Equipment
RocketBallz RBZ 3 wood that could be a game changer
Here is the new TaylorMade RocketBallz line. This is the 3 wood that gave me 15 yards compared to the r11 dialed in gamer 3 wood I have in the bag. Looking at this Editor Review you will see that this could be a 3 wood of choice for 2012.
Available February 3rd RocketBallz fairway woods will come standard with a Matrix Ozik Xcon 5 50-gram shaft with the Tour version to come with a Matrix Ozik RYL 70 75-gram graphite shaft. $229 and TP $329. Rescues $179 with TP for $229.
Click here to see more pics and discussion in the forums
- Better players gain 17 yards, see what you’ll gain
- Speed Pocket in the sole boosts ball speed dramatically for more distance
- Thick-Thin Crown design creates lower CG to promote higher launch for more distance
- Low / forward CG for high launch and low spin
- Lightweight shaft and grip promotes faster swing speed for more distance
- White crown and black face makes alignment easy and eliminates glare on top
The technology in our new RocketBallz fairway woods boosts clubface COR to a place we haven’t come close to before, promoting an immense increase in distance. It’s an absolute breakthrough. – Dr. Benoit Vincent TMag Chief Technical Officer
Tour FWY Woods-
- Speed Pocket in the sole boosts ball speed dramatically for more distance
- Thick-Thin Crown design creates lower CG to promote higher launch for more distance
- Exceptionally large, deep face and high-MOI head for easy launch
- Slightly heavier shaft for accuracy and control
- White crown and black face makes alignment easy and eliminates glare on top
- Engineered compact head for a penetrating trajectory and neutral flight bias with heavier/stiffer shaft for more stability
Tour pros and skilled players often reach for their 3-wood on the tee for added control. Those guys will be all over RocketBallz Tour fairways for the extra distance they promote. – Keith Sbarbaro TMag VP Tour Operations
Click here to see more pics and discussion in the forums
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- Kevin Tway what’s in the bag accurate as of the Wells Fargo Championship. More photos from the event here.
Driver: Ping G430 LST (10.5 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 6 X
3-wood: TaylorMade Stealth 2 (15 degrees)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Diamana D+ 80 TX
5-wood: TaylorMade Stealth 2 (18 degrees)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Diamana D+ 90 TX
Irons: Wilson Staff Utility (2), Titleist T100 (4-9)
Shafts: Mitsubishi MMT 100 TX (2), True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100 (4-9)
Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM10 (48-10F @47, 52-12F @51, 56-14F), SM7 (60-10S)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100 (48-56), True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400 (60)
Putter: Scotty Cameron T-5 Proto
Grip: Scotty Cameron Black Baby T
Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet Plus4
More photos of Kevin Tway’s WITB in the forums.
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Editor’s note: This is an excerpt from a piece our Andrew Tursky originally wrote for PGATour.com’s Equipment Report. Head over there for the full article.
The timing of Lowry’s putter changeup was curious: Was he just using a Spider putter because he was paired with McIlroy, who’s been using a Spider Tour X head throughout 2024? Was Lowry just being festive because it’s the Zurich Classic, and he wanted to match his teammate? Did McIlroy let Lowry try his putter, and he liked it so much he actually switched into it?
Well, as it turns out, McIlroy’s only influence was inspiring Lowry to make more putts.
When asked if McIlroy had an influence on the putter switch, Lowry had this to say: “No, it’s actually a different putter than what he uses. Maybe there was more pressure there because I needed to hole some more putts if we wanted to win,” he said with a laugh.
To Lowry’s point, McIlroy plays the Tour X model, whereas Lowry switched into the Tour Z model, which has a sleeker shape in comparison, and the two sole weights of the club are more towards the face.
Lowry’s Spider Tour Z has a white True Path Alignment channel on the crown of his putter, which is reminiscent of Lowry’s former 2-ball designs, thus helping to provide a comfort factor despite the departure from his norm. Instead of a double-bend hosel, which Lowry used in his 2-ball putters, his new Spider Tour Z is designed with a short slant neck.
