March 14, 2013 – After having tasted the excellence of the new R1 TaylorMade Golf driver, what could we expect from its brother for the 2013 season, the RocketBallz Stage 2? Will it be the cheap version of the R1?

After testing it… it is obviously not. This is a completely different driver, which shares some technologies, the white colour and the quality level of the R1, but which targets a different player profile.

The R1 offers longer distance with greater accuracy from the tee to pros and low handicap players, tuning the golf club to a maximum through its extraordinary adjustability. On the other hand, we deduce that the RocketBallz Stage 2 is aimed at a wider range of players, from pros to high handicaps, who are looking for a plus in distance which is easy to get.

The RBZ Stage 2 is the second generation of RocketBallz, which was very successful last year, which has evolved with the centre of gravity lower and more forward, a more aerodynamic head shape, an expansive club face and a new shaft, which combined together promote more distance than the first RBZ driver.

With the driver assembled with a longer, lighter (50-gram) Fujikura RocketFuel shaft, and with a light grip, the total club weight of the driver is under 300 grams. That, along with balancing the club to a slightly higher swing weight, allows the driver to promote faster swing speed for most golfers.

As for its trajectory, the Loft Sleeve Technology, one of the main points shared with the R1, allows the player to control the flight of the RBZ Stage 2 by easily adjusting the loft, lie and face angle of the club head with 12 possible positions within the window of 1.5º loft adjustment. The lightweight characteristics of the shaft coupled with the RBZ Stage 2 driver’s mass properties work together to create a moderate draw bias.

In the driving range of Terramar CG at Sitges (Barcelona, Spain), with Toni Alcazar, pro of the club and El Doctor Golf, we tested the driver with a 9.5º loft and the rest of the standard configuration, assembled with a Fujikura RocketFuel shaft in Regular flexibility.

• I liked the RocketBallz Stage 2 a lot, especially because of the shaft. Although I play with a Stiff shaft on my usual driver, I really liked this Regular flex. As soon as I tried it I knew that it’s very good. With a Stiff flex perhaps it would be too rigid, so I think that Regular is more suitable for most golfers.
• With the loft at 9.5º the driver gave me very good ball flight, high and piercing. It handles well, and it’s comfortable to hit with this Regular shaft.
• The feeling with this Regular shaft is that of a solid and consistent golf club, with a great sense of impact, which transmits to you what happens on the club face.
• Personally I think the club design is more original than the R1, with the graphic of the crown. The vertex of the graphic coincides with the centre of the club face, and I think it will help you a little more in the alignment.
• The way you can vary the loft of the club, in order to make it a little higher or lower, is very well developed.
• This is a more accessible driver for everyone that the R1, since it is not only intended for low handicaps but for most players and because, in terms of price, it is within range of more people’s budget than the R1, something worth keeping in mind in these times.

TAYLORMADE ROCKETBALLZ STAGE 2 DRIVER

• Club reviewed:  Driver tuned to 9,5º loft and standard position. Fujikura RocketFuel 50g Regular graphite shaft .
• Tester: Toni Alcázar (33). Pro of El Doctor Golf.

DESIGN	[rating: level=”5″]
DISTANCE	[rating: level=”5″]
ACCURACY	[rating: level=”4″]
FORGIVENESS	[rating: level=”3.5″]
FEELING	[rating: level=”4″]
OPTIONS	[rating: level=”5″]
VALUE	[rating: level=”4.5″]
FOR…	Pros and all Handicaps
AVERAGE	[rating: level=”4.5″]

  The features of the golf club help you to increase the swing speed, with an explosive ball take-off. The greater adjustability and the slightly repositioned location of the centre of gravity allow you solid and controlled shots.

  Having a brother like the R1, and knowing its high adjustability and accuracy, the pros and low handicaps might find the RocketBallz Stage 2 a little short on performance.

TECHNICAL FEATURES

• Volume: 460cc.
• Faster and longer than the original RocketBallz driver.
• Expansive 4,100 square-millimeter clubface gives the golfer substantially more face area.
• Inverted Cone Technology milled into the inner side of the larger clubface expands the portion of the face that delivers high ball speed.
• Improved aerodynamics reduces drag over the head to promote faster clubhead speed.
• Thick-Thin crown provides lower and more-forward CG location promoting faster ball speed, high launch and low spin.
• Loft-Sleeve Technology offers 7 standard and 5 upright loft options to add ±1.5° to each of the available standard lofts: 9.5 (which can be adjusted up to 11° or down to 8°) 10.5 (which can be adjusted up to 12° or down to 9°) and HL 13 (which can be adjusted up to 14.5° or down to 11.5°). Lie: 61º. Lefthanded: Yes (9.5º, 10.5º).
• Black clubface, non-glare white crown and new crown decal all promote easy alignment.
• Ultra-light Fujikura RocketFuel 50 graphite shaft (50 grams) promotes fast swing speed. Length: 46”. Swingweight: D6. Flexes: X, S, R, M, L.
• RRP: RocketBallz Stage 2, €329; RocketBallz Stage 2 TP, €429.

Toni Alcázar is a golf professional in El Doctor Golf.
More information at www.taylormadegolf.com and www.eldoctorgolf.com.
Pictures: ©MyGolfWay.

Por REDACCIÓN