Did you buy a straight bore bogus Taylormade FCT sleeve?

Another difference - significant difference I would say, when buying a fake Taylormade R9 FCT sleeve is that the shaft sleeve is a straight bore.

Well, it simply means its 360 degrees of pure straightness, LOL.....no matter where you turn, L, R, NU or whatever, its still straight. It does not adjust the golf club at all. No, lofts are not changed, lie angles are not changed, clubface remains the same - you did not adjust it to close it or open it. Your R9 becomes any other golf club when you buy a bogus FCT sleeve.

What's so special about the R9 is the adjustability factor. So lets all keep it that way.

The easiest way to tell if a FCT sleeve is straight bore if to hold it up straight against the wall (it helps if your wall is white or of a lighter color tone).

Put the FCT sleeve facing you at its L position, the FCT sleeve should tilt towards the right.

Put the FCT sleeve facing you at its R position, the FCT sleeve should tilt towards the left.

You might get giddy at first.....but you focus close enough you will see it. I've taken some comparison shots for all to see.

Another great article to help you buy genuine sleeves.

God bless all of u!

Love,

Diane

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

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~!

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!

More fake FCT sleeves on eBay spotted (especially TP .335)

There are more and more fake FCT sleeves selling on ebay. Especially the TP .335

Well, people know what are valuable and will also produce whatever that makes a profit. What I wrote previously on how to spot a genuine FCT sleeve from a replica may not be applicable today, as many of these fakes have now been very well produced.

Take for an example, fakes now have what we call the 'production numbers' engraved below the sleeves. Fakes are also now grey in color (the shaft sleeve) instead of red (initial fakes very red = very fake).

Here are some newer updated techniques:

(Please click on each picture for an enlarged and clearer view)

The part where you insert the shaft should be

MATT GREY. Fakes used to be red...

they are getting smarter now by making it

in grey too....

but fakes are usually in SHINY GREY.

Authentic sleeves go through a special process

which makes the sleeves MATT rather than shiny.

ALL FCT sleeves should have these 2 dots below

if they are genuine. The 2 dots must match up according to the NU and L position respectively

Especially for TP sleeves, where there are so

many fakes around! Be careful...look out for

this small detail!

The TP logo - there should be a gap in

between the T and P. Its a small gap but can

still be captured on camera.

A lot of those I see on ebay DO NOT have

the correct TP logo

My favourite! The BEST way to spot a fake:

The horizontal lines on the teeth of the FCT

sleeves are what makes your FCT a genuine!

FCT = Flight Control Technology.

This is what helps make your club change its

lie angle, loft and face angle! The lines on the teeth

is produced only by a special knife which cuts the

FCT sleeve by machine during production.

You can't see the lines on the teeth for copy sleeves,

because they do not have the correct knife/machinery

to achieve this result. Buying a bogus sleeve means you

merely have have a socket to hold your shaft to your

clubhead, as simple as that. That's all, period.

You do not benefit from the FCT technology and the

adjustability of the R9 technology!

The body of genuine screw bolts should be darker,

with a shade of black.

Pictured on the left is a fake screw, on the right is a genuine.

A fake screw sticks to a magnet as its made of stainless steel.

A genuine screw does not stick to a magnet.

Some possible fakes:

1. Teeth of the sleeves are clearly fake. No horizontal lines.

Also,I noticed the .350 he used to sell comes with

the circular rubber washer!

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Latest Updates (Updated 5th Nov 2009)

1) Seller: dbsdnjsqo

The rubber washer being rounded is a dead giveaway

From this angle, you can see that these are straight bore sleeves with no adjustibility.

The screw is fake, it is too long. Look at my picture below:

(click to enlarge)

Numbers should not really be engraved in white

2) Seller: Tgenovese

(click to enlarge picture)

Well its pretty obvious....he has stated in his description that his

are straight bore sleeves, not genuine.

This is a nice seller, a very nice person. Well, he does not know

that I know him but yeah, I know he's a good man....I sound like a

stalker now, LOL

3) Seller: thl-pro-shop

No comments really....picture is so small

4) Seller: Brandnamegolfequipment

This picture is also a bit too small to tell, but I think the screw

looks odd...also, teeth looks too 'polished'....

but then again, its a picture that is not close up, tough call

Somehow this china guy cracks me up. Read his item description....

.the english makes me laugh, and below.......he made a very pissing

comment. He seem to think that someone gave him a negative

feedback on purpose and at the end, is he hinting that its

'iheartburner' aka me??

I don't know....if he meant it as getting the heart 'burnt' (hurt) or

was he referring to me, as in he thinks I sabotaged him?

Am I getting sensitive?

I don't know.....Well for the record, ITS NOT ME....

I did not give him the negative and I would not do such things. I believe

in karma...besides, I have a good reputation already on ebay,

I need not resort to such means. DUH!

Well he may mean it as a word heartburn or whatever,

I don't know. I seriously dont understand his English....

just look at his description, LOL

Guess I should not take it too personally

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The above posts are based on my honest opinion for open sharing.

I have no intention to harm anyone's 'reputation'

by discussing their items on this blog.

Fake R9 FCT sleeves

Today, I got an email from a buyer.

It wrote:

"I got tricked and bought a fake on ebay Item number: 280340165463. Everything looked the same except no number on the tip and the font was different. The washer, both paint colors and inside look the same. I could take pictures if you wanted to add to your page."

Another email from a recent customer who has been buying FCT sleeves from me regularly ever since, he's a clubmaker in the US:

"I just want to give you a little detailed feedback! Your product is absolutely perfect. The Real Taylormade sleeves you are selling are bored off center and that is how you can rotate the shafts position and get the different loft, lie, open and closed Face angles. All the American sellers I purchased from are basically selling aftermarket junk, I purchased sleeves from 3 sellers on ebay and they are bored straight (plum) and it will not allow any of the features when you rotate the shafts position. This totally defeats the purpose of having a R9 since you will not be able to change anything. . The funny thing is since they all have good feedback, the buyers must have no idea about this detail and it is so important and easy to notice. Once again thanks!"

Just thought I'd share.