Taylormade R9 SuperTri Driver

I remember back to when I first started playing golf and my 1 wood was exactly that it was made of wood and damn heavy to boot, but at the time no one knew any better. Then you get your first metal head driver and it pretty much is like swinging a lump of lead around, but as things have evolved clubs are now much lighter and a great deal easier to swing. The Taylormade R9 SuperTri Driver is probably the most complexed and complete driver I have tried.

The club I was given to test was the right handed, 9.5 degree head with a Fujikura Motore 60, stiff shaft which fits in with all regulations of allowed clubs and all that competition stuff that can cost you dear if you are unaware. OK so some sales bumph before we tell you how the round went:

TaylorMade R9 Super Tri Driver

The TaylorMade R9 Super Tri Driver offers terrific distance that is achieved through optimization. This club has a 460cc head and a lower cg, meaning long shots that get you to the green faster. This club promotes up to 75 yards of side-to-side trajectory change for straighter, longer tee shots. This club has a new aerodynamic shape with deeper face, meaning bigger hits with more spin, which carries the ball farther.

Additional Features:

Body Construction: Titanium
Shaft: Fujikura Motore 60
USGA conforming

Now normally when I test a club I take it to the range and give it 100 range balls to see how the club handles, but due to me being late arriving at the course for my round I had to forego my usual warm up and make straight for the first tee where my buddies were waiting for me. As I stepped up to take my first drive on the long par 4 opening hole it was remarked on that I was cheating as I had some sort of futuristic club! A few practice swings and I then hit my first ball with the Taylormade R9 SuperTri Driver…..

Remember the film “Tin Cup” when golf pro Roy Macklevoy spoke about the ringing in your loins when you hit that sweet shot, well that was pretty much the feeling I got when I hit this club for the first time. the perfect draw from the centre of the club (with cries of “Bandit” and “Cheat” from behind) finishing around 290 yards in the centre of the fairway. This was the result on all but two of the drives, one was wayward left because of an over corrective stance and the other was long and in the rough because I under estimated the distance to the dog leg.

I have to say I would have probably been able to control the ball better with the draw and distance had I had time on the driving range with the club before going out onto the course, but the overall thoughts on the Taylormade R9 SuperTri Driver are that it is one hell of a club but it can take a little getting used to. In my party of 4 on the course I had two 28 handicappers who had a go with the club, both were aware that the club was very much different to the basic clubs in their bag and they struggled with the overall club head speed. With that in mind the shaft was completely different and the club itself capable of a lot more than they were used to.

The general conclusion is that the club is pretty special but with that in mind I would suggest strongly to get the right advice on the club shaft that you are going to use with this. As mentioned before I used the Fujikura Motore 60 stiff shaft and at the moment my handicap is around the 14 mark so it is worth keeping in mind that a regular shaft would be better for a higher handicapper. Just remember to get down the range and practice with this beast of a club and keep it hidden from the wife she may get a little jealous!

Taylormade R9 SuperTri Driver
	$350.00
TaylorMade R9 Supertri Driver (460cc) : right, 10.5 Fujikura Motore 60 Graphite (Regular)
	$399.95
Men’s TaylorMade R9 SuperTri Driver
	$399.99
TaylorMade R9 SuperTri Driver

The Callaway Big Bertha Diablo Driver is what we like to call a beast of a club. There are certain clubs that look mean, certain clubs that have a real technological look and feel and then there are clubs that were made to just (in the words of Tin Cup) Grip it and Rip it. The Big Bertha Diablo Driver in my opinion is one of the latter.

Callaway have managed to get the horns into the design but only in the form of a logo on the face and bottom of the club as you can see from the images below. When we arrived at the driving range with the Diablo Driver we were actually really pleased with it, before a ball was hit the general practice swings felt good and smooth along with a really nice ball address. Then we tried it with a ball…..

