You know that the clubhead is white. Our test team figures out how the driver leader’s new big stick actually performs.

TESTER: Matt Arcus

HANDICAP: 4

MODEL AND SHAFT PLAYED: TaylorMade R11 fitted with a Fujikura Blur TP stiff flex shaft.

FIRST IMPRESSIONS: The white crown certainly catches your attention quickly. I was interested to see how the adjustability worked – I use a driver with 7º loft, so I cranked the R11 to as low as it could go.

VERDICT: Even though I found the white head to be a bit different at first, it wasn’t an issue after a few holes. I found the contrast between the black face and

the ball to be quite good in how it aided with alignment.

Even with the settings for loft and face angle set as low as possible, the ball flight the R11 would produce was still fairly high. It didn’t hurt the distance, but the ball tended to balloon and not run out as much. The trajectory, however, was very consistent, a slight draw.

The feel off the face at impact was a touch hard, but the sound it made was really solid. The TP shaft seemed really well-suited to a faster swing speed.

I found that I liked the adjustability, but once I found the settings I liked, I wouldn’t change them. But for all the differences in the adjustability and the colour, bottom line, this is just a really solid driver.

TESTER: Geoff Virtue

HANDICAP: 14

MODEL AND SHAFT PLAYED: TaylorMade R11 fitted with a Fujikura Blur 60g stiff flex shaft.

FIRST IMPRESSIONS: I am not sure what colour manufacturers will go with next, but on first impressions, white is not such a crazy choice. It grew on me quickly,

and found it set up rather nicely.

VERDICT: The R11 was well-balanced and easy to hit and despite spraying some of my other clubs to places I doubt many people have ever been, it proved consistently straight and very forgiving with even off-hit drives staying straight. This gave me confidence to swing more aggressively than usual, which gave me extra distance.

I had never used an adjustable driver before. While the neutral settings looked right to me, for the purposes of the test, I made an adjustment in round to see if I could produce more of a draw flight. On one hole that dog-legged to the left, I closed the face and found that I was able to hit an ideal, slight draw.

I have an older Taylor Made driver which I have always liked, but the last few years of development have clearly been well spent.

SUITABILITY: All levels of player. R11 head is same in regular and TP versions, but TP has more shaft options.

SHAFTS: Fujikura Blur 60-gram is standard.

LOFTS: 9 and 10.5; adjustable by +/- 2º.

LENGTH: 45.75 inches.

LEFT-HANDED MODELS?: Yes

HOW MUCH?: $499, TP $599.

CALLAWAY SAYS: “When you change the clubhead’s loft using Flight Control Technology (FCT), you’re also forced to change the face angle – increase loft and the face angle closes; decrease loft and the face angle opens. The Adjustable Sole Plate solves that problem by allowing you to adjust the face angle independently of the loft, which is controlled by FCT.

“The combination of the white crown and black PVD clubface provides optimum contrast for alignment. At 440cc, the R11 appears slightly larger due to its white crown color.”

Contact TaylorMade-adidas on 1800 700 011 or www.taylormadegolf.com