News

SPY PICS! – 2012 Taylormade Rocketballz RBZ

BY Adam Beach
Nov 23rd 2011
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Check out complete line of TaylorMade RocketBallz Woods & Irons @GolfDiscount.com!

2012 Taylormade RocketBallz Driver & Irons

In today’s time news travels fast! And controlling leaks of products before they launch is next to impossible. Although, I have to applaud Taylormade when it comes to keeping these a secret as long as they did. They have done a better job then anyone I have seen to date keeping their 2012 secrets close to the vest. That being said though some of the new gear has leaked around the web and we have some pics of the new 2012 Taylormade “RocketBallz” line-up for you to take a look at. And while these look to be knockoffs of the true production models they are a good representation of what you will see from the RocketBallz line-up in 2012.

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Adam Beach

My name is Adam Beach. This place, this site, it’s more than just a business to me, it truly is an expression of who I am and what I believe in, down to my core. I feel the work I do is a reflection of who I am and the idea behind the work I do is more important than the work itself. You see, I don’t actually see myself in the golf business at all, I am in the business of caring. I am a guy who wakes up with one goal: do the right thing.

Adam Beach

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Adam Beach

Driver PING G430 Max 10k	Hybrid PING G430
Irons Srixon ZX5 MK II	Wedges TaylorMade MG4
Putter EVNROLL ER2	Ball Titleist Pro V1x Left Dash

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comments

Join The Discussion

Mike

12 years ago

I was considering a new driver. I took my old driver (ping ti3, 8.5) in to the store and hit my club against several new models, including the RBZ. Measurements were taken on club speed, launch angle, launch velocity, launch spin rate, side spin rate, and ten of course the machine simulated ball flight.

The RBZ was consistently 20 yards longer than my club, and 5-15 yards longer than any of the other new ones I hit. Ping, Callaway, TM R, king Cobra.

I went to a different store and did the same thing, same results. So I ended up buying the RBZ, and results on the course mirrored those in te store.

colin

12 years ago

I think you all are or were very ready to slander the name of this club before u even properly seen it felt it or even hit it i play from a 3 hcap and i demo,d this about a week before it came out from a rep and its just the most phenomenal driver its passing my Razr hawk by 25 yards every time well done Taylormade once again for releasing some of the best golf equipment this world has seen

dd3493_rblx

12 years ago

My dad said he was going to get me this driver cause currently my R11 isn’t for my type of swing. When I first heard of it I thought it was Taylormade balls but it’s actually a club. Weird name for a club though. I’m gonna try this club soon later this week I guess. I have no doubt that it sucks cause I know what Taylormade is capable of especially in making good drivers.

Don

12 years ago

I just demo’d the RocketBallz yesterday at an outdoor range. Both the Driver and the 3 metal.. Several shafts and lofts also. I also brought my Callaway FT-9 and warmed up with it first. I hit about 285 on average and sometimes over 300. Carry around 260-270. My Callaway 3 metal is about 235 on the fly and runs out to 250 or better. Both clubs are Stiff shafts.The RocketBallz Drivers stiff shaft pretty evenly matched my Callaway. But surprising to me was when I demo’d with a regular shaft, I was flying it about 10 more yards than my Callaway. And with the 3 metal, the difference was even greater. Not only could I see the difference, but they had a launch monitor there. My shortest carry with the 3 metal was 232. Average about 240. And longest carry was 262. This range is not a water range, and is marked all the way out to the 250 markers. Believe what they are saying about RocketBallz. It isn’t just hype. It’s fact.

Mike madden

12 years ago

That iss the ugliest thing ive ever seen , bblurgh

Bob

12 years ago

These are fake. Talked to tmade about them.

Person

12 years ago

These just look stupid. And what a retarded name…

Derek

12 years ago

There on eBay at the moment for sale, are they fakes?

Matt

12 years ago

Rocket Ballz, huh. Are you serious? Are these kids clubs or something. Pathetic

Sliq

12 years ago

I think at this point Taylormade is just seeing what it can get away with.

I predict the next Taylormade line will be named the “Rape Machine.”

