This WhatTheDeuce 2008 gear guide for TaylorMade is going to be vastly different than what we’ve done so far. We can’t really delve into new for ‘08 equipment because, well, with a couple of very notable exceptions (and we’ll cover those) TaylorMade hasn’t announced much of anything new.

It’s not that the engineers at TaylorMade are taking some time off, instead we’re up against a TaylorMade product release schedule that seems to have slipped from industry norms (fall vs spring), and which probably accounts for the company being a no show at this year’s PGA show in Orlando.

TaylorMade did release some new toys early last fall which we’ll be covered briefly, but we’ll also use the comparative lack of information to speculate about the products we think we’ll see announced by the company before the 2008 season is over.

Drivers

Nobody, and I mean nobody makes more drivers than TaylorMade. Don’t believe me? Let me run down the list of what can be considered current models:

• Burner
• Burner TP
• Burner Draw
• R7 SuperQuad
• R7 SuperQuad TP
• R7 CGB Max
• R7 CGB Max Limited

There you have it, 7 distinct drivers. While it could be argued that the Burner, Burner TP, and Burner Draw are essentially the same club, I think there’s enough difference (shaft weight, face angle at address, internal weighting, etc.) for them to be considered unique clubs. The same holds true of the SuperQuad series. The just announced R7 CGB Max Limited is vastly different from the standard CGB Max.

I tried the Burner last spring and really liked it. It’s a great driver with an elongated, bullet-shaped head; well worth a look for someone looking for something not quite traditional, but not willing to jump to a square, or triangular driver. Off all the drivers I hit last April (and I hit a bunch of them), the Burner was the longest - an absolute bomber. Last fall’s introduction of a Draw model for those who struggle with a slice filled the last remaining hole in the Burner lineup.

The R7 SuperQuad, released last Spring, is the driver I carry. I gave a lot of thought to the Tour Model, but in the end the slightly closed face, and an upgrade to Aldila VS Proto shaft was about the same cost as the Tour Model with the stock shaft. For the me, the upgraded standard model was the way to go. It’s a beautiful looking club with a pleasant sound and great feel. I haven’t had a second of regret since adding it to my bag.

Last fall saw the release of the R7 CGB Max. The tri-weighted, triangular-shaped CGB Max was TaylorMade’s first model with a truly non-conventional footprint. The triangular head shape allowed TaylorMade to push the center of gravity exceptionally far back in head.

The three movable weights allow the golfer to vary trajectory by up to 35 yard from a slight fade, to a large draw. In short, the CGB Max is a high MOI club designed to help fight the slice.

As with most, if not all, of the clubs in the CGB lineup, the CGB Max driver is designed for golfers with swings speeds below 90 MPH.

TaylorMade has a made one, and only one, driver announcement for 2008. If you’re only announcing one club, when competitor Callaway is announcing about 700 or so (a bit of hyperbole never hurt), you better make that one count. In my estimation, the new R7 CGB Max Limited or “Tour Van in a Box” as it’s being called, makes about a big a splash as one can make (if you’re only throwing one club into the pond).

The primary feature of the CGB Max Limited, is the ability to change the driver’s shaft in a matter of seconds. If you’ve ever been fitted using a TaylorMade FitCart you’ve seen this type of technology at work. Now you have the option to bring it home with you.

The CGB Max Limited head is entirely new design. It features the 3 movable weights of the original CGB Max driver, but with a head that’s more conventionally shaped; closer to that of the SuperQuad. The clubhead, along with the interchangeability system looks like a real winner to me; although one that’s admittedly more than the average golf needs, and maybe even wants.

Unlike Callaway, who, with their I-Mix System, include only a single shaft in the package, TaylorMade has chosen to include 3 shafts. The shafts have different weights (55g, 65g, and 75g), and each of the three produce distinct launch conditions. If I were spending someone else’s money, I’d buy the R7 CGB Max Limited in a heart beat, but…

The money I spend is my own, and I’ve got real doubts about a 3 shaft package where I don’t have any real say in any of the 3 shafts. The 55g Matrix Ozik Xcon, and the 65g Diamana Whiteboard are both very solid options (I’ve never been a big fan of the Rombax that’s been the stock option on recent TaylorMade drivers), but I’m not sure I’d choose either, both, and definitely not all three, if I had the option to build my own kit.

It feels like one hell of a contradiction to me promote your custom fitting system, and then offer a “system” with no real regard to custom fitting. I believe, however; that the guys at TaylorMade know as much and that the CGB Max Limited, will prove to be just that - a limited set which could end up holding more value to collectors than for actual golfers. I suspect that by mid-season we’ll be seeing a single-head/single-shaft, buy the rest as you see fit option, similar to what Callaway is offering with the I-Mix system.

