Rocketbladz tour - "B" Version

[cogi59]

I am really hoping for some B heads after going from R9TP B's to rocketbladez tours this year (love the bladez but would love them even more with zero offset).
New B heads would be at the top of my wish list!

[geauxWRX]

I would support a C head set. I had a chance to hit B vs C of the R9 line and enjoyed both. Really liked the smaller head and slim topline. Enjoyed the C set more because it had a little more offset then the B set. Only problem was finding a C set on the secondary market. I think it would be great if a OEM would offer an al la carte club menu.

[moonshine]

In the WSJ article about TMag in another thread, some pct increases in market share were listed. I believe TMag has gotten something like a 25% market share increase in irons over the last 10 years or so. My point? I don't know anyone that plays their irons or even talks about them. I play at a very busy site that has three 18 hole courses and sees thousands of visiting golfers every year. I also have a good bit of Korean players around since Hyundai Mfg is 20 miles away...I don't see TMag irons in any of these players bags....ever.

B, C, D.....V2....blah blah blah. It is really not relevant IMO in the golfing world masses and certainly...as others have said....not worth flinging poo. There certainly seems to be certain members that have special "in" when it comes to this kind of topic...I would just email WP and ask him.

Edit: Granted many pros like to tinker with clubs all the time....however the guy making all the money uses 8 year old putter and 4 year old driver.

[rukahs]

???????

 

:)

 

[geauxWRX]

@23 where is that picture from?

[Sean25rp]

[quote name='dplambert1' timestamp='1360846713' post='6426431']
@23 where is that picture from?
[/quote]

Photoshop I would think?

[Imp]

Not where the picture was from but from the Nov '12 TM Tour Diaries....

http://tourdiaries.taylormadegolf.com/2012/11/faq-rocketbladez-and-rocketbladez-tour-irons/

[QUOTE][B]Will there be a RocketBladez “B” version?[/B]
Right now dozens of Tour pros are clamoring to try RocketBladez Tour, so our focus is to build a set for all of them, which is a huge undertaking. However, given what we’ve already learned about this technology, we’re confident we can incorporate it into different iron designs. Combine that with the fact that we’re always working with our Tour Staff pros to test new prototypes, [B]it’s not out of the question that there will be another version of RocketBladez Tour at some point[/B]. But, as mentioned earlier, our focus right now is on the model we unveiled two days ago and getting it in the hands of every tour pro who’s asked us for a set.
[/QUOTE]

It should not be that surprising at all. It fits in line with what TM has done for a long time.

--kC

[GooseHook]

[quote name='chickenpotpie' timestamp='1360817095' post='6425645']
Can we get back to the topic of the day.....that is, that there IS a set of B heads out there?

Can we stop with the silly name calling? Why are we talking about face milling on a couple sets of prototype irons? And can we all agree that other people [b]might get new information about TM products.....information that might just be legit?[/b]
[/quote]

And other products as well. Remember how much people torched that guy who actually knew about the 712U driving iron?

[ragweed10]

Taylormade produced a limited number of sets of the R9 B's that were sold at various retailers, does anyone know how this worked out for them? What I mean is did they sale all of them or did they have difficulty moving them? I wish Taylormade would do this with all their clubs, release a limited amount of B sets that are sold at retail. Im not talking about a large production run, but just an opportunity to get something with zero offset without have to go thru ebay and pay an arm and a leg for them.

[Imp]

[quote name='ragweed10' timestamp='1360854560' post='6427231']
Taylormade produced a limited number of sets of the R9 B's that were sold at various retailers, does anyone know how this worked out for them? What I mean is did they sale all of them or did they have difficulty moving them? I wish Taylormade would do this with all their clubs, release a limited amount of B sets that are sold at retail. Im not talking about a large production run, but just an opportunity to get something with zero offset without have to go thru ebay and pay an arm and a leg for them.
[/quote]There's a break even point in releasing product in limited qty. You have to make enough of them to not lose money on each product sold. If they only made the B's for the pros that may play them, that's a staggeringly small run, defintitely a loss in cost. (Especially since the pros don't really pay for them, but covered through contract). The $$ put aside from contracts/other sales handles those costs.