HiHandy

1 year ago

This comment did not age well….

KanakAttack

12 years ago

What’s in a name?????? Gotta see how it performs. Besides, you know lots of you will be trying it. At least get it from RD so you can return it for credit.

Justin

12 years ago

I wonder how strong the lofts will be? I’m surprised they haven’t gone to 25* 7 irons by now… to tout their “longest” claims.

Cameron

12 years ago

I want the TP version. LOL JUST KIDDING that name is gonna kill them! hope there R series drivers are better. White paint is smart. Cobra started it with the ZL limited for $700 but all about the marketing! BIG TIME!

Rod_cccgolfusa

12 years ago

TM’s advantage is a great tour van and product placement in the big box stores. TM extends shaft length .5″ each year to ” guarantee” added distance. Can’t hit it straight, but who cares when you can out drive your buds for $149?

luis faria

12 years ago

Bad marketing name and look.

David

12 years ago

good look, funny name !

DiscoInsterno

12 years ago

“And while these look to be knockoffs of the true production models” . . . is this even a meaningful discussion with this caveat in there?

GolfSpy T

12 years ago

I don’t believe it changes the discussion one iota. Whether or not these are the “real” thing, I can assure you, the actual RBZ lineup will look exactly like this (just like counterfeit R11 irons looked almost identical to the real thing…that’s sort of the point of counterfeiting.). Most of the discussion here is around the name, and whether you love “RocketBallz”, hate it, or don’t care either way – it is happening, and that’s what the majority of readers are talking about.

Now…if this discussion was about performance, then yeah…authenticity would matter.

spankit

12 years ago

I’ve always had a lot of respect for TM products. Maybe I need to think slightly harder about that. Then again the old adage is true. “We at Taylor Made will do anything for a buck”

Superstick

12 years ago

I think experienced golfers need products with numbers in the name.

Fatz

12 years ago

Golf is going the way of Lacrosse. Taylormade = Warrior.

Might work, might not…

Personally I am an Adams woods and hybrid and Ping Irons guy… Bridgestone is my other company in there.

I game Taylormade XFT’s because the technology was smart, then the A$$holes discontinue it 2 years later, so I could have just bought TOUR S wedges instead and had them last as long as the XFT’s did in the end.

J40 seems very promising in it’s classic sleek look, but it will take A LOT to beat out the ever reliable 9015D that just keeps coming back around again and again,

Sure hope this helps Callaway and the other get back in the game next year. TMAG shoulda just slapped RBK on these instead and rocked two brands same product instead.

Justin

12 years ago

I thought the xFT’s (and the Spin Doctors) were the best technology since titanium was used in golf clubs. It was smart and economical… which is most likely why it was canned. Why spend $130 for a wedge and $40 for each subsequent face (whenever you’d need to, depending on useage) when they could get you to spend $130 every time you needed a new wedge (depending on usage)? It SUCKS they took that away…

Superstick

12 years ago

@GolfSpy T I did come back out of some sick curiosity. I am trying to figure out how an “experienced” golfer will differentiate the name vs. an inexperienced golfer. I think the name is doing exactly what TM wanted it to do, and that is create a response I think a lot of “experienced” golfers probably bashed white drivers as well. I don’t think the golf industry would have been belly up, it never will. But I do believe a # of retailers would be. Mom and pops as well as bigger chains that would close underperforming locations. You should talk to an honest retailer. $400 vs $300 at the same margin is a huge difference and any good retailer is absolutely banking on $400 over $300. I appreciate your opinion that the other OEMs brought good line ups to 2011 but they are not resonating with the public. The industry needs them to bring something exciting to the table. White metalwoods from TM will dominate again in 2012 regardless of the name or because of it.

me

12 years ago

@Superstick
Soley to your point about gross margin on golf clubs. I run a VERY big sporting goods store for a company that has over 450 store in 48 states. the difference between the actaual cost (what my company pays for it) on a $400 TM driver and the actual cost on a $300 TM driver is $17 with a gross margin profit of between 10 and 30%…. WE DON’T MAKE ANY MONEY ON SELLING MORE EXPENSIVE CLUBS. we make it on everything else golfers buy in the store!