OK Sales bumph below before we go into all that…

CALLAWAY Big Bertha Diablo Neutral Driver Callaway Big Bertha Diablo Neutral Driver Finally, a driver that combines wicked power and distance with the generous sweet spot Callaway Golf s Big Bertha is famous for. Edge Technology provides a high MOI ) and an optimized center of gravity location for this Diablo Neutral Driver that produces long, penetrating ball flights with the desired shot shape. It also helps golfers release the club at impact with full power, especially when swinging aggressively. Hyperbolic Face Technology increases ball speed across the entire face of the club helping send balls further down the fairway, even on miss-hits. Features: Hyperbolic Face Technology: creates Callaway s highest ever ball speeds across the entire face Edge Technology: optimizes CG location and ball flights with a higher MOI and helps release the club at impact with max power Neutral head shape allows you to select a driver that will most benefit your typical shot shape S2H2 Design increases discretionary weight to add stability

Sounds complicated doesn’t it? Well basically it is far more complicated than it needs to be and lets face it you are here for a proper golf club review on what the club is actually like. So carrying on from where we left off….

The club strikes the ball with one of the most thumping sounds I have heard from a golf club in the last 3 years, ever since the Nike Square thingy that made that horrible thwack sound, this club is as predicted a beast. For the higher handicapped golfer this club would probably help reduce their score a little but it may take a little getting used to as do all new higher end clubs. However this club as a very large sweet spot on it and if you are a little erratic when it comes to your drives then this could be the club for you.

Slowing down your swing and building up a little at a time would benefit you greatly with this club as it would no doubt give a greater and more forgiving shot if you nurtured your swing to work with the Callaway Big Bertha Diablo Driver. For the lower handicapper then if you are looking for a big benefit from a new driver you would probably not get as much from it as a higher handicapper but the 9 degree face is a beauty if you catch it right.

Callaway Big Bertha Diablo Driver
		$121.99
Mens/Right Callaway Big Bertha Diablo Driver 9° Driver Neutral
		$129.00
Callaway Big Bertha Diablo Driver
		$149.99
Callaway Big Bertha Diablo Driver (Neutral, Right-Handed, Graphite, Stiff, 10-Degree)

The first thing I noticed before I had even picked it up was the fact that it has this kind of go faster wing around the top of the head, it hard to describe it is supposed to be a groove and create less drag on the swing it does make the TaylorMade Tour Burner TP a little more distinctive. Next thing was the weight, it is according to the bumph 17% lighter than other drivers and it does actually feel much lighter in the initial pick up of the club. Then you swing it and the club is noticeably lighter through the whole motion of the swing.

Sales bumph below:

TaylorMade Tour Burner More legendary burner speed and power for the serious golfer. * Dual crown and weighted power-base promote increased carry and distance * Modern head shape promotes lower, deeper and precision-placed CG for higher launch angle and lower spin * SuperFast Technology promotes increased swing speed, faster ball speed and added distance * Inverted Cone Technology dramatically expands the portion of the clubface that delivers high COR for consistently longer drives on off-center hits * SuperFast 60-gram shaft is exceptionally lightweight and stable to promote greater distance and accuracy

Now where I would normally stick with clubs that are suitable for the average club player in my opinon this is for the more advanced golfer, basically anyone with a 15 or higher handicap is going to struggle to get to grips with this club quickly. It took me a while to get used to the lighter weight and the faster head speed that came with the lighter weigh. Also the Superfast 60 gram shaft is designed to give max distance and if you have a slower swing speed this will effect your ball control as it will twist less in the swing effecting your impact zone.

The club is priced by Austad’s at $399.95 and if you are an improving player looking for a club to increase distance I would advise going for a different club, either the Callaway FT-5 or the Nike Sumo2 5900 range which has a better accuracy for the higher handicapper and although the sound is wrong (oh so wrong) the clubs themselves offer a good range of improvement for the higher handicapper.

All in all the TaylorMade Tour Burner TP is a very good club that takes technology of the game to yet another level with reduction in weight and the increase in head speed. The unfortunate thing is that it will mean that courses need to increase their lengths in order to keep par 4 challenging.

