Nice, thanks for the extra info. After experiencing both ends of the spectrum I think a club that is a nice mix of GI and GE would be a major winner....and from the reviews thus far it definitely is.
TaylorMade R11 Irons - Review Thread - Forum Testing Reviews
Nice, thanks for the extra info. After experiencing both ends of the spectrum I think a club that is a nice mix of GI and GE would be a major winner....and from the reviews thus far it definitely is.
Hanks
On the Fringe
wonderful write up Buck....can't wait to take a few swings of my own with these next time we hit the range
Buckjob
My Friend's Call Me Drew
Yeah let me know when you're going there we can have a range date. lol Even if it is hard concentrating with a celebrity hitting next to me.
staticline
New member
I understand that some of these have been answered. But, going thru 11 pages of "nice video", "looking forward to your thoughts" replies is a major beatdown.
The comments about the tighter dispersion were great to see.
1. What’s your driver swing speed?
2. What’s your 5iron swing speed?
3. What are your yardages with your current set?
4. Any yardage differences with the R11’s?
4a. If yes to #4, is R11 shaft length longer or shorter than normal sticks?
4b. If yes to #4, is R11 iron loft more or less than normal sticks?
5. What shafts are in your current set?
6. What shafts came with the R11’s?
7. Are you standard loft/lie?
7a. If not, are you taking the R11’s into a shop to get the lie adjusted?
Congrats to all who are testing. Looking forward to you feedback.
The comments about the tighter dispersion were great to see.
1. What’s your driver swing speed?
2. What’s your 5iron swing speed?
3. What are your yardages with your current set?
4. Any yardage differences with the R11’s?
4a. If yes to #4, is R11 shaft length longer or shorter than normal sticks?
4b. If yes to #4, is R11 iron loft more or less than normal sticks?
5. What shafts are in your current set?
6. What shafts came with the R11’s?
7. Are you standard loft/lie?
7a. If not, are you taking the R11’s into a shop to get the lie adjusted?
Congrats to all who are testing. Looking forward to you feedback.
TC
Keg Thrower
Today was my first range session with the R11 irons. My range session took place at the practice facility I prefer to use. I like this place for many reasons. They have a large grass driving range, they have three different target greens to shoot at, as well as 100, 150, 200, & 250 yard markers. It was warm today, somewhere around 80* with a high level of humidity. There was a 5-7 mph head wind so the stage was set to test the irons out.
My R11's came equipped with the KBS 90 steel shafts in stiff flex, 3 - PW, with Taylormade branded Golf Pride Tour Velvet grips. My previous set of irons were Callaway's Razr X Tours, with KBS Tours in xstiff.
After getting warmed at the short game section of the facility I moved on to the range and pulled the PW out of the bag. It's a very good looking PW at address and it frames the ball wonderfully. There really is a lot less offset than one might imagine in these irons. One thing that stood out to me immediately is that these irons are a very easy and seamless transition from the RXT's, visually. Ball strike after ball strike I kept thinking of one word: SOFT. These irons feel so soft at impact, dare I say, like hitting a marshmellow? It became addictive to be honest. The turf interaction is phenomenal and the sole of these irons are something special. They are thin, they slice through the turf, and the only thing I don't like, is the small channel on the sole. It really does pick up a lot of material and it's kind of a nuisance to clean out. That might not bother some people but for a guy like me, who's notorious about keeping his clubs clean, it's annoying.
The main thing I was concerned with going into this was going from a shaft I was fit for (KBS Tours in xstiff) to the KBS 90 in stiff flex. Well, I can safely say that those worries can be laid to rest. I was expecting moon balls and I saw nothing of the sort. In fact, I am extremely pleased with the ball flight they offer. I didn't see anything today that would concern me at all. The shafts provide a feel and feedback that I have found synonymous with KBS' offerings. It's a consistent feel and flight and to me, it provides me with one less thing to worry about when it comes to adjusting to these irons.
