[RookieBlue7]

TAYLORMADE - R11 TP vs R11s vs RBZ

I just had the chance to hit, side by side, the R11s RBZ and my R11 TP. I hit them all with my Talamonti PD70 x so that there would be an established baseline and comparison of apples versus apples. The numbers were taken with a Vector Pro.

I warned up and hit my R11 TP 9* first to establish a baseline. I warmed up and took a 5 minute break. I then hit 15 balls each with 60 seconds between balls (timed everything to be as subjective as possible), and then a 5 minute break between clubs each time. I then went in reverse order after I was striking the ball well and after my warm-up, on the launch monitor, my numbers averages were as follows:

R11 TP 9 deg with Talamonti PD70 x at 44 7/8" GP NDMC midsize 16 toe, 4 heel asp set to N FCT set to std

SS: 115.2
Launch angle: 12.1
Back spin: 3255
Carry: 286.2 yards
Ball speed: 170.7
Smash factor: 1.482

Next up was the R11s 9 deg same shaft as above set to std, 16 toe, 4 heel (my weights so they're identical)
SS 115.1
Launch Angle 13.9
Back spin 3720
Carry 278.6
Ball speed 169.7
Smash factor: 1.475

RBZ Tour 9.5 FCT set to neutral same shaft
Swingspeed 115.3
Launch angle 11.8
Back spin 3455
Carry 289.4
Ball speed 171.6
Smash Factor 1.489

The flight with all 3 was a 5-7 yard draw. I wanted to test them as subjectively as possible is why I used the same shaft at the same setting at the same length. The lengths varied by 1/8" across the clubs, I'm assuming due to the depth of the head/bbtg measurements. Regardless, it's made my mind up as to what will be my next driver, and that's the RBZ tour. The control ball was a Srixon AD333 because of it being set up with the black line for the monitor. I'm sitting in the parking lot as I type so I don't forget anything or lose the paper I wrote everything down on, lol, cause I'm a true club ho'.

I begged to buy it and they wouldn't let me, lol. Offered him cash to lay it out back. No mas'. Oh well Feb can't get here quick enough. Oh, and R11s was quietest and the RBZ the loudest.

[skihippy]

Great review Rookie Blue. This is a very subjective test and I wish all test could be done with the same shaft and shaft length. OHHH AND BELIEVE WE KNOW YOUR A CLUB HO... Didn't you win a reward for this???

[nicsherman]

$100 per yard gained??? wow.

[RookieBlue7]

The RBZ Tour isn't $300, if you know where to shop. They're $269.99 from the place I'll order from. Regardless, I like shiny new things, so it's not a biggie for me. I wouldn't care if I gained a yard or not, as long as I don't lose yards (like I did with the R11s).

[nicsherman]

RookieBlue7, on 16 January 2012 - 03:22 PM, said:

The RBZ Tour isn't $300, if you know where to shop. They're $269.99 from the place I'll order from. Regardless, I like shiny new things, so it's not a biggie for me. I wouldn't care if I gained a yard or not, as long as I don't lose yards (like I did with the R11s).

Sounds good. Nothing wrong with shiny new things. I have a garage full of them.

[RoverRick]

That was a great review, full of useful information. If it were a GD Hot List review the only information we would have been given is the RBZ had the best feel and sound. It would have had the gold metal simply because it was Taylormade.

[MBrown15]

Thanks for the good work. I am happy with my R11 set up and am not sure a driver move is for me.

I do think the RBZ hybrid offers interesting choices. If it is as hot as the articles say, I may be able to use the 16* as my log fairway club and add a 24* - to do this I would remove my 3 wd R11 TP. Need to hit it first.

Also - I think your intent was to make the test as objective as possible (sorry to correct your use of the word). It looks like you were trying to make the only variable the club head, and let the numbers speak for themselves.

In any event thanks for a very imformative and useful post.

MWB

[GolfSpy T]

MBrown15, on 19 January 2012 - 12:30 PM, said:

Thanks for the good work. I am happy with my R11 set up and am not sure a driver move is for me.

I do think the RBZ hybrid offers interesting choices. If it is as hot as the articles say, I may be able to use the 16* as my log fairway club and add a 24* - to do this I would remove my 3 wd R11 TP. Need to hit it first.

Also - I think your intent was to make the test as objective as possible (sorry to correct your use of the word). It looks like you were trying to make the only variable the club head, and let the numbers speak for themselves.

In any event thanks for a very imformative and useful post.

MWB

Mike

Depending on one's perspective, I was either fortunate or unfortunate enough to hit most of the new TM lineup this week. We ran a bit short on time, so I didn't spend much time with the irons or wedges, and sadly, didn't get one swing in with the RBZ driver, but...

I did hit the R11S, RBZ Hybrid, and spent an exhaustive amount of time with the RBZ fairway.

I probably only got about a dozen swings in with the 19 degree hybrid, and I don't have any Trackman data for it, but... visually, the trajectory (when the club is reasonably well fit) is perfect, and it certainly "looks" long. The ball definitely rockets off the face. Whether one likes the name or thinks it's utterly stupid; RocketBallz is surprisingly appropriate.

