TaylorMade R9 TP vs TaylorMade tour preferred irons?

i hit both today, and i loved them both. i think the r9 tp is easier to hit, especially in the longer irons. they both felt great, but im having a hard time on choosing which ones to bag this year. Which would you play and why?

I just bought my 4th set of Tour Preferred's, yes 4th. I bought them last year and really liked them and played well with them, too well and switched to a full blade, which is what I really prefer. Those started heading south due to a lack of playing/practicing so I immediately went back to the TP's, 2nd set. Repeat the same scenario, thought I would be able to play/practice more...etc, didnt happen so just today after a horrible round with a set of Vr blades and finding myself with limited practice/playing time, I ordered another set of "Mint" TP's for a bargain. Went with a different shaft option however this time around.

I demoed the R9 TP's a lot, hit them about 6 times for an hour or two each demo, off matts and off grass with the KBS Tour and KBS 90 shaft. Just didn't like them. The 3,4,5,6 irons while very forgiving felt super hollow to me and had no feel compared to the TP's and I didnt like the KBS shafts, either one. I also got a little more distance out of the TP's (compared both side by side) and the TP's just overall felt better. I know you can get the R9's with different shaft options but I didnt bother trying a PX, Rifle, or TT DGS300 shaft, the TP's for me were flat out better. I got the Rifle 6.0 shaft this time around, played them with TTDGS300's before and they were great. I have always preferred Rifles over DG's so I am expecting perfection with the set I just picked up.

I would say try them both side by side off grass and see for yourself, if its close then I guess price and the actual look of the club will come into play, you can get a brand new set of TP's from a TM dealer obviously cheaper then the R9's. FWIW, I do think the new R9's do look better in the bag then the TP's but at the end of the day, thats not that important.

Good luck and I hope this helps?