Taylormade Explosion?

[jagnole26]

I have a question to ask to all you passinate golf fans out there. There may not be a single reason, but why has Taylormade released so many clubs, especially in the past year? From the R1, RBZ stage 2, R1 black, SLDR, JetSpeed, speedblades etc. If anyone has any clue to why this is i would just love to know. I know TM is known to release clubs more often than the more low key (but still amazing) brands like titleist, but this seems to be more than i have seen in quite a while.Any suggestions are appreciated!

[saevel25]

I have a question to ask to all you passinate golf fans out there. There may not be a single reason, but why has Taylormade released so many clubs, especially in the past year? From the R1, RBZ stage 2, R1 black, SLDR, JetSpeed, speedblades etc. If anyone has any clue to why this is i would just love to know. I know TM is known to release clubs more often than the more low key (but still amazing) brands like titleist, but this seems to be more than i have seen in quite a while.Any suggestions are appreciated!

It goes back to a video I watched, it was an interview with a R&D; guy from Mizuno. He said they do incremental changes every 2 years. That is why you get the two years gaps between irons. Titleist does this with the 710 to the 712, and now the 714.

Well, he also talked about how they have other projects that take many years to design, and they will introduce something completely different on the market outside of the standard intervals.

Now, Taylormade tends to get a new iron sets out each year. That is their incremental change. Now I think the SLDR driver is their big R&D; type of thing that falls in outside the standard new equipment timeline.

For Taylormade this can seem alot, but it is because they are a yearly increment, not two years.

[Stretch]

I read somewhere that TM has launched 11 new drivers since Feb. 2012. And they completely dominate that segment of the market -- so bizarre as it seems, it seems to work.

[mvmac]

I have a question to ask to all you passinate golf fans out there. There may not be a single reason, but why has Taylormade released so many clubs, especially in the past year? From the R1, RBZ stage 2, R1 black, SLDR, JetSpeed, speedblades etc. If anyone has any clue to why this is i would just love to know. I know TM is known to release clubs more often than the more low key (but still amazing) brands like titleist, but this seems to be more than i have seen in quite a while.Any suggestions are appreciated!

The R1 driver wasn't a "success" for TaylorMade.  Compared to other driver releases it didn't sell as well.  Then TMAG decided to go back to black .  When Callaway came out with the Optiforce driver TMAG wanted to steal the spotlight so they released the SLDR.  Not my opinion, just what I've heard from people in the business.  The rivalry between TMAG and Callaway is still strong, even though TMAG is by far #1.

The JetFuel will be replacing the RBZ line.  TMAG has two lines, their premium line (R1, SLDR, Tour Preferred irons) and their competitive price point/more techy line (RBZ, Burner).  I have a feeling the SLDR was a bit of a rush job due to the R1 not doing so well (they didn't have new SLDR bags for the tour players when they released it) and a reaction to combat Callaway's driver.  Yes it's odd to release two flagship drivers in one year but I think the JetFuel was coming out this time of year anyway.

I read somewhere that TM has launched 11 new drivers since Feb. 2012. And they completely dominate that segment of the market -- so bizarre as it seems, it seems to work.

Off the top of my head.  R11s, RBZ Stage 2, R1, R1 Black, SLDR, JetFuel.  Maybe what you read counted a Tour version or something.

[jagnole26]

Great suggestions. i figured they would release a driver pretty soon after the r1 sales dropped. i didnt know the driver came out b4 the bags... taylormade r&d; must be making some bank!

[jagnole26]

Also does the r1 offer anything the r11s cant do? If so, whats the difference? Why would tmag expect consumers to buy the r1 if they have an r11s?

[14ledo81]

Also does the r1 offer anything the r11s cant do? If so, whats the difference? Why would tmag expect consumers to buy the r1 if they have an r11s?

Sure...it has a "hotter" face so you gain 9-11 yards.

[MiniBlueDragon]

Quote:

Originally Posted by jagnole26

Also does the r1 offer anything the r11s cant do? If so, whats the difference? Why would tmag expect consumers to buy the r1 if they have an r11s?

Sure...it has a "hotter" face so you gain 9-11 yards.

The face can only ever be a certain level of "hot" though due to the coefficient of restitution rules created by the USGA though. The ball cannot come off the face any "hotter" than 83% of the transfer of the energy of the club head. I've always wondered where these "hotter" faces get their extra yardage.

