TaylorMade R9 Irons
TaylorMade has introduced the R9™ iron, designed to deliver modern performance and tremendous distance in a more classic package.
Like the Burner irons, the new R9 long-irons and middle-irons were designed separately from the short-irons to optimize performance in each club. The result is that the 3-iron through 6-iron are extremely long and easy to hit, and the short-irons are engineered to promote great feel, control and accuracy.
Velocity-Control Chamber in the Long- and Middle-irons
Each R9 long-iron and middle-iron (3- through 6-) houses a large and fully enclosed compartment positioned behind the clubface, underneath the cavity badge. Called the Velocity-Control Chamber (VCC), it makes it possible for an immense area of the ultra-thin (2.0 mm) clubface to exist unsupported.
TaylorMade calls it a wrap-around clubface because it acts like a face that wraps around the top-line and the leading edge, which gives the face more freedom to flex and reflex at impact, much like a thin-faced driver.
Inverted Cone Technology
The VCC makes it easier to launch the ball with the long- and middle-irons, yet TaylorMade engineers have gone to great lengths to ensure that the R9 irons deliver controlled power by incorporating Inverted Cone Technology on the inner side of the clubface. In addition to promoting higher ball speed on off-center hits, the Inverted Cone has been carefully calibrated to eliminate “hot spots” so that ball speed is consistent across the clubface, resulting in keen and consistent distance control in all of the R9 irons.
Perimeter Weighting
Although the R9 long- and middle-irons don’t immediately appear to be perimeter-weighted they are, given that the VCC is occupied by a nearly weightless foam, as well as a silicone shock absorber positioned directly behind the center of the face; both serve to absorb unwanted impact vibration. The foam starts as a powder sealed within the VCC; heating the clubhead turns the powder to foam that expands to completely fill all open areas of the chamber, ensuring that the sound and feel at impact is soft, agreeable and consistent across the face.
R9 Short Irons
R9 short-irons are engineered to deliver increased playability, control and feel in the scoring zone. The simple, straightforward teardrop shape and clearly delineated leading edge make it easy for any player to aim these irons target-ward and fire the ball at the flag.
R9 short-irons also incorporate a vibration-quieting layer sandwiched between the backside of the clubface and the thin, protective black badge in the cavity. The vibration-quieting is a visco-elastic adhesive made by 3M that also absorbs unwanted vibration and sound
Additionally, at the bottom of each short-iron cavity (hidden behind the badge), more weight has been concentrated at the heel and toe to more stability and forgiveness on mis-hits.
Beveled Sole in Every Iron Promotes Solid Contact and Playability
New and Conforming Grooves for 2010
The R9 irons incorporate a new groove design that conforms to the USGA and R&A ruling that goes into affect in 2010 for high-level competition.
KBS Steel Shafts
R9 irons come equipped with KBS 90-gram steel shafts, available in S and R flexes.
The standard set of R9 irons includes 3-iron through pitching wedge at a manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP) of $999 steel and $1,249 graphite. An attack wedge and sand wedge are available separately. R9 irons become available starting on November 1, 2009.
Visit TaylorMade Golf for more information.
R9 TP Irons
TaylorMade R9TP Irons
As part of TaylorMade’s revered Tour Preferred® product line, R9 TP irons are engineered to, above all, deliver an exceptional degree of distance control and consistency, which is critical to any player who competes at a high level or wants to.
The R9 TP iron’s classic shape and size are characterized by a compact head featuring a semi-straight leading edge, semi-square toe, thin topline and thin, cambered, beveled, multi-functional sole.
R9 TP Technology
In terms of technology, the R9 TP irons offer plenty. The 2- through 5-iron incorporate TaylorMade’s Velocity Control Chamber (VCC), a fully enclosed compartment positioned behind the clubface that allows a large area of the 2.0 mm face to exist unsupported, increasing COR to promote more distance.
The open space within the VCC is fully filled with a light yet dense foam that manages vibration energy to deliver excellent feel and sound at impact. The VCC allows the re-distribution of mass within the clubhead to give the R9 TP long-irons an exceptionally low CG and high MOI, which combines with the fast clubface to make them easier to launch high and long.
Progressive face thickness is incorporated throughout the set starting at 2.0 mm in the 2- through 5-iron, 2.3 mm in the 6- and 7-iron, and 2.5 mm in the 8-iron through pitching wedge. The result is progressively higher COR where you need it in the middle-irons and long-irons, and fantastic feel in the short-irons
R9 Compact Shape
R9 TP heads are similar to the compact shape of the Tour Preferred® irons (which are the most popular and successful irons on the PGA Tour today), yet the R9 TPs offer a larger hittable face area due in part to differences in the way the head blends into the hosel.
