Clemente80

I have the Blue+ 5S and 5X, and I used to have the TR Black 5S. Not exactly what you’re asking about, but I basically had the same dilemma as you and I’ve settled on the Blue+ 5X. The biggest issue is that I couldn’t find anywhere to test so I bought it blind and I guessed right!

I had the R9 TP strong 3 wood back in the day and liked it. But as other have stated, tech has improved, and I have moved on from the R9 driver, 3 wood and irons. With a new club, you might get 20 yards, or you might not. But better performance is out there. The challenge I’ve found is that there are so many good options, it can be hard to find the head and shaft combos that optimizes things for you. Fitting is a good option but there are only so many head/shaft combos you can try in one hour, or before you get tired. And even then, you might not have your A game one day. Or the fitter might not be good. But don’t let any of the above deter you. Finding new clubs can be a lot of fun. And while one person said a new 3 wood doesn’t lower scores, you might find something that does. It might be something else, like a mini driver. Personally, I’ve moved on from 3 woods - I tried hybrids, super hybrids, and UWs - but I settled on a 2 iron and it works beautifully for me. I’d suggest keeping the R9 and experimenting with fittings and demos until you find the right club for your birthday present.