Is my lifelong search for the perfect 3-wood finally over following the arrival of TaylorMade's R9 this season? Maybe, maybe not, but for the time being it's the best, most confidence-inspiring 'spoon' I've ever had the good fortune to possess. And this despite it being passed to me by deputy editor, Neil Tappin, with a slightly dismissive, "Do you want to try this? You'll probably find the head too small, but you might as well give it a go."

Too small? I don't think so, and as someone who prefers to look down on something erring on the compact rather than the oversize at address from long range, a quick glance suggested it fitted my eye perfectly.

Several months ago now it debuted in the Ellwood bag, and that is precisely where it remains to this day following some of the most solid, consistent and reasonably long 3-wood shots of my life. Further proof that when it comes to golf clubs, one man's meat is indeed another's poison. For now, I will continue to feast on the extra dimension the TaylorMade R9 3-wood has brought to my occasionally suspect long approach play.

Where next?

TaylorMade R9 460 driver blog

Over the next few months all the major equipment manufacturers are going to be pushing their latest and greatest, such as PING's Rapture V2 or TaylorMade's R9 460, but did you know the Japanese golf market has been able to get hold of the R9 460 for quite a few months now, and that the Japanese version of the Rapture V2 irons have less offset and 1 degree stronger lofts.

Japan has always had a strong relationship with high quality forgings that date back to the days of the samurai sword, and although their forgings are far less dangerous these days (unless you're using golf clubs to chop your opponents limbs off), don't be fooled into thinking the quality is any less than the very best.

Mizuno and Miura are synonymous with the ‘buttery' soft feel their irons produce, providing a feel few other manufacturers are able to produce, but most of us will be familiar with their work. So instead I'm going to provide an insight into some other renowned Japanese brands, that some may argue produce far more innovative designs, whilst still producing that ‘feel' that can only come out of Japan.

Miura's biggest rival in terms of feel and performance is Epon, and if you are serious about your golf equipment then there is a strong chance that you have used a golf club forged by Epon, or to be more precise, Endo, who are Epon's parent company. Titleist and Nike have called upon Endo to forge their irons in the past, as they have largest forging house in the world at their disposal, forging steel to extremely high tolerances, meaning there are fewer anomaly's in each of their heads.

Endo consider themselves leaders in golf technology, and have taken all their knowledge from forging for other companies and put it into their own brand, Epon. Epon have been forging golf equipment for decades, whilst leading the field with their output. Their most recent offerings include drivers (their latest being the AF-151 and EMS), have crafted a hugely forgiving blade (AF-Tour) and players clubs such as the AF-501/2, irons that look like a blade from above, but in the long irons possesses an undercut that provides forgiveness on miss-hits, which is the same technology that TaylorMade have employed for their Tour Preferred irons.

One of Japan's ‘trendier' brands is PRGR, who brought out the odd-looking 'Egg' series. I say this because when you look down at the hybrid you see that half the cavity is missing, helping to create a low centre of gravity, which when paired with tungsten weights in the sole, equates to a higher and longer ball flight.

Pro Preference Model are a brand that have a very minimal output, although they recently released a beautiful blade at the beginning of the year, but this butter-knife isn't your average piece of kit. PPM has ground an undercut into the sole of each iron (something you may have seen on wedges in recent years), which they say cuts through the rough and uneven lies with ease.

Club-head technology isn't the only thing that the Japanese golf manufacturers excel at though, as graphite shafts have long been something they have exported around the world. You may be familiar with names such as Fujikura, Diamana and Graphite Design, as these manufacturers names have long been amongst the leaders of shaft technology, with players such as Tiger Woods, Ernie Els and Sergio Garcia all having them in their bags, but there are also many ‘boutique' brands within the country that aren't very well known this side of the Pacific.

Names such as Quadra, Roddio and Mamiya Op are all names synonymous with shafts in Japan.

Quardra's Fire Express shafts are made from the highest quality retail carbon, which, to you and me, is 80t. Their shafts contain more glass than rubber particles, leading to shafts that kick back to their original shape far quicker and more predictably, meaning it's far easier to square the clubface up at impact. Wondering why they can do such high-grade carbon and no one else can? Its because they own the plant that ships out the graphite and Crazy decided to get in on the act and start making golf shafts themselves.

