{"id":4889,"date":"2009-03-14T08:00:00","date_gmt":"2009-03-14T12:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/thesandtrap.com\/?p=4889"},"modified":"2009-03-14T21:29:13","modified_gmt":"2009-03-15T01:29:13","slug":"titleist_909d2_909d3_driver_review","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thesandtrap.com\/b\/clubs\/titleist_909d2_909d3_driver_review","title":{"rendered":"Titleist 909D2\/909D3 Driver Review"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"TitleistIt seems to me that Titleist’s 909 drivers are the most eagerly awaited Titleist drivers since perhaps… well… in a long time. The retailers I’ve talked with are reporting good sales numbers, and PGA Tour adoption was awfully quick, with the majority of staff players switching before the first ball was struck in 2009. On a personal level, the number of emails, PMs, and IMs I’ve gotten from people anxious to read this review has been off the charts – and the 909H<\/a> and 909F3<\/a> reviews only seemed to wet their whistles.<\/p>\n

Titleist is the first to admit that the 907D1 and 907D2 – two drivers with near identical launch conditions but different looks and different MOI characteristics – were perhaps not the best pair of drivers for fitting a wide range of golfers. They’ve corrected that “one set of launch conditions” error with 909, offering three models: the composite-crowned (a first for Titleist!) 909D Comp, the “tweener” 909D2, and a low-launch, low-spin, 440cc 909D3.<\/p>\n

Don’t get me wrong – the 907 was a great driver if you were the type of player that fit its launch conditions. I was able to, and switched to 907D2 after playing an r7 425 and an FT-3, and the 907 worked beautifully for me<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Now that I’ve had a chance to test both the 909D2 and 909D3, I’m ready to share my thoughts. Click through for the rest.
\n
\nDesign and Technology<\/strong>
\nAs I mentioned, Titleist will admit the 907D1 and D2 were not the strongest pair of clubs they could have offered. With one set of launch conditions, several of Titleist’s PGA Tour staff saw no reason to abandon their trusty 905R in favor of either 907.<\/p>\n

With the three 909 driver models, Titleist is back in the game again. Between 909D Comp, 909D2, and 909D3, Titleist will be able to properly fit an incredibly wide variety of players. Of course, these clubs are still targeted at the “serious” or “aspiring” golfer. If you want the most forgiveness you can get, Acushnet is happy to take your money – you’ll just be buying a Cobra driver instead.<\/p>\n

\"Titleist
Titleist Driver Launch Conditions: Note that these numbers are generalizations with data from one swing type, as in “In general, 909D2 launches about half a degree lower than 909D Comp.” They’re not exact figures and they’ll vary depending on the type of ball you play, your swing speed, your angle of attack, etc. Don’t “fit yourself” by looking at this chart – visit a Titleist certified fitter with a SureFit cart.<\/p>\n

This chart does a nice job of summarizing the issue. 907D2 (and D1) had nearly identical launch conditions as 905R, but the 909 models evenly space themselves out across a fairly wide range.<\/p>\n

Golfers also have different preferences in terms of ball flight, trajectory, and playability, and demand more than just distance – a list that includes appearance, feel, sound, accuracy, quality, and consistency.<\/p>\n

Each of the 909 drivers offers distinct performance characteristics with a precisely positioned CG that should fit everyone from the Tour player up to the “aspiring” 10-15 handicapper. All three models feature a lower crown and profile, which moves the CG a bit further back and down, reducing spin and increasing MOI.<\/p>\n

Additionally, the drivers have a number of other features in common:<\/p>\n