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Level 90. Not even sure I want the r11 Irons.

• BigInigoMontoya 208 Posts

  Sun, Apr 6 2014 10:52 AM

  • OK, they do seem like a decent set on paper at least, I will give them that.  Same precision and shot shaping as my current RocketManz. The r11's have the advantage in forgiveness and spin, but at the cost of a faster meter.  I've never tried them, but I'm afraid it will be a much faster meter.  I'd say 8 out every 10 rounds I play on WGT are with the starter balls, with exactly zero feel.  The game is playable with the starters with my current clubs, but I still end up with several missed dings and even a few WTF mate shots per round.  I doubt I could even break 80 with the r11's.  Maybe the r11's could become playable with the level 1 Callaways or level 47 Nikes, but at 100 or more credits a pop, that is really going to put a strain on my balance, and fast.  I've always preferred to spend my credits on clubs rather than balls due to durability.  I really don't care if I never make it to Legend, but I still have a few goals I hope to accomplish, and I'll need to shoot under par for nearly all of them.
  • After owning the RocketBladez for a few months now, I feel there is only a handful of holes were they struggle: Congressional 15,  and to a lesser extent 4 (the latter b/c I always seem to hook my approach into the trees or the bunker).  Oakmont 9, and to a lesser extent 18.  Bethpage 15 and 5. Andrews 13.  Olympic 2 (I think) and 13, if you miss the ding and shank it right, which I always seem to do.  Merion 5, 6, 15, and 17. Unless you're willing and able to shell out 5 or 6 hundred credits for the elite Nikes, I'm not entirely convinced the r11s will give me a better chance to par any of these holes.  I just want to be able to play bogey free golf with an occasional chance at a Bird or two, regardless of what course I'm on. 
  • So, I guess I'm looking for feedback from anyone who currently owns or has previously owned the Taylor Mades.  Would you recommend them, how bad was the meter, what is your standard ball, etc.  Also I think I may have read somewhere that the r11 8 iron is kind of a P.O.S. but I might just be imagining things on that one.
  • p.s. - Sorry about the bullet points but I couldn't figure out how to create separate paragraphs without them x_x     

• Mesmorizer 614 Posts

  Sun, Apr 6 2014 11:12 AM

  Hi, seen this post and thought I should post a response for you.

  I looked at your profile and you are currently a Master, the clubs you got are fantastic for your Tier, so really no need to upgrade what so ever. You could play with your set up easy to Legend or even TL should you choose. Your set up works great for using the under 100 credit balls.

  Now on o the question about the level 90 irons, with cheap balls they are "SUPER FAST" although I have played in CC tourney where we could use any equips we wanted but had to use the starter ball lol ton of fun.

  The R11 irons are simply great and the best avalible for the level and arguments could be made that there is no better even taking the Level 100 Nikes in the equation. The iron really do take a while to learn but that is part of the fun of playing, I don't like spending a ton on balls myself but use the 250 credit Calis and works for me.

  Have fun save credits and play with what you have is my advice to you.

  Mes.

• Jimbog1964 8,378 Posts

  Sun, Apr 6 2014 11:15 AM

  Would be an absolute waste of time IMO.

  From the Master tees you are armed to the teeth already, save for the final part being the starter ball.  Unless you wish to change that zero point IMO as said.  Even then very next to no point until you reach Legend.

  Stick with what yo have and look at say the Srixon balls (or the WGT range).  Choose one, stick to it and work on your game with the money saved not buying the irons.  I think you will have more fun that way:)

   

• DarkenRahl 2,115 Posts

  Sun, Apr 6 2014 7:28 PM

  BigInigoMontoya:

  • So, I guess I'm looking for feedback from anyone who currently owns or has previously owned the Taylor Mades.  Would you recommend them, how bad was the meter, what is your standard ball, etc.  Also I think I may have read somewhere that the r11 8 iron is kind of a P.O.S. but I might just be imagining things on that one.

  I had the R11s and went to the Rocketbladez when they came out to even the meters in my bag.  My opinion after peeking at your stats and tier would be to stick with the Bladez, but make an adjustment to your set makeup that will help with your GiR and scrambling stats.  I bet at most you hit that 3 wood twice a round maybe.  With the driver and iron distances you have it is not needed, drop the 3w and get the 115yd Cleveland wedge to fill the gap  between the PW and the 100 yd wedge.  For balls with no meter reduction the WGT Tour SD at 65 credits is very good, added to that set tweak should be deadly.

• tigerfan1506 3,193 Posts

  Sun, Apr 6 2014 8:18 PM

  As the Seekers nemesis stated above :-)  .....No need.

  I have the R11's and they are super fast using Callys. Starters? No way,

  And yes the 8 is crap on a stick. Rated at 150....sometimes 155, sometimes 160..once in awhile 165,,,,full bs take 5 yards off? Nobody knows what it will do lol. Ruins a good set of clubs.

  I had the bladez when they were the Burners, now they are slower, i would of never got the R11's.

• Chinajohn 1,190 Posts

  Sun, Apr 6 2014 10:12 PM

  The R11s are wonderful clubs, IMO the second best on WGT second only to the L97 Nikes, and that is by a very fine margin.

  Their greatest asset is the spin you can put on the 3-5 irons, you can stop the ball dead with these irons. This is a wonderful, and essential skill when approaching greens from those kind of distances (190 - 225 yds). The risk side of the risk / reward line is that they are very fast and if you cannot handle the speed the risk would be too high.