The top-line is beveled along the back edge to give it a thin and elegant appearance, and the sole is beveled to reduce resistance so it can perform “thinner” when it meets the turf. Each R9 TP head is perimeter-weighted and equipped with a vibration-controlling cavity badge.
The 6-iron through pitching wedge feature an undercut cavity that’s visible because the cavity badge is smaller than that used in the R9 irons. The undercut cavity allows us to push more weight to the perimeter of the head in order to increase MOI and distance-control
New and Conforming Grooves for 2010
The R9 TP irons incorporate a new groove design that conforms to the USGA and R&A ruling that goes into affect in 2010 for high-level competition.
Tour-Proven KBS Steel Shafts
The R9 TP irons come equipped with KBS Tour Series steel shafts, which is currently the fastest growing steel shaft brand on the PGA Tour. Several of TaylorMade’s Tour Staff pros are in the same KBS shaft that’s in the R9 TP including Kenny Perry, Dustin Johnson and Rory Sabbatini who have each used them to win once.
Designed for better players, the KBS Tour Series shaft is engineered with “moment of inertia analysis” to increase stability from grip to clubhead, which promotes enhanced results on well-executed swings.
R9 TP irons are available in men’s right- and left-handed models, steel shafts only, X, S and R flexes. The standard set consists of 3-iron through pitching wedge; a 2-iron and attack wedge are available separately.
R9 TP irons become available starting on November 1, 2009; the MSRP for a standard set is $1,125.
For more information visit TaylorMade Golf
{ 31 comments… read them below or add one }
Awesome review! I have been looking for a good review on the R9 irons and I found it. Great details on explaning all the different tech that taylormade has.
I found them cheap over here Taylormade R9 Tp Irons
John, can you tell me if you got your clubs, and if this site is legit?
Yes I did get them Thanks Heres another link
Taylormade R9 Irons
John and Lisa:
I hate to burst your bubble, but these have to be knock-offs. There are a lot of them for sale out there. Be careful. There is a reason they are under $500.
I checked them out they came from the UK.
Great review ?! What review. This guy just repeated the company brochure. HOW DO THEY PLAY ? HOW DO THEY COMPARE TO SAY A FORGED HEAD WITH A KBS SHAFT ? Are they really any great improvement over last years stuff – meaning if ‘no’ then why bother. Are we living in North Korea ? What’s all this ‘review’ nonsense when this is clearly just an ad for TM. What other shafts did the reviewer try in them ? Who exactly / What player profile did Kim Braly of KBS design this shaft for ?? the guy that commented ‘great review’? Does anyone here actually play golf more than twice a month ? Sheeesh .
Furthermore … who cares what the pro’s are playing on Tour. Period. UNLESS the pro is NOT being paid to play a piece of equipment how do you know that they really like it that much. How do you know how much the factory had to Frankenstein the club to get it to work for the player ? What they play on tour has been tweaked like crazy to the Pro’s requirements. Pro endorsement deals REQUIRE they play the newest stuff. Maybe they were satisfied with last years stuff. The #1 ‘this or that’ on Tour only means that the company in #1 in deep pockets & paying people the most. The same system is used by companies lobbing politicians and that’s worked out great for everyone. I want to see an anonymous poll of Pros where they can tell you what they wished they were playing via secret ballot. And whats with all the stickers and goop they put on the back of these heads ? Looks like a child’s toy. … oh … now I get it … uh yeah… great review.
Jason
I’m with you – it’s like an auction where everyone is a dummy bidder!
Try the Sandtrap blog, where there is an actual review. The clubs get a good rap there.
@ChrisW @Jason Just to be clear, this post isn’t a review, it’s just a new release announcing the R9 irons. When we do a review, the title of the post will have the word “Review” in it.
Thanks
Rob
Has anyone played these irons…. Love Taylor Made R series drivers. Never played their irons.. I have played Cleveland TA 5 for several years….
I have hit the R9 tp irons. I can say with confidence that it is one of the smoothest irons I have played with. I have played titleist blades for the past 7 years. I hope the tp irons hold up like my previous irons.So far they are everything that is advertised.
I have a set of the R9 and then I purchased the R9 TP the R9 had to much offset for me. But I have to say this is the best set of Irons i have owned. The R9 and the R9 tp let me hit the ball at least 20 to 30 more yards. It takes a few games to get used to the Irons. But you will be happy.. Good job TaylorMade…
First of all, I love the R9 Woods. I am in the process of getting the irons as well. Looked at the site and sent them an email requesting additional information. These are per “Ann Jones” OEM , which have the same quality, material and performance as the ones sold in the local shops, except the serial #s. Therefore, they are not legitimate. Hope this helps everyone.
