Last year TaylorMade introduced the R9 driver, a 420cc head with Face Control Technology (FCT) and Movable Weight Technology (MWT) with three moveable weights. Not too long after they introduced the R9 460, an adjustable driver with only FCT, but in a more forgiving 460cc head.
“Those two drivers were created because TaylorMade didn’t yet have the ability to combine both FCT and MWT in a 460cc head,” said Todd Beach, TaylorMade’s senior director of metalwood development. “A year later, we do.”
TaylorMade R9 SuperTri Driver
Introducing the R9 SuperTri driver, which combines FCT and MWT with three movable weights in a 460cc head, marking the ultimate unification of TaylorMade’s major driver technologies with maximum size to deliver massive distance and forgiveness.
The R9 SuperTri was made possible by two crucial developments by TaylorMade engineers that saved enough weight to allow FCT and MWT to coexist in a 460cc head. The first is better, more widespread use of TaylorMade’s Ultra-Thin Wall technology throughout the clubhead. The second is a new, lighter FCT sleeve that does everything the former one did while weighing three grams less.
FCT + MWT + 460cc = Supreme Adjustability, Distance and Forgiveness
The impact of incorporating FCT and MWT into a 460cc head is enormous. The larger head is more forgiving, and its CG is two millimeters farther back in the head than the R9 driver, making it easier to launch the ball higher and with more spin, helping players gain more distance. At the same time, the inclusion of MWT with three weights promotes a side-to-side trajectory change of up to 75 yards.
Inverted Cone Technology (ICT) is also a crucial piece of the R9 SuperTri’s makeup. Though it’s milled onto the back of the clubface where it’s out of sight, ICT plays a critical role by dramatically increasing the area of the clubface that delivers fast ball speed, promoting more distance on off-center hits.
R9 SuperTri Features Reshaped Crown, Lighter Shaft
The R9 SuperTri’s clubhead is sleeker than previous R9 driver heads, thanks to a reshaped crown that reduces wind resistance. Though the shape is more aerodynamic, the face is the deepest (62mm) TaylorMade has ever incorporated into a driver with MWT, and is deeper than most other competitive drivers currently on the market. Visually, the R9 SuperTri clubhead is a killer, thanks to its new shape and its black-on-black color scheme, including a black PVD clubface last seen in the r7 SuperQuad.
The R9 SuperTri is equipped with a Fujikura Motore 60-gram shaft, which is five grams lighter than the Motore 65 used in the R9 driver. In addition to being lighter, the Motore 60 makes it easier to launch the ball on a higher launch angle and at a higher spin-rate, which helps many players achieve longer carry for increased distance.
R9 SuperTri: The Most Advanced TaylorMade Driver Ever
The R9 SuperTri unites four viable performance technologies: FCT, MWT, UTW and ICT. Never before have four such impactful, performance-enhancing technologies been combined so effectively in a single driver. Plus, there’s the superior aerodynamics of the new crown shape.
The R9 SuperTri and R9 SuperTri TP are the most advanced, highest-performing drivers TaylorMade has ever developed. The distance-producing power and shot-straightening abilities created by their combined clubhead size, clubhead design, performance technologies and shaft specifications make them clubs that no golfer should be without.
The R9 SuperTri includes three weights – 16-gram, 1-gram, 1-gram – and an FCT torque wrench. It’s available in four lofts — 8.5, 9.5, 10.5, 11.5 – and five shaft flexes — L, M, R, S, X. Street price is $399.
The R9 SuperTri TP features the same head as the R9 SuperTri but with a choice of ten premium shafts including the Aldila Voodoo, Mitsubishi Fubuki and Matrix Ozik. Choosing a custom TP shaft adds an additional $100 to the cost of the club.
It becomes available starting on February 19, 2010.
{ 18 comments… read them below or add one }
Please let me know what’s the best price you can offer.
pls call me or e-mail me @ 510-459-0294
I never had a problem with Taylormade upping the technology with new drivers every year, but this one has finally gotten on my nerves. I just bought a r9 460 tp and traded in my superquad. I’m not saying my driver isn’t great, but this Supertri is exactly what I really wanted. Too bad Taylormade doesn’t give us any hints as to what’s coming up. My club pro was told there wouldn’t be a new driver this year… now he has to try to market two of them, plus the other two R9s, and the Burner 09. It’s just a bit ridiculous… I can’t justify getting the supertri now. My R9 460 just lost all of its’ value. Same thing happened to my R7 460 when the Superquad came out.
i agree, my cousin works for taylormade, he said that TM chose to pursue a new driver because of the new groove rule and players wanting more distance now with the forgiveness of movable weights, thank the USGA for forcing manufacturers to spend millions to make new grooves and put an even bigger emphasis on distance!
