Taylormade's R9 460 Driver Features 460CC Clubhead and Lighter Shaft

2009-12-07

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CARLSBAD, Calif. -- In February, TaylorMade Golf introduced the R9 driver, which today is the No. 1 driver model on the PGA Tour. Now, TaylorMade is introducing the R9 460 driver, which combines TaylorMade's Flight Control Technology (FCT) with the forgiveness and power of a 460cc titanium clubhead and the speed-promoting properties of a longer length and extremely lightweight graphite shaft.

FCT gives the golfer the power to easily change the club's face angle, loft and lie angle simply by loosening a bolt in the sole, rotating the shaft into the designated position, then tightening the bolt. FCT makes it so easy to adjust the angle of the clubface into a position that suits your eye and your swing, helping you hit the ball straighter and longer.

"FCT proved itself to be a major, major metalwood innovation immediately after we launched the R9 driver earlier this year," said Sean Toulon, TaylorMade executive vice president of innovation. "Tour pros took to it right away, and it quickly became the No. 1 driver model on the PGA Tour. Amateur golfers also embraced it quickly, as sales have been fantastic around the world, especially in the United States, Europe and Japan."

Compared to the R9 driver, the R9 460 driver has a larger head, deeper clubface and lower and deeper-back center of gravity (CG), qualities that deliver a higher moment of inertia (MOI) for greater forgiveness and a higher spin rate, helping low-spin players keep the ball in the air longer for increased carry and distance.

The R9 460's new classic shape offers three distinct advantages, company officials said. It allows for a deep back, far-from-the-face CG location that makes it easier to launch the ball; it contributes to a higher MOI for greater stability on off-center hits; and it allows for an exceptionally low CG location.

The R9 460's clubhead is constructed with the aid of TaylorMade's Ultra-Thin Wall (UTW) technology, which allows for clubhead walls measuring as thin as 0.6 millimeters, with the saved weight redistributed to help make the low and-deep-back CG possible.

The R9 460 driver is long in length -- 45.75 inches -- and equipped with an Aldila RE*AX 60-gram tip-soft shaft, available in L, M, R, S and X flexes. The characteristics of the shaft and the club's added length together promote increased clubhead speed and distance.

The R9 460 driver also incorporates TaylorMade's renowned Inverted Cone clubface technology, which expands the area of the clubface that delivers high ball speed.

Characterized by an inverted cone that's milled directly onto the inner side of the clubface, Inverted Cone Technology increases the club's forgiveness on mis-hits. Together, the combination of the R9 460's Inverted Cone Technology, high MOI and exceedingly low CG makes it incredibly easy to hit.

For tour pros and skilled players, the R9 460 TP is also being introduced. It features the same clubhead as the R9 460, but is equipped with a Fujikura Motore F1 65 graphite shaft with a .335" tip. The R9 460 TP is also available with the several custom shaft offerings in X, S and R flexes, including the Fujikura Motore F1 75, Fujikura Motore F1 85, Fujikura Motore F1 55, Aldila® Voodoo VS6, Aldila Voodoo NV6, Mitsubishi Fubuki 63, Mitsubishi Fubuki 73, Matrix Ozik X-CON 5 and Matrix HD 6.

Available lofts for the R9 460 and R9 460 TP drivers include 8.5 degrees, 9.5 degrees, 10.5 degrees and 11.5 degrees in right-handed, 9.5 degrees and 10.5 degrees in left-handed.

The R9 460 driver carries a street price of $299.

- PGA.com