The R9 TPs seem to be significantly lighter compared to the Tour Preferred. TaylorMade’s web site says D1-D1.5 specs. I have a hard time believing any Tour Pro would play that light. Anybody know how the swing weights are with KBS Tour stiff? And how that compares to the Dynamic Gold X100? Thanks.
I have played the MB and MB Tp`s with Dynamic Gold shafts for the last 6-7 years. Is there much difference to the R9 Tp and KBS`s?
I just got custom-fitted at the TaylorMade fitting center at Reynolds Plantation for the R9 Tp’s and went thru testing many shafts. The KBS shafts were best suited for me and my swing. Great place to get custom-fitted and a great staff! Already winning money with the R9 TP’s on the IGTA Tour. I like them better than the R7′s and they are USGA conforming.
Both 6 irons still hit 170-175 for me.
Here’s a Pro’s input….the R9 TP irons are much better than their past models. One big key is get fit for the correct shaft. The KBS Tour shaft has much different characteristics than your average steel shaft. As for gaining 20-30 yards with them….I doubt that’s possible! If that were the case I would be longer than JB Holmes! Last time we played togather he was a club and a half longer than me. As for the tour guys swingweights, Kenny Perry does use a very light swingweight. Lighter means more clubhead speed to those guys.
FYI – I read a few remarks earlier that they found these irons for $499.99 – if so they are definitely not legit and imitation copies. It doesn’t matter where they came from and if they indeed did come from the UK even more reason not to purchase them for it will be even more impossible to be refunded. I have students come to me all the time with phony copies of Ping, Cobra, Taylor Made and others – BUYER BEWARE – there are some many people out there pushing this junk and I hate to see people waste their $$$. These irons retail for $999.99 and $1,125.00 for the TP version. The old saying applys clear as day here “if it looks to good to be true it probably is!”
ATTN: Ok I did some research and this outfit ecrater.com in the UK is most likely selling copies – First off the have Ping Raptures online also for $499.99 – buyer really beware!!!! First off you have to have an account with Ping to sell new Ping product and you must sell them at the price Ping sets which is $1399.99 (graph) or you will loose your license/contractual agreement with them. Now that is quite a price break – something really smells. I contacted the seller by email “very fishy” (ecrater.com) – here was our exchange – I asked him how he sold the TM irons as such a good price and if they were new? and do they have the KBS shaft in stiff? His answer “I don’t have the KBS I do have dynalite and project x which are better shafts”. Ok so he didn’t answer the important ?’s plus Taylor Made’s stock shaft is KBS and he doesn’t have them and dynalite isn’t even an option thru Taylor Made. Of course it’s a much cheaper shaft to put into your copy irons! Then I asked him again are these new R9 irons 3-pw and about shipping? his reply “Yes they are new shipping is free in US correct 3-sw I have a matching sw for the set thanks. Please place the order and use the money order option so I can have your information. I will send you the payment details.” OK enough said – r u kidding me?? I’ll forward him a money order to the UK for $499.99 and hope that he sends me a legit set of new TM R9′s 3 – SW no doubt – ok I wasn’t born yesterday! This is a perfect example of scam city!! John – if u did indeed buy a set I would get your money back – let us know.
In addition to my last 2 posts – they also have G15′s brand new still in the plastic for $459.99
w/ dynamic gold shafts – wow interesting they don’t have the stock Ping shafts?????????
http://www.ecrater.com – they should rename their site to ecrapter.com!
AGAIN BUYER BEWARE!!! I found two other scam companies trying to sell counterfeit/copy irons of Taylor Made, Ping, Titleist etc. they are shakegolf.com and sunogolf.com added to the one I noted earlier ecrater.com – Shakegolf has Ping Rapture irons for the sale price of $339.99 (that includes the SW) That is $1,100 less than suggested retail and Ping’s set price. Now that’s not a red flag??? These counterfeit irons look like the real deal and they even present them is wrapped plastic and use the manufacturers photos in some cases as well as company literature to make you believe that are legit – they ARE NOT! I slammed the guy last night at ecrater.com 3 times in a return email about his couterfeit irons and he never responded – imagine that??? I have forwarded all this info to my local Ping rep and intend to do the same to Taylor Made and others. My Ping guy has forwarded it to Ping Legal.
