Overview/Technology-
Well, the long awaited arrival is bestowed upon us, the introduction of the Taylormade R9. The R9 has received as much fanfare a new driver can receive. And even though the jury is still out on it’s overall performance early indications are positive – the R9 has gotten some good reviews.
Taylormade made it clear out of the gate that the R9 will be it’s touted flagship. Flight Control Technology (FCT), Movable Weight Technology, Inverted Cone Technology (ICT), and Ultra Thin Wall Technology, top the list of technological advances TM put into this driver.
Flight Control Technology – This is a cool and upcoming technology. This allows the player to easily move or change loft, lie and face angle! FCT uses a sleeve that is positioned over the tip of the shaft to accomplish. The sleeve can be rotated into different positions, changing the characteristics of the head, by loosening the bolt that secures the sleeve and shaft into the clubhead.
Movable Weight Technology – is nothing new for TM. The clubhead weight can be changed to by the player to change the characteristics of the club. This allows the golfer to optimize CG.
Inverted Cone Technology – has also been available for some time and become quite prevalent, Taylormade and other driver manufacturers as well. Nevertheless, it’s a sound technology that is gaining in popularity. ICT optimizes the behavior of the clubface at impact, creating for an expanded COR zone.
Ultra Thin Wall Technology – this technology is also gaining steam amongst today’s drivers. This allows saved weight and makes the incorporation of MWT and FCT possible.
Taylormade R9 Specs-
The R9 comes in 8.5, 9.5, and 10.5 with 59 degree lie angle. For those that like the sleeker, smaller clubhead, you are in for a treat. Similar to the R7 model, the R9 in 422 cc for the 10.5, 420 cc in the 9.5 and 418 cc for the 8.5 418 cc, well under the norm of 460 cc.
Actual Player Feedback-
“Yes, they did do it again. I played my first round with the R9 Driver and was in total awe”
“This driver is amazing”
“I have played many Taylormade Drivers and this one is the best”
Pros/Positives-
Well received with great reviews so far… this will be another popular driver by Taylormade. Great features including the new Flight Control Technology and shaft options, including the Fujikura Motore, Mitsubishi Fubuki and the Aldila VooDoo and Matrix X-Con, make this a must-try this spring.
Cons/Negatives-
Too many options for the player? Well, this could definitely overwhelm many recreational players. For the avid, more advanced player however, it just adds more arsenal.
Overall Rating-
Great driver that has lived up to it’s fanfare. You should try this driver out this spring, it’s beginning to catch fire and will soon be one of the better drivers available. Give the Taylormade R9 a good look this year.
the best driver i have ever tried.played my 1st round today.long and on target.just have try of a demo AWESOME
I just recieved the R9 as a gift can the shaft be changed from a reg to a stiff
Mark,
Lucky! No reason why you can’t, get a good club fitter.
What is the range of loft with r9.
I played a Demo r9 last week for the 1st time. It is by far the best feeling driver i have ever hit!! I will have me one of those badboys!!!
I used the new R9 on a course I never played before and made an Ace on the first hole using the draw setting and the new Pro V-1 on a 368yrd par 4. You will never get this driver out of my bag!!!!
Switched from the r7 Ltd. 10.5(which is a grest driver…but sometimes with stock shaft, if I swing hard I can get it hooking from the netural weight position) The r9/9.5 with a slight adjustment one notch to R position(fade) solved the problem!!! The ball flight is lower and boring with slight draw and very long. I’ve tried to swing as hard as I can/draw stance and no more hook. I’m very impressed. This driver inspires confidence….
Be careful with this driver!!
The sleeve for the shaft adjustment is very stiff.
also it does not change as much as advertised.
Also not as long as r7 limited.
Be very careful with ur $400.00 this not for the everyday Joe.
I got the R9 TP 8.5 at the weekend. I had the R7 TP 9.5 but was hitting it too high(had the Grafalloy Blue Stiff shaft in it).
When i tried the R9TP 8.5 on the TP Setting with the Taylor Made guys 2 weeks ago with an X flex shaft and i was booming it. However first time out i was pushing shots right. I tried tinkering with the FCT and the weights but to no real effect. I was thinking about going back to my R7 till i took the 6 gram weight from my R7 and put it in the port where the 16 gram weight was and the difference was phenomenal. Everything was straight low and very long. Some drifted right with a touch of fade but still they went a long way. I’ve hit two of our par fives in 2 now off the back tees because of this driver. Only got one of the eagles though!!!
I now own the Burner 2009 with the Fuji standard shaft and a Burner 2009 with the Matrix Xcon-5 shaft but not the TP head and the R9 with the standard shaft and a Matrix Xcon-5 shaft ..The Burner with the Matrix shaft is 20 yards longer than either the Burner with the standard shaft or the R9 with standard shaft the difference for me and my swing (13 handicap) is on a miss hit the R9 is shorter but in the fairway not the same with the Burner standard shaft even miss hits are long but that is not always a good thing even short the R9 is in the fairway. I just got the Matrix for the R9 today and have not hit it yet but I ordered it with a plus 3/4 inch shaft. I am hoping it is as long as my Burner with the Matrix shaft but more forgiving but I must confess I am not expecting it to out perform my Burner with the Matrix shaft
yes i have the new r9 and hit it 500 yards on a par 5 yeah right!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I purchased the R9 (8.5 degree) Driver & have played one round with it! I will tell you this is a sweet feeling driver! I have a stiff Motore 65 shaft & have left my settings at neutral. The trajectory is nice & low, just the way I like it. I am hitting just a slight draw & can’t ask anymore out of the driver!
I drove the ball onto the back of the Ninth green at Red Hawk Ridge in Castle Rock, CO, 365yrd par 4… Not much down hill!!!!
You may remember back in April I had a hole in one on a par 4 using the R9 driver. Well believe it or not I had another one on 10-6-09 I had another one in TEE it UP for the TROOPS sponsored by Hooters. It was a 313 yard par 4 this time. You really need to try this driver it is the best feeling and most consistant driver I have ever had,
Wow Heath, is that for real!?
Check the Guinness World Recrods bro’! You may be sitting a book or a movie deal 🙂
I absolutely love my new Taylormade R9 Superdeep TP with a UST ATTAS 8X shaft. I was giving a playing lesson to a member and his son and at Rock Creek Golf Club on hole number 12 a 361 par 4 dogleg left I made another ace. All my info on aces has been turned over to Guiness Book of World record so we will see.
You have got to be kidding…3 aces on par 4s in 14 months? And I read somewhere you aced a par 3, 3 days before on Nov 6th? At Willow Springs? SO not counting anything else I havent heard here, you have had 4 aces since May 2009, and 3 of those on par 4s?
anyone able to tell me the difference between r9 supertri r9 superdeep and r9 460