TaylorMade Super Launch Hybrid
Old school golfers are still using their irons not believing much in hybrids when even the pros at PGA Tour are mostly converted. They are direct replacements for your hard to hit long irons not woods. I have done a previous article on it:
If you want an easy to use hybrid that isn't too expensive then just settle for one that is not the latest but yet not from the dinosaur's age and a good metal wood company is TaylorMade. The Burner SuperLaunch hybrid.
Some hybrids are just chunky irons and others are more wood like. Even for those that are wood-like, there are two different species. One is build like an iron with more weight behind and actually look half iron-half wood. The Burner SuperLaunch actually look like a small fairway wood. I do have some misgivings looking down at an entirely triangular shaped club head but this one is rounded off towards its perimeter.
What are the technical features of this Burner SuperLaunch from TaylorMade? SuperFast technology, ultra-thin club face and high MOI club head. The club head sets up quite perfectly and should instill confidence in you as you line up a shot. The stock shaft is a TaylorMade RE-AX 60 that seems to fit the club well and the grip is decent with the typical TaylorMade graphics of loops for your grip setting.
As always, do find out about your distance gaps if you are using a different hybrid or switching from long irons or gap from your fairway woods. Also a lower loft hybrid at 18 degrees is always going to be more challenging to use due to its lower loft and naturally longer shaft while the distance gain for 3-4 degrees of difference is 10-20 yards. Wouldn't you want them to be straighter then longer?
The graphic is a little carried away perhaps to show that it is high tech and a newer version, I find the honeycomb graphic on the crown a little distracting but once you hit it, all is forgotten especially when you look at its trajectory and distance.
A good hybrid's tasks is to launch the ball high so that not only does it go far but it will land softer like parachute landing. This becomes crucially important when your shot is to be landed onto the green.
I would advocate that you try out this club and when you want to get one, go for the 21 or 24 degrees rather than the 18 degrees for reasons I have explained earlier. The club face is slightly lower and elongated to offer more forgiveness. The trajectory when hit correctly is a shot that goes high, straight ending with a beautiful slight draw. A very satisfying and elated feeling will send chills through your spine and feel is related to sound and the sound is a sensation of a slightly high pitch sound amplified indicating that you have hit the sweet spot and like your cash register ringing...ka-ching!
My only gripe is the head cover which has colours that are quite pleasing - black/white and red. The small opening makes it hard to retrieve or slip back the over on the club head and it does not take a genius to know that after using it for sometime, the reverse will be true as it will be slipping off by itself as the elasticity passed its sued by date.
The newer TaylorMade version are the R11 Rescue and updated Burner SuperFast and the distinct difference is they are white in colour and the R11 can be adjusted for flight and you will pay a lot more.
If a rescue, utility or hybrid club (they are known by different names but the same type of club) is on your horizon, do yourself a favour - give this one a try. Thank me later.
Golf as in life, play as it lies.
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