Taylormade Tour Burner TP
		$168.93
TAYLORMADE PreOwned Tour Burner TP Driver

There is sales bumph as you can imagine:

TaylorMade Tour Burner Driver – New for 2008 ! Pre Book for Mid April Delivery ! Features Dual crown with small, thin top with large, weighted power-base has a low, precision-placed center of gravity for low, tour-caliber spin and longer distance at higher swing speeds Inverted Cone Technology promotes a fast ball speed from a larger portion of the face for longer distance on off-center hits 60-g SuperFast shafts are engineered for faster swing speeds and increased distance RE*AX SuperFast 60 shaft by Fujikura Shaft Torque: 3.1 except for Flex R (3.2) Tip Size: .350 in Butt Diameter: .600 in Grip: TV Lite 60 Grip Weight: 44 g

Now having seen that there is an offer to pre-order I am guessing that there is a big price tag attached to this new beast of a driver that offers low spin and higher trajectory but the TaylorMade Tour Burner Driver looks the part before I have even come close to getting to grips with it I have a feeling it is going to be a nice club, but I thought that about the Nike Sumo2 5900 as well so watch this space I will get hold of one this week and tell all.

But if you want to catch a glimpse of it (and lets face it that is all it will be to start with) see if you can see Mike Weir at the Masters today he is apparently carrying one in his bag at the moment.

QUICK UPDATE
I have managed to get hold of the TaylorMade Tour Burner Driver today so will drop an update to the site tomorrow.

Taylormade Tour Burner Driver
		$81.93
TAYLORMADE PreOwned Tour Burner Driver

Its been a busy week for me, as I mentioned on twitter to Golf Girl Patricia Hannigan earlier this week the weather has changed back to blue skies and fantastic sunshine and it has been a complete return to the course and getting in as much golf as possible. So it was time for me to take the Cleveland Hibore XLS out on the course for a proper outing.

Having already taken the Cleveland Hibore XL 2007 out to the range in the pooring rain I have to say I am a little impressed at the smooth look and feel of the club. It sits right in your hands and has a natural look to it even with its sunken back.

Sales bumph below:

Cleveland Hibore XLS Gold 2008 Driver – RH Graphite Higher inertia = more consistency across the face = more shots go longer and straighter = tighter shot dispersion down the range.Introducing the new XLS series from Cleveland Golf. With Distance Driven Geometry, Full Face Performance, and and Energy Transfer Core, this entire line of clubs is bound to have you playing and looking your best. Distance Driven Geometry: Moves weight lower and deeper in the club head. This optimized Center of Gravity location aligns the Center of Gravity Projection with the C.O.R. Hot Spot in the center of the face, resulting in optimal launch conditions and greater overall distance. Full Face Performance: Alignment of Sweet Spot and C.O.R. Hot Spot produces optimal launch conditions over a large area of the face, maximizing ball-speed for increased driving distance. Energy Transfer Core: An engineered system of thin, lightweight titanium spines directs impact energy to the ball to create more efficient energy transfer and high ball speeds from impact locations. HiBORE XLS Draw Driver: This club is designed for players who tend to fade or slice. A forward hosel design, internal heel weighting, and a draw biased face combine to eliminate slices and maximize distance. A 3o closed face promotes a draw flight. At 17% larger than the HiBORE XL, the face is Cleveland’s largest ever and among the biggest on the market. Full Face Performance (FFP) extends the “Hot Zone” of maximum .830 COR across a larger portion of the face creating more distance from both solid shots and mishits alike. Features maximum USGA club head dimensions to push the MOI limit. 5300 MOI represents a 13% increase from the HiBORE XL for control off the tee leading to straighter drives. Heel and toe “stability foils” signify where weight has been added to the perimeter of the clubhead to maximize stability. Gold Standard Trajectory Shaft: Low-Mid kickpoint and active tip section for increased launch angle. Higher ball speed and optimal trajectory results in maximum distance with smooth feel at impact.

Now the first thing I noticed about this club is the club head it is massive compared to the 2007 version. The Cleveland Hibore XLS 2008 has a club face that is around (according to the bumph) 17% larger than the previous version. This means it has a larger sweet spot and is a lot more forgiving for those golfers looking to take their club head speed up a level and still get the control.

The technology the club uses means that the weight from the back of the club is channeled directly into the sweet spot giving a greater control of the club face at point of impact.

