TaylorMade RBZ SpeedLite Package Set Review

VIDEO: Watch Neil Tappin run through what the RBZ SpeedLite set has to offer

TaylorMade is one of the most recognized names in the golf industry, with the brand famed for creating some of the best golf drivers, best golf balls and best golf bags anywhere on the market.

Now though, the company have branched out into the golf package set industry, an area which is perfect for those who are new to the game and want the basics for cheap. The model in question is the TaylorMade RBZ SpeedLite, a product which we have tested extensively at the driving range and on the golf course to find out what you can expect. 

First things first, if you are thinking of investing in one of the best golf club sets, then there are a lot of boxes that the TaylorMade ticks. For example, whatever your skill level, every golfer wants something with a smart, aspirational look. TaylorMade has a strong track record in this department and the looks have clearly been carefully considered here.

Giving a quick overview for each club, the irons feature toplines that are thick enough to inspire confidence at address without being too clunky and uninviting. The grey finish on the crown of the woods combines with a small flash of green - they look superb and, at the other end of the bag, the sand wedge and putter are slightly more compact, with a refined, premium look.

We started by testing these on a launch monitor up against various clubs from our custom-fitted line up. Despite the shaft spec being wrong (we were testing the regular flex RBZ shaft), we were impressed by the performance on offer. In particular, throughout the set, they are as easy to launch and forgiving. 

It's not just the performance, but also the aesthetics. As mentioned, the irons have a generous topline and inspire confidence and, when it comes to the hybrid section, it's a similar story, with the generous look at address a real standout. We thought that there was plenty of room between heel and toe, and having one of the best hybrids can really help players in an area of the bag that is notoriously hard to master.

Although the ball flight was on the high side, a stiffer shaft option would have almost certainly helped resolve this. As a result, we lost a little carry distance (three yards in the 7-iron and 15 yards in the driver) versus our custom fitted clubs. However, for those golfers looking to get the ball up and away with a smooth swing, the regular shaft version we tested should do the job.

Throughout the iron set, the feel off the face is consistently solid and, whilst they might not feel as buttery smooth out of the middle as some of the best golf irons on the market, the feel doesn’t fall away too much when you don’t hit the very center of the face. 

Touching on the woods, we did feel that the sound is a little louder than the TaylorMade SIM2 driver, a model that ranks as one of the best TaylorMade drivers that money can buy. Although the acoustics will be personal preference, we don't think the higher pitched contact sound will put any golfer off using it.

Moving to the scoring section of the bag and, in particular, the compact mallet putter, which really impressed us. The stand out was the feel and, admittedly, we were using a Titleist Pro V1x which is undoubtedly one of the best premium golf balls but, even so, the feel was as responsive as some of the best putters.

That brings us to the bag. TaylorMade has opted for a trolley/cart style option with a single carry strap. The green and black styling looks modern and smart and there are plenty of pockets for storage. However, we would have preferred the extra flexibility of a stand bag instead. We also thought it felt a little flimsier than some of the best cart bags and didn’t quite reflect the quality of the clubs on offer.

In all, this is a fairly small gripe for what is a hugely impressive golf club set. TaylorMade has designed a 12-club line-up that we think has genuine mass appeal. For those not wanting to get fitted, but still looking for a quality set that will perform and look good, the TaylorMade RBZ SpeedLite is undoubtedly one of the best golf club sets for beginners on the market.

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