Very good points. I assume this first $1000 entry by TaylorMade was just a ‘test’ to see what the higher end of the market would think. This seems more like a collectors item than a main stream product at this point.

I would assume if it does half decent, TaylorMade would offer something similar to the iMix system. Would be nice to see all the major OEMs agree on one ‘standard’…but I guess that wouldn’t make much business sense!

The problem I see with Callaway at this point is that some of the shaft options are ridiculously priced, often times $100 over the retail price for a ‘normal’ shaft without the little thread that makes it an iMix shaft.

Long term, I think it may make sense in that you can buy a couple of these iMix shafts once, and then re-use for years to come.

In the end though, the cheapest option would be to visit a club fitter who sets you up a head/shaft combination that best fits your swing…and stick with that for a few years! Crazy..I know!

First, Callaway (TM’s biggest competitor in the interchangeable arena) isn’t forcing a three shaft package, instead they’re allowing the the consumer to buy 1 head and 1 shaft.

Second, with a huge industry push towards custom fitting in the last couple of years (of which TaylorMade has been a big part – this technology started out in a fitting cart), the idea that you have to buy 3 shafts, and they have to be these three shafts, is kind of ridiculous.

I consider myself a TaylorMade guy, and as much as I like the idea of an interchangeable system (impractical as it may be), there’s no way I’m on board until I have some actual choice.

As much as it pains me to admit, Callaway with their multiple heads, and actual shaft options is, at least for now, a better choice for those of us crazy enough to believe we need this sort of thing.

The r7 CGB MAX Limited driver and all that comes with it will be available at TaylorMade’s retail partners in April at a manufacturer’s suggested retail price of $999.