GolfSpy T

12 years ago

I figure it’s about time one of us from MyGolfSpy weighs in here.

First…on the name…yeah, it’s a little cheesy, and perhaps over the top, but NOBODY…NOBODY…in the industry is better at drawing new golfers to their brand like TaylorMade. Not only do new golfers flock to their gear, often times they become loyal and repeat customers. While experienced golfers will likely shake their heads, I’d wager inexperienced golfers will be drawn to the “RocketBallz” name. If nothing else, it is a good way for TaylorMade to compete with Cobra-PUMA for the younger demographic.

For the rest of you who are making fun of the name, I’m with you…BUT here’s my reality. I don’t care if the club is called RocketBallz, ThunderNutz, or even the PanzyStick, if it outperforms my current driver then it goes in the bag.

@Superstick (assuming you come back to read this) – I don’t think anybody here has ever trashed the ProV1, but to say TaylorMade save the industry hyperbole at its worst. They had a comparatively good year, and it was refreshing to see them flip the script and not release a handful of additional drivers (no point, I’m almost certain the R11 blew away all their sales predictions), but it’s ridiculous to think the golf business would be belly up without TaylorMade. Retailers made a bit more, but profit margins in the industry being what they are, a retailer doesn’t isn’t banking much more on a $400 driver than he does a $300.

What I would suggest is that 2011 was an exceptional year for equipment. Though no one can match TM for sales, Callaway, Nike, and others released what I consider, end to end, the best lineups they’ve ever produced.

@Phana24JG gotta ask buddy, are you contractually obligated to mention flightscope and/or trackman in every post? ;).

WDB

12 years ago

It is pathetic! Yes, TM was doing exceptionally well over the last 5-8 years, but what the fk is this?!!!I have been playing something of TM’s (irons, wedges,driver or fwy woods) for more than 15 years, and I have to say I am repulsed that they would go so far as “Rocket Ballz”!! I think one of the R&D guys got fired and was able to release this stupid name and product before being dismissed! If not, The CEO,R&D manager and whomever else that’s responsible for releasing this crap, let alone, investing company profit to release a monstrosity of a “knock-off” Callaway/PowerBilt/Adams/Ping piece-of-crap iron and wood set, should first, be smacked, then have their multi-million dollar contracts burned!! Yeah, I wanna see Sergio,Retief or any of the other contract players playin’ this sht!!

Michael L.

12 years ago

rocketballz… what a cheesy, corny name.wheres the taylormade logo on the irons?

brent holden

12 years ago

easy fix,,,, just buy pings,,,,

Steve

12 years ago

dave

12 years ago

is this a replacement for the burner irons?? and as for the driver,, a 10, 20 or 30 yrd farther driver does you no good if your OB… i play the buurner white head 2.0.. more accurate for me personally than other drivers ive tested

Superstick

12 years ago

Every comment here is wrong. That’s right, every single one. The drivers are white. Everyone spends money on tour. Everyone. Retailers do not have 50% of their inventory. The problem with the Internet is that you can say whatever you want with no facts. Do you think they thought Big Bertha was a great name? Worst looking driver you’ve ever seen? From the bottom?! You guys can all go to a tech site and bash Apple as well. Losers who all hate the leaders. I won’t waste my time looking but I’m sure you guys all bash Pro V1 as well. TM brought the price of drivers down? Hahaha! TM saved the business this year because the retailer sold $400 drivers instead of $300. Do some research. Clueless.

Rod

12 years ago

Well said SuperStick. Not many FACTS among 95% of the bashing. What is true is that TM has top notch customer service, speedy production and quality products. I’m pretty sure the RBZ crown is white too. If you haters dont like it, play Callaway and I’ll wave at you as I fly you by 20.

jordan

12 years ago

quality products?! i don’t think so…(at least not anymore) when I had a pro pulled out the shaft, that thing cracked and i was able to snap it with my hands… the shafts are a piece of shit! i do like the heads though
i think the best 2 drivers TM ever made were the burner tour tp and the r7 limited
and yet they are one of my all time favorite drives

Justin

12 years ago

I tested a Burner (black) against a Turner True Speed Ablaze. The Turner was heavier, but at the same weight, with the same shaft and grip they played the same. I liked the Burner’s sound a little better, but after gaming the original Sasquatch (LOUD!) that stuff doesn’t matter to me. People make a big to-do about what brand does this or that, but the reason why big-name drivers (and shafts, for that matter) cost as much as they do is because it’s showing off who’s “bigger” at the latrine… Not performance, but the need to feed egos.