I've touched on the feel a little bit but wouldn't mind addressing that a little bit more. By far, some of the best feeling irons I've experienced. It's pretty well documented that I loved the R9 irons and these pick up where those left off. I imagine the inverted cone technology has something to do with that, but I could be way wrong. Whatever it is, these irons rank as some of the best feeling irons I've ever hit. One thing I kept thinking about was the face of the irons. We all know that these irons share the thin face technology, which Taylormade introduced with the Burner 2.0's, but for me, the two sets of irons feel nothing alike. You catch a ball out on the toe a little bit with the R11's and you kind of know it. What I mean is: you hit the ball, you watch it fly, you think to yourself "I'm pretty sure I caught that on the toe, but the ball shouldn't be flying that far or that well". So, you know you've toe'd it a little but the results are fantastic.
I know it's very early on the stages of testing but I have to be honest, I think these could be some of the best irons I've hit to date. They have everything a golfer would want in an iron. I'm very, very excited about these irons b/c after my first range session I am highly impressed. I'm trying very hard to find a con about these irons and the only thing I can think of is the weird channeling on the sole of the club.
I did take some video of me hitting the 8 iron and here it is:
My R11's came equipped with the KBS 90 steel shafts in stiff flex, 3 - PW, with Taylormade branded Golf Pride Tour Velvet grips. My previous set of irons were Callaway's Razr X Tours, with KBS Tours in xstiff.
After getting warmed at the short game section of the facility I moved on to the range and pulled the PW out of the bag. It's a very good looking PW at address and it frames the ball wonderfully. There really is a lot less offset than one might imagine in these irons. One thing that stood out to me immediately is that these irons are a very easy and seamless transition from the RXT's, visually. Ball strike after ball strike I kept thinking of one word: SOFT. These irons feel so soft at impact, dare I say, like hitting a marshmellow? It became addictive to be honest. The turf interaction is phenomenal and the sole of these irons are something special. They are thin, they slice through the turf, and the only thing I don't like, is the small channel on the sole. It really does pick up a lot of material and it's kind of a nuisance to clean out. That might not bother some people but for a guy like me, who's notorious about keeping his clubs clean, it's annoying.
The main thing I was concerned with going into this was going from a shaft I was fit for (KBS Tours in xstiff) to the KBS 90 in stiff flex. Well, I can safely say that those worries can be laid to rest. I was expecting moon balls and I saw nothing of the sort. In fact, I am extremely pleased with the ball flight they offer. I didn't see anything today that would concern me at all. The shafts provide a feel and feedback that I have found synonymous with KBS' offerings. It's a consistent feel and flight and to me, it provides me with one less thing to worry about when it comes to adjusting to these irons.
I've touched on the feel a little bit but wouldn't mind addressing that a little bit more. By far, some of the best feeling irons I've experienced. It's pretty well documented that I loved the R9 irons and these pick up where those left off. I imagine the inverted cone technology has something to do with that, but I could be way wrong. Whatever it is, these irons rank as some of the best feeling irons I've ever hit. One thing I kept thinking about was the face of the irons. We all know that these irons share the thin face technology, which Taylormade introduced with the Burner 2.0's, but for me, the two sets of irons feel nothing alike. You catch a ball out on the toe a little bit with the R11's and you kind of know it. What I mean is: you hit the ball, you watch it fly, you think to yourself "I'm pretty sure I caught that on the toe, but the ball shouldn't be flying that far or that well". So, you know you've toe'd it a little but the results are fantastic.
I know it's very early on the stages of testing but I have to be honest, I think these could be some of the best irons I've hit to date. They have everything a golfer would want in an iron. I'm very, very excited about these irons b/c after my first range session I am highly impressed. I'm trying very hard to find a con about these irons and the only thing I can think of is the weird channeling on the sole of the club.
I did take some video of me hitting the 8 iron and here it is:
mikedean441
6X HOF
maybe I should have waited to try these out before buying the CB's...oh well
waz84
Member
Ended up buying a set of R11s and I am well impressed. I sold my CBs to fund some Mizuno MP68 but shouldn't have ventured into blades. Decided to go back to cavities and I am more than happy with these clubs. Infact, the first two rounds I have used these I have scored my best scores ever. Easy to hit and long, so much confidence pulling these out the bag. I prefer them to my Cbs I had and would recommend these to anyone!