[JimD]

RookieBlue7, on 16 January 2012 - 12:57 PM, said:

TAYLORMADE - R11 TP vs R11s vs RBZ

I just had the chance to hit, side by side, the R11s RBZ and my R11 TP. I hit them all with my Talamonti PD70 x so that there would be an established baseline and comparison of apples versus apples. The numbers were taken with a Vector Pro.

I warned up and hit my R11 TP 9* first to establish a baseline. I warmed up and took a 5 minute break. I then hit 15 balls each with 60 seconds between balls (timed everything to be as subjective as possible), and then a 5 minute break between clubs each time. I then went in reverse order after I was striking the ball well and after my warm-up, on the launch monitor, my numbers averages were as follows:

R11 TP 9 deg with Talamonti PD70 x at 44 7/8" GP NDMC midsize 16 toe, 4 heel asp set to N FCT set to std

SS: 115.2
Launch angle: 12.1
Back spin: 3255
Carry: 286.2 yards
Ball speed: 170.7
Smash factor: 1.482

Next up was the R11s 9 deg same shaft as above set to std, 16 toe, 4 heel (my weights so they're identical)
SS 115.1
Launch Angle 13.9
Back spin 3720
Carry 278.6
Ball speed 169.7
Smash factor: 1.475

RBZ Tour 9.5 FCT set to neutral same shaft
Swingspeed 115.3
Launch angle 11.8
Back spin 3455
Carry 289.4
Ball speed 171.6
Smash Factor 1.489

The flight with all 3 was a 5-7 yard draw. I wanted to test them as subjectively as possible is why I used the same shaft at the same setting at the same length. The lengths varied by 1/8" across the clubs, I'm assuming due to the depth of the head/bbtg measurements. Regardless, it's made my mind up as to what will be my next driver, and that's the RBZ tour. The control ball was a Srixon AD333 because of it being set up with the black line for the monitor. I'm sitting in the parking lot as I type so I don't forget anything or lose the paper I wrote everything down on, lol, cause I'm a true club ho'.

I begged to buy it and they wouldn't let me, lol. Offered him cash to lay it out back. No mas'. Oh well Feb can't get here quick enough. Oh, and R11s was quietest and the RBZ the loudest.

I'm pretty sure you meant to say "objective", not subjective.

[tiger168]

Thanks for sharing your experiences, RookieBlue7, I can feel the excitement in your writing.

I was just wondering whether there can be adjustment to the R11/R11S that could match closer to the RBZ spec, such as lower the launch angle and reduce spin rate as I thought maybe those are the factors for you to loose a full 11 yards.

Another question is what driver are you using now to prompt you to look for a new driver?

Again, thanks for sharing, RookieBlue7!! Maybe we should call you RocketRookieBlue7 from Feb and on!!!

tiger168

[RookieBlue7]

JimD, on 19 January 2012 - 01:08 PM, said:

I'm pretty sure you meant to say "objective", not subjective.

Nice first post, DB... Pretty sure I was writing this in the parking lot on a phone, and was in a hurry. I didn't know that proofreading was a requirement of this site. Thank you for trying to be management.

May I suggest a grammar forum, since you like attempting to try and analyze everything someone writes.




For those of you out there that are golf fans, and are interested in golf instead of a grammar lesson, I've got one more club I'm testing that will be here tomorrow. I bought it based on the fact that I've been told the van is building them 3:1 over any other driver in the TMag line-up. That is a T-stamp TMag Superfast 2.0 version 2 with an Aldila Phenom.

[RookieBlue7]

tiger168, on 19 January 2012 - 01:14 PM, said:

Thanks for sharing your experiences, RookieBlue7, I can feel the excitement in your writing.

I was just wondering whether there can be adjustment to the R11/R11S that could match closer to the RBZ spec, such as lower the launch angle and reduce spin rate as I thought maybe those are the factors for you to loose a full 11 yards.

Another question is what driver are you using now to prompt you to look for a new driver?

Again, thanks for sharing, RookieBlue7!! Maybe we should call you RocketRookieBlue7 from Feb and on!!!

tiger168

My current driver is the R11 TP, which I took in myself for the baseline. See the post directly above this one and you'll see I have another driver on the way to compare to the RBZ as well.

Also, my major excitement is over the RBZ Tour fairway. That's supposed to be the showstopper of the new line-up. A friend has already hit it and said the stock shaft is high launching and spinning. I have a friend going to the PGA show and he knows one of the TM reps. He's going to try to get them to build him one, and being as he and I have the same tastes in clubs and such, I'm excited for it to be over because I'm sure he'll let me hit the club when he gets back.

[fsav]

Good stuff I am wondering if you could help me out with the following:

I am not to savy with all the apecs fo the clubs so anything will do.

What is? GP NDMC midsize 16 toe, 4 hee

[RookieBlue7]

Golf Pride New Decade Multi Compound midsize grip is GPNDMC

16 toe 4 heel is weights and their locations. 16 grams in the toe, 4 grams in the heel. For optimization

[Blownfuse]

Nice review RB. When you say the RBZ was loud could you expand on how it sounds....