Allowing them to get out to retail channels simply recoups some of those costs.

--kC

[Zach Heusser]

[quote name='ragweed10' timestamp='1360854560' post='6427231']
Taylormade produced a limited number of sets of the R9 B's that were sold at various retailers, does anyone know how this worked out for them? What I mean is did they sale all of them or did they have difficulty moving them? I wish Taylormade would do this with all their clubs, release a limited amount of B sets that are sold at retail. Im not talking about a large production run, but just an opportunity to get something with zero offset without have to go thru ebay and pay an arm and a leg for them.
[/quote]
Who knows, maybe TMAG will bring out a limited run of B's and the "V2" head this summer under the tp line. Three of my students bought R9 b's and liked them, but I doubt there is a huge demand for them.

[TheMoneyShot]

[quote name='Zach Heusser' timestamp='1360855501' post='6427355']
[quote name='ragweed10' timestamp='1360854560' post='6427231']
Taylormade produced a limited number of sets of the R9 B's that were sold at various retailers, does anyone know how this worked out for them? What I mean is did they sale all of them or did they have difficulty moving them? I wish Taylormade would do this with all their clubs, release a limited amount of B sets that are sold at retail. Im not talking about a large production run, but just an opportunity to get something with zero offset without have to go thru ebay and pay an arm and a leg for them.
[/quote]
Who knows, maybe TMAG will bring out a limited run of B's and the "V2" head this summer under the tp line. Three of my students bought R9 b's and liked them, but I doubt there is a huge demand for them.
[/quote]

Yes, this is exactly what TM needs to do IMO. Maybe you know something that we don't know???? Lol

[whatshannenin]

[quote name='ragweed10' timestamp='1360854560' post='6427231']
Taylormade produced a limited number of sets of the R9 B's that were sold at various retailers, does anyone know how this worked out for them? What I mean is did they sale all of them or did they have difficulty moving them? I wish Taylormade would do this with all their clubs, release a limited amount of B sets that are sold at retail. Im not talking about a large production run, but just an opportunity to get something with zero offset without have to go thru ebay and pay an arm and a leg for them.
[/quote]

The numbers weren't as good as everyone thinks. The majority of the sets were comped to club pro staff members or sold at a PUD to most people. They did struggle to push through them or find it worth their time and money. I know everyone on this site wants onset cavities or blades, but the fact of the matter is that not even a lot of Tour pro's play those setups much less retail golfers who actually buy the equipment. It's a numbers game. TM has a blade that you can by that foots that bill, if you want a less offset smaller profile. It seems easy in theory, to release a true TP line that is actually the same version and spec of heads that Tour players use as they usually have excess Tour stock each year so why not budget to sell a few more? But Taylormade doesn't mind the fact that their Tour heads pull $1k in the market.....certainly doesn't hurt their product image. Selling real Tour heads would dilute their product is my guess or the limited amount of heads isn't worth the effort for margins that would be accomplished.

[gprointraining]

[quote name='Big Ben' timestamp='1360806468' post='6424427']
Thanks for the follow-up and clarification, TM doesn't give a turd what we want or think and they definitely don't feel inclined to tell our members anything they don't want us to know. It seems to me they have draw line in the sand regarding the grey market for "tour issue" gear in any form or capacity. Taylormade is without a doubt the most polarizing brand in golf, just my personal opinion no insults necessary...BB
[/quote]
That's definitely putting it nicely.