Wake
Active member
I'm not a tester, but I have been playing these irons for a few weeks
1. What’s your driver swing speed?
105-110
2. What’s your 5iron swing speed?
6 iron is 88-94
3. What are your yardages with your current set?
old irons (x18's) were
4-200
5-185
6-175
7-165
8-160
9-145
PW-125
4. Any yardage differences with the R11’s?
4-210
5-195
6-185
7-175
8-165
9-150
PW-140
AW-125
4a. If yes to #4, is R11 shaft length longer or shorter than normal sticks?
1/2 long
4b. If yes to #4, is R11 iron loft more or less than normal sticks?
Lofts are stronger
5. What shafts are in your current set?
True Temper Uniflex
6. What shafts came with the R11’s?
Custom order DGXP S300 hard stepped
7. Are you standard loft/lie?
Nope my irons are 3* upright
7a. If not, are you taking the R11’s into a shop to get the lie adjusted?
Hope that helped.
1. What’s your driver swing speed?
105-110
2. What’s your 5iron swing speed?
6 iron is 88-94
3. What are your yardages with your current set?
old irons (x18's) were
4-200
5-185
6-175
7-165
8-160
9-145
PW-125
4. Any yardage differences with the R11’s?
4-210
5-195
6-185
7-175
8-165
9-150
PW-140
AW-125
4a. If yes to #4, is R11 shaft length longer or shorter than normal sticks?
1/2 long
4b. If yes to #4, is R11 iron loft more or less than normal sticks?
Lofts are stronger
5. What shafts are in your current set?
True Temper Uniflex
6. What shafts came with the R11’s?
Custom order DGXP S300 hard stepped
7. Are you standard loft/lie?
Nope my irons are 3* upright
7a. If not, are you taking the R11’s into a shop to get the lie adjusted?
Hope that helped.
One-T
Skimming since Nov 2009
- Joined
- Nov 12, 2009
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- 22,905
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- 230
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- Franklin, North Carolina
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nice video and initial thoughts TC. Very intriguing to hear how much your liking them already. Kind of threw me for a loop. in a good way.
TC
Keg Thrower
Great questions static! Here are my answers:
1. Driver swing speed avg for me is 111 mph
2. My 6iron swing speed avg is 91 mph
3. Yardages with my previous set (Callaway Razr X Tours) are as follows:
4iron: 210-215
5iron: 190-200
6iron: 175-185
7iron: 165-170
8iron: 150-160
9iron: 135-145
PW: 120-130
AW: 100-115
4. I don't have a clue of what my yardages are with the R11's yet. Based off of today's range session they are going to be very similar to what was in the bag previously.
5. My Razr X Tours have KBS Tours in Xstiff (soft stepped)
6. My R11's have the stock KBS 90 in Stiff flex
7. I am not standard loft/lie
7a. I will be taking these in and having them bent upright 1*. I was noticing some toe down divots today and to be honest, I suspected these needed to be bent upright a little bit.
JaxGolfer1
Weekend Warrior
How did he not hit the camera with one of those shots?
TC
Keg Thrower
I don't get it.
Buckjob
My Friend's Call Me Drew
great write up and video TC i felt the same way about how soft they feel and worrying about ball flight with these shafts but they are MONEY so far.
Nice video and writeup TC. Glad to see you are in love with these. Once you get them adjusted youll probably be hitting every flag. Cant wait for more from you
Buckjob
My Friend's Call Me Drew
1. What’s your driver swing speed?
im honestly not sure i havn't had that checked in quite a while but faster than most.
2. What’s your 5iron swing speed?
Just checked that today it was 120 MPH
3. What are your yardages with your current set?
AW-115
PW-130
9- 140
8-155
7-170
6- 185
5- 200
4-215
4. Any yardage differences with the R11’s?
My yardages are very close to my current set
4a. If yes to #4, is R11 shaft length longer or shorter than normal sticks?
the shafts are shorter in the R11s by an inch or 2
4b. If yes to #4, is R11 iron loft more or less than normal sticks?
