TaylorMade R9 Driver

Twire

Twire

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I’m very keen to give this club a go, but can’t make my mind up what it’s all about.

Is it a gimmick?

Is it the start of a new era of DIY custom fitting?

Or is it just for the gadget man?

I bought the TM Superquad 2 seasons ago and thought I’d be tweaking the weights every week to get the optimum out of the club and change them for different conditions. What happened in reality was I initially changed the set up for a draw, played a couple of games and didn’t like it. Then set it up for high trajectory, and loved it, and that’s where the weights have stayed.

Back to the R9 Driver, I could possibly see the same thing happening. Once it’s set for my optimum swing, would there be any benefits in me changing it?

I’m still undecided about the club, but don’t be surprised if you see it in my bag in the next couple of months.
 
Twiregolf,

There are two schools of TaylorMade thought regarding the adjustability of the R9. You can either move weights, change head position when you first get it to set something you love or you can make tweaks during the season in response to conditions/your form.

The R9 head is superb in its own right but the adjustability means that you should never be uncomfortable with it. This is where it's a real winner.

regards,

Neil T
 
Twiregolf,

There are two schools of TaylorMade thought regarding the adjustability of the R9. You can either move weights, change head position when you first get it to set something you love or you can make tweaks during the season in response to conditions/your form.

The R9 head is superb in its own right but the adjustability means that you should never be uncomfortable with it. This is where it's a real winner.

regards,

Neil T
Click to expand...

And the first cheque from TM is on it's way. :cool: IMO it's a bit like modern motorcycles with all the adjustable suspension....damping, rebound, preload, spring tension. The average guy in the street just wants to go out there and ride the thing..........sorry, just hit the thing. Good idea but it's just another situation to get us to part with the money and I'll bet my pension, not worth much, lots of golfers will find this confusing. I know one guy who is getting one right now because he thinks it's going to give him another 20 yards, just like that.
 
As I have said before, I like TM drivers, but the never sit square, either open, or closed. This is the first one that can be made to sit square. That to me is a good thing.

When I had my R7, I had it set up the way I wanted, and then never changed it again.

What this does is enable the shop / fitter to fit to alot of peoples differing characteristics, without carrying so much stock. Got to be a good thing.

Anyone who subsequently adjusts it is a fiddler, and will probably not play well with it, subsequently selling it on for half the cost, describing it as being junk.
 
If I was in the market for a new driver the R9 would be head of the queue for a try out. TM drivers just fit my eye nicely and have since my R300!!

I strayed after always going TM right up to an R7 TP, just thought the grass may be greener on the (any)other side. Went to a Titleist 905R, binned for a FT-5 and swiftly on to the MP 600. None compared with the R7, so after a kiss and make up am now back in bed with a Superquad. :D
 
The only problem i see with the R9 is it cost £350 ish which is a hell of wonga for a club what will be updated in 6 months???????

A few manufactuers are doing different face angles now and IMO come a year or 2 down the line will be more fairly priced

As for drivers for £180-£230 there is a mass of clubs with every option under the sun

I do like the idea of altering lie angles on fairways and rescues though
 
I think the price tag is off putting and too high even given the versatility of the performance with the amount of adjusting you can make. If I was going to offer an alternative to the R9 it would have to be the R7 Limited. Very traditional shape of head and very easy to use.
 
What was wrong with the 905R. This is widely regarded as one of the top 5 drivers ever made by anyone.
Click to expand...
Absolutely nothing, would have preferred a black finish as per the other post but apart from that it was great. It was just an irrational thought nagging me to go back to an R7.

Must say that the FT-5 and MP 600 will undoubtedly be great in some people's hands but, for me, they were awful!! :D
 
The advertising blurb for this beast says something like - now you can change your ball flight by 75 yards.

hell I don't need to pay 300 quid to be able to do that!!!
 
I was in AG last week browsing the 3 woods and I was approached by a member of staff trying to sell me the R9. I let him reel off the instruction book and then he showed me how the head angle be changed. I procceded to ask him why I can't do that with my wrists, which is free, and the R9 is over £300. There is no competition. Anyway, I won't be changing my R7 for a long time yet, unless it breaks.
 
I can't stand my R7 Superquad, its been sitting unused for many months. A chap at work tried it out at Celtic Manor yesterday & loved it. He was apparently getting 280 yard drives with it.Well he's welcome to it imo..

Each to their own. tbh I prefer the more classic lines of the Titleist 909 series drivers. Though the new R9 does look better than the R7. I'm really not sure even now, that that much adjustability is a good thing. Infact no, I think that much adjustability is bad. Its too much. Too much to go wrong, too much sticking plaster on a swing to try & hide inherant problems.
 
I play an R7 SQ TP and bought it for the open face. I had previously played Titty drivers from the 903E onwards and found that they got progressively worse and the final one was a hook machine despite a reshaft.

The R7SQ TP sets up really nicely but I was not a fan of the OEM fuji shaft so had that swapped out for Matrix F6M2, this brought the flight trajectory down (a little too much to be honest) and there was now a tendency for a little push block. Anyway I loaded a heavier weight at the back toe side location and all issues are now resolved. Flight is nice without being too high and the left side of the course is pretty much taken out of play unless I try for a draw(which is rarely).

My son has just bought a Tour spec R9(head only about GBP 500 and you thought the general release version is expensive lol)and it looks awesome, though yet to be shafted up.

I have tried the General release R9 but only with range balls and it is very nice, I like the head shape and how it sits. Having said that I will not be changing soon as I am too happy with my R7 at the moment. R9 promises much and I am sure it will live up to that promise. My view is the way to go with these adjustable clubs is to use them to fine tune an already very good custom fit club rather than look for changing on a game to game basis.

WRT what people say about prices you get what you pay for and TM are certainly front runners technology wise.
 
Is it worth £300 , yes it does look good but is any better than the superquad, i've the tour burner which is turning into a hooking machine no matter what i do . Maybe worth a try but am starting to sway towards the Titleist 909 any thoughts. :)
 
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