TaylorMade R9 460 Driver

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.

It also promotes a side-to-side change in trajectory of up to 40 yards, helping golfers to promote a draw or fade, or diminish a hook or slice. The R9 460 includes a white FCT wrench that delivers the 40 inch-pounds of torque necessary to adequately tighten the FCT bolt.

"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.