5. What shafts are in your current set? Burner 2.0 Steel Stiff Shafts
6. What shafts came with the R11’s? KBS 90 Steel Stiff Shafts
7. Are you standard loft/lie? I have always been standard loft and lie
7a. If not, are you taking the R11’s into a shop to get the lie adjusted? not planning on it.
TC
Keg Thrower
Thanks Kmac. I'm not sure how I didn't hit the camera with that one. I have no idea what that means.
I was ripping the ball dude. I'm in the early stages of love with these bad boys.
I was ripping the ball dude. I'm in the early stages of love with these bad boys.
coolbreeze
Aspiring Golferr
Great video and initial thoughts TC. It really is hard to think of negatives about these irons other than dirt in the channel, but an epoch tee gets it out in a jiffy.
jholl2277
U of Memphis Football
nice video tc and great comment. I am really wanting to try these clubs since I have the r11 driver and 3metal. Maybe Santa? Looking forward to more!
Staples
Dirtydawg67
Great first video and range session TC. I am kind if surprised you aren't hitting these really high. Are you hitting these higher, lower, or as high compared to the Burner 2.0's or RXT's? I like that you are digging them, solid irons.
Tadashi70
Well-known member
September 27, 2011
1030 Am - 3:00 PM
Browns Mill Golf Course just south of Hartsfield Aeroport
Partly sunny day with swirling wind
Today was the first day I was able to put the R11s in play. I played with my dad, his buddy and a guy from Ohio that was visiting (good stick..maybe a 2 hdcp) The practice facilities were suspect at best but the chipping and putting greean were very nice and well maintained. I tell you this because I did not hit a single full shot prior to my round.
Everyshot I have hit up to this point with the exception of the 8 iron on the par 3 had a mid to high ball flight. I could feel the grooves on the face outting spin on the ball and the shaft giving way at impact. The R11s are extremely easy to hit. The larger head makes these GI clubs. The science behind them makes them players clubs. They respond when called upon.
I have not taken one hard swing with these irons all day. I would say I am swinging at 80% at this point in my round. You just do not have to over swing, force the issue or try to hit it hard. A good golf swing + R11 = quality shots.
Over the years we have all read reviews about the next best thing. Or we read reviews about the club that will improve your game. Well this is one of those reviews. I am very pleased at the results of my first day on the course. The clubs were responsive, forgiving, long and stylish. I did not know what to expect when I went out there. I honestly thought my distances would be way off and this was not the case. These are longer than my irons that currently take up space in my garage. These are extremely forgiving on miss hits and they solid on good swings. I am still in the courtship mode with these so my rounds will just be straight forward golf, nothing tricky or special. These clubs are special all by themselves.
1030 Am - 3:00 PM
Browns Mill Golf Course just south of Hartsfield Aeroport
Partly sunny day with swirling wind
Today was the first day I was able to put the R11s in play. I played with my dad, his buddy and a guy from Ohio that was visiting (good stick..maybe a 2 hdcp) The practice facilities were suspect at best but the chipping and putting greean were very nice and well maintained. I tell you this because I did not hit a single full shot prior to my round.
Spoiler
Everyshot I have hit up to this point with the exception of the 8 iron on the par 3 had a mid to high ball flight. I could feel the grooves on the face outting spin on the ball and the shaft giving way at impact. The R11s are extremely easy to hit. The larger head makes these GI clubs. The science behind them makes them players clubs. They respond when called upon.
Spoiler
I have not taken one hard swing with these irons all day. I would say I am swinging at 80% at this point in my round. You just do not have to over swing, force the issue or try to hit it hard. A good golf swing + R11 = quality shots.
Spoiler
Over the years we have all read reviews about the next best thing. Or we read reviews about the club that will improve your game. Well this is one of those reviews. I am very pleased at the results of my first day on the course. The clubs were responsive, forgiving, long and stylish. I did not know what to expect when I went out there. I honestly thought my distances would be way off and this was not the case. These are longer than my irons that currently take up space in my garage. These are extremely forgiving on miss hits and they solid on good swings. I am still in the courtship mode with these so my rounds will just be straight forward golf, nothing tricky or special. These clubs are special all by themselves.