Taylormade R9 (non-TP)

ChristopherMcDonald · April 14, 2015

These are one of my favorite looking irons taylormade has ever released. My question is:

How forgiving are they? I definitely need the forgiveness offered by my Wilson CI-7's, so will the match up or will they be far more demanding? if anything, i would rather move to something MORE forgiving instead of the other way around. I am also on a tight budget so the cheaper the better for me right now. (Other option would be speedblade, or something like that)

Any opinions would be appreciated. And if anyone has a set for a reasonable price, please don't post in this thread, rather PM me about it.

Thanks!

KjBowen · April 14, 2015

I played both..

Ci-7 and R9 are similar.. I would say the R9 is pretty close in forgiveness. Be careful with the stock shafts in the R9.. The KBS is a little weak IMO. I ballooned them pretty bad. Change the shafts if that is the case

ChristopherMcDonald · April 14, 2015

[quote name='KjBowenWRX' timestamp='1429055404' post='11360041']
I played both..

Ci-7 and R9 are similar.. I would say the R9 is pretty close in forgiveness. Be careful with the stock shafts in the R9.. The KBS is a little weak IMO. I ballooned them pretty bad. Change the shafts if that is the case
[/quote]

Damn that's the one thing I was worried about. I don't want to have to reshaft. Maybe I can come across one with some other shafts in them.

Maybe I should just go with the speed blades.. Had them in a regular (to see if I needed to go down in flex) and didn't have a lot of luck. I don't swing super hard but I enjoy a staff that doesn't flex a ton during my swing (aggressive transition) so I may look to get them in a stiff flex..

Thanks for always helping me out with the ci-7 questions; any irons you suggest i should take a look at?

3sip · April 14, 2015

I have a set 3-pw with px6.0 +1/2". I say they are very forgiving and I think the px shafts are a big upgrade from the stock shafts. I got a set of sldrs at the end of the season and have not played yet this season with them. I may not want to part with the r9s yet and they maybe a bad fit if your considering a regular shaft. I may pull the px and reshaft the sldrs. I don't know yet. Got to spend some time in the dirt. Send me a pm if you would like the heads or complete. I can send you pictures ect.

ChristopherMcDonald · April 15, 2015

[quote name='3sip' timestamp='1429067812' post='11361659']
I have a set 3-pw with px6.0 +1/2". I say they are very forgiving and I think the px shafts are a big upgrade from the stock shafts. I got a set of sldrs at the end of the season and have not played yet this season with them. I may not want to part with the r9s yet and they maybe a bad fit if your considering a regular shaft. I may pull the px and reshaft the sldrs. I don't know yet. Got to spend some time in the dirt. Send me a pm if you would like the heads or complete. I can send you pictures ect.
[/quote]

Pm me maybe if you decide to move them

KjBowen · April 15, 2015

[quote name='ChristopherMcDonald' timestamp='1429062903' post='11361019']
[quote name='KjBowenWRX' timestamp='1429055404' post='11360041']
I played both..

Ci-7 and R9 are similar.. I would say the R9 is pretty close in forgiveness. Be careful with the stock shafts in the R9.. The KBS is a little weak IMO. I ballooned them pretty bad. Change the shafts if that is the case
[/quote]

Damn that's the one thing I was worried about. I don't want to have to reshaft. Maybe I can come across one with some other shafts in them.

Maybe I should just go with the speed blades.. Had them in a regular (to see if I needed to go down in flex) and didn't have a lot of luck. I don't swing super hard but I enjoy a staff that doesn't flex a ton during my swing (aggressive transition) so I may look to get them in a stiff flex..

Thanks for always helping me out with the ci-7 questions; any irons you suggest i should take a look at?
[/quote]

No problem.. To be honest.. It seems like your leaning towards Taylormade.. If that's the case.. The R9 is a option with the right shaft. Just make sure you don't get the TPs. They are not as forgiving compared to the regular. I am playing the rocketbladez tours and hit the regular rocketbladez and they were very forgiving

jldavis73 · April 15, 2015

I played the R9's for two years and loved them. I felt like they were very forgiving and long irons. The long irons with the 3M foam were awesome. I had a 3 iron bent slightly strong and could just hammer the ball with it. I have never hit the Ci7 so I can't make a comparison, sorry. I left the R9's to move to a forged club, and often wish I hadn't. I play the Rocketbladez Tours now and like them, but they really aren't much different than the R9.

ChristopherMcDonald · April 15, 2015

[quote name='KjBowenWRX' timestamp='1429089530' post='11362643']
[quote name='ChristopherMcDonald' timestamp='1429062903' post='11361019']
[quote name='KjBowenWRX' timestamp='1429055404' post='11360041']
I played both..

Ci-7 and R9 are similar.. I would say the R9 is pretty close in forgiveness. Be careful with the stock shafts in the R9.. The KBS is a little weak IMO. I ballooned them pretty bad. Change the shafts if that is the case
[/quote]

Damn that's the one thing I was worried about. I don't want to have to reshaft. Maybe I can come across one with some other shafts in them.

Maybe I should just go with the speed blades.. Had them in a regular (to see if I needed to go down in flex) and didn't have a lot of luck. I don't swing super hard but I enjoy a staff that doesn't flex a ton during my swing (aggressive transition) so I may look to get them in a stiff flex..

Thanks for always helping me out with the ci-7 questions; any irons you suggest i should take a look at?
[/quote]

No problem.. To be honest.. It seems like your leaning towards Taylormade.. If that's the case.. The R9 is a option with the right shaft. Just make sure you don't get the TPs. They are not as forgiving compared to the regular. I am playing the rocketbladez tours and hit the regular rocketbladez and they were very forgiving
[/quote]

yeah i think i may wait for the speedblades to come down in price or maybe rocketbladez (non-tour) when they come down in price, they both run about the same right now, but the rocketbladez seem hard to come across on the bay.

and yeah leaning towards an all TM bag since I have never had a full single OEM bag (putter withstanding) and like the look of some of their wedges, and have a hybrid in the stable waiting to be played. Figure it could be a cheap-ish experiment.

jeffrey r · April 15, 2015

[quote name='ChristopherMcDonald' timestamp='1429112670' post='11365179']
yeah i think i may wait for the speedblades to come down in price or maybe rocketbladez (non-tour) when they come down in price, they both run about the same right now, but the rocketbladez seem hard to come across on the bay.
[/quote]

I've owned Ci7's and Ci9's in the past, and I was a huge fan of those irons. In the end though, they were slightly more of a players' iron than I preferred for the limited amount I get to play. So, I've generally erred more on the GI side of things, like the Ping G series.

I must say though, that if you can, the Speedblades are definitely worth a try. I got a great deal on a set from TM Preowned a few weeks ago (under $300 for the 4-AW set, with a free TP ATV wedge), and have played about 5 rounds with the Speedblades. They have been fantastic for me--real gamechangers. High, straight and long all day. In reality, the reviews on the Speedblades and Rocketbladez were really quite good. But the performance of the Speedblades has still caught me by surprise. Give 'em a try--they might work for you.