“I’ve been struggling on the greens, and I just needed something with a fresh look,” Lowry told GolfWRX.com on Wednesday at the 2024 Wells Fargo Championship. “It has a different neck on it, as well, so it moves a bit differently, but it’s similar. It has a white line on the back of it [like my 2-ball], and it’s a mallet style. So it’s not too drastic of a change.
“I just picked it up on the putting green and I liked the look of it, so I was like, ‘Let’s give it a go.’”
Read the rest of the piece over at PGATour.com.
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Equipment
Webb Simpson equipment Q&A: Titleist’s new 2-wood, 680 blade irons, and switching to a broomstick Jailbird
With seven career wins on the PGA Tour, including a U.S. Open victory, Webb Simpson is a certified veteran on the course. But he’s also a certified veteran in the equipment world, too. He’s a gearhead who truly knows his stuff, and he’s even worked closely with Titleist on making his own custom 682.WS irons.
On Wednesday at the 2024 Wells Fargo Championship, I caught up with Simpson to hear about his experience with Titleist’s new prototype 2-wood, how Titleist’s 680 Forged irons from 2003 ended up back in his bag, and why he’s switching into an Odyssey Ai-One Jailbird Cruiser broomstick putter this week for the first time.
Click here to read our full story about Simpson’s putter switch on PGATOUR.com’s Equipment Report, or continue reading below for my full Q&A with Simpson at Quail Hollow Club on Wednesday.
See Webb Simpson’s full WITB from the 2024 Wells Fargo Championship here
GolfWRX: It seems like you’ve been a little all over the place with your irons in the past six months or so, and now going back to the 680’s. Is that just a comfort thing? What’s been going on with the irons?
Webb Simpson: Titleist has been so great at working with me, and R&D, on trying to get an iron that kind of modernizes the 680. And so the 682.WS took the T100 grooves, but kinda took the look and the bulk and the build of the 680’s into one club. They’re beautiful, and awesome looking. I just never hit them that well for a consistent period of time. It was probably me, but then I went to T100’s and loved them. I loved the spin, the trajectory, the yardage, but again, I never went on good runs. Going through the ground, I couldn’t feel the club as well as with the blade. So last week, I’m like, ‘Alright. I’m gonna go back more for…comfort, and see if I can get on a nice little run of ball striking.’
So that’s why I went back.
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OK, that makes sense. I know you had done some 2-wood testing recently. Is that in the bag right now?
It’s like day-by-day. I used it at Hilton Head every day. Valero, I used it one round. And this week, me and my caddie will do the book every morning, and if it’s a day where we think we need it, we’ll just put it in and take the 3-wood out. I love it because it’s a super simple swap. Like, it doesn’t really change much.
Yeah, can you tell me about that club? I mean, we don’t really know anything about it yet. You know? I haven’t hit it or anything, obviously.
It has grooves like a 3-wood. Spin is perfect. And it’s honestly, like, everything is in the middle of a 3-wood and driver number. Trajectory, spin, carry, all of it. So, a Hilton Head golf course is almost too easy to talk about because, you know, there, so many holes are driver 3-wood.
Valero, our thinking was we had two par-5’s into the wind, and we knew that it would take two great shots to get there in two. So instead of hitting driver-driver, we just put it in. And I used it on those holes.
Hilton was a little easier because it was off-the-tee kind of questions. But Colonial will be a golf course where, you know, there’s a lot of driver or 3-woods. It’s kind of like a backup putter or driver for me now. I’ll bring it to every tournament.
So it’s, like, in your locker right now, probably?
Well, it would be. It’s in my house [because Webb lives near by Quail Hollow Club, and is a member at the course.] It’s in the garage.
Oh, yeah, that’s right. Do you know what holes you might use it out here if it goes in play?
Potentially 15, depending on the wind. Second shot on 10. Could be 14 off the tee. The chances here are pretty low (that he’ll use the 2-wood). But, like, Greensboro would be an awesome club all day. I’m trying to think of any other golf courses.
There’s plenty that it’ll be a nice weapon to have.
It’s interesting, the wave of 2-woods and mini drivers. Like, it’s just really taken off on Tour, and all the companies have seemed to embrace it.
