FT-9 Tour review

[Petch1973]

A quick history. Last 3 years 2-6 hcp. Last 2 years FT-5 Tour with X flex 360 stock. Swing speed 112 (+-3). After fighting driver yips for years and the fear of hooking....I thought I found my Godsend with the Ft-5. Looked great to my eye.....didn't hook it (much) and found confidence in my driver for the first time in a few years. When the FT-9 came out...I knew I had to try it. I originally got the stick and glue 9.5 tour Neutral with Z-com X and found that it was way too soft for me and the club launched too low as well. Additionally, I was hitting pushes and cutting the ball much more than I liked. I was disappointed.

 

Wanting to like it....I traded it in for an I-mix 10.5 tour draw with Fubuki 63 X and HOLY MOSES...........high flat bombs. I haven't been this excited about a driver in a long time...(well 2 years anyway). Played today for the first time with it and I was in places I've never been before....and compared against my FT-5.........the FT-5 was blown away by a good 10-20 yards every time.

 

The feel of the FT-9 is SO much better and the sound isn't as ear piercing....like the the old easton black magic bats...I hope this isn't the honeymoon...as I'm looking forward to good things this year. If I'm driving well, I'm playing well.

 

Sorry, this is my first time reviewing.......so please excuse the brevity and poor descriptions.

[Sandberg23]

Thanks for the review. So would you say the 10.5 FT-9 launches the same height as your FT-5 9.5?

[Petch1973]

Pretty close. I'd say the FT-9 launches a bit higher but seems to have less spin. It seems to hit the ground like a rocket and run.

[golfdad907]

I went from FT5 9.5 to FT9 10.5 due to lower spin. Trajectory is about same since FT9 is definitely lower spin....I find same flight, flattens out, the runs. Loved FT5 but the 9 is somehow way better tech. Sound is almost persimmony (FT5 was cool when hit dead on, unique ring) and feel is butter.

 

Glad I got my 10.5 as heard they're on backorder for a while, the I-Mix anyway.

[LSeca]

Good stuff, glad to see you are getting along with the ft9. I have been using the FTti lcd (9.5) imix since it launched, really happy with the FT9.

 

Golfdad, I agree about the sound and how nice it is, very diff sound compared to the "ka-tank" of the Fti, plus there is feedback in this head too. This was a very nice bonus for me.

[gixxerrrr]

i've had my imix ft9 tour 9.5 neutral with fubuki 63 tour x flex for 3 weeks.the first thing i learned with this shaft is you cant be quick or jerkey if you can overcome that flight is mid/ high carrys 275 280 rolls out 10 to 20yards every time.if you want to work the ball just think about it and it does it lol.one thing that bothers me so far it seems i hit near the hosel alot this is unlike me but i read someone else having the same problem.GODBLESS

[BJG718]

i had the EXACT same experience with the stock shaft. im getting it back tomorrow with an altus LT so hopefully that'll work better for me.

[migolfke]

Nice review. I am looking at the FT 9 tour 10.5 as well. One guy recommended I get the Fubuki 73s, while someone else said that I should get he zcom pro 65. My SS is about 110, but I generally have a low launch because I come in pretty steep. Could someone tell me the difference between them and the advatages of one over the other. Thanks.

[3put]

I demoed the FT9 W/Fubuki 63* Imix against my "old Faithfull" T/M SQ W/Reax 65* and the SQ was still 10-12 yds longer?

 

The FT9/Fubuki combo was excellent, smooth as silk, but not enough to spend $450 on what is equal to (at best) what I already have.

 

I also demoed the Speedline, Diablo, R9, 9015 and Burner. All are great drivers, but not better.

 

I'm starting to think the limits they're supposedly pushing drivers to, are already at their limits?

[jg1166]

Slightly off topic but I am wondering if there is anyone gaming the FT-9 Tour 9.5 with a UST AXIVCORE Tour Red 79s in it and if so what they think of it. My clubmaker fitter recommended this set up to me as I am coming off an FT-5 (LCG) 9.5 with a V2 75 Stiff which I love but he thought this combination would give me some more distance.

 

Thanks in advance

[golfware]

i've had my imix ft9 tour 9.5 neutral with fubuki 63 tour x flex for 3 weeks.the first thing i learned with this shaft is you cant be quick or jerkey if you can overcome that flight is mid/ high carrys 275 280 rolls out 10 to 20yards every time.if you want to work the ball just think about it and it does it lol.one thing that bothers me so far it seems i hit near the hosel alot this is unlike me but i read someone else having the same problem.GODBLESS

 

 

If you're hitting near the hosel more, it means that the shaft is too stiff for you. I discussed this at length with my club builder as I was struggling with this miss with my new BTP X flex. I was able able to bring the head back to square because the shaft was too stiff.

 

Just a thought..

[generalbolg]

love the easton reference. damn those bats were loud.

