AeroBurner driver

aylorMade says its new AeroBurner driver represents the company’s fastest and most aerodynamic driver ever, so I was intrigued to see how it was going to compare with the monster-long TaylorMade R15 driver.

While the new R15 driver is aimed at the 'tinkerers', the AeroBurner is suited for the ‘attitude’ golfers, the kind of people that just want to stand up on the tee, no messing around, and rip it.

First Look: TaylorMade AeroBurner family

On first look at the 460cc clubhead, there is a rounder toe and raised centre crown that aids the aerodynamics of this club. A new 'Aero' hosel has been added to the heel and this reduces drag during the downswing to improve clubhead speed.

TaylorMade has gone back to white with its new range of metalwoods and the fresh finish mixed against a black face and neat crown graphic works nicely. It has got a touch of the PING G30 'turbulators' about it on the crown and that aids superb alignment with the AeroBurner logo resting in the middle.

Along with its aerodynamic design, the AeroBurner range, consisting driver, fairway wood and rescue, features the largest 'Speed Pocket' TaylorMade has ever produced. The 'Speed Pocket' - a groove in the sole  - allows the lower portion of the face to flex more effectively at impact while also stretching the sweet spot lower on the face for added forgiveness.

The R15 was one of the longest drivers I have ever tested so the AeroBurner was always up against it, but it did not exactly lag behind.

I was averaging total distance of 271 yards with the AeroBurner driver in 10.5-degree, so just three yards behind the R15 during my testing. Spin wasn’t too dissimilar at little more than 3000RPM but launch was higher at 14.5-degree and consequently I was not getting as much roll out. Ball speed was just shy of 150mph, however, so that was pleasing, and offline dispersion was particularly tight.

Feel is very much a personal preference, but for me, the AeroBurner driver felt a little too light. Yes, it is designed to be light and aerodynamic, but at times, the clubhead-shaft combination felt like I was swinging air and as a result, several drives were going well right of my target line.

By no means uncontrollable in the standard Matrix Speed RUL-Z 50 shaft but I just found it to be not as well balanced as the R15 driver, comprising a standard Speeder Evolution 57 shaft.

The AeroBurner driver is a little longer in length to counter the lightness so that helps somewhat, but I know if this club was going in my bag, I would want to get custom fitted for the right shaft to match my swing.

Verdict

Long, straight and £100 cheaper than the R15 when it flies onto the shelves on 9 January 2015. Well worth a look if you are not too fussed about tinkering with your driver every other weekend. Just make sure you choose your loft spec correctly as there is no going back. There are options of 9.5, 10.5 and 12 degrees and a high-launch offering.

If you missed the phenomenon that was RocketBallz several years ago, or you are simply ready to upgrade to more speed and distance in your driver, you are unlikely to be disappointed by the AeroBurner.