Yeah. The thing I had to learn, it took me, like, at least a week to learn about it is you gotta tee it up lower than you think. I kept teeing it up too high. You need it low, like barely higher than a 3-wood. And that was where I got optimal spin and carry. If you tee it up too high, you just don’t get as much spin and lose distance, I don’t know if that’s just a mini driver thing.
And you obviously have a Jailbird putter this week. What spurred that on?
Inconsistent putting. I’m stubborn in a lot of ways when it comes to my equipment, but I have to be open minded – I just hadn’t putted consistently well in a while. And I’m like, ‘Man, I feel my ball-striking coming along. Like I feel better; for real, better.’
If I can just get something in my hands that I’m consistent with. Being on Tour, you see it every year, guys get on little runs. I can put together four to five tournaments where I’m all the sudden back in the majors, or in the FedExCup Playoffs. You can turn things around quick out here. I’m like, ‘Man, whatever’s going to get me there, great.’
My caddie, David Cook, caddied for Akshay at the Houston Open and he putted beautifully. Then, I watched Akshay on TV at Valero, and he putted beautifully. And, I’m like, ‘I’m just going to try it.’
I’ve never tried it for more than a putt or two, and I just ordered what Akshay uses. It was pretty awkward at first, but the more I used it, the more I’m like, ‘Man, it’s pretty easy.’ And a buddy of mine who’s a rep out here, John Tyler Griffin, he helped me with some setup stuff. And he said at Hilton Head, he wasn’t putting well, then tried it, and now he makes everything. He was very confident. So I’m like, ‘Alright, I’ll try it.’”
And you’re going with it this week?
Hundred percent.
Alright, I love it. Thank you, I always love talking gear with you. Play well this week.
Thanks, man.
See Webb Simpson’s full WITB from the 2024 Wells Fargo Championship here
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Nick
Feb 3, 2013 at 12:53 pm
The hype about the Rocketballz fairway woods was way overblown. Apparently it performed well off the tee but very poorly from the fairways. Taylormade has claimed to make the necessary adjustments on the stage 2 fairways.
picture taking
Jan 17, 2013 at 4:03 pm
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Jim
Sep 5, 2012 at 2:56 pm
Have to admit- I sold my Titleist 910Fd for the RBZ….I am a 9 index.
RBZ much easier to hit, more solid, instant feedback, more pop, etc…..
Both a solid clubs but I wish i went with the RBZ all along
wldchld22
Aug 28, 2012 at 2:51 pm
i’ve been killing my 3 wood for a year now…wait…it says compression channel…i don’t understand…
Scott
Aug 16, 2012 at 10:07 pm
Whats all the hub bub about the shafts I’ve been reading?
Troy Vayanos
Aug 16, 2012 at 3:35 pm
Haven’t tried the Rocketballz as yet but have heard many good things about the clubs. I don’t often get to use the 3 wood on the tee so probably won’t upgrade in the near future.
Will try at some stage to see what all the hype is about.
Tom
Jul 4, 2012 at 11:45 am
the 5 wood is literally like hitting a rocket, im hitting my rbz stiff shaft 5 wood 235-240 yards compared to 205 yards with other clubs. about 30 yard increase.
Larry
Jun 23, 2012 at 4:21 pm
Just bought a 14.5 degree stiff flex 3 wood (tour model). At least a 20 yard gain over my previous tailor-made burner 3 wood 15 degree club (circa 2008), which is now obsolete. What surprised me most if the carry of this club. It powers up somehow – puts a small on your face. I just got back from the range in a 2 club incoming wind and was able to hit over the top of a power transmission tower. That shot was laughable. For a lower lofted club, I’m hitting higher arcing shots. I understand the 13 degree Tour Spoon model has more of a mid-launch with even more carry, but I don’t need to hit 280 with this club. Why make my driver obsolete too?
