New TaylorMade R9 driver

[NeilTappin]

Evening all,

The press embargo on the new TaylorMade R9 driver has just been lifted and we can at last show you what we've known about for some time. Please take a look and let us know what you think.

http://www.golf-monthly.co.uk/tours-and-news/tournews/297898/taylormade-launches-new-r9-driver.html

Thanks,

Neil

 

[andiritchie]

Very classy looking driver and its only 420cc must be a new thing slightly smaller heads

 

[Twire]

Looks OK in the photo's.

I see they have adopted a smaller head size for the new club, this could be a good move for them, as the R7 425 was a very succesful club.

Not to sure about the 8 different head positions, this sounds a bit gimiky to me. But as a Taylormade fan, I'd be interested to get it in my hands and try it out.

 

[StuartD]

Looks impressive. 24 flight options seem a bit excessive. I lost confidence in my R7 425 after tinkering with it too much Think that only had about 8 flight options.

Can't find an RRP in the article. Has one been released? Some scoop for the mag!!

 

[Imurg]

Looks like most other R series drivers to me but I'm glad they've not been on the waccy baccy when it comes to designing the crown.

Does anyone who owns an R series actually move the weights around?

And why do shafts these days have to be multi-coloured? It distracts me.

 

[HTL]

That is porn! Cant wait for the reviews.

 

[Twire]

Does anyone who owns an R series actually move the weights around?

I have the superquad, and initially I set it up for a draw. Could'nt get on with it, so changed the weight's to get the ball airborne, and loved it. They have not been changed since.

 

[NeilTappin]

Morning all,

The RRP will be £349 and the release date is March 23rd.

In comparison to what's out there I think this price is pretty competitive but of course, I haven't actually hit the driver yet.

Should be getting one into the office next week so will keep you posted.

Neil

 

[CarpeDiem]

£349 is a lot of money for a golf club. I just feel that if the prices of the other Taylormade drivers come down a bit due to the R9, they won't shift many because people will go with the cheaper option.

 

[GB72]

Agree that £349 is a big chunk of cash for one club, especially in the current climate. In reality I could never see me spending over £200 on a driver hence the reason that the only ones I am looking to try this year are the new MD drivers and the Cleveland Launcher (unless my old favourites Orka bring anything new our). Is it me or does it seem to be really bad timing to release these new, very expensive adjustable clubs in the midst of a recession.

 

[ricardodaintino]

Recently bought an R5 driver as I was really impressed with the performance over numerous newer drivers.

I'd be very excited to take one of these out onto the range for some testing!!!

 

[Twire]

Should be getting one into the office next week so will keep you posted.

When you've finished with it Neil..If you'd like to send it down to Devon for testing

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Neil

I'm coming to GM Towers on Tuesday so happy to take it home with me for a trial if you are too busy

 

[NeilTappin]

I think you might have to fight a few other members of the GM team for it!

 

[ricardodaintino]

I'm up for a scrap if I get a new driver out of it!!! What is the ruling on biting???

 

[Cernunnos]

The new R9 looks nice & classy, at least they have not gone too flashy with the looks of it.

I know from my R7 superquad that moving the weights around does not necessarily make that much difference & in some cases not what claimed. Making a club where the loft itself can be changed is probably a far better solution & certainly preferable over moving weights about imo.

Really not keen on Fujikura shafts certainly after using the one in my R7 superquad, as it just promotes too much height.

If I'm allowed to be entirely honest & maybe a bit cynical for a moment it really just seems like the R9 is a new gimmicky faddy idea to try & extricate more money out of poor amature golfers looking for that something to be a cure all. Perhaps they should have gone the whole hog & used the interchangeble shaft option too like other manufacturers are starting to. Shaft choice probably makes as much difference as anything else to trajectory & flight characteristics.

Nice looker, nice idea, wouldn't turn one down free, but certainly would need a lot of convincing (especially in this economic climate) to part with any significant wonga in this case.

I'm afraid I'm going to have to sit in the Ludites chair on this one.

 

[TonyN]

I dont like TM gear as a rule of thumb but that doesn't look too bad.

TBH I think £349 is a ridiculas price for any 1 club. Seriously.

I bet in 6 months the discount shop will have them at £199 and they will fly out. I dont know why TM dont do that straight away. Madness.

 

[Cernunnos]

I bet in 6 months the discount shop will have them at £199 and they will fly out. I dont know why TM dont do that straight away. Madness.

Because in 6 months they'd have to bang them out at £99 instead. But I do agree. Though they wouldn't fly out even at £199, though certainly a lot quicker than likely to at £349 or at any other rediculous price inbetween.

 

[Herbie]

Its strange but yesterday I was talking golf (objectively and humerously) with a pal and we talked about technology involved in the game today as compared to yesteryear. We got to the point where we agreed that in time there will be a club that self adjusts during the swing to bring the face square to the ball on impact using space age technology, that this would be in conjunction with players wearing a high tech harness which encourages or even forces the player to make the perfect swing, we even got to the point where we jokingly talked about lazer alignment lights which allowed perfect ball placement in conjunction with players stance which is also lazer guided, then minature jet propelled clubs that speed up the club head when its perfectly aligned, minature pocket survey equipment to give perfect lay of land which could be programmed into any shot set up. How we tittered about this and how boring and presessional golf would become like F1 racing did at one point and still seems so today where the biggest % of a race win is down to technology/team performance/reliability and then way down the line drivers ability. (I dont think Lewis hamilton would have received his award had he been driving for redbull)But then we sat back and realised that all these things are already here they just havent come togeather yet in minaturised format that can be collectively used on a course. And a further example of our discussion is here in this club as beautiful and advanced it may be it is simply a stepping stone to what me and my pal discussed. Who would have believed 20 yrs ago that golf clubs would be weight adjustable and face angle adjustable? 20 yrs from now will my beery discussion with a pal be a reality?

As good as this club looks and useful it may be, it now has movable working parts, so is it a mechanical device or a golf club or both? As with all things mechanical, they go wrong,wear out or break down. You get what you pay for

 

[wssadb]

It is nice but I think the best buys are the ones you find that have come down in price, you can get a cracking driver for £100. my local range are selling cobra's 08 range for 125 quid, what a steal!!!!