Fell in love with the RBZ and maybe more.

[llewol007]

Trapped myself into a situation where I did not have a Driver to take to the course. I have a M6 Head with no shaft and a SIM driver on the way. Decided to borrow my brothers RBZ Tour with its standard Motore 60 gram shaft in stiff flex. Most of what I swing now is in x flex. Went to the course with lesser expectations and low and behold, I had one of my best driving days in a good amount of time. The big take away for me, the stiffer flex made me get into a good position on top with a slower take away, the RBZ head had just as much oompf as what is being touted now, and the big one is trying out stiff shafts in my whole set up and play a Big Easy (Ernie Els) versus a JDay sorta swing. Any one else bring an older club out and realized it played better with it than the stuff you replaced it with. 

Edited October 30, 2020 by llewol007

[nitram]

That whole line including the RBZ 2's were solid. I still see several bags with RBZ drivers and fairways and the ones swinging them are not handicapping themselves from using them. 

 

As far as the swinging like "The Big Easy" and moving to more flexible shafts, it can be a huge change for the better. Congrats on the teachable moment and please  let us know how this works out in the long run. 

 

Maybe buy your brother a 12-pack for letting you borrow his driver. 🍻

[llewol007]

4 minutes ago, nitram said:

That whole line including the RBZ 2's were solid. I still see several bags with RBZ drivers and fairways and the ones swinging them are not handicapping themselves from using them. 

 

As far as the swinging like "The Big Easy" and moving to more flexible shafts, it can be a huge change for the better. Congrats on the teachable moment and please  let us know how this works out in the long run. 

 

Maybe buy your brother a 12-pack for letting you borrow his driver. 🍻

I was gonna lie to him and tell him I snapped the shaft. 😂 He is not a big driver fan anyways so I will probably replace it with something else I find on the BST. Softer shafts to me feel like I can control my flight that much better. Ive got 105x in my Mizuno's now. Im on the hunt for some Mp4's with a stiff offering. Like Rick shields said, most people cant tell shaft flex anyways. 

[nitram]

I know you've heard the old saying "swing the softest flex you can control". I'm to the point I'm in between x and a tipped S, depending on what brand.

[Dr. Block]

My throwback workhorse is a Taylormade R9 Supertri with a Fujikura Speeder 757 evo in S flex.

 

I've been going back to that club at different points for many years now. Sometimes a club just works.

Edited October 30, 2020 by Dr. Block

[Roody]

18 minutes ago, Dr. Block said:

My throwback workhorse is a Taylormade R9 Supertri with a Fujikura Speeder 757 evo in S flex.

 

I've been going back to that club at different points ever since I got it.  Sometimes a club just works.

 

Same here, except different shaft. It's part of my backup set which doesn't come out of the basement except for times when my main set is being ShipSticks-ed to our vacation destination a few days ahead of when we actually leave. 

[MtlJeff]

The other day i was wishing i still had my Dymo2 ....I miss that thing. 

 

I rarely keep my old drivers. 

[DArnie]

Still playing my RBZ Stage2 3 & 5 wds. Can't find anything better for now.

[cardoustie]

The first version RBZ fairways ... lime colour ... were awesome

[naval2006]

I bag an RBZ 3 wood that I hit like a charm and a Ping G15 17 hybrid that I’m not planning to change. I love it when you find your clubs, I feel like one less problem to solve on the course 

[RSinSG]

12 hours ago, cardoustie said:

The first version RBZ fairways ... lime colour ... were awesome

Yup. I had a 3w with a stock stiff shaft that I used for a couple of years and to this day it’s one of the best clubs I’ve owned. It was so ugly though.

