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