Complete Overview of TaylorMade R7 Drivers

TaylorMade introduced the R7 and R7 460 for two different players, and though no longer in production these drivers are still available on the secondary market.

The R7 and R7 460 may look nearly identical, but their shot characteristics differ greatly. The R7 is designed for faster swingers looking for a more penetrating ball flight and greater workability. The R7 460 focuses on forgiveness with low spin and doesn't feature movable weight technology.

TaylorMade introduced movable weight technology in its R7 driver. Weighted screws are inserted in two or four places on the club head and their configuration can change the flight path over 30 yards of lateral distance. The R7 460 doesn't feature movable weight technology.

The R7 460's emphasis on forgiveness reduces hooks and slices, and reduces your draw or fade. The 460 gets in the air faster than the R7 and fights to reduce side spin. If shot-making is a big part of your game from the tee, the 460 is not your driver.

Perks

Right to left spin helps with slices and the draw club head straightens out the worst slices. Very accurate on solid hits and the club does not twist open on toe hits. Weights can help with changing your trajectory.

This driver can be adjusted for a golfer's swing by simply moving the heel and toe weights around to produce the desired result.

Having the ability to change the dynamics of the R7 Quad gives the golfer the advantage of creating a different feel for the driver. The factory settings (center weights are 10g and the heel and toe weights are 2g), allow a player to use a choked-up grip that straightens out a fade. When a fade is needed, adjusting to a full grip and taking a regular swing should produce the necessary result.

For the casual golfer that wants the capabilities of a high-end driver the R7 Quad may be a purchase that completes the bag.

The R7 CGB Max features titanium construction, a 460cc head, three different degrees of loft (9.5, 10.5 and 12) and three movable sole weights.

The weighting system allows for adjustments for faded and draw shots. The triangular-shaped head comes with a standard D3 swing weight. The club is stocked with a Taylor Made Ultralight RE-AX shaft and ultralight grip.

The Movable Weight System makes this driver a fun game-improvement club to hit. Each setting lives up to its claim to produce large draws (heel weight), slight draws (back weight) and slight fades (toe weighting). Each setting is comfortable, producing nice, climbing trajectories.

Like many Taylor Made drivers, the R7 CGB is slightly tip-stiff, which, for weaker players, can make for control problems and undesirable ball flights. Working the ball against the weight settings can also result in sharp hooks and lacing fades and slices, especially for the better player.

The R7 CGB is a forgiving game-improvement driver. It is made with proven quality and craftsmanship. For players not trying to beat the world off the tee, the R7 CGB is a dependable club off the rack. It is commonly sold for about $300 to $350, depending on the retailer.

The TaylorMade R7 Draw is a 460cc, game-improvement titanium driver constructed with the ability to eliminate slices and promote straight shots, draws, and more distance.

The R7 is a heel-weighted club with a slightly closed face, which promotes its draw characteristics. The driver is still available with a variety of shafts such as the Mitsubishi Rayon RE-AX 55.

On over-the-top, open-face shots, the heel weight corrects the plane, working the ball toward the center of the fairway nicely. Ball flights are attractive and penetrating, and the face is extremely responsive at impact.

The R7Draw leaves a bit to be desired when you try to shape shots. The heel weighting also can promote hooked tee shots when attempting to draw the ball. The club feels significantly light, which might cause jerky swing motions, most notably casting and coming over the top.

The R7 Draw is satisfactory with solid characteristics to help keep the ball toward the middle of the fairway. While not a club geared toward advanced players, this TaylorMade is a quality buy for the novice.

From its movable weights, which control launch angles, to its 460cc titanium head, the TaylorMade R7 Superquad is a game improvement driver made for the tech-savvy player wanting to dial in the perfect trajectory at the tee.

The club is equipped with four removable weights, two on the back edge of the sole, one near the toe and one near the heel. It also boasts a low center of gravity and a large, thin face. The Superquad is fitted with a TaylorMade RE*AX 65 graphite shaft available in regular and stiff flex.

The most serious flaw in the movable-weight technology is TaylorMade's decision to sell separately the wrench needed to remove the screws. The weights are also a bit difficult to dial in for the novice. Lead tape, for the advanced player, usually fares just as well.

With this club, leaving the weights as-is and relying on solid swing mechanics, within the scope of the club's capability, eliminates the need to remove the weights.

The R7 Superquad is a slick driver for the pragmatic player looking to tinker with launch angles. Its head-shaft marriage is a strong one and the Superquad produces solid distances for a big, game improvement club.

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