What remains to be seen is whether or not the Tour Van in a Box concept spreads to the Burner lineup. My gut says no. My thinking (which could be wrong), is that the demand for the flexibility of interchangeable shafts will be limited to the best golfers among us, or guys like me who don’t mind letting their unnatural love for golf equipment, and tinkering in general, to be overpowered by an obviously lack of skill, good judgment and fiscal responsibility. Incidentally, those guys I just described are the guys that are mostly playing SuperQuads right now. I’m just not sure how much demand there is for a Burner model within the interchangeability crowd.

Take my thoughts with a grain of salt though. If it turns out production costs are a wash, there isn’t any reason not to make all heads interchangeable. Assuming future models use the same fittings, and you can use today’s heads with tomorrow’s shafts, or vise-versa, systems like the CGB Max Limited could be a boon for manufacturers, retailers, and consumers.

Anyway…for the sake of this excersize, let’s put the $1000 R7 CGB Max Limited set in my bag.

Fairway Woods

Last fall saw the release of the CGB Max (all Titanium head) fairway wood, which joined the Burner and Burner TP designs in the TaylorMade lineup.

With no new designs announced, I can only speculate what TaylorMade might be announcing in the next few months. My best guess is a mostly-conventionally shaped head, very much a baby brother to the SuperQuad. High MOI, low center of gravity, two movable weight ports (instead of 4) ; in short all the things I’d love to see in a TaylorMade Fairway wood. If I were a betting man, I’d put my money on interchangeable shafts as well.

Again…it’s all speculation. But I’m willing to buy two of my mythical new TaylorMade Fairway Woods at $299 each.

Hybrids

TaylorMade’s Burner Rescue and Rescue TP were both announced in 2007. I’ve been somewhat disappointed by the 2nd and 3rd generations hybrid clubs from TaylorMade. They’re not terrible clubs, but there’s at least a half a dozen others I like better.

For 2008, but guess (and again, I’m only guessing here) is a hybrid that slips in between the over-sized burner, and the tour spec TP. Movable weights are a possibility, but not nearly as likely as they are in a fairway model. If I get my way, the new hybrid gets the same paint job as the SuperQuad (reason enough to at least try any club). I’m also betting on interchangeable shafts as well, although with fewer options than the fairway and driver models.

At $199 I’ll have room in my bag for at least one of the fantasy TaylorMade hybrids.

Irons

Late 2007 saw the release of the Burner XD iron, and R7 CGB and the R7. The Burner XD fills the void left by the RAC OS in the game improvement category. The CGB irons are targeted and players with slower swing speeds, and judging by cost; fatter wallets.

My prediction is that there won’t be any new mens irons in 2008 from TaylorMade. The lineup is essentially complete. The Burner XD fills the game improvement niche exceptionally well. The R7 bridges the gap between the entry level XDs and the way-low handicapper’s R7 tour. The CGB Max is almost superfluous, but I suppose there is some demand for a club designed especially for slow swingers.

I suppose I wouldn’t be shocked if we saw a mixed-hybrid set (similar to the Adams a3, or the Mizuno MX-950) from TaylorMade. I would be astounded to see a full blown hybrid set along the lines of the Cleveland HiBore Irons, or Callaway’s I-brid.

For the sake of filling my bag, I’ll happily grab a set of R7 irons.

Wedges

The RAC, and RAC TP models remain current. With other manufacturers creating clubs with different sole grinds (the C-Grind we’ve seen from Callaway, Mizuno, and others), it wouldn’t surprise me to see TaylorMade release a wedge with a similar design. I don’t expect a 64° offering from TaylorMade.

Putters

Not to be forgotten (I use that introduction because I nearly forgot about them) are TaylorMade’s Rossa lineup of putters. Whatever shape you prefer; blade, mallet, movable weights, no weights, TaylorMade has got you covered. Although the newly announced Rossa Monza Spider, which looks more like something out of StarTrek than it does a putter, is worth taking a few strokes with for curiosity’s sake alone.

The one feature common to the entire lineup is the AGSI+ insert. The AGSI+ insert is designed to create forward roll as soon as possible by reducing the amount of skipping and bouncing that occurs after impact. The reduction in backspin (and all the afore mentioned nasty things that happen because of it), according to TaylorMade, delivers a putt with “optimum speed control and directional stability”.

