I've been gaming an FT-5 Driver for the last 2 years. I've owned several other drivers including a Ping G5, a Clevland Hi-Bore XL, a TM Tour Burner TP, a Cobra S9-1 Pro D, and a Tour Edge Exotics XCG. All of those drivers are very good in their own right and they all put up exceptional Launch Monitor numbers, however, none of these drivers has been able to knock the FT-5 out of my bag for more than 3 or 4 rounds. The FT-5 in my opinion is the best driver I have played in the past 2 years, I hit it as far as any driver I have tried and for the most part I know where it is going to go. Now on to the the FT-9... The FT-9 seems to me to be basically an FT-5, with a few minor differences. First I can work the FT-9 to the right a little easier than I can the FT-5. I rarely tried to work a fade with the FT-5 but I find it is pretty easy with the FT-9 and the ball really goes when you do. Second the FT-9 has a slightly lower ball flight, which I prefer. I can launch both the FT-5 and FT-9 a mile in the air if I want to but I can keep the FT-9 down a little better when the situation dictates. As far as distance goes I'm not sure if the FT-9 is any longer than the FT-5, it has been so windy here for the past month it is hard to tell, but it seems to be at least as long as my FT-5. For those who couldn't get over the aluminum bat sound of the FT-5 the FT-9 is much more subdued "vocally". Feed back is good so far, although I haven't played it enough to be in tune with the subtle nuances of the feel. On several occasions I've launched one high on the face (the hottest part of the FT-9) and thought I didn't get all of it, only to find that it is much further than I anticipated. The FT-9 is a great club. It may not be light years ahead of Callaway's last offering, the FT-5, but they have definately fine tuned the FT-9 and in the right hands it is a weapon.
Pros: Quality, Durability
Cons: price, availability more stores should stock the 8.5*