Thank you for your information about taylormade R9 Supertri. Is it possible for us to know more detail ,such as weight of the club head( is it 204+),total weihgt with Motore 60 gram etc? What is the diferrence thet we can expect with Misubishi fubuki and US$100?
Let me see what I can find out.
Thanks
Rob
@apimuk the head weight of the R9 SuperTri is approx 205 grams. The Fubuki is a TP shaft option that is a stiffer tip lower torque design than the standard offering which produces a lower overall ball flight.
hope this helps
R
Can anyone tell me if the old sleeve will work correctly in the new SuperTri head? I have several shafts that I would like to continue using without having them resleeved.
Thnx – Lee
Lee,
I’ve read in many forums that the old sleeves will work with the new heads, and the new sleeves will work with the original R9′s etc. I’m in the same boat as you. Hope this helps!
JR
I JUST bought one today. I’m a relatively new golfer. I was hitting a TM Burner for the last year. I tried a few clubs extensively at the range before purchasing the SuperTri. Let me say that that 09 460 is an amazing club so if you own one, no worries.
I tried the new TM SuperFast Burner……NICE club. Its lightweight, forgiving and great if you have a slow swing speed. (not my problem.)
I also hit extensively with the Cobra ZL with a VooDoo shaft. AMAZING!! Great club.
Ultimately I want with the TM SuperTri and the standard Motore shaft. Frankly, I was really undecided between that and the Cobra. What did it for me was when after about 12 strikes, I basically hit the ball in the same spot every time! Luck? Maybe. But if i was looking or something to tip the scale….that was it.
were u coming the new Cobra ZL to the TP or standard Supertri version?
I cracked the head on my R9 tp… was informed they don’t continue to make that club head. Tayormade would be replacing it with a R9 supertri head.. there is five grams different on the shafts.. 65 grams vs 60 grams on the new surertri.. will this effect the perfomfance
Thx John
I recently purucahsed a 10.5 DEGREES LOFT TAYLOR MADE SUPERTRI REGULAR FLEX FUJIKURA MOTORE 60 GRAPHITE SHAFT on impulse. I have a quickish swing play off nine and recently had a callaway ftiq 9 degree with regular shaft. Worth noting the flight of the Taylor Made is very high in comparrison with supposidly good carry. Worth noting this was backed up last nite at my club……….but into the wind the ball flight was so so high without little carry….. ! please note my Callaway travelled thirty yards further into the wind, but window behind I would say the Taylor made went 15-20 yards further. In hignsight I should have purchased the 9 degree!!!!!!
I’m going into a local Golfsmiths today and doing a PING driver fitting. I am really torn between 3 clubs… PING G15, I15 and the R9 Supertri. I’ve hit all 3 relatively well but the R9 seemed to have some more punch. I’ve played Callaway drivers for the last 3 years but I need more.
Of those 3 choices, what do you think?
I purchased a 10.5 SuperTri about 2 weeks ago. It came with the Motore Regular Shaft. My last 3 drivers were 2007 Burner, 2007 R7 Limited, and 2009 Titleist 909D-2. I’ve had at least 4 others in the last 5 years, including the SuperQuad and the 907 D1. Unlike other reviewers, my experience so far (5 rounds) has been a way lower trajectory with the SuperTri. In fact, I have been looking for a different shaft to see if I can get a little more height – which traditionally I’ve had the opposite problem with, ie., hitting it too high! That being said, on a couple of drives with my SuperTri, the low boring flight was perfect particularly into the wind, although I have not hit any record distances yet. (Longest drive I’ve hit probably came from the D1 – but it wasn’t consistently longer than say, the R7 Limited). But of all of the drivers above, the R7 Limited so far has had the best feel off the face, and is generally longer than any other driver. Anyone have any recommendations for a higher launch shaft? I’m a 10.7 handicap, with an average swing speed.
dan C – Try the Aldila Serrano R-flex. I tried it in the PING G15 recently and it gives me the right height and spin rate.
You will want to look for a shaft with a low kick point this will give you added launch if you are struggling. Also check that when you swing you have a more shallow swing instead of steep. New proven data on spin loft angle’s!
hi got the new R9 Supertri today only bought a head no shaft was intending to use the one out of my old R9 Stiff .
Will the slieve fit and if so will the extract 5grams in the shaft make much of a difference i’m a 9 handicap wit a 117mph swing speed on average.
SuperTri 9.5 Stiff Flex ——Amazing. 300 Yds carry to 15 Yds Left to right from the pin.
Score 97% WOW. Never had that with any wood.