Taylormade Ready to Launch Their R11 Golf Irons

Building on the success of the popular R11 series of golf drivers and fairway woods, Taylormade are set to launch their much anticipated R11 irons as the latest addition to their high end golf equipment range. Due to hit the shelves on the 1st of September, 2011, sales for the new Taylormade R11 irons are already looking good with pre-release orders already 'going through the roof'. It looks like the reputation of the R11 woods and drivers is having a positive effect on this latest addition to the range.

The technology behind these new golf irons starts at the first point of human contact where the hard wearing and high performance velvet grips used on the R11 driver is also present on this new iron. A light yet strong steel shaft connects the golfer to the hitting surface, and the R11 irons hitting surface is where Taylormade have really excelled themselves. Their passion for golf has enabled them to construct an iron with a heartbeat. No other golf club feels as empowering as the R11 woods and drivers, and the R11 iron is no exception.

The new R11 irons take full advantage of their ultra thin face which massively increases ball speed and distance whilst maintaining the level of unrivalled accuracy which Taylormade are famed for. Utilising their patented inverted cone technology on the face means the often disastrous off centre swipe is far more forgiving.

The sole of the new irons have been given the same attention to detail throughout the design process as the rest of the club. Regardless of whether the ball lies on the fairway, in the rough or on a track or pathway, launching the ball has never been more controlled. The engineered grooves on the face of the club are accurate to a fraction of a millimetre and give total control over spin in both fine and wet conditions thanks to another of the patented features which makes the new Taylormade R11 Irons stand out from the crowd.

Nobody designs golf equipment with the same love and passion as Taylormade. Throughout their history the company have never ceased to amaze and astound with their continually evolving range of golf clubs and accessories, and the new Taylormade R11 irons are no exception. They don't just make great golf clubs, they design a club that feels right, they engineer a sound which means business as the club launches the ball... and they've given the club a heart beat!

We Love The Perfect R11 Irons

The R11 has a much more traditional appearance. The strong-lofted SuperFast 2.0 is a multi-material iron with something of a futuristic look to it, whereas the R11 is a multi-material iron with a generous amount of technology wrapped in a more conventional package.

Most TaylorMade touring pros will continue to use Tour Preferred irons, although some are expected to play the R11, which fits neatly between the Tour Preferred and SuperFast 2.0.

The R11 is expected to appeal to golfers who want the look of a traditional iron but the performance advantages of a modern iron. The R11 is a thin-faced, finely weighted distance iron that just happens to look more like a classic iron.

The R11 irons feature a red weight port reminiscent of the red disc on R11 drivers. The weight port on the iron, though, serves a different function – not only does it insure a uniform swingweight, it is part of TaylorMade's system for locating the center of gravity in an exact position on each R11 iron.


With the R11, TaylorMade has paid particular attention to sound and vibration management. Sandwiched between the clubhead and an aluminum sound badge in the back cavity is a soft adhesive substance that absorbs unwanted vibration.

The company says the R11 feels "superbly soft." Many modern iron designs are known for their immaculate feel, and amateurs who shop for irons should make sure they match the feel (particularly on miss-hits) with their expectations.

The sole of the R11 is reasonably sharp, designed to enter and exit the turf without digging or bouncing. Nick Faldo was heavily involved in the design of the iron, and he focused on the sole as well as the top line.

Faldo wanted a multifunctional sole and a top line that blends into the hosel in a pleasing fashion. The long irons have wider soles to lower the CG for a higher launch.

Lofts on the R11 iron are slightly weaker than those of the SuperFast 2.0 but stronger than the Tour Preferred lofts.

Stock shafts will be the steel KBS 90 and the graphite Fujikura Motore (75S, 65R, 55M, 50L). The KBS 90 feels very stable but enables golfers to get the ball in air much easier than with most heavier steel shafts. As the different Motore shafts get lighter, they also get softer, so the R (regular) kicks the ball somewhat higher than the S (stiff).

The R11 irons will be available in a set of eight clubs, and consumers will have a choice. Most are expected to be 4-through-A (gap wedge), although a 5-through-S (sand wedge) configuration also can be purchased. A 3-iron is sold separately.