[whatshannenin]

[quote name='Big Ben' timestamp='1360806468' post='6424427']
Thanks for the follow-up and clarification, TM doesn't give a turd what we want or think and they definitely don't feel inclined to tell our members anything they don't want us to know. It seems to me they have draw line in the sand regarding the grey market for "tour issue" gear in any form or capacity. Taylormade is without a doubt the most polarizing brand in golf, just my personal opinion no insults necessary...BB
[/quote]

You are wrong in the fact that they don't care. They have plenty of TM employees that follow all of these threads. As I stated in another post, there isn't that much of a market for Tour Issue gear to the masses. They like the fact that the clubs pull a premium price in the open market. They've had a TP line in the past, but obviously it didn't sell as well as the Golfwrx membership thinks. There are something like 30 million golfers in the US and while GolfWRX is the largest golf forum....it has something like 100-150,000 members.....that's like .005 of a percent of the golfing population total membership, and even a smaller percentage of good golfers. I'm pretty sure a billion dollar company isn't going to always base their decisions on those numbers......even though we are some of the most knowledgeable consumers and probably spend more than the average consumer. We have some impact but in the end they are going to do what the total market demands. That's good business practices. Take for example some of the boutique iron, wedge or putter companies. While they all do well in their respective markets and offer Tour like services, their prices for those products give them such a small target market in comparison to normal retail....it makes it difficult to compete and turn profits. But with all that said....it wouldn't really affect Taylormade in any capacity, other than maybe diluting their Tour issue products slightly, by offering a limited release of certain Tour only heads. But if I remember correctly, Cleveland tried this and called it their "Tour Issue" program where you could by direct T serial stuff and they scrapped the program after a year, I believe. Cleveland isn't exactly Taylormade, but other companies pay attention to other companies fails.

[scratchswinger]

R9 B's are one of my favorite irons ever and one of the few clubs that I regret not keeping. If the Bladz B's were released today I would buy them.

[Big Ben]

So would many better players, last go around the R9 B's made it into staff hands and finally sprinkled down to the well connected shop rats for 1k. I'm in the process of buying my B's back from the buddy I sold them too, miss those irons...BB

[Zach Heusser]

When Richard Zak and I were at the Kingdom I asked two people if they would come out with a B. One person gave me an adamant NO and the other said yeah probably due to the fact that some tour players have varying offset needs.

[xerpro]

[quote name='TLfan' timestamp='1360808087' post='6424609']
[quote name='Hole~Out~83' timestamp='1360807801' post='6424585']
[quote name='TLfan' timestamp='1360807136' post='6424507']
[quote name='Hole~Out~83' timestamp='1360806967' post='6424485']
[quote name='TLfan' timestamp='1360805863' post='6424363']
I am glad that TM decides what we get to play with, what's funny is they dump all this R&D into one loft technology and this so called speed slot in these irons yet not one pro is using the technology and they sell the public the cheapest made copy of it at a huge profit margin so they can afford to pay everyone to hit what they lead the public to believe is played on tour. Maybe we will get a TP version which is a smaller head choice and a set of RB Tour B's or C's like they did with the R9 series, otherwise we can just wait until October to get them for 50% less than what the make believe models cost that are sitting on shelves around the country when they release the next big thing.....
[/quote]

I'm a bit confused as to how you think "not one pro is using the technology". Are you saying that the rocketbladez irons that DJ and Sergio use don't have speed slots?
[/quote]

No I'm not, but they aren't hitting the set you are buying in the store. Nothing like them actually....
[/quote]

Ok but look at it this way. TMAG puts out a new iron, they want to put a version on the shelfs that fits the needs of high handicap players yet they also want a set that appeals to better amatuer players. They know the will have a large market in each of those categories with these two sets. So why would they mass produce a set of irons that probably 90% of amatuers could not play? Now I do agree all companies should give there customers the choice to order actual tour authentic equipment but mass producing it would just be bad business.
[/quote]

