Taylormade R9

JONATHANM

Anyone get it?How is it?


Jonathan

ShriekingSheet

It's been very low key since it's hyped-up launch. I guess the new-driver-every-year-brigade have had their ranks thinned out somewhat.

It's also a bit much given the Burner Driver, Tour Burner and R7 Limited etc were all very recent releases by TM.

Anyway, no, I havent hit it or talked to anyone who has.

kagni

Strange that the latest and greatest driver from Taylor Made is only 420CC in size.
Whats the betting that in a few months/weeks we'll have an "improved" 460CC version, to be followed by numerous other improved versions.

Anyway to answer your question, I haven't got one, tried one or seen anyone else with and R9 yet.

Sandwich

kagni wrote: »

Whats the betting that in a few months/weeks we'll have an "improved" 460CC version, to be followed by numerous other improved versions.

Good chance allright. But its necessary so that they can then bring out an even newer and "improveder" smaller 425cc version (with unique club head logo) for the superior, discerning golfer, who need to 'work' the ball more than the 460cc permits.

PhilipMarlowe

Saw some random pro with an R9 cap being interviewed during the Andalucia Open while I was having lunch today... does that count?

kagni

Didn't have to wait as long as I thought, there's already an "R9 Max" available in Japan...

Blunder

I see Harrington is using the R9 now. I hope this is the first week of him using it because his driving last week wouldnt be the greatest advertisement for it!

Link

PhilipMarlowe

Strange, I read earlier today that he was putting his driver from two years ago back into the bag this week...

Mister Sifter

He used the r9 last week in Houston with a grafalloy prolite 35 shaft.

The week before he used a Wilson spine driver.

L.O.F.T

He brought the R9 and his old 905R out in practice and has said he will be using his 905R Titleist this week.

ShriekingSheet

Graeme1982 wrote: »

He used the r9 last week in Houston with a grafalloy prolite 35 shaft.

Surely that's not 35g is it??

Mister Sifter

ShriekingSheet wrote: »

Surely that's not 35g is it??

Yeah, it is. I'm pretty sure that's the weight he won the 07 open with too.

ShriekingSheet

Graeme1982 wrote: »

Yeah, it is. I'm pretty sure that's the weight he won the 07 open with too.

That's ridiculously light, is it not?

Like a stiff shaft off the shelf would be about 65g I'm pretty sure. I know weight does not equal flex but 35g would be lighter than what any weekend hacker is using.

I'm intrigued.

ShriekingSheet

Ohhhhh, hang on. Now I know which one the ProLite is! I used to use one ffs Was expecting it to be some new fangled tour shaft but it's a fairly old one.

It ain't 35 grams it's 64-66 grams according to the site which makes more sense. Also, the ProLaunch Red which I'm using now was based on the ProLite which I didn't know!

Mister Sifter

ShriekingSheet wrote: »

That's ridiculously light, is it not?

Like a stiff shaft off the shelf would be about 65g I'm pretty sure. I know weight does not equal flex but 35g would be lighter than what any weekend hacker is using.

I'm intrigued.

Yeah, it does seem a bit soft. Doesn't Woods use 103g?

ShriekingSheet

Graeme1982 wrote: »

Yeah, it does seem a bit soft. Doesn't Woods use 103g?

Didn't know that. The heaviest I've seen is one Couples used to use that was 85g.

Anyway, the "35" seems to actually refer to the 3.5 torque. Confusing because in the ProLaunch Blue the name = the weight ie: PL Blue 45 = 45 grams, PL Blue 75 = 75 grams etc. But the ProLite 35 is definitely not 35 grams. It says it's "ideal for golf's strongest players, especially Ireland's Licksy".

Mister Sifter

ShriekingSheet wrote: »

Didn't know that. The heaviest I've seen is one Couples used to use that was 85g.

Anyway, the "35" seems to actually refer to the 3.5 torque. Confusing because in the ProLaunch Blue the name = the weight ie: PL Blue 45 = 45 grams, PL Blue 75 = 75 grams etc. But the ProLite 35 is definitely not 35 grams. It says it's "ideal for golf's strongest players, especially Ireland's Licksy".

Woods used to use that a few years ago i'm almost certain. Then again, he's probably changed now!

ShriekingSheet

Anyway, I can see how some people might read this and think it's nonsense, and they'd probably be right. But the reality is there are some great shafts in the market out there at the moment.

For me, it's a simple choice. If you're fairly strong and hit it high, go for ProLaunch Red. If you're looking for an extra kick in terms of trajectory and distance, the ProForce V2 is also a great shaft.

Just my opinion and there are other good shafts out there but if someone asked me that's what I'd tell them.

