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Jeff -> RE: Taylor Made TP Driver Discussion Thread (10/02/08 1:00:46 PM)
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TP Drivers I have owned
But not necessarily loved.
R510TP 9* / Fuji 757 S - As one of the iconic drivers in golf history, the R510TP introduced me to what I'd come to know at Club Ho'ing. I had the 9* (the only left hand variant) with a 757 S. My current driver at the time was a Cobra SS-380, which remains about the longest driver I've ever hit. For me, the 510TP had the trajectory of a 1 iron. It was a low spin head with a high bend shaft, and it gave up at least 40 yards of carry vs. the Cobra. I sold it in a few weeks.
While one of the great clubs of all time in terms of sound and feel, it didn't work at all for me.
R425TP 9* / Re-Ax S - Another TP that many people continue to swear by due to its smaller head volume and 4 MWT ports. I was initially inconsistent with the club, and brought it to a fitter to check out. The shaft (an S) actually freq'ed to an X, and showed startling random oscillations when cycling. The shaft was splined, which helped, but the tip-stiff, X flex meant that I had to swing hard to create anywhere near correct launch conditions. I really wanted to make this club work, and playing with the head weights was cool, but I don't think it lasted 6 months.
R460TP 10.5* / Mitsubishi Rayon 64 S - I bought this club new about six months ago. They were (and still are to some extent) being vigorously dumped on e-bay. My then-current driver, an FT-3 / NVS S, is as those who have tried/owned/loved one know, a very tough stick to beat. Unlike the previous TP's, I had modest expectations for the 460, and again I was wrong. The 460TP is the last of the classic shaped /sound / feel TM's. It sounds wonderful, and feels superb both at impact the through the swing. It sets up neutral and flies neutral. It responds to movement of the MWT weight more linearly that any other TM head I've tried. The Rayon shaft is super stable without being at all boardy (unlike the Fuji options IMO), and delivers fine distance and correct launch conditions over an almost infinite range of swing speeds. I can swing at ~ half speed or completely out of my shoes and it still feels in complete control.
The 460TP has been one of the least popular and most overlooked of the family. IMO it is at least the equal of any current driver at any price. At the current e-bay rate of $200 or less, they're one of the great deals in golf.
Burner TP 10.5 / Re Ax 50 S - When the 07 Burners got marked down to $200 a few months ago, a local club was kind enough to mark the TP's at $200 as well, and as usual, resistance was futile.
First hits, vs. the 460TP were not good. Dispersion was horrible. Head location feel through the swing was virtually non-existent. It seemed to set up closed, but didn't necessarily hook when addressed that way. The SW is D7, which told me that at this club weight, TM had likely found that there was virtually no head position information at all. Not wanting too give up too easily, I brought it back to the range and hit a full bucket. The Burner TP is extremely picky about address position and swing path. You must conform to it's wants, or it flat doesn't work. The SuperFast / super light configuration really does work. You can and do swing faster. Unfortunately, that can lay waste to your current timing and tempo.
Later, once grooved by many balls, one thing was clear. Struck optimally, the Burner TP is capable of hysterical distance. It launches high and fast with low spin, and manages the "cruise missile" effect of carrying down range at a flat trajectory. The kicker (excuse the pun) is that on re-entry, the ball kicks hard forward rather than the drop and stop of most high-trajectory setups. Quick, to the course!
Where we hit one fairway out of 12. There were some very impressive misses though. I didn't care, as I was fully addicted to the distance potential. The biggest difference between the pro game and mine as I saw it was their ability to hit 280 to 300 yard drives, and then hit wedges to the majority of par 4's. I felt the keys in my hands, if only I could control the thing.
Many more balls are hit. I mark tee's with a depth indicator. I measure the distance from the tee to my heel before each shot. I draw the position of the thumb and index fingers on the grip.
My last round I only missed one fairway with driver. I shot 2 over par on a course where I've never shot in the 70's. Anyone who says length isn't critical is either lying or has no clue. The price of admission will not be for the majority, though, as the amount of practice and finicky setup will be more than many will be willing or able to pay.
R7 Limited 9.5* / Matrix Ozik 5.5 S - Is not a TP, but I'm including it as there apparently is no TP Burner with the newest model. It does have the spirit of a TP, though, and it includes the kitchen sink of TM's tech capability.
I was on a role with the last few drivers, and had a bunch of trade-in credit at GS with a 30% over value coupon. My hope was for the distance of the Burner, the feel of the 460, and a shaft superior to both.
Setup is perfect and easy. The head sits square and the triangle shape provides instinctive and accurate alignment. Swing feel is excellent. The Matrix shaft is world-class. It's stability through impact is a 10. It's a Porsche S4 of shafts. I could ask for no more.
The dark side. It's not as long as the 07 Burner. The sound at impact is not what one may expect from a TM TP Driver. The triangle head shape doesn't deform like a rounded one, and a rather "aluminum" sound is the result. For me, this is the first TP driver with a natural fade bias. While it has three MWT ports to adjust that, the stock configuration is 1-16-1. Therefore to substantially alter the bias, you also change the CG, which is set mostly by the rear single weight. It doesn't have a magnetic head cover.
I've been spending too much time with the 07 Burner to fully appreciate the Limited. It's an attempt to appeal to those who appreciate the more traditional size and trajectory of something like the 510TP, but with updated technology and distance. IMO it's a success. Any decent player should be able to pick one up and quickly be hitting long and repeatable shots.
Notes / IMO -
For the better player, the TP family is a superior solution. They are a pro level stick that's available to the public. For that, TM should be lauded. There is a lot of variety among them though, and for many players newest might not equal best.
The retail price of many TP's was outrageous. On the other hand, their current e-bay price for the same club is about as outrageously good. Club ho rule #1: Don't pay retail. Wait for it. It's worth it.
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