R9 MAX FCT Sleeves

I have started listing the R9 MAX sleeves on ebay. Both the .350 and the TP .335

Ebay Item numbers:

150368405585 (TP)

150368404679 (.350)

These FCT adjusts loft by 1.5 degrees and closes / opens the clubface by 3 degrees.

(The standard FCT sleeves adjusts loft by 1 degrees and closes / opens the clubface by 2 degrees)

Some better players may want 3 degrees open face so they will opt for this FCT sleeve. I have been receiving a lot of private messages with regards to this FCT sleeve, and I have now decided to list some for sale.

Well I actually have these sleeves like, 3 months ago...but because they were very rare, I did not really wanna sell them. These sleeves can only be found in the Japanese market.

I have listed a small quantity for sale on ebay, and it will be while stocks last.

These sleeves are able to fit perfectly on any R9 or R9 460 driver or fairway wood.

Pre-Released: R9 Max - Type E

Some players on the Japanese tour are already testing this new version of the R9 MAX (Type E)

What I see here, is that this version has significantly less offset than the existing R9 MAX. Having said that, its still slightly closed at N position...but of course with the trademark R9 MAX 1.5 sleeve, this clubface can be adjusted up to 3 degrees open.

I like it...its my driver! A big head (I like， LOL) with the slight offset. At address, the clubhead looks great...very confidence boosting. Unlike the current R9 MAX, this one has no MWT.

All in all, I like this much more than the current R9 MAX. This is the best driver I ever hit for the last 3 years, no kidding! This is LONG LONG LONG!!! I like it! My girlfriends were simply jealous!

Set to be released in Oct 09, but only in the Japanese market.

The one and only way to tell a genuine Taylormade FCT sleeve

Its been 5 months since I first started selling Taylormade R9 FCT sleeves. Since then, fakes or copies have started to circulate. It used to be easy to tell a fake, not now. A new kind of fakes, which are 'high grade copies' are circulating. So 'high grade' that some of you may not even tell them apart. Very well made to look like the real thing. In fact, you'll need a magnifying glass to tell them apart. Literally, no kidding. Look at the picture below. One is a high grade copy which I purchased via eBay, and the other is an authentic R9 FCT sleeve. You can hardly tell them apart eh? (CLICK ON ALL IMAGES TO ENLARGE)

Lets take a look at the weight:

It weighs the same! OMG! Well done!

Ok, so my friend who works in Taylormade told me theres only 1 true way to tell, because the copies do not have the right cutter machine...so there is a difference in finishing. Now, time to bring out the magnifying glass....it is that fine...it is that small. Yes, you need a magnifying glass. It took me 3 days to figure out what the heck he was saying, even with a magnifying glass, LOL!

Ok, when the FCT sleeve is made by an authentic Taylormade machine, it will produce very fine circular lines...very very very fine! At 3 different places. No I am not talking about the lines on the FCT 'teeth'. As you can see from my first picture, even the copies now have lines on the teeth. Check out the following picture:

On 1 and 3, it might get you into 50-50 situations, because on authentic sleeves, sometimes the prints are very vague. The best way to look at, which is also the hardest (because the lines are very fine) is on Part 2. I took 3 days to see the fine lines. Go experiment and have fun!

Hopefully all of you can benefit from this. There are many sleeves now, and new sleeves are coming out. Some have different numbers stamped at the bottom, a small minority have no numbers. More fakes are floating around. People are getting doubtful. With this little guide, hopefully it helps us to make an informed decision.

The fake I bought, the little 'step' is black instead of red:

Like I said, the fakes now even have lines on the teeth:

The fake is still very shiny on the inside. Not matt like the authentic ones:

Well in conclusion, the high grade copies are so good that even a picture on ebay can be dubious. Right now I am relying on the fine lines to help me tell them apart.

Cheers

Fake R9 FCT Sleeve: TP .335 - beastar7 on ebay

Just a couple of days ago, I was complaining that ebay seller beastar7 basically copied by Pictures and all my listing wordings. (Click here to view my previous post)

This has led many buyers to think that beastar7 was affiliated with me...because the pictures were the same as mine, even the listing description was being copied from me word for word, color for color!

I have since reported to ebay and the listing was being taken down for copyright violation.

Unfortunately, one buyer got burned buying a fake from him. Attached above is the picture my customer gave to me. Of course it was the screw and rubber washer that gave it away. I must say its a very good fake. Without the screws and washer, you'd need a magnifying glass to tell it apart.