At the moment there are so many new drivers hitting the market it is impossible to say that any of them don’t meet up to being a good club to have in your bag because of the fact that technology is making clubs better and easier to use. The Cleveland Hibore XLS Gold is no exception its not as long as the Nike Sumo2 SQ 5900 Driver but because of the size of the club face the control is in my opinion as good. One special thing that Cleveland have added is a little hologram that turns yellow to show that the club is genuine see if the fakers can crack that one. Cost of the club is around $299 and I personally feel it is a good driver.

Cleveland Hibore XLS Gold Driver
		$99.99
2nd Hand Cleveland HiBore XLS (Gold) Driver
		$149.95
Cleveland Mens Hibore XLS 2008 Gold Hybrid – RH Graphite

I am a fairly big fan of the Cleveland lob wedges but have always steered clear of their other clubs, so seeing the Cleveland HiBore CL 460 Ti with the Gold shaft in the pro shop today it was time to break the norm and take it for a test. Its out on the covered range for the test as the weather is still bad and the course is alas closed.

Now I am used to a driver being a large club head and I am slowly coming around to the new HiBore designs that have the dipped back, which gives in my opinion better ball control. The Cleveland Hibore XL 460 Ti has this very design and as in my previous experience with the clubs of this design it has that control but it also has a few differences that surprised me a little.

First off some sales bumph below:

Cleveland HiBore XL 460 Ti Gold Driver – RH Graphite The Cleveland HiBORE XL driver features a special geometry that moves weight lower and deeper into the clubhead, optimizing the center of gravity (CG) location for ideal launch conditions. For maximum ball speed, the XL has a larger sweet spot compared to traditional large-volume drivers and, paired with the deep CG, its high moment of inertia (MOI) increases stability on off-center hits. The result is greater overall distance and tighter shot dispersion over the entire face. Distance Driven Geometry: Moves weight lower and deeper in the clubhead to optimize CG location with the C.O.R. Hot Spot for optimal launch conditions. Full Face Performance: Alignment of the Sweet Spot with the C.O.R. Hot Spot produces optimal launch conditions for efficient energy transfer High Moment of Inertia: High MOI and deeper CG provide increased stability on off-center hits, leading to greater distance and a tighter shot dispersion over the entire face. Gold Shaft Low/Mid Kick Point 60g Shaft 3.5 Torque

The club gives good control of each shot and when hitting slightly off centre it is forgiving as with most clubs these days, but the Cleveland HiBore XL Driver also has a good control of trajectory. What I mean by this is with different tee heights still produced a solid trajectory of the ball, this isn’t always the case but I found this club very consistent.

The one thing I did find with the Cleveland HiBore XL Ti was that when I tee’d up for a lower trajectory and a slightly topped ball missed the sweet spot completely and resulted in what can only be described as ugly sound and an even uglier shot, this wasn’t forgiving.

Overall though a nice club and more affordable than some of the other clubs as it currently has $100 off due to the release of the new driver Cleveland have released, which I will be taking a look at next week, when I hope the weather is a little better than when I tested the Cleveland HiBore XL 460 Ti Driver cause to say I got wet was an understatement even under the covers of the range!

When I was choosing my driver I was very conscious of the fact that I was driving well and didn’t really want to effect that by changing club but was also aware that my driver was costing me yardage every game. At the time I was using a Callaway which had a 10.5 degree loft so taking out the Cobra HS9 for the first time was a little bit of a shock to the golf swing. Really was a hard hat session for everyone involved, I topped the ball then knocked it so far up in the air that it dropped back down with snow on. It wasn’t looking good. The main reason was due to going down to a 9 degree loft on the driver, amazingly that 1.5 degree made all the difference. After spending 30 mins with my golf pro I was cured and falling into that “I must have this club!” mindset that I get every now and again.

The club is designed to the edge of the technology and looks the part as you will see below the club looks a little bit of a beast. Sales Bumph Below:

King Cobra HS9 460CC High Speed F Driver – RH Graphite Largest 460cc Face Area: The largest driver face, combined with a patented milled rhombus face geometry, generates an even hotter 9 Points clubface.  This is achieved via greater flex across the face for superior distance and accuracy. High Modulus Carbon Integration: Carbon Composite Integration in the driver clubhead’s crown and sole shifts weight lower and further back.  This creates higher MOI and launch for deeper, straighter drives from every point across the face. Triple Weighting System (TWS):  The Triple Weighting System also lowers the CG and increases the MOI for longer, more accurate drives. HS9 drivers and Fairway Metals are Speed Tuned to each individual golfer,using custom heads, shafts and grips to maximize distance and accuracy.

