged feel yet not mushy at all which made it a delight to hit (and this is with a 4 iron even!). I don't usually carry a 4i as I tend not to hit it well, but I really had no trouble with this club and hit some very nice long drawing shots on the range and course. It had a very nice soft yet crisp sound on impact that I allowed me to feel the ball compressing on the face.
For me, the Nabla RS had a harder and much firmer feel at impact, which didn't feel great in my hands for some of those early swings on the range in the early morning. That being said, it got better and I started to appreciate the firm feel as it inspired confidence as I watched the ball taking off in perfect flight. Definitely provided a clickier sound, but I wouldn't describe it as displeasing to the ear, so no worries here.
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Performance
This category was a bit tougher for me, and although I wanted to give it to the RomaRo MC, just because it had met my expectations in the other categories so well, it just wasn't that obvious. Sure, I love the classic soft forged feel and had good results, but there were other things afoot here, and as we all know, PRGR is known for building some amazing technology into their equipment.
While the Nabla RS felt more firm, had a thicker/bigger head (from a purely subjective visual standpoint at least), there was something about what happened to the ball during impact with the club...it friggin took off!! There seemed to also be a very unique feel, almost like an extra punch, that bellowed out from whatever is stuffed in that cavity that gave the shots some extra oomph (super scientific, I know ;) All shots with this club were longer than my normal shots with whatever set I have in the stable, by about half a club.
The shot that sticks out most in my mind, was an uphill approach where I was in a nasty bit of rough and had about 160 yds left to the pin. I figured I'd shorten my backswing and concentrate on good contact and leave myself an uphill putt since I couldn't see how the green was laid out let alone what was waiting for me behind the green. I executed a beautifully controlled swing as I watched and felt excellent interaction between the club and turf, and just as the club fired through the ball, I felt this extra kick that sent my ball soaring to the pin. It ended up pin high and just off right on the fringe, about 8 feet from the hole. I did one of those scratches of the head as I stared long and hard at this club, "hmmmm.....not bad, eh??"
Tough to give a clear cut winner here, but let's just say my opinion of the Nabla RS has totally changed and while I wouldn't give them the sexy award, I would bag them and lean heavily on my confidence that these would deliver excellent results (especially given more time and dialing them in fully).
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Overall
If you're the type to be drawn to classic stylings and love that forged feeling softness, the RomaRo MC would be an excellent choice. On the other hand, if you don't mind a slightly larger club with thicker top line, and just expect great performance from your clubs, you will be delighted by the Nabla RS.
BTW, thanks Chris for the opportunity to demo :)
Edited by needmoregolf
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Wow thanks for the review and very nice pictures! That extra punch you mention I have noticed as well as how the ball takes off with a gorgeous ball flight.

I know if I had a full bag of these I could make the game eaiser and shave a few strokes due to stability of flight and some extra distance it's just so hard not always going for the more compact forged iron.

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Thanks for the excellent photos and the review. Where both clubs equipped with same shaft?

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Well done. Nice review. I was wondering about both irons...

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Thanks guys, it was a pleasure to try some cool new gear and offer some thoughts, so hopefully it helps anyone on the fence about either of these 2 clubs.

As for the shafts, I had noted what they were and somehow forgot to include that information in my review. Both were Nippon steel: The RomaRo MC is shafted with NS Pro 1150GH and the Nabla RS has a made-for-PRGR Nippon M43 shaft. I'm not clear at all about the spec differences between these two shafts, so please inquire more with Chris if that is of interest to you.

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Nice review, D. Appreciate the on-the-course type of info. And great pics, too!

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