Rubber washer - where it should rightfully be

Many people I know use the rubber washer wrongly. They insert it into the screw and then screw it into the FCT sleeve via the top. When the rubber washer shreds, they say that its damaged....but of course! It's not supposed to be used that way.

The rubber washer is supposed to go below the head, not on top together with the screw. REFER TO PICTURE.

The purpose of the rubber washer? To prevent the screw from falling out easily when you 'unlock' your FCT sleeve.

Cheers!

(click on image below to enlarge)

Slow internet pissing me off

So yesterday night I was trying to post news about some new sleeves...and also the 'best way' to tell a genuine FCT sleeve (now that there are so many high grade copies around).....and I got so pissed! The internet connection was so slow yesterday.

They say its caused by the Typhoon in Taiwan? Something like Singapore's internet providers have cables all the way in Taiwan or some BS like that, haha!

http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/448440/1/.html

I was trying to open up the PGA website and it took me 20mins! WHAT THE!!!!

So I got so pissed, I went to sleep

I will post updates tonight, if the speed picks up.....

Now I need you guys more than ever!

Hi guys!

A very good friend of mine from the States whom I have been supplying my FCT sleeves to gave me a heads up this morning.

Someone is coping my Auction listing on ebay for the FCT sleeves.

- The seller stole all my pictures and my item description WORD FOR WORD, COLOR FOR COLOR

- In turn, the seller will be sending out a fake sleeve (I know and I will prove it with pictures)

I do not want people to get confused, especially people who are new to ebay. Some may think they are buying from me based on the item description and pictures, but its actually not! Worse of all, I do not want someone to accidentally buy a fake sleeve unknowingly.

The listing he copied from me: Item number on ebay 180395303406

My own listing: Item number on ebay 160348676934

This is where I need your help. I have reported the listing to ebay for violations - 2 violations to be exact. His item number 180395303406 is a copy of my listing description and pictures - so thats 1 policy violation

His other listing number: 180383407302 I have reported it to ebay as a fake. I will tell you guys why I say it's a fake - and I mean the latest HIGH QUALITY FAKE to catch unknowing buyers out there.

Why do I need your help? Well, this is not the first time that someone else used my ebay listing pictures and description. I had a fellow did the same thing before, and when I reported it to ebay, ebay did nothing. I believe that when numbers unite together and report the same listing, ebay will take action. So I call upon all of you, I believe you guys buy from me because we all understand the importance of having a genuine FCT sleeve. I need all your support here, so that I can continue to 'survive' and so that other Taylormade R9 lovers will NOT be fooled.

He is selling a copy(counterfeit) TP FCT sleeve. These are the latest high copy sleeves that are circulationg around lately. Some people even get fooled. These high copy sleeves even have the lines in between the teeth. They are really made very well and I believe a lot of people would have been fooled by now, but look closely at the bottom (see my picture - purple box I drew)....the high copy ones are black or spray on red, so the red paint does not sit pretty, very ugly and patchy. See my own picture and compare the bottom red paint:

For those of you who are familiar with ebay, you will know how to report his listing:

1) Report listing number 180395303406 for violation (Copied description and picture from another seller)

2) Report listing number 180383407302 as counterfeit

Latest News: Seller beastar7 has willingly ended his item

Thanks guys!

My new batch of TP sleeves are in! 100% authentic of course~!

New R9/R9 460 FCT sleeves

Contrary to previous reports that Taylormade will not be releasing new FCT sleeves for the new line of R9 drivers,...turns out that they WILL be!

I already have 1 kind of new sleeve with me that is similar to the FCT sleeve for the Japanese market R9 MAX, the sleeve is adjustable in 1.5 degrees, instead of the 2 degrees that we all have now. This sleeve is available in standard or TP version. I will be selling this starting from tonight.

Another kind of sleeve, well, will be launched in a month's time. All I can say is, cosmetic wise, its a 150% improvement. There are patterns on the sleeve! COOL! They can even do a pink version for Paula Creamer. I can't disclose even a picture for this sleeve...not until at least in a month's time. Sorry.

The 1.5 version is worth a try....I always feel adjusting the club in 2 degrees is too much, so 1.5 is worth fuzzing around.

The best of all, be it old sleeves or new sleeves....they all fit into the R9 head (old R9 heads and the new R9 heads coming up).....so there's so much combination to play around with! FUN!

MP68 and MX300 + Nike Dymo Str8 fit sleeves

Will be able to get 1 set of MX300 and 1 set of MP68 next week.

Direct from the Japanese Tour

Anyone interested could drop me an email. Really limited with 1 set each. Authentic, of course!

