TaylorMade set to launch R11 irons
Gorgeous and all yours from September 1 for just
Those rock-hard golf balls sold by the bucket at driving ranges will feel and sound like a soft Tour ball off the face of the latest TaylorMade R11 irons - that's the claim of the Basingstoke club-makers for their latest product due to be available on September 1.
The secret, says TaylorMade lies in a sophisticated cast design of the cavity-back clubhead, which is easy on the eye with a top line 'melting seaml;essly into the hosel.
“There has never been a game-improvement iron that looks this classically beautiful while incorporating this kind of serious performance technology," says TaylorMade Sean Toulon.
Created to compliment the white-headed R11 driver, which proved so impressive in the hands of 2011 Open champion Darren Clarke, R11 irons, say the makers, are engineered for the player who favours a traditional blade but demands the effortless ease required to launch the ball high, straight and long with appropriate forgiveness.
TaylorMade admits that historically, irons engineered with multiple game-improvement technology 'tend to be big, inelegant and clunky, with thick toplines, broad soles and busy-ugly cavities. They typically feel harsh and sound high-pitched and clicky.'
The company says the R11 irons break that mold and re-writes the book about what a high-technology iron can look like, feel like and sound like.
A key feature of the R11, its claimed, is the striking red precision-weighting port (PWP), initially introduced in the Tour Preferred (TP) line which allows TaylorMade engineers to guarantee precise swingweight and ensure a centre-face Centre of Gravity (CG) location in every iron to promote the best ball flight across all irons in the set.
Progressive CG locations position it low in the longer irons to make them easier to launch, and higher in the shorter irons. Wider soles in the longer irons pull the CG lower for easier, higher launch while making them more stable and forgiving.
Other features, in which Nick Faldo has lent a hand, include a thin face for faster ball speed, compact short irons to make them more workable, a sharper leading edge and conforming grooves.
Eight R11 irons will be available in four shaft flex options (S, R, M, L) priced at £699 (KBS 90 steel shafts) and £799 (graphite). Ladies' flex shafts will be offered in the 5-iron through pitching wedge, attack wedge and sand wedge.