[BJG718]

just tried out my ft-9 w/ altus lt today.. had it installed 1.5* open...it was probably 5-10 yards short of my g10 but it was very accurate. the shaft is probably a hair too stiff (x-flex) but it feels much better to me than the sx flex did. sx felt MUCH softer. i have a feeling as the season goes on ill increase swingspeed a bit so i wont have as much problem loading it. i still hit the ball very well and MUCH better than with the stock stiff zcom shaft.

[floyd]

It's a good driver, I have a good friend that plays on tour and he has six of them, I been trying to get one of them from him but he just won't let one go.

[bradkv]

I have found, for my swing anyway, that the stock Zcom shaft launches lower, but spins a lot more than the Fubuki. The Fubuki gets it off the ground quick, but it flattens out and just GOES from there. I placed an order for an 8.5* FT-9 neutral with Fubuki 63X Wednesday. I don't think this driver is any shorter than my 9015D, but it is definitely more forgiving. I am pretty sure most of the fitting carts with this driver will have both shafts for demo so you can see firsthand what works best for you.

[Jaylasvegas]

I have found, for my swing anyway, that the stock Zcom shaft launches lower, but spins a lot more than the Fubuki. The Fubuki gets it off the ground quick, but it flattens out and just GOES from there. I placed an order for an 8.5* FT-9 neutral with Fubuki 63X Wednesday. I don't think this driver is any shorter than my 9015D, but it is definitely more forgiving. I am pretty sure most of the fitting carts with this driver will have both shafts for demo so you can see firsthand what works best for you.

I found the Fuji Zcom pro65 to launch pretty low as well, but havent noticed the spin issue

[mickyw85]

Can you guys with the FT 9 Tour help with with my problem. I've hit the FT 9 tour with the ZCOM PRO 65 stiff I'm smack bang in between the 8.5 and 9.5 lofts. is there a stock shaft that will get me a launch angle in between the two with the 9.5 head, maybe something lower spinning would work (you'll have to excuse me I haven't tinkered with this sort of thing before) I am finding it hard to get helpful advice from the local golf shops as they have just tried to sell me what ever is in stock.

[odshot68]

I play ft9 tour imix and the feel is better than the FT5 tour..but nowhere near the feel of the FT Tour head. Just wish the FT Tour was neutral or 1/2 degree open versus 1.5 degrees open.

[rblmp32]

[quote name='generalbolg' date='02 April 2009 - 06:10 PM' timestamp='1238710253' post='1600303']
love the easton reference. damn those bats were loud.
[/quote]

Lol... that one brought back some memories for me too.

[Hacq]

Wanting to like it....I traded it in for an I-mix 10.5 tour draw with Fubuki 63 X and HOLY MOSES..

Just curious, why did you buy the draw version if you fight the hooks? Glad it works for you.

[Ugo DeRosa]

[quote name='jg1166' date='02 April 2009 - 03:41 PM' timestamp='1238708462' post='1600224']
Slightly off topic but I am wondering if there is anyone gaming the FT-9 Tour 9.5 with a UST AXIVCORE Tour Red 79s in it and if so what they think of it. My clubmaker fitter recommended this set up to me as I am coming off an FT-5 (LCG) 9.5 with a V2 75 Stiff which I love but he thought this combination would give me some more distance.

Thanks in advance
[/quote]


Not quite the specs you are mentioning, but I have the FT9 Tour 9.5 neutral in i-mix, with three shafts: Fubuki 63, Whiteboard 73, and AXIVCore Red 69 (custom made for me- bought the AXIVCore tour red 69 and had my clubmaker install an imix adapter on it). Also, this morning I bought an imix Proforce V2 66 shaft from Callaway Preowned, along with an FTIQ Tour head (30% off all imix heads and shafts, so I figured what the heck). I have always been a big fan of the V2 (have V2 in a 905R driver, in some hybrids and in a fairway wood). I love the feel of the V2. Some say it feels "boardy", but I like that feel.

The FT9 with the AXIVCore Red 69 is an extremely smooth feeling combo. To draw an analogy, it kind of feels like hitting the sweetspot on a forged iron, it feels "soft". The AXIVCore Red 69 feels nothing like the V2. Totally different. V2 feels more "crisp" to me- I get subtle, but not unpleasant vibration feedback in my hands with the V2. Almost like a "snap" feel to it, whereas the AXIVCore is just smooth- a lack of any vibration. The FT9 head is already extremely quiet, and combined with the AXIVCore shaft, there just is not vibration feel at all and it is very, very quiet.

Performance-wise, I can't compare the V2 to the AXIV just yet. I will want to wait to get my V2 shaft and swap it in and out compared to the AXIV, but for me, the FT9/AXIV combo spins a bit more than my FT9 Fubuki or FT9 Whiteboard. Launch with the AXIV is in between the Whiteboard and the Fubuki, with the Fubuki launching the highest, but flattening out and rolling forever and the Whiteboard launching the lowest. I love having i-mix, but it can be expensive since you will always be buying and experimenting with different shafts.