[jamo]

The face can only ever be a certain level of "hot" though due to the coefficient of restitution rules created by the USGA though. The ball cannot come off the face any "hotter" than 83% of the transfer of the energy of the club head. I've always wondered where these "hotter" faces get their extra yardage.

It can make sense with clubs that aren't drivers. Most other clubs don't hit the 83% number.

[MiniBlueDragon]

It can make sense with clubs that aren't drivers. Most other clubs don't hit the 83% number.

Yep agreed jamo; I should have clarified that my reply was in relation to the question and answer:

Quote:

Originally Posted by jagnole26

Also does the r1 offer anything the r11s cant do? If so, whats the difference? Why would tmag expect consumers to buy the r1 if they have an r11s?

Sure...it has a "hotter" face so you gain 9-11 yards.

and not club faces in general. :)

[saevel25]

Yep, when buying a new driver its all about optimizing the launch conditions. All drivers are near or at .830

[mvmac]

Also does the r1 offer anything the r11s cant do? If so, whats the difference? Why would tmag expect consumers to buy the r1 if they have an r11s?

The dial thing on the sole for adjusting face angle.  Which really only works if you rest your driver on the ground.

TMAG does want to golfers to go from the R11s to the R1 but they know a majority of golfers don't buy new drivers every year.  Their numbers tell them it's every three years.  So they offer something new every year when the guys still playing the Burner or R9 are ready for a new club.

[jamo]

Yep agreed jamo; I should have clarified that my reply was in relation to the question and answer:

You're fine, I was just adding to your post. My post might have come off as a bit hasty or dismissive since I was on my phone. As for TaylorMade, I imagine "because they can" is a big part of it. They've got Adidas money behind them and the best sales number in the game, I'm sure they're R&D; department is flush with cash. If that's the case, why not throw everything at the wall and hope some of it sticks? If you don't like the SLDR or JetSpeed (neither of which I particularly care for at first glance), it's not like you can't find the R1 or RBZ.

[saevel25]

I read somewhere that TM has launched 11 new drivers since Feb. 2012. And they completely dominate that segment of the market -- so bizarre as it seems, it seems to work.

Well I am not sure if it is 11 different type of drivers. Taylormade does offer a R1 and a R1 TP. Basically a R1 with better golf shaft options. So a lot of drivers have two version of each, but they really are the same driver head.

[newtogolf]

The R1 driver wasn't a "success" for TaylorMade.  Compared to other driver releases it didn't sell as well.  Then TMAG decided to go back to black .  When Callaway came out with the Optiforce driver TMAG wanted to steal the spotlight so they released the SLDR.  Not my opinion, just what I've heard from people in the business.  The rivalry between TMAG and Callaway is still strong, even though TMAG is by far #1.

The JetFuel will be replacing the RBZ line.  TMAG has two lines, their premium line (R1, SLDR, Tour Preferred irons) and their competitive price point/more techy line (RBZ, Burner).  I have a feeling the SLDR was a bit of a rush job due to the R1 not doing so well (they didn't have new SLDR bags for the tour players when they released it) and a reaction to combat Callaway's driver.  Yes it's odd to release two flagship drivers in one year but I think the JetFuel was coming out this time of year anyway.

Off the top of my head.  R11s, RBZ Stage 2, R1, R1 Black, SLDR, JetFuel.  Maybe what you read counted a Tour version or something.

They released two Tour versions of the R1, one was a limited release (1000) with a premium shaft that cost close to $1000.

[M2R]

The USGA no longer uses COR, the new measurement is CT, the units are time. The magic number is now 257 (or 239).

The characteristic time of the clubhead shall not be greater than 239 μs. A maximum test tolerance of 18 μs is associated with this test.

CT is mentioned in this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v;=_zjFcyQPpBg#t=30

[GaijinGolfer]

Because they can.  IMO, it has much to do with exposure and marketing.  By releasing new product all the time, they are staying in the news and in the minds of consumers.

[MiniBlueDragon]

The USGA no longer uses COR, the new measurement is CT, the units are time. The magic number is now 257 (or 239).

The characteristic time of the clubhead shall not be greater than 239 μs. A maximum test tolerance of 18 μs is associated with this test.

CT is mentioned in this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v;=_zjFcyQPpBg#t=30

Good to know, cheers. :)

Basically it's exactly the same concept in that the ball cannot come off the face faster than X measurement but it's just being measured in a different way?