Of course, golfers are some of the most mentally fragile sports figures out there, so it’s easy to see why things are the way they are.

hongman

12 years ago

Getting beyond the obvious ballzy jokes, and the pitfalls of judging the looks of the irons when seen thru plastic wrap… the sole design looks pretty interesting from a bounce and turf interaction standpoint. Yeah… TM throws around alot of $$ on the various tours.. seems to bring out new models every other month driving down the value of excess inventory and used clubs alike… but the public still gobbles up much of what TM offers…. uhhh… including me!

Justin

12 years ago

It’s the same sole that’s on the Burners, B2.0’s and Nike Machspeeds. Not that interesting to me…

Neal

12 years ago

Irons look good, but I’m not sure I could get used to the elongated body of the driver… might take me some time…

Berniez40

12 years ago

Looks like the old LaJolla Golf Knife Irons made hot monkey love with some old reject designs pulled out of Nickent Golf’s trash bin. Same shade of ugly green too. Probably need to be teamed up with Schwetty Balls for an appropriate match up.

John

12 years ago

WHY Taylormade WHY?????? You have been doing so good the last 8 years and now Rocket Ballz???? Sorry I love TM but these look like there a knock off

WTF

12 years ago

If your spending three million on the PGA show……millions buying up every emaginable tour player in sight…$50 million ad campaign…would it matter if the clubs are any good? No. And consumers are blind. Look at the up and coming companies that have small budgets, limited ad money. Bet you there money go’s into making the best equip out there. Bet you there 10 yards longer but most will only see the big guy with his flashy white hunk o metal.

ron

12 years ago

What a joke this whole TM company is a waste of tour bag space they outa remove this company from the golf business for crap like this, their paying all the non staffers like donald and davis love 111 to play their drivers including many others. They are the whores of the golf business. Their nothing about quality only money, hah welcome to America.

jordan

12 years ago

AHHH!! i cant agree more!!

Super Tuna

12 years ago

Not a fan but I still bet they sell by the truck load. I’ll be interested to see who the first player on the tour is who uses these and can’t help but crack up saying the name in a interview.

Dude

12 years ago

The name is stupid. The color is an improvement over the ugly white driver from last year. Unfortunately, this is one of the worst looking black drivers I have ever seen. Rocket balls? Why don’t they name their new driver “blue balls” and change the color of the club to match.

Garry

12 years ago

“the train” you know not what you are babbling about.. Boo Hoo-ing because drivers are $350 instead of $600? By all means go to your local Pro Shop and pay full retail if you don’t think you aren’t paying enough. I thought the market place helped set the price(that being YOU)

train man… you into fixed artifically high prices(MSRP)?? or the market place setting a lower price? Are you a consumer who likes to pay the most so he can brag to his buddies he paid the most? I have to say.. you are the first of your kind I have run across.. Wish their were more of you wanting to pay full boat retail.

Any other in here who want to pay full retail for their golf equpment? Please chime in

Phana24JG

12 years ago

Garry, if you are buying your clubs off the rack at a discounter, you are only cheating yourself. Yeah, laugh all you want about us “suckers,” but I have Trackman or Flightscope X2 data on my driver, 3-wood, 4i, 7i and wedges that not only assures me I have the best combination of distance, accuracy and/or gapping, but also reinfoces that when my game goes awry it is NOT my equipment. In addition, I also have benchmark data with which to evaluate other clubs. Can you get that at the glorified dollar store?

