TaylorMade R11 Testing/Review
Date: October 17, 2011
Course: Back Creek GC, Middletown DE
Climate: 70* or so and windy
Testing Clubs: TaylorMade R11 Irons w/Graphite
Previous Clubs: Callaway Razr X Tour
Ball: Bridgestone B330RX
Yesterday I finally got out for a round of golf after taking more then a week off to get a kinked up neck "straightened" out. I knew it might not be my best ball striking round after a week with no range but I went anyway. I started with some range balls and immediately I saw why I like the R11's so much. I was hitting them very very good. Actually I was getting nervous because I was hitting them so well. Usually if I hit the ball good before my round I struggle out on the course. Not sure why that happens. Then I moved to the woods and it became clear it was going to be a rough day off the tee. Again. So this meant Id get lots of work with the longer irons and plenty of looks from the rough.
My tee game didn't disappoint. I decided to play the forward tees to hopefully ease the pain a bit but still faced a lot of long iron shots. And most of the time from the rough. The times I was in the FW it was a long way away. So I decided to hit the 4 and 5 irons for most of my approach shots even though they wouldn't go 230 yards. Did I ever come away impressed yet again. I struggled a few times with the 4 iron yesterday but the 5 was my friend. Probably my best shot of the day came with the 5 iron. It was hole #17. It usually plays around 160 ish across a pond. With the wind we figure its closer to 180. One guy hits his 4 and hits the green. I grab the 5 iron and caught it clean. It went high but more then held its own in the wind landing in the middle of the other guys ball and hole. He was impressed and after telling me that he has a set of TM TP CB's or MB's on order, I think he might have had second thoughts. We talked about fat shots a bit and I saw virtually none yesterday. This tells me Im becoming quite comfortable with the R11's as Im hitting them better and better.
I had lots of shots from the rough so this was something I wanted to talk about. I found them to cut through the rough with ease yesterday. I think this was the first time Ive been in rough like this much and this thick. A few weeks ago at Rock Manor was close. It seemed almost every shot was from it yesterday though and I came away impressed. Did I have to alter my swing a bit, yes. Did I have to club up? Yes. Did I see a club that worked from the rough as advertised? Yes.
Ball flight. Another positive. High, straight and with good distance. Even in the wind I really didnt see too much ballooning. Just once actually from the AW out of the rough. I caught that one a hair too thick and came up short. I saw a ball flight that would land soft which is always a good thing from bad lies. Overall though, the ball flight was excellent.
One other thing I wanted to hit one was using the PW for a toe down chip shot from about 10 yards off the green. I had to deal with three different elevations with the last one coming right before the hole. Set up like Tadashi talked about in his chipping lesson with the toe down. Hit it perfect with the ball rolling up the last little shelf leaving me a makable par putt. Worked to perfection.
I really came away from a day that saw bad score with even more love for the R11 irons. Shafts included. I continue to be impressed with the graphite. No issues with ballooning at all and Ive become used to the extra length too. Up to this point Im seeing forgiveness, an iron as long as any Ive played and great looks. I think they really are a complete package.
Date: October 17, 2011
Course: Back Creek GC, Middletown DE
Climate: 70* or so and windy
Testing Clubs: TaylorMade R11 Irons w/Graphite
Previous Clubs: Callaway Razr X Tour
Ball: Bridgestone B330RX
Yesterday I finally got out for a round of golf after taking more then a week off to get a kinked up neck "straightened" out. I knew it might not be my best ball striking round after a week with no range but I went anyway. I started with some range balls and immediately I saw why I like the R11's so much. I was hitting them very very good. Actually I was getting nervous because I was hitting them so well. Usually if I hit the ball good before my round I struggle out on the course. Not sure why that happens. Then I moved to the woods and it became clear it was going to be a rough day off the tee. Again. So this meant Id get lots of work with the longer irons and plenty of looks from the rough.
My tee game didn't disappoint. I decided to play the forward tees to hopefully ease the pain a bit but still faced a lot of long iron shots. And most of the time from the rough. The times I was in the FW it was a long way away. So I decided to hit the 4 and 5 irons for most of my approach shots even though they wouldn't go 230 yards. Did I ever come away impressed yet again. I struggled a few times with the 4 iron yesterday but the 5 was my friend. Probably my best shot of the day came with the 5 iron. It was hole #17. It usually plays around 160 ish across a pond. With the wind we figure its closer to 180. One guy hits his 4 and hits the green. I grab the 5 iron and caught it clean. It went high but more then held its own in the wind landing in the middle of the other guys ball and hole. He was impressed and after telling me that he has a set of TM TP CB's or MB's on order, I think he might have had second thoughts. We talked about fat shots a bit and I saw virtually none yesterday. This tells me Im becoming quite comfortable with the R11's as Im hitting them better and better.
I had lots of shots from the rough so this was something I wanted to talk about. I found them to cut through the rough with ease yesterday. I think this was the first time Ive been in rough like this much and this thick. A few weeks ago at Rock Manor was close. It seemed almost every shot was from it yesterday though and I came away impressed. Did I have to alter my swing a bit, yes. Did I have to club up? Yes. Did I see a club that worked from the rough as advertised? Yes.
Ball flight. Another positive. High, straight and with good distance. Even in the wind I really didnt see too much ballooning. Just once actually from the AW out of the rough. I caught that one a hair too thick and came up short. I saw a ball flight that would land soft which is always a good thing from bad lies. Overall though, the ball flight was excellent.
One other thing I wanted to hit one was using the PW for a toe down chip shot from about 10 yards off the green. I had to deal with three different elevations with the last one coming right before the hole. Set up like Tadashi talked about in his chipping lesson with the toe down. Hit it perfect with the ball rolling up the last little shelf leaving me a makable par putt. Worked to perfection.
I really came away from a day that saw bad score with even more love for the R11 irons. Shafts included. I continue to be impressed with the graphite. No issues with ballooning at all and Ive become used to the extra length too. Up to this point Im seeing forgiveness, an iron as long as any Ive played and great looks. I think they really are a complete package.
, but felt it was the most successful round of golf I've played in forever. I have found a comfort zone over the ball and have continued to see confidence build with each shot.