PaulHardwick

ShriekingSheet wrote: »

It's been very low key since it's hyped-up launch. I guess the new-driver-every-year-brigade have had their ranks thinned out somewhat.

It's also a bit much given the Burner Driver, Tour Burner and R7 Limited etc were all very recent releases by TM.

Anyway, no, I havent hit it or talked to anyone who has.

That is what annoys me with taylormade. They are always brinnging out new clubs.

Remember when Titleist had the 975D as their driver for 5 years???

Money making scam.

Blunder

I dont think thats 100% fair. Aschunet have caught up recently in bringing out new clubs. The last Titleist driver lasted a little over 2 years I'd say.

And cobra have just brought out the S9 driver (Which is a beautiful Club) not so long after the last design so its not just taylormade at it.

Also there is no harm developing clubs if they are an improvement on the previous version. You dont have to buy them everytime a new one comes out.
I can see your point though about taylormade what with the burner and R ranges.

kagni

I've always heard that Harrington had some strange requirements when it comes to his clubs.
It's mad to see he is using a shaft that is at least 5 years old and sells for around $40. Considering all the R&D that goes into shaft development you would think he would be using some expensive high tech shaft.
I've also read that he has his 3-iron bent to 2-iron loft and extended to 1-iron length.

PhilipMarlowe

ShriekingSheet wrote: »

It says it's "ideal for golf's strongest players, especially Ireland's Licksy".

Erm.... I think you've lost the run of yourself there a bit sheet...

ShriekingSheet

Licksy wrote: »

Erm.... I think you've lost the run of yourself there a bit sheet...

Apologies, I was just taking the p*ss. The first bit is actually a direct quote from the site, which I thought was funny.

PaulHardwick

kagni wrote: »

It's mad to see he is using a shaft that is at least 5 years old and sells for around $40. Considering all the R&D that goes into shaft development you would think he would be using some expensive high tech shaft.

Shafts sell based on hype not performance, this just goes to prove the point.

ShriekingSheet

PaulHardwick wrote: »

Shafts sell based on hype not performance, this just goes to prove the point.

I'd go along with that to an extent.

But that said, I've recently had a bash of some old clubs of mine. One had the extremely popular (at the time) EI-70 shaft in it, the other had the ProForce predecessor to the V2 and the other was an all-black Grafalloy one, I'm not sure of the model.

Anyway, granted the heads were also old models but to be honest I was shocked at how cumbersome some of them felt compared to newer ones I've hit. There was just no life in the ProForce, a bit dead feeling.

My point being that while I get p*ssed off as much as most people about the repeated changes to prduct lines, there seems to me to be improvement happening. I'm not one for changing clubs every year, but would definitely be up for seeing what the new stuff is like every 2-3 years.

PaulHardwick

ShriekingSheet wrote: »

I'd go along with that to an extent.

But that said, I've recently had a bash of some old clubs of mine. One had the extremely popular (at the time) EI-70 shaft in it, the other had the ProForce predecessor to the V2 and the other was an all-black Grafalloy one, I'm not sure of the model.

Anyway, granted the heads were also old models but to be honest I was shocked at how cumbersome some of them felt compared to newer ones I've hit. There was just no life in the ProForce, a bit dead feeling.

My point being that while I get p*ssed off as much as most people about the repeated changes to prduct lines, there seems to me to be improvement happening. I'm not one for changing clubs every year, but would definitely be up for seeing what the new stuff is like every 2-3 years.

Woody uses an X100 steel shaft in his irons. That shaft has been about for about 15 years. Shows what he thinks of new technology.

My old 975D has the EI-70 shaft, Davis Love III was a big fan of the shaft, infact he might still use it.

In my opinion technology has not advanced for the last three years.

ShriekingSheet

PaulHardwick wrote: »

Woody uses an X100 steel shaft in his irons. That shaft has been about for about 15 years. Shows what he thinks of new technology.

My old 975D has the EI-70 shaft, Davis Love III was a big fan of the shaft, infact he might still use it.

In my opinion technology has not advanced for the last three years.

It's actually more like 30 years believe it or not.

But you can't really say that that "shows what he thinks of technology". He uses the SQII fairway woods and a prototype of the new Dymo driver! Obviously he uses the new irons he put his name to aswell.

Tiger does think that steel shafts haven't improved any but by the same token, he obviously feels the very latest blades, woods and drivers are the best.

I do agree with you that there far too much b*llox around the advertising and hyping of new gear but I also think that under it all, stuff is getting gradually nicer to use. That 975D with EI-70 was the bees knees and now (IMO) is quite poor compared to the G10 or D-series Titleist etc.