The origin of the RocketBallz name is unusual. It was TaylorMade's Tour Staff Professional Dustin Johnson, known to be one of the longest hitters in the game, who, after testing a new hybrid described the ball's impressive speed as being 'like a rocket'.

"If you can come up with a name that does a good job of defining what the experience of a product could be, that's exactly the scenario you want," said Sean Toulon, Executive Vice President. "Product names come from all over the place but typically they'll come from marketing, product marketing and sales. Never before has one come from R&D."

When the prototype returned from initial field testing, TaylorMade's engineers took the creative liberty to etch the name, "RocketBallz," into the prototype club head.

"I never thought RocketBallz would actually show up on the prototype," said Todd Beach, Senior Director of Product Engineering, Metal woods. "Typically, it's got an MW label and a number on there, whatever our number is. When the prototype came back, I was like, 'What are you guys doing?' I can't believe you put that on there. There's no way we're going to call the product that."

Quickly though, the prototypes were refined, the performance improved and the name RocketBallz stuck.

The flagship products in the line are the RocketBallz and RocketBallz Tour Drivers. The RocketBallz driver has a larger appearance at address with a standard face height, while the RocketBallz Tour driver is mid-sized at address with a deeper face. Both have a traditional and aerodynamically shaped club head, adjustable flight control technology, and a lightweight shaft. All of which TaylorMade claim makes them much more forgiving on mis-hits.

"We're setting a new standard in the driver category as speed, adjustability and Tour-validated performance have never been so affordable," Explained Toulon. "The name RocketBallz is obviously polarising and helps capture the distance performance story but golfers cannot overlook the power of tuning these new products; there's a RocketBallz driver out there for everyone."

The new RocketBallz Fairway Woods combine RocketBallz technology with increased face size, low CG location, advanced playability features and a lightweight shaft and grip. The combination of these elements will deliver, so TaylorMade claim, a significant increase in distance.

Then there are the RocketBallz Rescue standard and Tour models. The standard model incorporates a lightweight shaft and lightweight grip which TaylorMade say will promote increased swing speed. The club face is large and deep, yet the CG is located low and forward. The RocketBallz Tour Rescue has a comparatively smaller address appearance, a slightly open face angle, a toe-weighted CG, and is equipped with a heavier, stiffer, Tour-grade shaft. The intention of this technology is to produce faster ball speed, a higher launch angle and lower spin-rates for significantly greater distance.

"The RocketBallz Fairway Woods and Rescues represent a game-changing breakthrough in performance comparable to few products in the history of our industry," claims Toulon. "To hold a RocketBallz metal wood in your hands is to possess confidence, power, speed and distance potential that will regularly and quite literally redefine the long game for golfers."

The RocketBallz Irons have been engineered to deliver distance and a higher and straighter ball flight. The key to their distance performance and greater forgiveness, according to TaylorMade, is a large, thin club face, combined with inverted cone technology.

"From a technology standpoint, we have done the unthinkable. We brought in metal wood engineers to help create irons with faces that behave like drivers, sending the ball easily high and far almost as if it was bounced off a trampoline." Said Toulon.

The club heads are progressively shaped, with smaller, compact short-irons, deep undercut-cavity middle-irons and large, hollow long-irons. The RocketBallz Irons are available in 3-iron through to LW, right-handed and left-handed (no left-handed LW).

Completing the range will be the RocketBallz Golf Ball. This three-piece multi-layered ball has been engineered for increased distance and improved short game performance, and promises great feel with improved spin and control around the greens.

"The new Rocketballz Golf Ball is for the golfer who wants to add a little distance and confidence to their game," said John Kawaja, TaylorMade Executive Vice President. "Golfers of all abilities will add distance to all facets of their game without having to compromise performance around the greens."

We at Leaderboard Golf are looking forward to getting our hands on the new RocketBallz line and trying them out for ourselves. We'll keep you posted.