Non-Conforming TaylorMade R7

I have just learned that there is a non-conforming TalyorMade R7. This club is non-conforming owing to its high spring like effect, which will launch a ball farther.

I am a weekend golfer and I am considering purchasing this club (if I can I would like to try it first). I am wondering if there is any one here who has used non-conforming clubs – especially the R7, and if it give you an unfair advantage when you play against your friends? I am wondering, if you know the that the club has an inherent advantages, if it mitigates against genuine gains that you may make in your driving ability; i.e., you pass those improvements off as owing to the technology of the club, et cetera, which would ultimately depriving you of the joy that comes with genuine improvement….

I realize this is somewhat convoluted, but I hope you get my drift!





James

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I have the KingCobra 440SZ which is non conforming (come 2008 anyway)
Its very hard to tell what if any advantage I am getting from the trampoline effect, its not like Im hitting it 50yrds past my friends though sometimes I do.
Is that the club or me? No way to know.

Personally I think the effect is negligible for amateurs but maybe I am just fooling myself.
I'd by the confomring one and not worry about it and save having to buy another one in 2 years.

Unless you're swinging at pro speeds, you'll never see the effect of another .30 in the COR value.

Ben is correct, the average golfer doesn't benefit from the spring effect as the swing speed required is to high. I believe it was originally intended for Pro golfers and then decided it was an unfair advantage, besides they hit it to far already for most of the classic golf courses.

I use the original R7 driver and have just recently purchased another one while they are in stock and somewhat cheaper than I paid for my first one, needless to say a truly great club however (don't bother to move the weights, it has no effect).

There is an HT version is aimed at the higher h/capper which has a larger face.

The only benifit from the large faced drivers is they instill confidence due to the size and they have a larger sweet spot, which in my opinion can only improve the game for club players.


Hope this helps

Ian.

__________________
Once you learn the swing, your next step is mastering golf psychology................

Hi, I have a 9 month r7 max, 10.5 regular with all the bits for sale, So if you decide to go with one it would be alot cheaper, if that helps

Ernie Els was reported to have tried both a legal driver and an illegal one (illegal in 2008). The illegal one was longer by on average 5 yards. The rules is in place not because the drivers make the world of difference (5 yards is hardly a big difference) but because it stops manufacturers taking this too far and having drivers hitting it ridiculous distances.

Ian, I have to disagree with your comment about the r7 weights. I tried one on a demo day (9.5* both HT and normal) and as i draw the ball I set it up for a draw and every shot I hit went to the same spot with around 30 yards of draw. I then changed it to neutral and every one went had around 5 yards of draw. Could you be making a mistake when moving the weights?

I love the r7 and am currenty saving up for a 9.5*, stiff mid launch shaft.

__________________
Craig

My bag:

Taylormade r7 9.5* Stiff stock shaft
Sonartec SS2.5 3+ 13* Stiff Fujikura Tour Platform shaft
Taylormade Utility 2 16* XS Fujikura TP stock shaft
Titleist 904F 4 wood 17* Stiff Aldila NV85 shaft
Mizuno MP67 3-PW S300 shafts
Cleveland 588 47*, 53*, 56* DSG, 60*
Odyssey White Hot #4 putter

Hi Craig,

You know I appreciate your opinion, it is only my findings........................I have used the R7 for over a year now and moving the weights to create a draw or fade does not work for very simple reasons.....................................I'll explain

I like to think I have a reasonable good 'on plane' swing, I hit the ball with a very very slight draw at the end of it's flight. If I want to fade the ball I move my feet slightly and focus my mind on a fade, same for a draw. These are my findings.

If you give an R7 to someone who slices the ball because his natural attack is from the outside or someone who plays a big draw because he comes from inside...........moving the weight will not make an ounce of difference, I would bet money on it.

I believe that this club is a very good club and very consistant that why I have just bought my second one, but in the hands of all but the tour player there is no way the weights can work to stop someone slicing and make them hit a draw, I bet that it is purley psychological effect with tour players.

Years ago tour players used to put lead tape on their club heads to help them hit a more consistant draw or fade but I think that you must hit one or the other in the first place as you do thats why it appears to work, simply adding or moving weight will not suddenly change your ball flight from a draw to a fade.

I'm still not sure how Taylormade can get away with promoting the club, the wording must be very complex, something along the lines of 'move the weights to help promote a draw'.

http://www.golf-tuition-online.com/v...7/cat/2/page/1

Please read these reviews of other players.

Ian.

__________________
Once you learn the swing, your next step is mastering golf psychology................

I had a R7 and it didnt do anythink for me in terms of shape ,its just another gimmick to sell golf clubs in an over populated world of golfing merchadise.

A friend of mine broke his 7 iron and while he was waiting for a replacement he bought a cheap donnay 7 iron, and he hit the ball just as well with it, as he did with his own lynx be warned

Ian,

I agree that someone who slices or hooks the r7 wont suddenly make them hit straight shots, or draws or fades they will only come with swing changes. I have never tried to hit a fade with the r7 I just tried it for a draw (my normal shot shape) and it made me hit more of a draw while neutral gave me a more consistent draw than my normal driver. As I don't own one, yet, I cant say whether or not the weights will make me hit fades but surely taylormade cant say they will if they don't. Maybe taylormade mean that if you wanna hit a fade then set up for a fade, move the weights and the r7 will give you more of a consistent fade as well as players finding it easier to fade.

Have Callaway not brought out a similar club except that you choose which one you want from the start and they specify what clubhead for you.

__________________
Craig

My bag:

Taylormade r7 9.5* Stiff stock shaft
Sonartec SS2.5 3+ 13* Stiff Fujikura Tour Platform shaft
Taylormade Utility 2 16* XS Fujikura TP stock shaft
Titleist 904F 4 wood 17* Stiff Aldila NV85 shaft
Mizuno MP67 3-PW S300 shafts
Cleveland 588 47*, 53*, 56* DSG, 60*
Odyssey White Hot #4 putter

Craig,

You are correct, Callaway have done something similar, again it must be in the wording of the advertising, as we agree it cannot change your ball flight simply by moving weights.............only help promote one (if you hit one already) or maybe reduce the amount by moving them the opposit way.

Everyone should realise that should you buy this type of club and have the weights set to promote a certain ball flight then and manufacture your swing to that flight then when you hit every other club in your bag worse than before ...........................also any future drivers you buy will be rendered useless as you will be used to favored weighting.

Ian.

Food for thought..........!!

__________________
Once you learn the swing, your next step is mastering golf psychology................

Cheffie,

How much are you looking to sell your R7 for?