Gear Patrol

As a general trend to more forgiving putter options for weekend warriors seemed to validate the putter’s size and complexity, last year’s TaylorMade Ghost Spider putter was an instant hit. But many golfers weren’t sold. Some felt the Ghost Spider was too massive or simply too hard on the eyes. Never being one to miss…

We don’t have to preach about how important fathers are, but we will anyway. This is the man who made you who you are, whether you like it or not — and since you’re reading this post now it looks like he’s done something right (at least we hope). With Father’s Day just around the…

Believing you have the best ball on the market is no small declaration, but TaylorMade firmly feels just that in their new PENTA TP5 ($46). They weren’t joking or offering half-hearted proclamations either; these guys really believe it. One of the main drivers of this new found confidences is a ball that has a 28%…

The average golfer often takes a, shall we say, labyrinthine route to the hole. Though at the end of the round a par is a par no matter how adventurous, it does highlight the importance of having solid short game tools at your disposal. Case in point, the new TaylorMade ATV Wedge ($120). Our review…

After taking the driver market by storm last year with the R11 there was only one thing left for TaylorMade to do. Tell all of the white paint detractors, “I told you so”. OK, maybe two things, as they set out to improve upon the best driver they had ever made. The result is the…

Recently, TaylorMade asked a handful of folks, including GP, to go hands-on with the all-new RocketBallz club franchise. Comprised of two new drivers, two new iron sets, and a golfball, the Rocketballz (aka RBZ) will hit shelves this Spring packed with tons of new technology and a pretty unforgettable name. Ultimately, all that research and…

When TaylorMade launched their Burner Irons they knew they had a great club. The Burner 2.0 has made TaylorMade the number one selling iron company in golf. While that was great for a large segment of the golfing world, the Burner’s supercharged speed and distance didn’t always work for those who occupy the mid-to-low handicap…

With the success of the original Spider Putter, TaylorMade has brought back the Ghost Spider Putter ($180), this time with a fresh coat of paint and a new face insert. Turns out the white finish is 80% more reflective than traditional black providing a sharper image for better mental focus. That may not seem like…

Vince Lombardi once said, “Only perfect practice makes perfect.” True for football, also true for golf. Weighted golf clubs have been a hot training aid for years, but who wants to practice with a club they aren’t actually going to play with? Taylormade’s TR3 Speed Sleeve ($30) does just that, transforming any club in your…

This past Tuesday, TaylorMade unleashed the commanding new R11 Driver to frigid New Yorkers. In celebration TaylorMade and Golfsmith converted the 54th street block into a driving range — in less than 7 hours. Gear Patrol had a pair of intervelometer equipped Canon 7D’s on the ground to capture the build-up in a 4,000 photo…

Let’s just get it out of the way. The Taylormade R11 is white. It’s designed to cut down on sun glare and reflections on the crown that can be distracting. Is it unique? Yes, for now. Does it warrant buying a new driver? Not really. I can’t remember ever being distracted by my driver. Don’t…

When it comes to golf, there’s no rest for the weary engineers. The latest volley into the epic battle for longest, baddest driver continues with the upcoming TaylorMade R11. Using a small wrench (included), the driver allows for not one, not two, but three axes of adjustability and customization, which can affect up-to 100 yards…

Buying a new set of irons can be daunting. It’s a big investment and you have to find a set that works for so many different shot needs. Some sets may have great scoring irons but you can’t elevate the long irons to maximize distance. Conversely, some have explosive distance but the look and feel…

If you haven’t seen the new TaylorMade Rossa Ghost Putter ($160) all over the PGA Tour this summer it’s not surprising. It’s designed, after all, not to draw your attention. Justin Rose has already won twice with it (and nearly a third time), and I easily counted a dozen pros at St. Andrews sporting some…

Unsheathing a driver always triggers a little excitement, no matter how many times I’ve done it. It’s the anticipation that something spectacular could happen. The fact that it could be good or bad only adds to the rush. But I don’t worry so much about the bad these days. What I didn’t mention was that…

The start of the PGA Tour season is upon us and with it comes a new USGA rule governing grooves. The beloved U-groove that has been the gold standard for scoring wedges for years and is a vast improvement over the less-effective V-grooves of yesteryear has been decreed illegal. The idea is that the rollback…

It’s not uncommon to see a stack of nondescript boxes littering the Gear Patrol mail room. Recently, found amidst said pile was a package from our good friends at Taylormade Golf containing the yet to be released Penta TP golf ball. To say that we did not dance the customary happy dance before bolting to…

I have long envied tour players, what with their golf clubs fitted down to the n’th degree. You see, we mere mortal men may buy the same clubs, but they bear little resemblance to what you see used on tour each week. It hardly seems fair that just because they’re better golfers, pros should get…

I play golf in the northeast where summer months bring lots of humidity. The last thing that you want to experience is feeling the club slip when you swing. A lot of gloves on the market today simply don’t offer a solution for sweaty hands. The Targa Tour Glove from Taylormade Golf is my salvation….

Are you a Bomber or a Technician? While putting may be universally accepted as the most important aspect of golf, I believe that driving is the key to enjoying golf. Poor driving puts tremendous pressure on the rest of your game. Yes, missing a short birdie putt makes you sick, but a poor drive precludes…

Win A TaylorMade Tour Burner Driver & Monza Rossa Spider Putter Wow. You guys sure do like golf clubs. Over 1300 Gear Patrol faithfuls entered the Gear Patrol & TaylorMade Drive 4 Show, Putt 4 Dough Giveaway. Damn. We know you’re eagerly awaiting an announcement so here’s the update. We’re furiously sorting through all the…

Play golf. Support the troops. It’s not every day you have an opportunity to help others by simply playing a round of golf. Last year Major Dan Rooney, a PGA Professional, USGA member and an F-16 fighter pilot in the 125th Fighter Squadron of the Oklahoma Air National Guard, orchestrated the inaugural event which raised…

[click on image to enlarge] 4-time Open winner Bobby Locke famously, and rightly, stated that you, “drive for show, putt for dough.” Nothing ruins a good round or my patience more than dismal putting. Blowing a two-footer or three putting for a bogey will crush your score, and your will to live for that matter….

[click on image to enlarge] Everyone wants to bomb it off the tee. There’s nothing more satisfying than blistering a golf ball down the middle of the fairway (in golf anyway). Unfortunately, there is only one way to hit the ball further: generate faster ball speeds. TaylorMade Golf has come up with a solution that…

[click on image to enlarge] This Fall’s unseasonably warm weather has caught everyone off guard but it doesn’t mean you can’t take advantage of it. How you ask? One word. Golf. Which of course gives you a perfectly viable excuse to justify replacing your driver with the new TaylorMade r7 CGB Max driver. With enough…

The new putter from TaylorMade basically breaks down putting to this… it’s all about the launch. Their new anti-skid groove system insert (AGSI) is desined to reduce backspin and increase forward roll. That’s where you need to stop reading because it gets way too technical after that. Just know that striking the ball with this…

Dark, cold and seriously sinister. This is the club for the evil geniuses among you. Featuring four Moveable Weight Technology ports, TaylorMade Mens r7 SuperQuad Driver can be set up in one of 120 ways with a variety of four weighted inserts. Now you can spend your nights tweaking your ultimate weapon for the downfall…