Roddio recently brought out their Pentacross range, which they say dampens vibrations and can also control the ball even when the sweet spot isn't hit, so if you hit it out of the toe or the heel, the shafts is able to minimise the damage by getting the ball to work back to somewhere near your target.

One of the most popular shaft companies in Japan is called Mamiya Op, who cater for all golfers swings and abilities. They recently helped out their sister company UST, in bringing out the new ATTAS shaft, which is aimed at players who are looking to bring their spin rates down, whilst still maintaining a medium-high ball flight, oh as well as hitting the ball further due to the high energy transfer. This shaft has been a massive hit on both the European and PGA tours, most notably making it into the bags of Ernie Els and Adam Scott.

Golf is treated in a very different manner in Japan compared to the rest of the world, as they treat the sport as a lifestyle instead of a game, meaning it's not unheard of for them to buy a set of irons for upwards of £10,000 and unfortunately for us, all of these products come at a premium price.

There are websites on the internet that enable you to get hold of this kit, but unless you live within reasonable distance from their shops you wont be able to try before you buy and so you'll be buying it blind. Be wary if you buy the gear from foreign websites though, as you'll probably have to pay the shipping price and you may also have to pay the taxman when your clubs reach these shores. But don't let this put you off, the craftsmanship and quality of materials that goes into making some of this kit is second-to-none and there's nothing more exciting than trying something new out.

Hopefully you'll find out why Japanese golf equipment has gathered such a cult following around the world.

February's release of the TaylorMade R9 driver (420cc clubhead) was exciting but the 460 model that hit the shelves in May was more appealing considering my level of golf (12 handicap). With a larger clubhead and deeper face I felt far more confident of making a sweet strike.
 
The 460 felt quite light and encouraged me to achieve a nice rounded, sweeping action through the ball. Despite playing into strong winds first time out with the R9, I also found myself recording some impressive distances with a penetrating ball flight. Confidence high, I also found it possible to shape my drives both ways.

The occasional off-centre strikes as a result of poor swings were not pretty but still travelled good distances. I've never opposed using clubs that may not look so appealing if they achieve good results, but this driver has the added bonus of good looks - the bullet shape just one of many appealing factors.

For those who like to tweak, the Flight Control Technology (FCT) also allows players to easily change the club's face, loft and lie angle. Whether this aspect of technology is appealing or not, this driver ticks more than enough boxes and will be staying in the bag for an extended trial.

Where next?

Review: TaylorMade R9 driver review
Video review: TaylorMade R9 video reviews

While a trip to Dallas-Fort Worth promises the excitement of real life cowboys and a traditional Texan welcome, it is also home to one of the most impressive research a development facilities in the world of sport - 'The Oven'.

I made this special trip to the Nike Golf test facility in order to test the company's brand new golf gear that will be released in 2010. It offered a chance to meet up with the team that design and create the world's greatest golfers clubs.

New Nike golf clubs Nike has developed two great looking and very different ranges for 2010. The VR woods look fantastic and are clearly designed for the confident ball striker. The SQ MachSpeed woods produce a noticeably higher launch and will appeal to a wide range of abilities. All of Nike's new products will feature in up and coming issues of Golf Monthly including the new Method range of putters that have already caused a stir on the PGA Tour.

The immense test facility is called 'The Oven' because great ideas are cooked up there combined with the humidity you are greeted with in the Deep South. While Nike has been previously known for trainers and athletic garments they have been committed to producing high quality golf equipment since the early 90's. A look round "The Oven" highlights how seriously the company takes the sport and the dedication to making great golf clubs.

This is where the best golfers come to offer their feedback on the latest Nike designs created by engineers and designers who have been in the industry for decades. The man who now creates all of Tiger Woods' clubs has also worked on the clubs of Jack Nicklaus and Ben Hogan over the years. Tiger visits here to try out the latest equipment and provides valuable feedback on the latest designs.   