O am an amateur playing to a 7 handicap in South Florida. I just purchased the R9s from Taylir Made through Golfsmith and I am playing with them this weekend for the first time since playing thre R7s for the last year. They feel and look great and I love the grips. I hit the R9 driver this weekend at Doral and PGA National and hit 80% of the fairways and absolutely love this club. 20 yards longer (was hitting the Burner driver) than my competitors playing the new Penta 5 piece ball. I’ll let you know how it goes this weekend. I have been playing Taylor Made for 15 years and have had gret success and we all know a huge portion of this game is mental and I am feeling quite confident .
Great clubs. I was fitted at GOLFTEC in Colorado. I suggest you get custom fit. I need 4 degrees upright and you cannot buy off the rack. Paid $830 for custom fit 4-PW. My Mizuno 6 iron is 180 yard club. The TP R9 is 204.
6 handicap
Been playing with Ping Eye 2 (Beryllium) 1-sw now for over 30 years, I love these clubs and over the years have bought other irons (Titleist 990B, Other Pings, Callaway) I have always put the ping eye 2′s back into my bag. I have now wore the square groove edges on my pings to rounded edges but I can still used them and make the ball spin when needed . I purchased a set of TP R9′s 3-sw and have officially retired my Ping’s (yes I cried a bit too hahah) These TP R9′s have a great feel to them and I can control the ball better than with my Pings, the only down side is the conforming new grooves, Cant quite make the ball dance like before. I get slightly more distance from the R9′s (7 iron with Ping eye 2 170 yards / 7 iron with R9 175 yards) same ball same swing. If im hitting to a firm green say in the afternoon with the pin sitting on the front of the green, with my pings I could fly the ball to the middle of the green and spin it back to the front, with the R9′s I cant do that, I pretty much have to land the ball towards the front of the green and watch it release to the pin. All in all R9s TP are a great club and have taken over the # 1 spot in my bag.
I JUST BOUGH THE R9TPS THIS WEEKEND. WENT TO A FITTING AT A LOCAL COURSE, AND I TOO THINK THERE THE BEST IRONS IVE EVER HIT. THERE REAL SMOOTH ON CONTACT. I WAS PLAYING THE CLEVELAND TA3. A FORGED SHALLOW CAVITY BACK, WITH REAL THIN SOLE CLUB, WITH VERY LITTLE FORGIVENESS . I WASNT SURE IF I WAS MAKING A BIG CHANGE GOING WITH THE TPS, BUT AFTER HITTING THEM I RELIZED I MADE A GREAT CHOICE. ITS A TOUR CLUB THAT IS VERY WORKABLE , AND HAS ALOT OF FORGIVENESS I FELT. SLIGHTLY OFFCENTER HITS STILL GO , AND FELL GOOD . ITS KINDA WIERD. ALSO , THE CLUBHEAD IS A BIT BIGGER , THEN A TIPICAL TOUR CLUB. STILL NOT HUGE , BIGGER IN A GOOD WAY , I LOVE THEM , AND THERE GETTING GREAT REVIEWS,
ive tried these irons and there AMAZING!!!!!! there forgiving and have great feel. hey i just bought a set!
I have checked out these two sites: http://www.sunogolf.com and http://www.golfclubswarehouse.com and both have amazing prices. I ordered two R9 Taylormade Fairway woods and compared them to ones in a local golf shop. Identical. Play well and look incredible. Yes the old adage about you get what you pay for has meaning and everyone should look at the ones from sunogolf.com. Free Delivery, no taxes, clubs at your door in 10 days for 1/3 of the price. You do the math.
I got my set of the TPs last week and have to say these irons look sharp. Very nice and play great.
geez Mickey, you dont sound like you own one or more of these crap websites selling knockoff clubs … let me get this straight, you weren’t sure if they were legit, so you bought not one but two Taylormade fairway woods from them, then took them to your local shop to compare them and low and behold, they are the real thing! whew, thank god you took that chance so all of us can purchase with confidence now… Parker Parsons is right, there are NO retailers who can sell legitimate TaylorMade products for less than the MAP (minimum advertised price). I am lucky enough to have bought R9TP’s from a friend who works for the company. I paid dealer cost and it was still over $500, so a retailer selling these for $499 is guaranteed selling you a phony product. that said, these clubs are pretty amazing. I played mizuno MP-58′s before these and the only problem I have had with them so far is blowing it over the back of the green too often because the R9TP’s are a legit club length longer. shots hit off the toe are a little unforgiving, but anything close to the center of the face and the bal flies for days.
late reply to the above message from Mickey – Sunogolf is absolutely a scumbag biz selling copies of several manufacturers clubs and praying on the public. My colleague who works for Ping said his company is going after them with a lawsuit – Don’t buy this crap – as I said before if it looks priced to good to be true it absolutely is!