Name: TaylorMade R11 irons
Brand: TaylorMade

TaylorMade R11 irons

Golf Monthly Verdict

For me, these are a huge improvement on the TaylorMade R9 irons. This is mainly down to the smooth feel from an iron that  still looks and plays quite forgiving. TaylorMade has struck an ideal balance between feel and forgiveness. Few low handicappers will see the topline as too thick, but there are tangible forgiveness gains on offer here. The feel throughout the set is also superb. TaylorMade has used the weight port in the back of the head as a clear visual sign of the technology going into its irons. For those who want their irons to have a simple, classic appearance, this might be off-putting. PGA Pro verdict A very striking iron, that gives excellent feel and playability. The undercut cavity provides great launch characteristics and the progressive offset improves the performance on offer in the long irons. The top edge gives a look of a game-improvement product, but this should never be a negative. On test they gave great feel, especially when shaping shots. A great addition to the range. (John Jacobs, Golf Monthly Top 25 Coach)

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By Neil Tappin

published 26 October 2011

The TaylorMade R11 irons are a set designed to sit between the forgiving TaylorMade Burner 2.0 irons and the workable TaylorMade Tour Preferred Series. An ultra-thin face is combined with Inverted Cone Technology to help produce increased ball speeds for added distance. The top line is thicker in the long irons to help improve forgiveness. A weight port in the back of the head allows swing weight and the centre of gravity to be precisely set.

The TaylorMade R11 irons will suit those who want a compact head, but plenty of forgiveness and/or anyone looking for added distance without going oversize.

See also:

TaylorMade R11 irons video review

TaylorMade R11 irons pictures

TaylorMade R11 irons launched

In his current role, Neil is responsible for testing drivers and golf balls. Having been a part of the Golf Monthly team for over 15 years and playing off a handicap of 3, he has the experience to compare performance between models, brands and generations. For 2022 he thinks the main trend in drivers is: "In a word, consistency. Whilst all the brands are talking about ball speed (and the new drivers are certainly long), my biggest finding has been how much more consistent the ball flights are. Mishits don't seem to be causing the same level of drop-off or increase in the spin numbers. This means that more shots seem to be flying the way you want them to!" As far as golf balls are concerned the biggest development is in the, "three piece, non-Tour, urethane-covered section. For regular golfers, these models offer superb performance at both ends of the bag without denting your wallet quite as much as the premium Tour-played options."

Originally working with the best coaches in the UK to produce instruction content, he is now the brand's Digital Editor and covers everything from Tour player interviews to gear reviews. In his time at Golf Monthly, he has covered equipment launches that date back well over a decade. He clearly remembers the launch of the Callaway and Nike square drivers as well as the white TaylorMade driver families, such as the RocketBallz! If you take a look at the Golf Monthly YouTube channel, you'll see his equipment videos dating back over a decade! He has also conducted 'What's In The Bag' interviews with many of the game's best players like Rory McIlroy, Dustin Johnson and Jon Rahm. Over the years, Neil has tested a vast array of products in each category and at drastically different price-points.

Neil is currently playing: Driver: TaylorMade Stealth Plus Fairway Wood: Titleist TSR2 Hybrid: Titleist TS3 Irons (4-9): Mizuno JPX 919 Forged Wedges: Titleist Vokey SM7 46˚, 50˚, 54˚, 60˚ Putter: Odyssey Triple Track Ten Ball: Titleist Pro V1X