TaylorMade RBZ RocketBallz Driver
Those of you who frequented China for golf have obviously been going to the wrong places. I read that a tycoon in Jinjiang offered a dowry of $180 million for his daughter's hand in marriage but it is too late now, she found her other half. Heck, who knows he might even build you a few golf courses!
Before I proceed to the main topic, Ping has a new adjustable driver called G25 (previously G20 and G15) which has 1 gram added to its club head with a desired D3 swing weight. Ping's method is different from say TaylorMade as they feel that a driver with more head weight can be good for your distance. Maximise momentum but sacrificing a little speed.
TaylorMade themselves are soon launching their latest new driver. Yes, again! Some talked about R13 after R11, wrong. It is the R1. It will come with all the standard TM features to adjust loft, face angle and flight pattern and as usual I suppose, a lighter club to increase swing speed.
Before I proceed to the main topic, Ping has a new adjustable driver called G25 (previously G20 and G15) which has 1 gram added to its club head with a desired D3 swing weight. Ping's method is different from say TaylorMade as they feel that a driver with more head weight can be good for your distance. Maximise momentum but sacrificing a little speed.
TaylorMade themselves are soon launching their latest new driver. Yes, again! Some talked about R13 after R11, wrong. It is the R1. It will come with all the standard TM features to adjust loft, face angle and flight pattern and as usual I suppose, a lighter club to increase swing speed.
It will come with all the standard TM features to adjust loft, face angle and flight pattern. Paint your face with war paint if you must.
What are you going to do for your golf in 2013? Buying something new like a driver without going over the "fiscal cliff"? Some of us have tried the Burner, a club built on a faster speed based on a longer and lighter shaft and overall club length with an almost triangular head. I failed to like it and no it didn't worked for me.
TaylorMade's humble origin dated back to 1978 when Gary Adams took a $24k loan and founded TaylorMade after having invented the metal woods. It was sold to adidas Group in 1998 who further acquired Maxfli in 2003 then Ashworth in 2008 and finally bought over Adams Golf just last year.
Recently, they introduced the Rocketballz or RBZ. It has RBZ printed at the bottom because I think there is no space for the mouthful word of "Rocketballz". So, new parents watch it - do not give your children very long names. They will suffer when filling in forms later in life. For example, Edson Arantes do Nascimento was finally just Pele.
This is a completely new line. I like this because it no longer has a triangular head shape. Square heads are out for me too. Maybe I am a traditionalist. What else do I like? I like it that it is now shorter, no longer that 46.5 inches or 46.25 inches of the Burner. At 46 inches, it is still a little too long but just off the regulars on offer at 45.75 inches. Shorter shafts and clubs mean more accuracy and a little less distance. It is the right way.
TaylorMade's FCT (Flight Control Technology) is the main feature here. It allows you to change your launch angle by 1.5 degrees either way. That is a total of 3 degrees range. High handicappers can use its higher loft and lower handicappers the lower loft. You can test and fit it according to your preferred liking. This is how it looks when dismantled.
The name itself can draw laughter. Rocket what? Rocketballz! Legend has it that long hitter Dustin Johnson tried the Rescue and was blown away. "It's like a rocket!" There you go, or like strapping a rocket to your balls! It has a shallower face and is slightly draw bias. The PVD black face is supposed to give you the contrast for better alignment.
There is a total of 8 settings by tuning at the sleeve. Flight path can be adjusted by up to 60 yards. 8 settings is much simpler than the others that offer multiple settings. Higher, lower or in between.
The white cover provides some cushion and sufficient sock below to protect the shaft.
The overall light weight design including club head, shaft and grip is engineered to promote a faster swing speed. A faster swing speed is one of the components for longer distance. The 50 gram shaft is half an inch shorter than the Burner which is a very good thing.
The entire club weighs in at only 299g so I chose a SR (Stiff Regular) flex with a 50g Matrix Ozik X-Con 5 (OEM stock) shaft that has a torque of 4.5 and is 46 inches long providing a mid/high trajectory most suitable for those with a smooth tempo swing.
The torque wrench is easy to use for unscrewing and screwing when adjusting loft. With so many adjustable drivers these days, golf courses/clubs should have a torque wrench tied to a raffia string at every 1st and 10th tee boxes and halfway houses so golfers can make adjustments. Of course, in a game you are not supposed to tune your driver once the game got started. It is the same as coffee shops that hang a gas lighter and a bottle opener at the service counter. If this ever happens, it was because of the guru - mover and shaker.
Look at this pix and tell me if it is confidence inspiring?
The now standard white crown helps prevent hot spots and glare. I do not really need or favour a white head. While white does not affect your performance, every bit of dirt, grime and debris will show up easily sooner rather than later.
It has a balance feel and a good weight from the club head which you can feel. The aerodynamic shape is supposed to help the ball cut through the air and travel two miles per hour faster than their previous club.
Hitting on the screws produced quite a loud and powerful sound. This is a good thing as it will attract attention and everyone may look at you in awe if the shot was great but a poor shot with a great sound can put one to shame! But the feel is good and it is a solid driver which I must say inspires confidence. The hosel where the adjustment sleeve is does not look like a dog collar. Pretty neat.
You will find that you can hit it consistently well to find the fairways. Flight trajectory is penetrating and searing. If you have been playing with a swing weight of say D3 then switching to this is easy without any discomfort as its swing weight is a D4 at 59.5 degrees of lie angle and volume at 460cc. Heck, even the colour scheme matched a pair of my golf shoes with green details and graphics.
For what this driver can do for your game and at the price point, it will be very hard for you to find something better. Pound for pound this is great value and a solid driver!
Like Manny Pacquaio, the best pound for pound fighter or for fishing the GT (Golden Trevally), the best pound for pound fighter.
The above pix shows you the aerodynamic of the Rocketballz.
After a solid drive, you can shout "Rocketballz!" as a warning. You should think it is one of the top rated drivers out there at a good price point. It was rated by some after being put on test as the highest ball speed producing driver out there today. This driver is fun! It has been pretty awesome after two rounds with it. Before you get another driver, pen this in and get it tested. You owe it to yourself. Happy golfing 2013!
Golf as in life, play as it lies.
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