They made the rocketbladez non tour for high handicaps, most of your better amateur players and scratch golfer prefer a players CB with a thin top line and as little as offset as possible at every club I've played at. Some don't mind a cast iron if it looks good like a B or C head depending how much offset they like, an added bonus or forged will top the cake, yet cast keeps production cost down to make more $ which some take as less superior equipment. I play cast irons and the difference in cast versus forged doesn't bother me, yet I like a thin top line and zero offset with some cavity otherwise I'd play blades.
[/quote]


Says the guy who has interviewed every "better amateur and scratch player at every club hes played at"
Dude, you make the same arguments over and over....Its old....You are negative and probably are a complete trainwreck. People like you make me withdraw from the forums....Go out, and yell at people that drive too slow for you, and continue to blame everyone else for your anger towards the biggest OEM on the planet.....NEWS FLASH they dont care....
Hate on hater....If you ever get to Pittsburgh, let me know....I will gladly take you out on the course, my treat.....I will either help you view things more positively, or drive you even farther gone....

[TLfan]

[quote name='xerpro' timestamp='1360884139' post='6430507']
[quote name='TLfan' timestamp='1360808087' post='6424609']
[quote name='Hole~Out~83' timestamp='1360807801' post='6424585']
[quote name='TLfan' timestamp='1360807136' post='6424507']
[quote name='Hole~Out~83' timestamp='1360806967' post='6424485']
[quote name='TLfan' timestamp='1360805863' post='6424363']
I am glad that TM decides what we get to play with, what's funny is they dump all this R&D into one loft technology and this so called speed slot in these irons yet not one pro is using the technology and they sell the public the cheapest made copy of it at a huge profit margin so they can afford to pay everyone to hit what they lead the public to believe is played on tour. Maybe we will get a TP version which is a smaller head choice and a set of RB Tour B's or C's like they did with the R9 series, otherwise we can just wait until October to get them for 50% less than what the make believe models cost that are sitting on shelves around the country when they release the next big thing.....
[/quote]

I'm a bit confused as to how you think "not one pro is using the technology". Are you saying that the rocketbladez irons that DJ and Sergio use don't have speed slots?
[/quote]

No I'm not, but they aren't hitting the set you are buying in the store. Nothing like them actually....
[/quote]

Ok but look at it this way. TMAG puts out a new iron, they want to put a version on the shelfs that fits the needs of high handicap players yet they also want a set that appeals to better amatuer players. They know the will have a large market in each of those categories with these two sets. So why would they mass produce a set of irons that probably 90% of amatuers could not play? Now I do agree all companies should give there customers the choice to order actual tour authentic equipment but mass producing it would just be bad business.
[/quote]

They made the rocketbladez non tour for high handicaps, most of your better amateur players and scratch golfer prefer a players CB with a thin top line and as little as offset as possible at every club I've played at. Some don't mind a cast iron if it looks good like a B or C head depending how much offset they like, an added bonus or forged will top the cake, yet cast keeps production cost down to make more $ which some take as less superior equipment. I play cast irons and the difference in cast versus forged doesn't bother me, yet I like a thin top line and zero offset with some cavity otherwise I'd play blades.
[/quote]


Says the guy who has interviewed every "better amateur and scratch player at every club hes played at"
Dude, you make the same arguments over and over....Its old....You are negative and probably are a complete trainwreck. People like you make me withdraw from the forums....Go out, and yell at people that drive too slow for you, and continue to blame everyone else for your anger towards the biggest OEM on the planet.....NEWS FLASH they dont care....
Hate on hater....If you ever get to Pittsburgh, let me know....I will gladly take you out on the course, my treat.....I will either help you view things more positively, or drive you even farther gone....
[/quote]

