TaylorMade says the R11S ‘is a golfer’s dream come true’.
Carlsbad, United States (January 9): TaylorMade Golf has announced R11S and R11S TP, the company’s most technologically advanced drivers to date. The R11S and R11S TP feature an all-new five-way Adjustable Sole Plate (ASP), improved aerodynamics and a USGA maximum 460 cc club head. Combined with TaylorMade’s other renowned metalwood technologies, Flight Control Technology (FCT) and Movable Weight Technology (MWT), the new R11S series drivers can be tuned for 80 separate launch settings, making it the most adjustable driver in golf.
“The R11S is a golfer’s dream come true; it’s the realisation of every ounce of innovation, adjustability, white technology and performance we could package in a bigger, more aerodynamic clubhead,” said Sean Toulon, Executive Vice President. “It would have been easy for our product creation team to rest on the laurels of the original R11 driver, the most successful product we’ve ever created. Instead, we’re delivering golfers yet another significant advancement in adjustability and performance. And, with the proper fitting, we guarantee golfers of all skill levels will be longer and straighter off the tee.”
At 460 cc, the R11S is at the USGA limit for size. Similar to the original R11, the new R11S features a flat-white crown colour and black PVD face to improve alignment and accuracy off the tee. Its address footprint measures more than 11,500 mm², and its white crown colour makes it appear even larger (two per cent). That’s an advantage given that TaylorMade testing indicates that the majority of golfers gain confidence at address from a head that appears large relative to the ball.
The R11S driver’s modern-classical club head shape is intended to suit the eye of better players, while still providing ample forgiveness and confidence for average players. The head boasts a contemporary, slightly more triangular appearance than traditionally shaped drivers that provides higher MOI and a deeper, farther-back CG position.
ASP technology solved a major performance issue that was communicated by many players since the introduction of Flight Control Technology in the R9 family. When FCT is employed alone, the loft and face angle is coupled by the sleeve system. Adjustable Sole Plate technology allows the decoupling of loft and face angle by using a sole plate to adjust face angle independent of loft sleeve setting. Very simply, that means you can adjust the face angle independently of the loft, and vice versa. The five face angles made possible by the improved ASP Technology of the R11S are neutral, slightly open, open, slightly closed and closed.
ASP Technology is characterised by a raised, five-pointed plate on the sole roughly measuring 33 mm across. Changing its position is easily achieved by loosening the screw that holds it to the sole, rotating the ASP, then re-tightening the screw. ASP works with FCT to create 40 combinations of loft and face angle, which can be used to further accentuate a face angle or counter a negative face angle due to a sleeve adjustment. It effectively doubles the range of face angle for the club from ±4° to ±6° or alternatively can create five lofts in 0.75° increments with the same face angle.
Like every TaylorMade driver since the R500 Series (launched in 2002), the R11S incorporates TaylorMade’s Inverted Cone club face technology, which dramatically expands the COR zone, which is the portion of the club face that delivers maximum ball speed.
The R11S and R11S TP come in three lofts – 9°, 10.5° and 12° in right-handed; 9° and 10.5° in left-handed. For Asian specs, the R11S measures 45.5” and is equipped with a Fujikura Motore 60 and 55 shaft, 60-grams (S) and 55-grams (SR, R), and feature a medium-firm tip profile. For Global specs, the R11S measures 45.75” and is equipped with an Aldila RIP Phenom 60 shaft, 60-gram (X, S, R, M).
The R11S TP driver model comes equipped with an Aldila RIP Phenom 65 TP shaft, 65-gram (X, S, R). The RIP shafts feature Reverse Interlaminar Placement to provide more stability more stability at impact and promote more distance and control without the harsh feel associated with some firmer tip shafts. Additionally, there are 25 additional TP shaft choices for the R11S TP driver through custom.
