Taylormade R9 MAX Live Pics!

[gocchin]

One of the clubs that arrived Saturday was a new R9 Max. It's my first time playing with Flight Control Technology and as simple as the concept seems it took me a while to figure out that adjusting the face angle also changed the effective loft. The first thing I wanted to do was change the loft and I was thinking how do I do that with neutral left and right?? (^_^)

Technically speaking for every degree you change the face angle, you also change the effective loft by 0.6*. For ease of calculation, TM has decided on a 1 to 0.5 change ie the R9 Max goes a max of 3* open or closed so that would change the loft by 1.5*. There are also 1.5* increments in the FCT for face angle.

Here are the pics I took today. The Pic that says Neutral Face angle should say 10.5 degree loft.

[Duffer19]

T, the Max looks very much like the R7 Limited. Perhaps it is just a modified Limited with FCT feature. I would be interested to hear your comment when you have a chance to hit it with close face angle setting and higher loft and compare it with your new GN502.

[mkcshen]

Hi,

This is a nice looking driver.

I know there are different shafts available.

What's your opinion about the default Motore shaft? Or even the Motore F1 ($100 more)

Is it different from the U.S. R9 shaft?

What I saw on this site is the R9 Max default Motore shafter has a high kick point which produces a low ball trajectory. But the U.S. R9 on TaylorMadeGolf website shows the same Motore shaft (at least it looks the same) but it says mid (or maybe high) trajectory so sounds like a low kick point.

Does the ball trajectory also change with diff. FCT club head setting?

Thx!

[gocchin]

Hi,

This is a nice looking driver.

I know there are different shafts available.

What's your opinion about the default Motore shaft? Or even the Motore F1 ($100 more)

Is it different from the U.S. R9 shaft?

What I saw on this site is the R9 Max default Motore shafter has a high kick point which produces a low ball trajectory. But the U.S. R9 on TaylorMadeGolf website shows the same Motore shaft (at least it looks the same) but it says mid (or maybe high) trajectory so sounds like a low kick point.

Does the ball trajectory also change with diff. FCT club head setting?

Thx!

Of course the ball trajectory changes because the loft changes (^_^).

The stock shaft is a lighter more feel Japanese market version of the Motore.

I spent time at the range with the driver today and the overall heavier weight was not an issue for me, if anything it just slowed my tempo somewhat.

Feel of the R9 Max reminded me of the 2007 Burner driver in a good way.

I hit the driver on 3* closed and 12* loft and the ball definitely went high and left. I then hit it on 3* open and 9* loft and the ball was lower and right so yes FCT works. (^_^)

The shaft feels pretty good and the driver has good balance even with the added weight of FCT.

As for differences between the R9 and R9 Max, I'll put them here again:

1. The R9 Max is 460cc large and is meant to be more forgiving than its 420cc R9 brother. The larger head inspires confidence for those who need it.

2. The R9 Max has only one weight port but has a larger left right spread than the R9 thanks to its ability to adjust face angle by 3* either way.

3. With the 3* face angle either way, effective loft is changed 1.5* stronger or weaker. (TM has used the simple calculation, every 1* the face angle is changed equals 0.5* for loft.

4. The stock Motore shaft for the R9 Max is lighter than the US Spec R9 by 10+ grams. The R9 drivers are heavier as it is. The lighter shaft is good for feel and distance for us average folks.

5. The best upgrades are available for the R9 Max and R9 Japan Market drivers including the Tour AD EV series, Diamana Kai'li and very hot Fujikura Speeder Motore. More shafts are on the way.

[Spoon]

that looks so cool. cant wait for your feedback.

[ukok]

Do the Japanese spec R9 shafts fit all R9 models including non Japanese spec.

[gocchin]

I am guessing they would though I have not compared the R9 FCT sleeve and the R9 Max FCT sleeve. They have different levels of adjustment as noted above but I don't know if that physically changes the FCT sleeve itself. I will compare the two shafts and sleeves later this week.

[Ginrin]

Hi T, Could you send me that head when you finish with it?

Hope all is well

[medfordoregon]

I see that the retail heads have serial numbers like our US equipment. I was curious about the Tour Issued heads, do they have the T xxxxx serial numbers like our US Tour Issued heads?

Thanks for the updates. I've just purchased the JPGA 10.5 * head and placed a order for the new UST Attas to go with it.

Looking forward to giving the combination a test.

[Tyler Knott Gregson]

I can't wait to hear some feedback on this thing behaves on the range. I know it woudln't be an issue, but I always got the feeling things wouldn't feel Solid enough with all these movable, changeable parts. Does that make sense? Is this an issue, or not at all?

Great looking driver.

[medfordoregon]

I can't wait to hear some feedback on this thing behaves on the range. I know it woudln't be an issue, but I always got the feeling things wouldn't feel Solid enough with all these movable, changeable parts. Does that make sense? Is this an issue, or not at all?

Great looking driver.

I've beem a TM guy for a few years, and before that Callaway. I'll play whatever brand that feels good and plays well.

As far as feeling Solid, the R9 420 cc version is about the best dialed in driver I could hope for, very accurate and pretty low spin.

The R9 460 MAX is going to have it's hand's full to knock it out of the bag.

I bought the same 10.5* head, so it should be a pretty good comparison. I'm not one that likes to work the ball, I want accuracy, distance and a consistant ball flight.

I guess that's not asking for much is it?