The testing and development labs offer a real insight into the precision and accuracy behind building golf clubs. Each new design is tested for performance, durability and even the sound the club makes is tuned to suit the golfers ear. Robotic hitting machines are used to test the forgiveness and distance that prototype clubs provide.

Having just graduated from University with a student loan to pay, spending money on a new set of irons is not on the cards. I am more than happy, however, to stick with the trusty TaylorMade SuperSteel irons that have been in my bag for many years.

The SuperSteel irons were given to me six years ago on my 15th birthday and they continue to give me good results. At that stage I was playing to an 18 handicap and I am now playing off five, reaching the National Public Schools Final on the way.

Yes these clubs are out of date and probably won't give you as much feel or workability as the latest TaylorMade irons but I guarantee you that their solid cast cavity backs are extremely forgiving and at a very reasonable price for the mid to low handicapper.

I have also found that the graphite shafts in these irons have had a major impact on my distance. The shafts have enabled me to generate greater swing speed compared to my previous steel shafted clubs.

From the tee I use a TaylorMade R7 460 TP driver. I have used this club for a couple of years now and it is a very impressive piece of golfing technology. The movable weights in the back of the club help you to adjust the clubhead's centre of gravity, lie and loft of the club to suit your swing.

The 460 CC titanium head has straightened my drive with an average distance of 260 yards from the tee. The club is very useful in windy conditions when there is a premium on finding the centre of the fairway.

Similar to my irons, I use a stiff flex graphite shaft to help generate the speed into my downswing - longer drives mean shorter second shots after all.

When you hit the perfect drive down the middle of the fairway there is a premium on solid wedge play into the green for the second or third shot.

A couple of years ago I was given two Ben Hogan Carnoustie wedges from a relative of mine who sadly passed away and I continue to use them in his honour.

The 52 degree Ben Hogan Carnoustie wedge gives me fantastic feel from 70 yards in. I don't use a 60 degree wedge so the 56 degree wedge is used for the shots around the green.

The wedges are designed with a state-of-the-art precision milled face to provide incredible accuracy and its very own tungsten EDM face also helps to create the spin from the fairway or the sand. They are steel shaft and of regular flex. The black chrome finish to the bottom of the club adds to its impressive look.

On the greens, I use a Scotty Cameron Titleist Studio Design Newport 2 putter. The Studio Design putter has given me greater confidence over long distance putts as the putter blade hits the ball with a very solid contact. Long putts are all about feel so if you want to eliminate the dreaded 3-putt it is a worthwhile investment.

With the putter, I use a different grip to the rest of my clubs – a Titan Minus ION grip made of soft silicone rubber. I am not sure why, it is just something that helps me as I stand over the ball. The Titan Minus grip helps keep my wrist and hand movement still as I strike the ball.

When I speak to other golfers I find it amazing to find out how little they change their grips. Most professional players on tour change their grips frequently to give better consistency to their swing and for greater feel and comfort around the greens. A lack of grip can cause problems on the downswing – as you lose grip, the club is likely to turn over.

Always use clubs, shafts and grips that feel comfortable to you. It will reflect in your score.

The Titleist Vokey Spin Milled wedges. I’ll be honest, I was under no illusion when I grabbed the 60º one out the cupboard that the ‘spin’ I would generate would only result out of a clean contact. Thus, my short game would not spectacularly improve just because my bag had. Furthermore, I was really after the 60º version as I was becoming increasingly frustrated short-siding myself and not having a good flop shot at my disposal.

I’m not one for finding too many greens in regulation, but have begun breaking 80 recently, largely due to an improvement in my chipping around the greens. I can’t say this is all down to my new favourite wedge, but I have at last found a club I consistently use with confidence, and from all lies, when trying to get down in two.

I’ve been particularly impressed with the stop I can now generate, even from some really thick lies. Like all clubs, skill level will determine the outcome to the greatest degree, but the Vokey Spin Milled wedge has certainly played a part in my game improvement and given me more shots at my disposal.

I’ll continue to use my standard 56º Nike Victory Red wedge from further out, since I’ve found the Vokey a little too heavy from this range, but that’s merely a personal feel thing. This club is also a popular choice from the sand, generating good levels of spin. I wasn’t able to control that spin, but just talking about spin control makes me think I may have reached the next level…

Where next?