phil
May 29, 2012 at 5:25 pm
Im sold on taylormade last year traded my callaway x20 irons in on the burner 2.0 i hit them way straighter and longer with a better distance gap. Also bought a burner superfast 2.0 driver loved this club and irons. This year i bought into the hype as i saw what the taylormade burner 2.0 irons helped me out so i traded in my burner 2.0 driver, callaway ftiz 3 and 5 wood and have bought the RBZ driver 10.5 adjustable, 3 wood 3 hybrid 5 hybrid these clubs are amazing shot the best back. Nine of my lif yesterday 39 3 over. i went from hitting my bujrner driver 230 to 240. My rbz goes 260 to 270. My 3 wood i was 253 out on a par 5 sliced my drive a little hit it on the green 15 ft putt for eagle. 3 hybrid i hit 220 to 210 5 hybrid 190 to 200. These clubs are amazing go get them if you have the cash you wont be disappointed. I no longer need any above a 6 iron. My 5-4-3 can stay at the house great trajectory and ball flight hit them straight and high drops right down on the green with very little release. Except the 3 wood and driver they role forever extra distance.
Justin
Apr 19, 2012 at 10:22 am
Jim K I’d have to agree with you…Wishon Golf used to be a competitor in new technology but now they are just an overpriced custom club scam. Their heads offer no major benefits over stock heads off the shelf, their swing science shafts are nothing scientific at all. I’m playing an RBZ 4 hybrid and it completely out performs my wishon on every level. The wishon sounds like a loud pingggggg echoing around the golf course it embarisses me like hitting a 19 dollar driver from Walmart. The RBZ is just one loud pow sounds amazing. Wishon golf is just a mind game company. Buy a stock club off the shelf and customize it, u’ll be way more pleased.
Jim K
Apr 18, 2012 at 2:12 pm
First of all, golfers needs to realize that every club on the market may perform differently on a person to person basis depending on hundreds of factors. Secondly, I have played Wishon 915 and 929’s for years now which is apparently the same technology in the RBZ. I bought the RBZ3hl, hit ONE ball on the range with it, walked over to my bag, and gave my old Wishon 3 and 5 woods away to a kid. Conclusion, I was an average of 19 yards longer with the RBZ on dopler with a 2 degree higher launch than the Wishons. Im a firm believer of this club and I have lost a lot of respect for wishon golf whos products are way too overpriced and under-performing compared to average.The RBZ3hl is just an amazing club for me, try one for yourself.
Jeramy
Apr 12, 2012 at 8:20 pm
Jimmy,
I bought the tour 14.5 degree 3 wood a little over a week ago. 3 rounds in and I am in love with the club. I thought it was cheesy and over the top till I hit a friends and had to go get my own. Long..really, really long. Played today and didn’t take my driver out of the bag just to see if I’d miss it. I didn’t. On many holes I was in the same spots I’d be with driver. Only 2 times did I see any loss of position due to hitting the 3 wood and those were uphill carries. Only concern I have so far is that I can’t control the draw. I hit it dead straight, have found it easy to hit a nice soft fade when I want…but I’ve struggled so far when I try to turn this one over. Truth is though I really shouldn’t be trying. I measured 2 out over 275 today hitting it on a line. It’s a great, great club.
Todd
Apr 3, 2012 at 4:51 pm
Really like my new set of tour rbz woods & hybrid – hitting them long and straight! Only clubs that I have found that truely meet the hype. For me they are longer than advertised but that may be due to the equipment I was using before.
Par 5’s are a lot shorter with the rbz driver and woods/hybrid!!! Only problem is a 25% drop in my handicap this spring.
Jimmy
Apr 3, 2012 at 1:48 am
I am stuck inbetween wanting to buy the RBZ 3wood 15 degree S-flex matrix xcon-5 stock or the 3wood 14.5 degree tour RBZ s-flex xcon-7 shaft. My ball speed is around 141-145 and have always had a steep swing. I have always been inbetween an S-flex and an X-flex. My Driver is an R11 TP 70beta RIP. Though it is a high kickpoint with a lower launch, this mixed with my swing speed I hit my driver very low. I demoed the regular RBZ 3wood S-flex 15 degree with stoce x-con5 shaft and hit the ball straight, very high with pretty solid distance. Just concered that grams of shaft is a little over 50. Other than the obvious that I am hit the demo great, straight, long, with very high ball flight, any reason maybe the tour 14.5degree RBZ might benefit me better? Just looking for some knowledge or suggestions. New to this site but happy to see other dedicated golfers. Let me know!! Thanks!!