Deon du Plessis

12 years ago

Well they could have gotten more risky, and named it “Big Ballz”. Alternatively, they could have changed the color scheme to Blue and not Green…. then called it “Blue Ballz”.

thetrain

12 years ago

Ok… first of all, I’ve only heard 1 good comment about taylor made clubs on the past 22 comments. Bottom line, horrible name and this driver looks terrible! Yes they probably sold 1 million drivers this summer but unfortunatly retailors are still stuck with over 50% of their inventory. TMAG is the main reason why drivers are selling for $350-$450 instead of $600-$700. they’re killing the market place. #1 driver Tour… give me a break! Davis Love… cmon man!!

Garry

12 years ago

Golfspn Matt you ask “My question is: when does TM’s market share start to come down to reflect the fact that their product is good, but not 5X better than everyone else’s?”

Very easy question to answer if one gives some thought to it. When the buyers say so.

I have to laugh at guys in here babbling away about Taylor and their ugly white drivers. They only sold 1 million r11 drivers in 6 months.

One thing that remains the same.

The public never knows what they want until you give it to them.. Steve Jobs

Golfspy Dave

12 years ago

Top photos?

mygolfspy

12 years ago

Top photo added Dave.

Golfspy Matt

12 years ago

Steve: Don’t misunderstand me, I’m no TM hater. I’ve played TM drivers exclusively for 6 years. They make good stuff…but so does everyone else. My question is: when does TM’s market share start to come down to reflect the fact that their product is good, but not 5X better than everyone else’s?

Steve

12 years ago

Point taken Matt……good question.

David

12 years ago

Unprofessional name for golf equiptment.

dave

12 years ago

how is the name unprofessional?? makes no sense that you would say that.. i coul see a dumb name being more correct

Justin

12 years ago

They could’ve named it “Heaposhit” and people would still flock to it like it’s the best thing ever created. Maybe someone should try that? It’d have to be a big-named company, the ones that everyone is brandwashed by.

Steve

12 years ago

Golfspy Matt – their marketing strategy is working out – we see their logos and products all over all of the pro tours. Thing is, in my opinion, it’s not just the marketing – their products are excellent! I don’t think they are paying Davis Love III or Luke Donald to play their drivers are they? I love my Burner woods current and all the way back to the “Bubble” Copper-top days. Not a fan of their irons, tho – I am a PING guy there.

David

12 years ago

Be sure they are paid to bag their driver. TM is obsessed about beeing the #1 driver on tour. They are ready to pay almost everyone to bag their driver WITHOUT any visibility. Just money for using their driver. R11 was a genius marketing idea. Just with the color, people at home watching golf can see who are driving TM driver. White driver, wow, Luke is driving a R11… No one care about is MP-62 from Mizuno… the only thing customer remember is the white driver from taylor made.

BTW, all the good virtues of the white R11 regarding glare… bla bla bla… real shit… marketing stuff…

I’m sure the even from big break show, about every watcher will only remember the white R11 from Mallory but none of them will remember that about everyone else were driving Adams driver, who are a good sponsor of the show…

Golfspy Matt

12 years ago

The irons look like re-badged Burners and the driver looks like a bigger R9 (adjustable face angle without adjustable weights or the sole plate). I suspect this is aimed at the $199 market (could be wrong) and, while we will all laugh at it, they will sell tons of them.

Here’s the more interesting question (to me, at least): What will bring about the end of TM’s dominance? They get tons of play on tour because they throw around lots of $$$. This leads the weekend hacker to want a TM driver, and TM accommodates them at a wider variety of price points (09 Burner for $100 up to R11 TP for $500+) than anyone else. This gives them more money to throw at the tour. Vicious cycle if you’re a competing OEM, so what ends it? Beyond the tour thing, they are unafraid to do big time promotions to get people playing their stuff (3 dozen Pentas for $80 this past year…my store could not keep them in stock).

Justin

12 years ago

They look that way because most likely, they ARE rebadged. This is what happens when the marketing department has more say than the engineers…

mygolfspy

12 years ago

This is not in reference to these designs in particular but it is unfortunate I feel that in today’s time that the marketing department does have more say in many of the present designs than the actual designers do. I understand the reasoning behind it: golfers who shop in stores aren’t engineers and cannot disect a club to see which is actually better so they know that looks appeal more than function. And this is why the “flashy” type designs are more prevalent now.