[phull67]

I need some help...hopefully I'll find it here.

I just traded in my FT-i 9 Draw / Speeder 586s for an FT-9 Tour 9.5 i-Mix Neutral / Fubuki 63s

I've only hit the new driver a handful of times, spent an hour at the range with it and then played 18 holes the following day. I was expecting better results that I got......it's producing a very low ball flight, not carrying nearly as far as the FT-i and I'm pulling a lot of drives to the left.

I've got a swing speed of 92-98, I hit a 7i 150. I've been told (by a teaching pro) that I'm right on the edge of a r & s and it's better to error on the s side. I went with the FT-9 Tour 9.5 because I wanted a slightly higher ball flight than the FT-i 9 but didn't think I needed to step up to a 10 degree. But It seems like I went down a degree rather than up, the ball barely gets off the ground. I did find when I swing extra hard....uncomfortably hard....that I get a longer, higher ball. This leads me to believe I've chosen the wrong shaft.

Any thoughts will be greatly appreciated.

[130R]

Great review exactly why the FT-9 is still one of my favourites

[bj88]

[quote name='phull67' date='05 June 2010 - 07:38 AM' timestamp='1275737890' post='2487689']
I need some help...hopefully I'll find it here.

I just traded in my FT-i 9 Draw / Speeder 586s for an FT-9 Tour 9.5 i-Mix Neutral / Fubuki 63s

I've only hit the new driver a handful of times, spent an hour at the range with it and then played 18 holes the following day. I was expecting better results that I got......it's producing a very low ball flight, not carrying nearly as far as the FT-i and I'm pulling a lot of drives to the left.

I've got a swing speed of 92-98, I hit a 7i 150. I've been told (by a teaching pro) that I'm right on the edge of a r & s and it's better to error on the s side. I went with the FT-9 Tour 9.5 because I wanted a slightly higher ball flight than the FT-i 9 but didn't think I needed to step up to a 10 degree. But It seems like I went down a degree rather than up, the ball barely gets off the ground. I did find when I swing extra hard....uncomfortably hard....that I get a longer, higher ball. This leads me to believe I've chosen the wrong shaft.

Any thoughts will be greatly appreciated.
[/quote]

I'm pretty sure that the tour is going to launch lower than the regular version. The tour sits open and the center of gravity is probably different. Going from a 9* FT-i, you may be better off with the 10.5* FT-9.

[ronstars]

[quote name='bj88' date='05 June 2010 - 06:22 AM' timestamp='1275744170' post='2487760']
[quote name='phull67' date='05 June 2010 - 07:38 AM' timestamp='1275737890' post='2487689']
I need some help...hopefully I'll find it here.

I just traded in my FT-i 9 Draw / Speeder 586s for an FT-9 Tour 9.5 i-Mix Neutral / Fubuki 63s

I've only hit the new driver a handful of times, spent an hour at the range with it and then played 18 holes the following day. I was expecting better results that I got......it's producing a very low ball flight, not carrying nearly as far as the FT-i and I'm pulling a lot of drives to the left.

I've got a swing speed of 92-98, I hit a 7i 150. I've been told (by a teaching pro) that I'm right on the edge of a r & s and it's better to error on the s side. I went with the FT-9 Tour 9.5 because I wanted a slightly higher ball flight than the FT-i 9 but didn't think I needed to step up to a 10 degree. But It seems like I went down a degree rather than up, the ball barely gets off the ground. I did find when I swing extra hard....uncomfortably hard....that I get a longer, higher ball. This leads me to believe I've chosen the wrong shaft.

Any thoughts will be greatly appreciated.
[/quote]

I'm pretty sure that the tour is going to launch lower than the regular version. The tour sits open and the center of gravity is probably different. Going from a 9* FT-i, you may be better off with the 10.5* FT-9.
[/quote]


Ya this sounds like wayyyy more than just a shaft problem. The fact that you went fron a draw weighted to a tour open faced model should have, if anything, caused you to miss right constantly. I think the above is good advice for now, because the chnage from draw to open might just be playing games with your head at address. Are you closing the face of the ft-9 before you swing? A non-tour Ft-9 sounds like a better fit for you, either draw or neutral.

[phull67]

Thanks guys....

I started with the FT-i Draw because I was constantly fighting a slice....since that purchase (2 seasons ago) I've taken a bunch of lessons and have really straightened myself out. I very seldom see a slice anymore. which is why I went to the neutral. I think the pulls with the new club may be a result of overcompensation for the open face of the tour model but thought I would bring it up because I know it can be caused by incorrect flex as well.

I'm gonna keep working with what I've got....chances are I'll figure it out.

[odshot68]

1 degree open plays approxiamately 1 degree less loft. Then its a different weighted club for a lower boring trajectory. You are probably not getting enough spin. Plus it could be the shaft.