Now unlike the Nike Sumo2 5900 and the Callaway FT-i the Cobra HS9 is not priced to send you bankrupt the club can be purchased for around $199 at the moment probably due to the release of the newer drivers from Nike and Callaway. Since the first day when I had the initial problems with the club I have not had any problems or complaints with any of the King Cobra Golf Clubs that I have purchased or tested and the Cobra HS9 is no different.

I would recommend anyone that is looking to improve their game with a good solid driver that allows distance and control to seriously consider the King Cobra HS9.

A few days back I tried out the first attempt that Nike had made which I had been putting off because of the fact that the new one was on the horizon. What I wasn’t expecting was a club that was not only a challenger to the old driver but also my beloved King Cobra which has frequented my bag for a while now.

Unlike normal where I would give you the sales bumph there is none that I can post which comes through my usual suppliers. However I do have a picture for you all to drool over:

The great Tiger Woods has given the Nike SQ Sumo2 5900 Driver the seal of approval saying it is the straightest and longest drives that any golfer can hope for. So when I got my hands on it was I disappointed? In a word NO.

There is a hedge at the end of my local driving range with the regulatory net to stop the ball flying onto the 6th fairway. With this club the golf pro and I decided that the ball will now be close to clearing the fence with my swing then it might be an idea to have the fence made higher.

The feel of the club is light and natural, this comes through in the strike of the ball. Forgiving, straight and very long, an extra 20 yards on my distance.

It wouldn’t be right if I didn’t find something slightly wrong with it and it is a plea to the makers of any square headed golf club please please please bring back that beautiful ting sound that drivers are supposed to make. I live on a golf course and its so much nicer to hear the sound of a ting than the thwack that they all think sounds so powerful! The 5900 is much better but it could still use a little more of a tweak to get that old sound back. Although now much much better than the first attempt.

There is however another snag with the club it retails at the moment at $399 it is a little expensive but if you are looking to add a straight and very long drive to your game then it is money well spent. Austad’s Golf have a great service and I happily recommends them as a supplier for the Nike SQ SUMO2 5900 Driver.

Also In the Hole Golf also have great deals on shipping at the moment as well if you are looking to cut the cost of the Nike SQ SUMO2 5900 Driver a little, they also have some sales bumph for you to cast your eyes on:

Nike SasQuatch Sumo2 5900 Driver Nike SasQuatch Sumo2 5900 Driver Fortunately, there’s no limit on how straight you can hit. With the SasQuatch SUMO² 5900, Nike engineers have pushed MOI, volume and impact efficiency to the USGA limits, all in one club. The result is the straightest, most accurate driver we’ve ever made. -SQ SUMO² 5900 Geometry: We pushed the shape in all directions to improve performance. The SQ SUMO² 5900 has a deeper face, a convex crown, and redefined body shaping to increase ball speed and accuracy. -Nike PowerBow Weighting: Weight is repositioned to the farthest corners of the Nike PowerBow design, optimizing head stability and delivering ultimate accuracy. -Multi Thickness Face: We’ve delivered the geometry for stability, the shafts for control and speed, and now we’ve optimized the entire face to maximize faster ball speeds from every point on the face.

I have to admit it was the first squared driver I had used fully out on the course which was possibly one of the reasons I didn’t feel that is was ideal to my game. I had massive problems moving the ball right to left as the club hits the ball much to straight.

The long and straight promotion is 100% true but if you are used to moving the ball around from right to left or left to right then this is not the club for you. HOWEVER if you play the game where you want to hit long and straight then this is a good golf club. It makes that ugly sound that is a break from the normal ting when you hit it but the distance is very good.

