Mine came with the Aldila 60g Blur shaft. The club came weighted for draw with the heavier of the two weights in the heel of the club. I hit a few and found this set-up totally unacceptable -- I exchanged the weights, moving the heavier weight to the toe. This made it feel better but launches were still too low. I changed the shaft to a Matrix HD 5 stiff and this solved the launch angle problems. The club is great looking; with a white shaft and white grip, it is striking. I was disappointed as it is not forgiving on off-center hits. Off-center hits are noticeably shorter and feel clanky. When you catch it on the sweet spot, it does really go and the club certainly feels good when you do this. But, it is not noticably longer than a pure drive off my old club. I'm a 4.0 handicap and my old driver was a Callaway FT-3 with an Aldila NVS stiff shaft.Read full review
I bought this club cause I have a couple of friends who swear by the R11. It's a beautiful Club, The only problem is I can't hit this very well. My ball trajectory is very low even adjusting it from the standard 9.0 to the higher trajectory. I had a friend hit it and do OK (sliced it though)but he hits everything high. I need to do alot more practicing with it. I do look good though. Please note, I'm not a good golfer. I shoot in the 90's and play once a month. I hit my other driver low as well just not quite as low... I was expecting a little more forgiveness with the newer club since my other driver is 8 or so years old (Calloway FT3). I don't exactly know what ARP really means on the club. I would recommend the club just based on how my friends perform with R11.
This driver is the same head as the normal R11 the only difference is the shaft which is 65 grams instead of the options of 70 or 60 grams. All three shafts are made by Fujikura and are the "blur" model. Looking at Fujikura's website they only make a "X" shaft at 65 grams. Taylormade offers an "X" shaft in 60 grams (Still a Blur) which must be a contract shaft for them. I went with the TP shaft due to the lower torque and different kick point. I believe that the TP shafts helps lower the lauch angle some which can also be changed with the settings on the driver head. One thing not directly advertised is what changing the loft on the head does to the direction of the ball flight. In the pamplet they provide lowering the loft using the head will cause the ball to fade while increasing the loft will cause the ball to draw more. I went with a different shaft because this would lower the ball flight and not effect the direction of the ball. Comparing this to my Callaway X Tour driver (9 Degrees) this driver has a flat ball flight with much reduced ball spin. This has increased my driver distance easily by 15 yards due to actually getting some roll out of my ball.Read full review
I have been looking for a driver for many years that would help against my drives ballooning. I finally got my answer. The ball flight is impressive, like the ball is being shot out of a cannon. The only setting I changed was delofting it 1 notch lower. I have had 8 and 8.5 degree drivers before and still was able to balloon the ball. I think the differance is the TP Shaft more than the head. Also the TP Shaft is shorter than the Burner series drivers which gives me more control but a little less distance. Which is a great trade, I would rather be down the pipe 300 yrds versus being in the rough at 310. Great driver it's almost not fair. Now I just need to learn to putt with it.
In as much as I think one should be rewarded for advertisement, I feel compelled to announce the following: 1: Taylormade drivers are my driver of choice over Callaway, Cobra and Cleaveland. I have had the pleasure oh playing the rest and my ultimate satisfaction has led me to be the proud owner/Player of, R-7 R-9 supertri and the now marvelous R-11TP. This club has improved my game on an overall by providing me with an additional 11 yards off the tee. The pronounced visual appearance of this piece of equipment appears intimidating enough to others and instill the confidence in its hitting, hence it appears that you can do NO WRONG. I have recommended the R-11 to friends and it is being given deep and fovorable consideration. The purchase through ebay was rather simple, easy and reliable to the point where the merchandise arrived 2 days earlier than I was promised. Taylormade and ebay, I would declare as a match made in Heaven.Read full review