There’s a video on the TaylorMade site with footage from an event where TaylorMade had golfers bring their putters in. The TaylorMade guys affixed the AGSI+ insert over the tester’s putters and compared the results to the same putters sans insert. As you might expect from any marketing video, the results proved that the insert works.

What TaylorMade is doing with the AGSI+ insert is not unique. Rife, Yes, and several other manufacturers feature putters with similar technology (both with and without inserts); and that’s because it really does get the ball rolling more quickly.

As with any club, it comes down to feel, and there are some who just don’t like the feel of an insert. Let me say this: Nearly 5 years ago I bought the original Rossa Monza putter with the 1st generation AGSI insert. Since that time I’ve bought 2 new putters, and tried hundreds (literally) more in an attempt to upgrade my Monza. Try as I may to avoid it, I keep coming back to the Monza (it’s what’s in my bag today), and the next time I try and replace it, I’m going to give a lot of consideration to picking up another Rossa. I’ve yet to find a putter that works better…for me anyway.

Balls

Joining the Tour Van in a Box as TaylorMade’s only other significant product announcement (I don’t consider a complete Olympic commemorative set a significant announcement) are 4 new golf ball designs. All 4 feature TaylorMade’s new low-drag performance (LDP), because, none of us really want our balls dragging.

Brand new for 2008 are the Burner and Burner TP balls. The Burner is a 2-piece ball distance ball with a soft feel. As I mentioned, it features LDP, which basically means it has a varied dimple patterns, symmetrically placed, in order to maintain lift on low-spin, off-center hits.

TaylorMade is billing the Burner as both soft and durable, which is a tough combination to come by.

The Burner TP is a 3-piece ball. The dimple pattern differs from the standard model (342 vs. 360). It’s being billed as a bomber’s ball with a softer feel. TaylorMade also claims the Burner TP spins well around the greens.

Back and better than ever in 08 are the TaylorMade TP Red and TP Black golf balls. In case the price tag doesn’t clue you in, the TP Red & Black are premium golf balls that provide tour-level performance. They are, in short, TaylorMade’s answer to the Callaway I and IX, Nike One series, and of course, Titleist’s Pro V1 and Pro V1x.

The TP Red features a 4-piece, multi-layer construction that’s 15% softer than the original. It’s 360-dimple LDP configuration limits drag, and increases hang time even under the windiest of conditions.

It’s “next generation core” features TaylorMade’s NdV4 technology, which yields both a higher COR, and softer feel, which of course, translates to higher ball speed, and more yards off the tee.

The TP Black is a 3-piece ball, which like the Red features 360-dimple LDP performance.

I tried both the Black and Red last year, and liked them both quite a lot. The design of the red promotes a lower launch angle and produces more driver spin than the black. Conversely, the black will get up in the air a little easier, and spin a bit less than the Red. A recent Golf Magazine test showed the new TP Black to be among the longest balls on the market today.

For those trying to make comparisons, the Red is higher spin, control ball similar to the Pro V1, One Platinum and Callaway Tour I. The Black is a lower spin, distance ball which can be can be compared to the Pro V1x, One Black, and Callaway Tour IX.

Bags

TaylorMade has some great looking bags due out in ‘08. Unfortunately, it looks like a severe case of form over function. Any time your feature list includes “Sonic welded TaylorMade logos”, you’ve maybe left something more important out of the design.

The TMX Stand bag is a great looking bag. It’s got many of the features you’d expect in a modern golf bag (umbrella holder, insulated water bottle holder, rainhood), however; with a meager 8-way top, only 4 zippered pockets, and zero innovation in the stand system itself, there isn’t a whole lot about this bag to get excited about.

Still, if you’re in the market for a great looking bag, with basic features, the TMX stand bag certainly fits the bill.

Final Thoughts

While some may be disappointed with the seeming lack of new products from TaylorMade, I’m actually very happy with the current lineup - although their current Hybrid offerings leave me wanting something else. The only driver hitting the market in 08 I’d consider trading my SuperQuad for is the CGB Max Limited. I’d also like to see how this interchangeable shaft thing shakes out before I buy new fairway woods. My feeling is that golfers waiting until mid-to-late season to purchase new woods will have their patience rewarded with a plethora of options not available this Spring.

I’m also giving credit TaylorMade for sticking to it’s guns, and reiterating its assertion that Square clubheads are a fad. I’m not sure I completely agree, but then again I don’t disagree either. My feeling is that they’ll be come more niche than mainstream. I haven’t made up my mind about the Titleist (and now TaylorMade), triangular approach to MOI.

It really is a great time to be a gear junkie, and I suspect that by mid-season, TaylorMade’s products are going to be one of the biggest reasons for that.

Share This Post