What the TaylorMade R11 irons do bring to the tee box is, the company says, "the shape and refinement of a tour-grade iron" but with game-improvement technology to help boost launch angle, distance and forgiveness.
The R11 irons incorporate the "precision weighting port" TaylorMade first used in its forged irons, the red "badge" visible in the photo above. This weight, positioned during assembly, is used to maintain a uniform swingweight as well as to position the center of gravity in the center of the face from toe to heel on each iron.
The soles of the R11 irons change a bit through the set, with the long irons using wider soles to lower the CG and increase the MOI; the mid- and short irons have soles that TaylorMade calls "moderately thin."
The long irons also differ in being larger, although the toplines aren't as thick as in many oversized irons. The shorter irons are more compact with "moderately sharp" leading edges.
Other familiar TaylorMade tech used in the R11 set includes ultra-thin faces, Inverted Cone Technology, and a soft adhesive in the cavity to help absorb sound and vibration.
The TaylorMade R11 irons hit retail on Sept. 1, 2011. The standard set includes eight irons; street price is $799 with steel shafts or $999 with graphite shafts. taylormadegolf.com