Tour news: 91st USPGA Championship 
Amateur news: England win 2009 Boys Home Internationals
Equipment: PowaKaddy Freeway II trolley review
Competitions: Win some great new golf prizes
Golf blog: Chris Wood at the USPGA 

Back in May, Golf Monthly’s contact at PING asked if we’d be interested in running an exclusive first look at the new PING i15 range in the magazine. It was an opportunity not to be missed, especially as the range would feature an all new wood line up to fit somewhere between the Rapture V2 range and the new G15 models.

So it was about after that initial offer, that the closely guarded new clubs arrived at GM Towers and the black-faced PING i15 driver immediately grabbed our collective attention. Quite frankly, it looks mean and would be the star attraction in any golfers bag. The head might be 460cc but it doesn’t look too big and uncontrollable. Having said that, it is long. Very long.

The fairway wood is relatively small but the hybrid is quite large. This is an unusual combination but both clubs offer considerable benefits. The PING i15 fairway wood provides good shot shaping potential, making it a solid driving alternative, whereas the PING i15 hybrid seems to provide out-and-out power to help you muscle the ball out of all sorts of heavy lies.

The PING i15 irons represent a more gradual progression from the previous i10 line. The toplines are thicker, separating the i15s from the players muscleback, the S57. The i15s are cast and not forged, and for me this compromises slightly on feel, but as a result perhaps they are longer than many forged offerings.

The PING i15 range features strong performers throughout and is set to become another success story for PING. Of course, many of you will be more interested in the forgiving properties of the new PING G15 line.

We caught our first glimpse of these up at Turnberry as various PING staff players tested them. Throughout they promise bigger sweetspots and higher ball flights and from looking at the shapes, it seems that PING has evolved and not overhauled the G range.    

Having said that, the hybrid represents a significant departure from anything else in PING’s range. The G15 hybrid has the look of a driving iron and I suspect this will become one of those clubs that players of all abilities will end up using.

Scotty Cameron’s Studio Select Newport 2, with its crisp, clean-cut angular shape sums up Titleist’s dedication to performance and use of advanced technology.

Having complete confidence and trust in your putter when you pull it out of your bag is essential if you want to be averaging 29 putts rather than 36. Suitable for low to mid handicappers, this impressive Newport 2 is also used by the Tiger himself. Although Tiger could probably win the Masters putting with his lob wedge, this stylish stick of steel is one of the best performing clubs on the market.

With its bold, Tour-inspired Cherry Dot graphics and its Mid Slant neck providing a full shaft of offset is guaranteed to produce stroke-saving results. Having had this particular putter in my bag for a year now, I have consistently found it to have a reliable and an incredibly soft face, providing me with brilliant touch and feel on every green.

At around £179, you may be put off by its price tag, but you shouldn’t be. If you want to knock five strokes off your score on a regular basis and you are keen player, then this is certainly the putter for you.

- Scotty Cameron by Titleist Studio Design Newport 2 putter review

Priced at around £599 (steel), these new semi-cavity Tour Preferred irons by TaylorMade are worth every penny. TaylorMade have blended modern technology with the classic design of a blade to create these very impressive new irons.

Having recently been fitted at The Belfry for these clubs, I found them to be really forgiving, considering their thin topline and blade-like appearance. I didn’t want a completely bladed iron, as I knew it would only make my life harder in my attempt to get down to scratch this summer.

Knowing that only around 40% of professionals on tour play with forged blades, I realised that I would struggle if I bought something like the new Nike Victory Red blades. Having had the Tour Preferred irons in my bag for two months now, I’m itching to hit my next shot every time I pick them up. They give me a penetrating ball flight through the air, allowing me to shape and work the ball both ways.

I now have the confidence to hit a range of shots out on the course from a low punchy draw into wind with 4-iron, to a high towering fade with 8-iron.  

Suited for a low to mid handicapper, the classic blade shape and shorter blade length from heel and toe, provides a clean, contemporary, compact appearance at address.

See also:

- TaylorMade Tour Preferred irons review
- TaylorMade Tour Preferred irons gallery