TaylorMade RocketBallz Hybrid

When we were young, we can get excited by new toys. New kuti- kuti, marbles, a new pen or colour pencils, a new badminton racket, fishing rod, soccer boots, etc. So now you have grown up and your pursuits are now into new houses and cars? 

I do still get excited by the simple things like a new bottle of beer, a new friend, a new golf club every now and then. The little child in the man is alive. The poorer folks just buy a new golf club every now and then. So here I go.

We all know about hybrids by now and most people may have been carrying at least a piece in their golf bag but there are hybrids and there are hybrids. The late Gary Adams invented the metal wood before he sold TaylorMade to adidas and all golfers have since enjoy the power of the metal wood and its sweet sound.

So when TaylorMade created the strange sounding "RocketBallz" series of clubs including driver, wood, hybrid and irons, the hybrid kind of stood out not just for the quirky name and its colour scheme but the selection by Golf Digest as its Editor's Choice plus the high marks in all categories in Performance, Innovation, Look/Sound/Feel and Demand. In fact, it was given the status of Category Leader for Performance, Innovation and Demand.  

It was so popular and so hot with all the hype that it took some places three months before they could lay their hands on one. It got some incredible comments like "hitting it off a tee, fairway or out of the rough feeling like a driver, that we should rethink our entire set around this club. It should be carried in a separate luggage like you do with a long range safari rifle, a live human heart or the launch codes for a nuclear missile". This were the words of Golf Digest editors. Now this is either creative writing at its best or it will get your adrenalin pumping if it were so don't you think?

This club has been designed for plenty of distance with accuracy and consistency thrown in. Like its driver and wood brethren, the TaylorMade trademark of a matt white crown and a black PVD face is meant to reduce glare from the sun and at the same time the contrast of the face makes for easier alignment. This same combo was previously found in the R11 and Burner SuperFast series.

It has a thin wall casting and web-like crown that got as thin as 0.4 millimeters so that the CG can be moved low and forward to increase ball speed.

The alignment aid on the crown is a "R" surely the initial for RocketBallz but if you look at the sole it merely said "RBZ" probably a result of not having sufficient space for the word RocketBallz which still sounded a weird name but I can understand what they are saying is hitting a shot would be like strapping a rocket to your balls! I mean, your golf balls not testing testicular fortitude.

There is a unique slot in the sole meant to enhance face flexibility. This is what TaylorMade called the "Speed Pocket" to boost ball speed for more distance. It was touted to be able to give you an additional 17 yards added distance and is 15 yards longer than the hybrid it was replacing, the Burner.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dFgTJz3CLkI

I actually like the colour scheme. White crown, dark face, a silver grey shaft with a psychedelic green on part of the shaft and the grip.  The problem with dark faces is that after a few rounds you can easily detect scratches on it like swirl marks on a black car.

The shaft is 65g but the D4 swing weight makes it feel somewhat heavy. You will really need to hang in there and get used to it before miracles can unfold I guess. You will need that honeymoon period.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rc9SYl0art0

The grip is rather typical of TaylorMade with the material and design style.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pjYNBgYixvs

This 19 degrees rescue hybrid comes in with a 115cc head, a length of 41 inches and a swing weight at D4 (which I think is an unusual swing weight for a hybrid) with a lie angle of 60.5 degrees. The shaft is 65g and the overall weight of this clubs is less than 350g.

I found this at Golf Direct at a good price point. Besides the units at Kaki Bukit Road and Commonwealth Lane, they have opened a new outlet at 24, Sin Ming Lane, Midview City #01-101. I like Midview City as they have free and ample parking on weekends. You can learn martial arts there or send your children there for it and in between do some furniture and golf shopping. I like the golf shopping.


Remember what they say that this hybrid or what TM called a Rescue plays like a driver. The feel, power, distance of a driver.

So what is a good golf club? It is the same definition of good fish as in no matter what kinds of fish, as long as you like it, it is a good fish!

I shall be discovering what the hype is all about soon.

Golf as in life, play as it lies.