TaylorMade RocketBallz Stage 2 Driver Review

Good afternoon everyone, and thanks for stopping by.  We’ve got another independent review of the new 2013 offering from Taylormade up next – the RocketBallz Stage 2 Driver. This new driver is said to be a leg up on the original Rocketballz, but we’ll let our reviewer take a closer look.  Enjoy! Look TaylorMade made …

Good afternoon everyone, and thanks for stopping by.  We’ve got another independent review of the new 2013 offering from Taylormade up next – the RocketBallz Stage 2 Driver. This new driver is said to be a leg up on the original Rocketballz, but we’ll let our reviewer take a closer look.  Enjoy!

Look

taylormade-rocketballz-stage-2-tour-driver TaylorMade made their original RocketBallz clubs RocketBallzier with the release of the Stage 2 line.  The updated appearance features a yellow and gray color scheme on top of the white club head with black club face and sole.  The 460 cc club head looks easy to hit at address with a similar design as the previous RocketBallz driver.  In addition, TaylorMade positioned a weight behind the club face to lower the CG, promote faster ball speeds with a higher launch and low spin.  The TaylorMade Loft-Sleeve offers 7 standard and 5 upright loft options where golfers can alter add or decrease 1.5 degrees of loft.  The trendy line is a nice update from the original RocketBallz line but overall the club looks very similar to the original.

 

Performance 

I tested the TaylorMade Stage 2 driver in the 9.5 degree stock Fujikura RocketFuel shaft in stiff flex.  Results yielded a high ball flight, exactly what the club and light weight shaft is designed to do.  I tried the Stage 2 driver on a number of occasions and never found consistent results similar to the original RocketBallz driver.  If the original RocketBallz driver was in my bag, I probably would not make the upgrade.  Solid hits produced good distance with a fairly straight and high ball flight.  Misses produced a higher ball flight that tended to drift to the right.  Personally, I preferred the Stage 2 over the R1.  However, the Stage 2 fell short of my expectations overall.

 

Feel

Impact felt really nice and produced a louder sound (than the R1) with very soft club face.  The softer impact sensation feels like the ball springs off the club face.  The ultra light shaft is designed to promote faster swing speed, and definitely helps with feeling that sensation.

The Stage 2 driver features a D6 swing weight with a lightweight Fujikura RocketFuel shaft that weighs 51 grams with 4.5 degrees of torque.  The lighter shaft makes it easy to feel the club head throughout the swing.  The RocketBallz Stage 2 driver feels great throughout the swing and impact – and I was a big fan.

 

Value

The TaylorMade Stage 2 driver retails for a standard $299 price.  In my opinion, the driver was more consistent and felt better than the R1 driver, so Taylormade has a win on that front.  However, in comparison to other models, like the original RBZ, I felt this club was sort of a let down.  The Stage 2 driver is definitely worth a try, and at only a $299 pricetag will get you pretty solid results for a low price.