TaylorMade introduces the r5 dual driver
This has been a busy year of product introductions at TaylorMade, which on top of all its new equipment, also took time in May to celebrate the 25th anniversary of launching its original metalwood driver.
Earlier this season, in addition to a variety of new irons, putters and Maxfli golf balls, TaylorMade most notably brought forth the r7 quad driver. A pioneering club, that driver contains four ports that can accommodate a series of interchangeable weight cartridges which allow players to set up the driver for differing launch and trajectory angles.
Now, TaylorMade has another driver to debut. Shipping just this month to retail locations, the newest driver is called r5 dual and it comes in two models. Along with the driver, the company is introducing a counterpart set of fairway woods and an r5 dual Type W driver and fairway woods for women.
The common element in the new r5 dual series is the placement of two permanent weight cartridges in the rear of the sole.
The cartridges are strategically located to achieve certain playing and flight characteristics, explained Sean Toulon, TaylorMade/Maxfli svp of brand management and creation. They are pre-set and are not meant to be changed between playing rounds.
While geared for all levels of players, the r5 dual drivers and fairway woods should appeal most to those golfers who do not want to engage in the more time-consuming process of determining weighted cartridge configurations as is required with the r7 quad driver. For example, with the r7 quad TP driver, designed for pros and highly skilled amateurs, there are more than 100 center-of-gravity positions that can be achieved by maneuvering the weighted cartridges. Figuring all that out, and changing the cartridges, doesnt take that long, but does consume more time than just taking off the headcover and whacking the ball.
Heres a closer look at the new r5 quad clubs.
DRIVERS
The key to creating the Type N and Type D r5 dual drivers, with neutral and draw trajectories, respectively, was for TaylorMade to position the center of gravity in each club further from the face and closer to the heel. Such weighting helps cut down on low drives to the right. Instead, it allows for either a straight or draw to the left shot (for a right-handed golfer) with a higher launch angle to help achieve greater distance.
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| TaylorMade's new r5 dual drivers are shipping this month. (Provided to GolfWeb) |
Both types of clubs feature 450cc titanium heads made with Super-Thin Wall casting technology originally developed for TaylorMades r7 quad driver. Inside, the drivers contain the companys Inverted Cone Technology (ICT), which expands the clubs COR (spring-like) zone further across the face.
While the r5 dual Type N driver has a classic shape, the Type D driver is slightly different in that the shape is pulled outward near the heel to help move the center of gravity even further. Moving the CG closer to the heel promotes the kind of rotation through impact that helps produce a draw-spin.