[pinestreetgolf]

19 hours ago, llewol007 said:

Trapped myself into a situation where I did not have a Driver to take to the course. I have a M6 Head with no shaft and a SIM driver on the way. Decided to borrow my brothers RBZ Tour with its standard Motore 60 gram shaft in stiff flex. Most of what I swing now is in x flex. Went to the course with lesser expectations and low and behold, I had one of my best driving days in a good amount of time. The big take away for me, the stiffer flex made me get into a good position on top with a slower take away, the RBZ head had just as much oompf as what is being touted now, and the big one is trying out stiff shafts in my whole set up and play a Big Easy (Ernie Els) versus a JDay sorta swing. Any one else bring an older club out and realized it played better with it than the stuff you replaced it with. 

 

So if I understand this post correctly, it was one day?  A stiffer flex doesn't make you "get into a good position at the top", and, quite frankly, unless you were video'ing yourself during a round you have no idea where you were.  You can't correctly feel where you are while you are swinging a club in 1.25 seconds.  Its impossible.

 

You happened to be swinging really well while holding the RBZ driver.  Its not a talisman of good driving.  Game the SIM.  This is like telling me it started raining once while you were holding your hose so you are going to use that instead of your automated sprinkler system.

[llewol007]

5 hours ago, pinestreetgolf said:

 

So if I understand this post correctly, it was one day?  A stiffer flex doesn't make you "get into a good position at the top", and, quite frankly, unless you were video'ing yourself during a round you have no idea where you were.  You can't correctly feel where you are while you are swinging a club in 1.25 seconds.  Its impossible.

 

You happened to be swinging really well while holding the RBZ driver.  Its not a talisman of good driving.  Game the SIM.  This is like telling me it started raining once while you were holding your hose so you are going to use that instead of your automated sprinkler system.

I have no video so all I can go by is what I feel. You have a point where I probably don’t know exactly where I am in the swing but I’m betting I have an inside perspective on my swing. 

[pinestreetgolf]

21 hours ago, llewol007 said:

but I’m betting I have an inside perspective on my swing. 

 

You don't.  Video yourself it is extremely easy to clip a cell phone to your bag and get a video.  If the club is in a better spot, by all means game it.  I am willing to bet quite a bit the club is in exactly the same spot (what in the world would shaft flex have to do with the top of your backswing?!) and you had good timing that day.

 

Game the SIM man.  Its a much better club and you have a tiny data set.

[bladehunter]

I have a Rbz tour 14 with addi in the bag now.  Hands down top 3 wood combo I’ve ever touched.  It’s miles better than the sim line or the m5.  

[cardoustie]

The tour issue 4 woods still command the $$$

[GBBM]

My cousin still bombs the RbZ Tour a mile. The worse the sound the farther it goes!

 

Seems as though this particular shaft is a good fit for OP and not sure why people seem to determined to argue otherwise. 

[bladehunter]

8 minutes ago, GBBM said:

My cousin still bombs the RbZ Tour a mile. The worse the sound the farther it goes!

 

Seems as though this particular shaft is a good fit for OP and not sure why people seem to determined to argue otherwise. 

Some folks need to justify their new purchase.  Truth is certain clubs are that universally good.  The Rbz line is one of those.  Even though it had the rocketballzier marketing campaign.  
 

Another example is the 915 titleist line. Those 3 woods are not equaled by many. 

Edited November 2, 2020 by bladehunter

[GBBM]

I remember the summer of 2012 well. Everyone had an RBZ something or other. 

[Valtiel]

10 hours ago, pinestreetgolf said:

 

You don't.  Video yourself it is extremely easy to clip a cell phone to your bag and get a video.  If the club is in a better spot, by all means game it.  I am willing to bet quite a bit the club is in exactly the same spot (what in the world would shaft flex have to do with the top of your backswing?!) and you had good timing that day.

 

Game the SIM man.  Its a much better club and you have a tiny data set.