Peter
Mar 30, 2012 at 11:32 pm
Im a 5 handicap and Titliest Fit Pro and just bought the tour 3. I was launching the regular version 270! Low spin 15′ launch angle. I went with the tour version because of the open face and was averaging 250 with 96 mph head speed. 250 is plenty with the 3 wood. What was I going to donwith my $500 R11s driver??? Definitely more distance for me about 10-12 yards and low dispersion. Get one and rocket your BALLZ!
tuck
Mar 28, 2012 at 10:06 pm
what does the tour spoon mean on the side of the tp
Don
Mar 13, 2012 at 1:55 pm
I have the 3HL (17 deg) in my bag and love the distance and control I get.
I like the fact that I can choke up on the thing and consistently get 250+ with it.
This is basically a 4 wood and I can out drive most people I play against when take a full swing.
I like the big head on it as well. the only one i could find in a 4 wood.
Sounds great and feels smooth.
The head cover is a pain and should be rethought.
Mark Murray
Mar 1, 2012 at 8:24 pm
I am 14 and am a 5 handicap. Before I hit this club, I chuckled at the name as a Titleist fan. However, when I went to a local golf expo the other day, this club was unbelievable. I got around an extra 20 yards, but the club still gave me unbelievable workability. It is the softest and most springy off the face out of any other club, even the 910 Titleist series. I don’t laugh at the name Rocketballz anymore, but I still do when I see unbelievable distance and flight on my shots.
Jeff
Feb 28, 2012 at 12:06 pm
Just hit it yesterday. I was more impressed with the hybrid, but over all did notice a sizable improvement in distance and launch.
grandy
Feb 23, 2012 at 8:31 am
I have this bag
Driver: Taylormade r11 9 degree
Fairway: This new( I lovely it) taylormade rocketballz tour 3 wood 14.5 degree
hybrid: taylormade rescue 11
irons: nike victory red 4-pw
wedge: cleveland original 588 (52 degree),nike victory red (56 and 60 degree)
putter: odyssey white ice 1
Keith
Nov 30, 2012 at 7:01 pm
Nice set up! Mine is very Similiar once I buy the RBZ 3wood. What kind of shaft do you have in you’rs
Brent Mann
Feb 21, 2012 at 6:18 pm
I thought it was BS. I hit my 910F on a frozen rope 165 ball speed maxing out around 169mph on my full swing golf simulator. The RBZ never dropped below 171mph and maxed at 179! As far as distance goes I am blown away. As far as a game day club, still not sure.
Gary
Feb 20, 2012 at 6:54 pm
I’ll wait until TM’s new line of woods comes out next year…then when they come out, I’ll still wait yet again for their even NEWER line of woods to come out the following year..see a pattern? By the time you test and decide whether to buy or not, TM has come out with an even bigger, better line supposedly. Frankly, it’s pretty ridiculous. People should just look at other brands that don’t use Mickey Mouse gimmicks and buy what they are comfortable with and get out of the Rat Race that is known at TaylorMade.
Jim
Feb 20, 2012 at 9:31 am
That slot on the sole will dig. Happened with the Adams 3 wood I used last year. Awesome off the tee… but there are some situations where the clubs just grabs the grass like it’s velcro.
I would like to see a 3 wood with JUST the slot on the top (I can used to that) and a smoother sole. Or one that isn’t exposed to the turf so much.
Close but no cigar.
sam
Feb 20, 2012 at 4:40 am
If you follow the threads over the years the 3 wood should go 350 yards or more. Every year one can pick up 15 yards with a new piece of equipment. My R11 cranks it out well and will stay in the bag.
Nodak
Feb 14, 2012 at 12:03 pm
I dont care about a 3 wood, what about the 5 wood?
Is it easy to hit and longer too?
phizzy
Feb 13, 2012 at 9:11 pm
Love the concept behind it and I’ve tested the tour version. It is indeed longer but, I did not want such a small gap between my driver and 3 wood distance wise. However, it will definately benefit amateurs with slower swing speeds who seek added distance off the tee and who need the added loft. 10-15 yards longer than my razr hawk 3 wood.