When golfers shop in stores they are looking for visible technology or what they think is visible technology and go with the clubs that look the part instead of what really performs better.

Justin

12 years ago

Golf Digest did pull of the cavity badge on the TMaG Tour Preferreds and noticed the “inverted cone” wasn’t nearly as big as the badge would have us believe… Just throwing that out there.

Sean Tracey

12 years ago

The name is a joke right ?

ds

12 years ago

the only joke is all of you doubters…i still suppose after 1 million plus white drivers and dominance on tour you think thats a joke! The most important part about this family will be its made by TaylorMade…when theres a few less golf manufactures still here this time next year you will all be proven wrong again…its been the same story since R7. History will be made again, thanks TaylorMade…

Justin

12 years ago

And the fact they have the biggest paid staff using their stuff doesn’t factor into any of this at all? LOL… Anyone could be the #1 Tour-used if they were willing to pony up the $$$$.

Rick

12 years ago

If this is part of Taylormade line for next year, i have heard a rumor they are guaranteeing 15-30 farther on the Fairway Metals. That’s right… Guaranteed.

Ed Donahue

12 years ago

Come on, everyone knows anything that has a ‘Z” in it must be good, i.e. Callaway RaZr’s!!!!

Joe Mama

12 years ago

And I think it’s gonna be a long long time
Till touch down brings it round again to find
It’s not the club they think it is at home
Oh no no no it’s a Rocketballz
Rocketballz burning out the fuse up there alone

geebeeone

12 years ago

Just waiting to here fro TM as to how much extra distance you will get from these.
Over the last ten years I have gained 100 yds , yes 100 (according to TM, 10 extra yds with each new launch), but I still shoot the same (or less) scores.

Snatch

12 years ago

maybe you should start thinking that the bad scores are coming from lack of talent…?

NIBLICKS

12 years ago

hahaha

Phana24JG

12 years ago

I see the problem. You ONLY got 100 extra yards? You need the Perfect Connection Swing (another 30 per the ad), add the Target Centered Swing (another 20 yds), maximize your driver’s effective loft by hitting 5* up (another 6-13 yds depending upon other variables per Trackman), speed ball fitting (6+ yds per whoever the hell it was, maybe Taylormade) and use the Mirror Tee (+ up to 20 yds). Then you can be out with us “big hitters.”

geebeeone

12 years ago

So that’s why I am not driving par 4’s
Thanks for the extra info.
Looking fwd to joining the tour soon, although I am in my 70’s (years that is, not scores).

Justin

12 years ago

Loved all this! GeeBeeOne and Phana, that’s exactly how I feel!

blopar

12 years ago

These are: 1) ugly 2) will be the laughingstock of the golf eqpt industry and 3) took some “Big Ballz” to come up with and actually produce a product with such a ridiculous name.

Garry

12 years ago

burner with a new name.. Taylor is going to have a big intro at the 2012 PGA Show. They are spending $3 million this year(2 mill more than last year). Once again they will be the buzz at the PGA Show, like they were at 2011 PGA Show.

Release date is Feb 3 right after the show

Uncle Leo

12 years ago

is the 10.5 a deep face?

Balataman

12 years ago

Oh Mr. GolfSpy,

You have some serious RocketBallz for posting these pictures; I LOVE IT!

Ron

12 years ago

Read where TaylorMade has already abandoned the RocketBallz trademark.

ctjoe

12 years ago

Meijing Golf, yeah knockoffs!!!!!!!

rlogolf1

12 years ago

They are to be played exclusively at the Sandy Balls Resort!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JEyKFkkcHAc
I want a set just for the awesome name.

adams#1

12 years ago

Wow, These Adams Fast 12 and Fast12 LS drivers look great….Wait….taylormade? Silver top, Black sole..Taylormade? Thieves!

bob

12 years ago

thats a white top bud

Kevin

12 years ago

I’m confused, who are they marketing to with a name like rocketballz?

Dunk

12 years ago

I give it T-20 minutes before these pics get pulled ;-)

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