I took what the OP meant as he consciously slowed down and held back a little bit due to using a softer shart than he was used to and that had the effect of feeling like he was getting in a better position. I imagine lots of people overswing when they have a shaft that is too stiff, and it's not exactly unusual for someone that swings too hard to experience better results when they dial it back. DIsmissing what the OP experienced completely would be foolish IMO, because something was obviously different and it's worth figuring out what that something was. It could simply be that swing/tempo adjustment that can easily be carried over to your gamer driver, or maybe a feel thing related to the weight of the driver. It is worth experimenting with regardless, because the worst case scenario is that he learns it was just a particularly good day and even that is still useful. 

@llewol007, if I was in your shoes I would snag one of those Motores on Ebay for cheap, proclubs as the Motore F3 60s if that is the one you're referring to for $54 new. Slap a current TM adaptor on there and have it built to the same length as the one in the RBZ. Check that the graphics line up as well since the Motore shaft in the RBZ may or may not be tipped. Then if you want to really match it up, weigh the RBZ head by itself as well as your SIM and make whatever adjustments you need to match the headweight of the SIM to the RBZ (plenty of aftermarket weights available for the SIM). With that, you will have something that should feel pretty much exactly the same, just with your SIM head. Take the same approach to swinging the SIM as the RBZ and see what carries over. You should be out less than $100 for the whole experiment and you may learn some valuable since there could be multiple variables at play here. 

[llewol007]

1 hour ago, Valtiel said:

I took what the OP meant as he consciously slowed down and held back a little bit due to using a softer shart than he was used to and that had the effect of feeling like he was getting in a better position. I imagine lots of people overswing when they have a shaft that is too stiff, and it's not exactly unusual for someone that swings too hard to experience better results when they dial it back. DIsmissing what the OP experienced completely would be foolish IMO, because something was obviously different and it's worth figuring out what that something was. It could simply be that swing/tempo adjustment that can easily be carried over to your gamer driver, or maybe a feel thing related to the weight of the driver. It is worth experimenting with regardless, because the worst case scenario is that he learns it was just a particularly good day and even that is still useful. 

@llewol007, if I was in your shoes I would snag one of those Motores on Ebay for cheap, proclubs as the Motore F3 60s if that is the one you're referring to for $54 new. Slap a current TM adaptor on there and have it built to the same length as the one in the RBZ. Check that the graphics line up as well since the Motore shaft in the RBZ may or may not be tipped. Then if you want to really match it up, weigh the RBZ head by itself as well as your SIM and make whatever adjustments you need to match the headweight of the SIM to the RBZ (plenty of aftermarket weights available for the SIM). With that, you will have something that should feel pretty much exactly the same, just with your SIM head. Take the same approach to swinging the SIM as the RBZ and see what carries over. You should be out less than $100 for the whole experiment and you may learn some valuable since there could be multiple variables at play here. 

I appreciate the input. Ive been a follower of all things Taylormade for the longest time and believe me, it is not just about getting the latest and greatest anymore. I love testing clubs out specially when there is some new break through. Remember the RBZ was promising an extra 13 yards or so of added difference when it first popped up. Then there was the SLDR with it lower COG that had a nice roll after it hit the ground that picked up an extra 10+ yards, the sliding weights, twist face technology. Higher MOI. It is all out there. I was not saying Im not buying into the SIM and what it can offer. I just mentioned that I had a moment where a club that was over 10 years old actually performed really well and made me content with staying with it. And to say that the shaft being stiff rather than x stiff might have caused some to want me to post a video, or back up my theory of how slowing down my swing or my position at the top can actually make me swing better. With the stiff shaft, I didnt feel the need to get to the top as quick and have a forceful transition that I would usually feel to get an X flex to perform in the same manner. At the end of the day, for me it did make me think more about really putting a bag together of clubs that delivered versus hoping the latest and greatest will. I am in search of putting together what works now and testing out some steelfiber and recoils again since Im noticing this older body cant keep up with steel as much either. It will be a constant work in progress and you will see my WITB change moving forward and that is the fun part. 

