Golfers take a look at the new Rescue woods from Taylor Made and comment on how cool looking they are. Few ever think that the clubs are anything they might want to use themselves. They try them out of curiosity convinced that the Rescues are just novelty clubs bound to fade into obscurity before very long.
After a few hits their attitude generally changes. They understand why pros have managed to make room for them in their bags.
One tester put the 23 degree model (works out to be about a seven wood) in his bag after three hits – all dead perfect. “Pure butter. The sweetest, most effortless feeling club I’ve ever hit.” was his reaction. Another, a PGA professional, hit about twenty-five down the middle to a tight, nice pattern and declared them to be the most accurate woods he’d ever hit. One of his regular playing partners pointed out that if he were capable of hitting his other clubs that well he’d be playing on tour somewhere not giving lessons in Vermont. He agreed but still refused to play them on the course for fear of what they might do to his image, however. Silly boy.
Other testers were enthusiastic as well, especially after experiencing the ease with which these sticks operate from the rough. The Rescues are hollow with a very heavy, tungsten sole. The low center of gravity is well down the face causing the ball to launch from all but the thickest of turf. Few woods can come close to competing with the fusion wood/irons when it comes to playing from the thick stuff.
Those who have taken the Rescues to the course have reported excellent results. Jeff left his first on course attempt eight feet from the pin. So impressed was he that he was determined to use the 23 degree Rescue on the next hole as well. It was a 172 yard par three – too short a distance for the club. He decided to play a severe cut shot in from the left. Landing on the left fringe the ball bounced obliquely across the green and hit the pin. It’s been his favorite club ever since.
The success of the Rescues comes about for various reasons. The famous, easy swinging Burner Bubble graphite shaft is one of them. The beautifully crafted heads are another. Everything about these clubs conspires to have their users take a smooth and mellow, easy flowing swing with them. The impressive engineering that went into the shaft and innovative head design can do all of the work for you. Just pick ‘em up drop ‘em. for the most part the ball goes where you want it to go. The D6 swingweight gives them a solid feel without much effort being applied.
Not everyone was wild about the Rescues, but the majority were. Those who objected did so on grounds of shaft flex mostly. We had no stiffer demo clubs for aggressive hitters. The 19 degree, Burner graphite, senior flex Rescue we had was too soft for all but a very few testers.
Others objected because they loved their woods and they loved their irons. Where to put the Rescues they knew not. Some golfers react badly to anything which upsets the norm. they went years before using graphite shafts or metal woods. Some still putt with Bullseyes.
On the whole, the staff is betting that many more Rescue-style golf clubs will be making their presence known in the next few years. The line between woods and irons just might disappear completely in the future.