Sales Bumph below (but remember there is a reason why I am posting this now):

NIKE SasQuatch Sumo Squared Driver with Graphite Shaft Nike SasQuatch Sumo Squared Driver with Graphite Shaft : The Nike SasQuatch Sumo Squared Driver offers a whole new outlook on driver design and technology. With a unique square-shaped head, the Sumo Sqared sports the highest MOI in golf and all the performance and innovation that you ve come to expect from Nike Golf . Click Image Below for Detail Radical Square Geometry Delivers superior forgiveness and greater distance. Radical Square Geometry Delivers superior forgiveness and greater distance. class= thickbox rel= detail > Mulitmaterial Construction and Geometry Moves the CG further back and lower than the original SasQuatch Driver and offers the highest MOI in golf. Mulitmaterial Construction and Geometry Moves the CG further back and lower than the original SasQuatch Driver and offers the highest MOI in golf. class= thickbox rel= detail >

So thats good distance, hits straight and the current price on the above buy button is $299 which is $100 cheaper than it was a month ago! So why would I not buy this club? Well one very simple reason, I heard a rumor that proved to be true and is the reason I have been holding off on this post. The new Nike SQ SUMO 2 5900 Driver is being released to the world on the 1st of February 2008 and if what I have heard is true then it knocks socks off the old one.

I am not completely sure when I will be able to get my hands on the 5900 but I will be trying hard to try it within the first week of it being released.

So I watched before I tried this one, the guy who was using the FT-i and the more confident he became on the range the harder he was hitting the ball. The faster the head speed the more off line his drives were. This was over 3 weeks ago, today I managed to get to a demo day for Callaway (lots of goodies) and was able to give the FT-i 25th Anniversary Limited Addition for a test drive myself.

The second thing you notice (if you haven’t heard the sound of someone hitting it first) is the club head which is square, as with the Nike SQ it is to improve the accuracy, my personal opinion is that these square head clubs are ugly! Yes you heard me UGLY! I mean they look like they fell out of the Ugly tree and hit every branch on the way down. However the club has other qualities that make it a little more special than its looks and sound!

The club is as light as a feather and I have to say the action of the club was in itself an easy to swing club with a fair amount of movement in the shaft. The club face is massive in fact it is the largest on every tour and only just in the boundries of the rules but it is also very forgiving. HOWEVER I have to say that for those with a faster swing, getting a head speed of around 105 and up will find that this club has a little bit too much drag to be completely effective.

Sales Bumph Below:

CALLAWAY FT-i Tour Draw Driver with Graphite Shaft Callaway FT-i Tour Draw Driver with Graphite Shaft: The FT-i driver from Callaway Golf represents a quantum leap in driver design. With the revolutionary 460cc Complete Inertial Design, the FT-i Driver pushes the boundaries of shape, of our imagination, of the rules. This design precisely positions weight to the extreme corners of the clubhead, producing an incredibly high Moment of Inertia. Callaway s largest, hottest CT/VFT Titanium cup face is designed to the legal limit, resulting in increased ball speed, distance and forgiveness. Also incorporated is the OptiFit Weighting System that produces the optimal center of gravity configuration. The FT-i Tour Driver features a slightly open face angle for a look preferred by more accomplished players. Designed by the industry’s leading minds, the FT-i Driver will break barriers of performance, distance and forgiveness. Click Image Below for Detail Carbon Composite Body Lighter than titanium, this construction improves stability and distance. Carbon Composite Body The material used to make the body is significantly lighter than titanium, allowing Callaway Golf engineers to move discretionary weight where it is needed most, resulting in better stability and distance. class= thickbox rel= detail > CT/VFT Titanium Cup Face Callaway s largest, hottest face for increased ball speed on shots hit all over the face. 460cc Complete Inertial Design Positions discretionary weight to the extreme corners of the clubhead, raising the MOI for unparalleled resistance to twisting both horizontally and vertically, providing forgiveness on shots hit all over the face. Fusion Technology Proprietary technology creates maximum perimeter weighting and more discretionary weight for precise positioning of the CG and exceptional stability on off-center hits, enabling ball flight customization for optimal individual performance.

So thats a quick review of the Callaway FT-i Driver again a nice driver but if you have a quick head speed you may find that it has a little too much drag.