[Valtiel]

2 minutes ago, llewol007 said:

I appreciate the input. Ive been a follower of all things Taylormade for the longest time and believe me, it is not just about getting the latest and greatest anymore. I love testing clubs out specially when there is some new break through. Remember the RBZ was promising an extra 13 yards or so of added difference when it first popped up. Then there was the SLDR with it lower COG that had a nice roll after it hit the ground that picked up an extra 10+ yards, the sliding weights, twist face technology. Higher MOI. It is all out there. I was not saying Im not buying into the SIM and what it can offer. I just mentioned that I had a moment where a club that was over 10 years old actually performed really well and made me content with staying with it. And to say that the shaft being stiff rather than x stiff might have caused some to want me to post a video, or back up my theory of how slowing down my swing or my position at the top can actually make me swing better. With the stiff shaft, I didnt feel the need to get to the top as quick and have a forceful transition that I would usually feel to get an X flex to perform in the same manner. At the end of the day, for me it did make me think more about really putting a bag together of clubs that delivered versus hoping the latest and greatest will. I am in search of putting together what works now and testing out some steelfiber and recoils again since Im noticing this older body cant keep up with steel as much either. It will be a constant work in progress and you will see my WITB change moving forward and that is the fun part. 

While the RBZ can certainly still perform, I wouldn't necessarily go as far as to turn this into a new vs. old thing. You swung smoother and better as a byproduct of not feeling like you needed to work to load the club, I think everything else including the head is probably unrelated. Therefore, just like I actually suggested in that 983k thread from earlier today, take the thing that was the catalyst for the positive change and apply that to the new driver, because better swings are better swings, and technology/design has advanced a good amount since the RBZ so there is no reason you can't reap those benefits too. 

[Jonesy]

I still have an RBZ tour driver floating around in the backup bag, might have to bring it out again, still remember hitting some absolute monsters with it.

 

The RBZ Tour 5 wood is a permanent fixture in my bag, love that thing.

[pinestreetgolf]

13 hours ago, llewol007 said:

I appreciate the input. Ive been a follower of all things Taylormade for the longest time and believe me, it is not just about getting the latest and greatest anymore. I love testing clubs out specially when there is some new break through. Remember the RBZ was promising an extra 13 yards or so of added difference when it first popped up. Then there was the SLDR with it lower COG that had a nice roll after it hit the ground that picked up an extra 10+ yards, the sliding weights, twist face technology. Higher MOI. It is all out there. I was not saying Im not buying into the SIM and what it can offer. I just mentioned that I had a moment where a club that was over 10 years old actually performed really well and made me content with staying with it. And to say that the shaft being stiff rather than x stiff might have caused some to want me to post a video, or back up my theory of how slowing down my swing or my position at the top can actually make me swing better. With the stiff shaft, I didnt feel the need to get to the top as quick and have a forceful transition that I would usually feel to get an X flex to perform in the same manner. At the end of the day, for me it did make me think more about really putting a bag together of clubs that delivered versus hoping the latest and greatest will. I am in search of putting together what works now and testing out some steelfiber and recoils again since Im noticing this older body cant keep up with steel as much either. It will be a constant work in progress and you will see my WITB change moving forward and that is the fun part. 

hey, I hear you.  I play irons from 2013. There is nothing wrong with old equipment. However a lot of golfers can reach conclusions based on very small data sets.  Without video or a lot of sessions it’s hard to know what’s actually going on IMO, but that’s only IMO.

[llewol007]

1 minute ago, pinestreetgolf said:

hey, I hear you.  I play irons from 2013. There is nothing wrong with old equipment. However a lot of golfers can reach conclusions based on very small data sets.  Without video or a lot of sessions it’s hard to know what’s actually going on IMO, but that’s only IMO.

Probably correct. Gonna do more testing out and apply the same approach with some stiffer shafts that I have and see if there is anything to it. The RBZ head was a favorite of mine for quite a while until the whole SLDR campaign came on.