Earlier in the year we absolutely fell in love with the TaylorMade R11 Driver due to its good looks, outstanding performance and unbelievable adjustability features. Hailed as 48 drivers in one I could hardly believe I would ever see this type of technology when I first took up the game.
At first glance the R11 TP doesn't look or feel any different than the old one and that is a good thing. The iconic white crown and black face look fantastic and allow you to easily align the face at approach. Behind the ball you will find the same 460cc head that is aerodynamically designed to squeeze every available MPH out of your swing for maximum distance.
Big tour hitters like Dustin Johnson have said that they are able to access even greater distances with the R11s and I would second that, hitting consistently longer than I have all season with the new R11 TP.
Just like its predecessor the R11 TP comes with some serious brains as well as brawn in the form of three adjustable technologies.
The driver only comes in 9 and 10.5 degree lofts but with Flight Control Technology (FCT) you can simply change the loft by degree higher or lower through 8 incremental lofts settings. These changes are quick and simple and produce noticeable results. This capability allows you to change the way you tee your ball, for added distance or extra ball penetration on windy days.
The real innovation in R11 adjustable technology comes with the Adjustable Sole Plate (ASP) which allows you to open or close the club face by 2 degrees through 8 incremental settings which move independently of loft angle. This independent movement is the first of its kind and allows you to correct slice or hooking patterns through a face angle that can generate up to 50 yards of correction. This allows experienced golfers to really shape the ball the way they want and change settings instead of changing drivers.
Finally the R11 TP driver also incorporates Movable Weight Technology (MWT), which improves stability in the neutral setting and promotes a draw bias flight when the heavier 10g weight is moved to the toe of the club.
The TaylorMade R11 TP Driver is outstanding. It gives the mid to low handicapper the ability to endlessly shape and correct shots while always delivering distance. However the only difference between the R11 and R11 TP is the added 5g weight to the carbon interweave Fujikura Blur shaft.
The slightly heavier 65g shaft on the R11 TP does produce fractionally more torque and subsequent ball velocity but that is the only difference and for an extra £75 one wonders if it is worth it.
What the Web is Saying
"This driver allows you to adjust with the changing of your swing from day to day or month to month. In effect, the driver changes as you grow as a golfer." - realgolfbuyingguide.com
"The center of the clubface is easy to find, which is mighty helpful when trying to correct directional misses." - golf.com
Price Comparison
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Taylormade Golf 2012 R11s Driver - Mens (CG Golf) |
 £299.99 
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Taylormade R9 460 Driver (Golf Gear Direct) |
 £148.49
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Taylormade Golf R9 Driver Special Clearance Offer (Golf Gear Direct) |
£143.10
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| + 2 others available from Golf Gear Direct ↓ | ||
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Taylormade Golf R9 Supertri Driver (Golf Gear Direct) |
£224.10
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|
Taylormade Golf 2012 R11s Driver - Mens (Online Golf) |
 £299.99
|
|
|
Taylormade R9 460 Driver (Online Golf) |
£148.49
|
| + 3 others available from Online Golf ↓ | ||
|
|
Taylormade Golf R9 Driver Special Clearance Offer (Online Golf) |
£143.10
|
|
|
Taylormade Golf R9 Supertri Driver (Online Golf) |
£224.10
|