Theres a lot of buzz about fake MP68s. If you are in doubt, please ask me. I know of a way to tell them apart.

Also, will be bringing in the Nike Dymo Str8 fit sleeves! Hopefully, in 3 weeks time. Nike enthusiast can now look forward to changing and switching shafts with their nike Dymo Str8 fit.

Will be selling the shaft sleeve with the ferrule together. (You need the Nike Str8 ferrule in order to adjust the specs on the driver)

So thats very good news to all Nike Dymo fans!

Spread the word and bookmark my blog on your web browser! This will be the 1st place I'll launch it, followed by the famous 'bay' :)

Of course, the most reasonable price guaranteed! You guys know me! :)

Tour Issue R9 TP FCT Sleeve?

Ok, an interesting post. I'll have some fun before I sleep.

So...I have seen some interesting stuff going on at ebay of late. I launched my 2 for 1 offer, more and more sellers, competitors (especially those selling fakes) got 'hurt'. Some had to go to the desperate extent to claim that they also bought for me, and found out that my sleeves were identical to theirs. They then went on to assure their sellers that they should buy from them, since mine were also 'fake' like theirs. LOL!

My answer to this? Nothing... here's the thing - I know some of these sellers on ebay got cheated too. I kind of pity them. I know 1 guy, he is a powerseller with 100% feedback, he got scammed by someone who claimed can supply him Genuine sleeves (TP) at a very low price (1/3 of the price I am getting). When I knew about this, I was not convinced that the TP sleeves he were getting were genuine. There is no way it could be so cheap. I warned him....still, he went ahead to buy. He bought a load of them at once! So what happens? He got a load of fakes which he had to get rid of...and I mean, fast!

So that is why when I see sellers trying to 'protect' their ass...sometimes to the extent of framing me...I try to close an eye. I give them the benefit of doubt. I try to think that they might have been ripped off too, and are trying hard to get rid of their load.

Don't get me wrong, I am not endorsing sellers selling fakes on ebay....I would appreciate some integrity. I have seen some sellers now honestly saying that their's are OEM...and I appreciate it. Even the remark from one seller/competitor about my 'sleeves being fake' was removed. I really appreciate that. To be honest, I did not do anything at all. I knew what people were saying on ebay, but I kept quiet. I did not even confront the seller who gave such remarks. Which adds to my belief that humans are of good nature afterall. :)

By the way, I have been witholding information. About 2 weeks ago, I played golf with a Taylormade guy. He told me that now, fake sleeves are made to look like real. He gave me an 'insider secret' - the ONE and ONLY way to tell an authentic sleeve from a fake. So I knew this piece of information for 2 weeks, and I have not written about it on my blog...:)

Ok, I've been lazy! There's so much I keep telling myself I have to do, but I have not done so. I wanted to post pictures of the new R9 prototype, and that was like...since 3 weeks ago! Haha! Horrible me! Okok, I promise....the insider secret to spotting genuine sleeves + pics of new R9 prototype will be up within the next 3 days, ok?? Promise!

*PS...BTW, once I post the insider secret to spotting genuine sleeves, I'd probably knock-out all ebay sellers/competitors. (Am I making more enemies?)

So....a joke before I actually turn in for some rest.

I saw this ebay auction: http://cgi.ebay.com/TaylorMade-Tour-Issue-R9-TP-Sleeve_W0QQitemZ110419450180QQcmdZViewItemQQptZGolf_Clubmaking_Products_US?hash=item19b5831944&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14#ht_500wt_1182

Ebay Number: 110419450180

The seller says its a tour issue R9 FCT TP sleeve. Haha!

I don't even need to take a second look and can tell that its fake (color, teeth lines + wordings)...what more, he claims its TOUR ISSUE? Sounds like fun!

Heres his auction pic:

Here's a real tour issue FCT sleeve guys:

Tour Issue FCT sleeve will have N or NU or R underlined...depending on what special tour setting the sleeve has been made to do.

Yes, again I have been withholding information....I have had these sleeves as early as April, but I have been quiet about it. My idea was that, since I can't sell it, I'd rather not talk about it. :)

Oh well, its different now...now I see people selling a fake sleeve on ebay as tour issue, I'd need to speak up...in case there are people who would pay a lot of $$$ for it! I don't wanna see people get burnt.

To make things clear, I have tour issue sleeves but I can't sell them. I have less than 5pcs and I am not allowed to sell them. If I have extra, I would sell them....so if you read this blog regularly, you may get lucky! haha

Good night!