 |
 |
 |
|
In golf, utility clubs are not a brand new concept. But, like a lot of equipment ideas in the sport, considerable advances have been made over time.
Going back a hundred years or more, a club called a Long Nose Spoon looks a lot like the utility clubs of today, except it was made of wood. In the 1970s, a club called a Baffler was one of the first "modern" weapons designed to bridge the gap between fairway woods and irons.
TaylorMade introduced a club in 1999 called Firesole, a predecessor of today’s Rescue series. With a titanium body and tungsten weighting in the sole, it had a very low center of gravity and was a true long-iron replacement. But, it was considered expensive at the time.
Nowadays, TaylorMade Golf makes four models of Rescue clubs, designed for a variety of utility situations. The Rescues, respectively, are: r7 CGB MAX, Burner, TP and r7 Draw.
The aim of these hybrid clubs is to provide a smooth transition for golfers between larger metalwoods and the irons in the bag. In many cases, Rescue clubs serve as replacements for fairway metals or long to mid irons. Typically, Rescue clubs have smaller heads than fairway metals and shorter shafts, but larger heads than irons.
The combination of design and technology is meant to deliver the ease of hitting an iron with the greater distance of a wood, along with a higher flight and soft landing.
The popularity of playing with utility clubs has grown greatly in just the past few years, for both tour pros and amateurs. Just about every professional on the major tours carries at least one hybrid club, and some have more.
In reaching the Rescues of today, TaylorMade introduced a club called a Rescue Mid in 2002 which had steel metalwood construction and a new alignment address feature. It was very easy to hit and quickly became No. 1 on tour and in the marketplace. The next model was called Rescue Dual, with higher inertia (stability factor) and movable weights.
"Rescues provide increased playability and easier-to-hit performance than an iron, due to the lower center of gravity (CG)," explained Tom Osalvsky, TaylorMade senior director of product creation. "They also provide easier-to-hit playability versus fairway woods due to a shorter shaft."
The best way to add a Rescue to any arsenal, according to Osalvsky, is to "buy the corresponding club number to the longest iron in your bag. This will help you to improve playability for the club that is likely the toughest club to hit for golfers, their longest iron. Once you have one, and can see the benefit, it is not uncommon to see golfers put several more in the bag and get rid of those difficult-to-hit long irons."
The Rescues that TaylorMade offers carry suggested retail prices ranging roughly from $159 to $249, depending on model and type of shaft.
Overall, hybrids represent roughly 20 percent of metalwood sales to golfers, with TaylorMade the leader in the category. Here's a closer look at what the company offers in its Rescue lineup.
R7 CGB MAX
There are three Rescue clubs complementing the r7 CGB MAX family of drivers, fairways and irons. They are labeled Nos. 3, 4, 5 with lofts of 19, 22 and 25 degrees, respectively.
The r7 CGB MAX Rescures feature a triangular head shape with an exceptionally far-back CG location to help get balls airborne from a variety of lies. A shallow clubface promotes increased spin and longer carry. SuperFast Technology reduces total club weight to promote a faster swing and faster ball speed.
The stock graphite shaft on the CGB MAX Rescue is called RE*AX SuperFast, made by Fujikura. Men's shafts weigh 55 grams and are offered in S, R and M flexes. Women's versions are an ultralight 45 grams with an L flex.
BURNER
TaylorMade has upgraded its Burner Rescue for 2008 with a dual crown and lower CG versus previous models. The result should be higher launch with less spin for greater distance.
"The new Burner Rescues with Dual Crown Technology have a very low CG, the lowest we have ever made, and produces more distance through better launch conditions," said Osalvsky. "It also provides a faster shape with further back CG and higher inertia."
There are four Burner models: Nos. 3, 4, 5 and 6 with 19, 22, 25 and 28 degrees of loft, respectively. Face angles are square for enhanced workability. The heads are made of stainless steel.
Stock shafts for the Burner include the RE*AX SuperFast graphite in S, R and M flexes, and the T-Step 90 steel in S and R flexes.
RESCUE TP
TP stands for tour-proven and the Rescue TP lineup features a tour-inspired smaller head shape for greater feel and workability. The Steel Pull-Face construction provides a high spring-like effect off the face to promote faster ball speed for increased distance. Tour-proven properties also include a center of gravity positioned farther forward and closer to the face to promote a low, penetrating fall flight.
The TP Rescues are numbered 1, 2, 3 and 4 with lofts of 15, 17, 19 and 21 degrees, respectively. Face angles are square. Shafts include a graphite RE*AX TP85 H in X, S and R flexes or a steel True Temper DG in X, S and R flexes.
R7 DRAW
Draw-Weighted Technology concentrates weight in the back heel area, encouraging faster clubface rotation through impact to promote a draw.
Numbered 3, 4, 5 and 6, the r7 DRAW Rescures come in lofts of 19, 22, 25 and 28 degrees, respectively. With stainless steel heads, the face angles are square.
A 12 percent larger clubhead design than the Rescue Dual and Rescue Mid promotes a higher Moment of Inertia (MOI stability factor), while the low, far-back CG makes it easier to launch the ball on a high, long flight. A T-shaped sole design reduces turf friction at impact and enhances playability from all types of lies.
Shafts include a RE*AX 55-gram graphite or T-Step 90 steel. The lighter graphite shaft also helps promote a draw.
