Legazpi Golf Diary, Thursday, September 18, 2025

Recently, I've been playing a half-round by myself once a week on weekday afternoons at a golf course at the foot of Mount Mayon.

On each hole, except for the short holes, I practice by comparing the first shot with two drivers and then playing with the better one. Today I tried out the Yamaha RMX 220 and the TaylorMade Burner 860.

My ace driver is the RMX 220, which has the second-highest moment of inertia in history, but I'm having trouble finding consistency. On the other hand, the Burner 860, a club developed before the coefficient of restitution regulations, often produces the best ball, and I'm amazed at how far it flies. The manufacturer doesn't disclose the coefficient of restitution, but since it doesn't comply with the rules introduced in 2008, it can't be used in official tournaments.

Through this practice, I hope to gain a deeper understanding of the characteristics of my equipment and refine my swing.

I asked Google Gemini the following question, and received the following response:

When comparing the TaylorMade Burner 860 and the Yamaha RMX 220, the TaylorMade Burner 860 flies further. Why is that?

Below is Gemini's answer. Your question is very interesting. Many golfers experience the sensation of hitting the Burner 860 farther when comparing the TaylorMade Burner 860 and the Yamaha RMX 220. There are several clear reasons for this.

The conclusion is that the Burner 860 is likely a "high-repulsion" model, and its design characteristics are the reason it flies further than the rules-compliant RMX 220.

Let me explain in more detail.

1. Characteristics of the TaylorMade Burner 860

The Burner 860 was released around 2004. Many clubs were made during this era, when golf equipment regulations, particularly those regarding coefficient of restitution (COR), were not as strict as they are today.

The Potential of High-Repulsion Design: The Burner 860 is available in a "high-repulsion" model, which was popular at the time. High-repulsion clubs have an extremely thin face, which flexes significantly upon impact with the ball, propelling it forward with force using its resilience. This allows for greater initial ball velocity than conforming clubs, resulting in greater distance.

Feel and Sound: High-repulsion clubs often produce a distinctive metallic, high-pitched impact sound. This sound, along with the sensation of the ball being bounced back with force, gives golfers a strong impression of "flying."

2. Characteristics of the Yamaha RMX 220

The Yamaha RMX 220, on the other hand, is a relatively new model released in 2020. This club is built in strict compliance with current R&A and USGA rules.

Conforming Design: The RMX 220 is designed to achieve a coefficient of repulsion (COR) of 0.830, while not exceeding it. The RMX-220 incorporates numerous technologies (such as "BOOSTRING") that not only enhance distance performance, but also stability and forgiveness.

High forgiveness: The RMX-220 has a head volume of 460cc, one of the largest allowed by the rules, and by increasing the moment of inertia, it aims to minimize distance loss and curve when the ball is hit off-center.

3. Why does the Burner 860 fly further?

Taking these characteristics into consideration, the reasons why the Burner 860 seems to fly further when compared are as follows.

Difference in repulsion performance: The Burner 860 is a high-repulsion model, so it is easier to generate ball speed than the rules-compliant RMX-220. This point is the most noticeable difference in distance.

Flight when hit on the center: Although the Burner 860 has a narrow sweet spot, it performs extremely well when hit cleanly there. It is possible that the customer's experience of that "perfect shot" left a strong impression of the distance.

Compatibility with your individual swing: It's possible that the head and shaft characteristics of the older Burner 860 model just happen to be a perfect match for your swing type.

Summary

The reason customers feel that the TaylorMade Burner 860 flies further is likely due to the non-rule-compliant "high-repulsion" characteristics of this model.

The RMX-220 is a mainstream club in today's golf world, utilizing the latest technology to achieve "resistance to errors and consistent distance." On the other hand, the Burner 860 is a legacy of an era when the pursuit of "maximum distance" was unconstrained by rules.

If you're looking for distance, a high-repulsion driver is attractive, but since it's not permitted in official competitions, you'll need to choose the right club for your needs.