Your hate for me is obviously unbearable, my bag has usually always been TM top to bottom, I am not making my post for TM to "care" about what I say, all I post are my opinions and you don't agree with them then state why you don't and move on. We can always agree to disagree and move on that you have a love fest with TM and their retail offerings and I don't. We can go back and forth on here behind a computer or invite each other to their respective home town and go to the course as each other's treat. At the end of the day we both see things from two totally end of the spectrum on the topic of TaylorMade. I wish they would do a limited TP or special run and put out the V2 and the Rocketbladez B irons because they would go in my bag, but other than that I doubt I play anything TM this year with the amount of info out there on their products, I do not like the retail offerings, sorry for breaking your heart, you can stop attacking my post now and move on. If I single handedly drive you away from the forums then I can't imagine how many people are scared to post their opinions in fear of you jumping on their coat tails as well. The great thing about it is you have tons of people who agree with your opinion and from the post we have people who agree with mine. Just stay on your side of the fence and I will stay on mine, I think it will be better off that way.......

[rgk5]

Well boys, that was a nice display of posturing, accomplishing............. nothing of use to either one of you.

[youngwaldo]

I have two sets of r9 tp b. one brand new still in the box for my son when he turns 15. So I will be holding them for 14 more years. That is how great I feel theses irons are. If TM does the same thing and release Rbladez tour in a b version I would not hesitate to get a set or two.

Wk

[TheMoneyShot]

This thread needs to be locked. It's going nowhere fast...

[Boogs2]

[quote name='TheMoneyShot' timestamp='1360905582' post='6432427']
This thread needs to be locked. It's going nowhere fast...
[/quote]

Yup

[whatshannenin]

In the words of the never ending 5 simple keys "Holy Moses!" This thread got interesting quick.

 

[Riuzzi]

I've deleted a couple of posts. The back and forth bickering stops now. If you wish to continue, take it to PMs.

[smackygolf]

[quote name='TLfan' timestamp='1360805863' post='6424363']
I am glad that TM decides what we get to play with, what's funny is they dump all this R&D into one loft technology and this so called speed slot in these irons yet not one pro is using the technology and they sell the public the cheapest made copy of it at a huge profit margin so they can afford to pay everyone to hit what they lead the public to believe is played on tour. Maybe we will get a TP version which is a smaller head choice and a set of RB Tour B's or C's like they did with the R9 series, otherwise we can just wait until October to get them for 50% less than what the make believe models cost that are sitting on shelves around the country when they release the next big thing.....
[/quote]

So you're mad at Titleist about the balls, too? What an entitled group we have here.

[ProBowler]

[quote name='TheMoneyShot' timestamp='1360905582' post='6432427']
This thread needs to be locked. It's going nowhere fast...
[/quote]

Like every TM thread lately !!!
LOL

[geauxWRX]

Some of TM's best irons were B versions. A couple that come to mind or Tour preferred 2009 B's, Burner B's that were in the Japan market, and R9 TP B & C. In my testing these irons had a better feel then retail. I really wish today I could get my hands on a Burner B or R9 TP C set!

[buck9432]

[quote name='dplambert1' timestamp='1360931844' post='6432951']
Some of TM's best irons were B versions. A couple that come to mind or Tour preferred 2009 B's, Burner B's that were in the Japan market, and R9 TP B & C. In my testing these irons had a better feel then retail. I really wish today I could get my hands on a Burner B or R9 TP C set!
[/quote]

Check out EBAY. There's a few sets of the R9 TP C's listed, and also a 4-PW of heads only. I'm actually begging you to buy the heads and remove the latest temptation I've found on there.

I haven't seen them in person yet so I can't comment on what the RBZ Tours look like, but I will say I can't believe that TM would discontinue the TP MC's and have the MB's seemingly on the way out without some sort of compact players iron on the back burner. Is it going to be a 'B' set of irons? Probably not. Would I like it to be? Absolutely! I much prefer a compact iron shape and small offset. What they will release will be something that appeals to the masses as opposed to being perfect for the same 10 people who come onto these threads bashing the lack of a V2 or B iron shape release to the public.

We all need to just calm down, get over the fact that the guys with endorsement deals get special treatment/equipment and see how things play out.