  However, in your position you have to ask another question, how often are you going to be approaching greens from those  kind of distances? I would hazard a guess as a Master / Tour Master not very often, and also of course, with starter balls much of the extra spin of the R11s is wiped out by the starter balls. For now stick with what you have, but when you get to Legend if you're not at L97 then you'll need the R11s and you'll need better balls.

• BigInigoMontoya 208 Posts

  Mon, Apr 7 2014 5:33 AM

  Mesmorizer:

  I looked at your profile and you are currently a Master, the clubs you got are fantastic for your Tier, so really no need to upgrade what so ever. You could play with your set up easy to Legend or even TL should you choose. 

  In theory, yes, I should be able to use my current clubs all the way to Legend tier.  I've even seen reports that folks have used the G20s all the way up to Legend, and supposedly my current clubs are slightly better than the Pings.  But no matter how good your clubs are, its extremely difficult to lower your average if you can't putt, and I'm one of the most inconsistent putters on tour.  Recently I've Eagled Congressional 6 from 16 feet, Birdied Kiawah 18 from 20 feet, Eagled Andrews 5th from 42 (42!!!!!) feet, Birdied the first at George from 14 or 15 feet, and yet I've also missed a 5.5 foot bird at Congressional 13, missed a 6 footer for par at Oakmont 9th, another 5 or 6 footer for par at Oakmont 18th, a 6 footer for Bird at Olympic 13, I'm sure I have tons of other examples of missed makable putts, but those are just the ones that stand out to me. Basically any green that has more break than the 6th at Cabo I'm relying on 98% luck and 2% skill in order to sink a putt, and its difficult to lower your score in those conditions.

  Chinajohn:

  However, in your position you have to ask another question, how often are you going to be approaching greens from those  kind of distances?

  You're right mate, 9 times out of 10 I have a distinct advantage over the course when it comes to distance to the pin, but there are still several times where the course has me by the juevos.  Kiawah 4th.  Oakmont 9th (GRRRRRR I hate this hole >_<). Merion 3rd and 18th, although the latter is nearly always a 3w on approach, and the former is occasionally a 3w too depending on location and wind.  The 15th at Bethpage, although part of that is because the green is 36 fricken feet or so above the fairway. There are a couple others at Bethpage on the front 9 I struggle with, elevated greens well guarded by bunkers, and in the event I manage to reach the green, I have a hard time holding the green lol. The 2nd at Congressional, my avg distance to the pin here is prolly 30+ feet. Congressional 11, I think it is, is another tough one, but it is usually driver - 3w unless I've got a monster tail wind.  Can't remember which hole it is, but the par 4 at George where you absolutely CAN NOT miss short left cause of the giant hole in the green, there is a row of houses like 15 yards behind the green, that one is usually a long iron I think, although it has been quite a while since I've played that course so maybe I'm wrong on this one.  Granted, if you can hit the dinger and your VEM is minimal then I think the r11's could give me a better chance of holding the green below the hole on those tough holes, provided I was using a good ball of course.  But just like you said it is very high risk for such a high reward due to the meter speed.

  After I posted this thread I decided to take a look at the Level 85 Nikes. Same precision and forgiveness as the Taylor Mades, and even better, same meter speed as the G20s.  Almost seemed to good be true, and I seriously did consider replacing my Bladez with the Nikes.  However I logged in this morning to find that a VERY generous Tour Legend had gifted me the r11's  for my participation in last years Tough It Out uneven lies tourney. I didn't see any indication that this was a rental gift either, so for better or worse I now have access to one of the most deadly iron sets on tour.  One of my biggest goals right now is a 67 on the new Best of Par 4 course, and once I pair these Taylor Mades with a nice Callaway or Nike, I think I just might have a chance to do it. 

   

• ApexPC 3,164 Posts

  Tue, Apr 8 2014 12:42 PM

  The clubs in my bag, not counting the putter, have 3 different meter speeds and the slightly different meter speeds don't cause me any problems.

  Driver & Wedges - 3.5

  3-Wood - 3.0

  Irons (the R11 iron set) - 2.5 - For me it's the R11 long irons that make the R11 set worth having.

  Humans are remarkably able to adapt to such slight variations. 

   

• YankeeJim 25,827 Posts

  Tue, Apr 8 2014 1:14 PM

  BigInigoMontoya:

  I now have access to one of the most deadly iron sets on tour.  One of my biggest goals right now is a 67 on the new Best of Par 4 course, and once I pair these Taylor Mades with a nice Callaway or Nike, I think I just might have a chance to do it. 

  Nice going on your good fortune. I highly recommend the 33 Callaway simply because it has more than enough distance and spin BUT you don't get killed with the deviation when you miss the swing. In fact, that ball with those irons does a really nice job of getting you close. Cheap, too.  :-)

  Something else you might consider is dropping that 3W for a 4th wedge. Your 3i goes 225 now and from any of the tees before Legend you're looking at pretty much driver/wedge golf. Use all of the shots with your wedges and you'll have 20 different full swing yardages where they will help the most-getting close to the pin. Work on that and your putting will fix itself.

  Lastly, at the end of a sentence if you hit enter it automatically starts a new paragraph.  ;-)

• BigInigoMontoya 208 Posts

  Thu, Apr 10 2014 1:35 PM

  YankeeJim:

  Nice going on your good fortune. I highly recommend the 33 Callaway simply because it has more than enough distance and spin BUT you don't get killed with the deviation when you miss the swing. In fact, that ball with those irons does a really nice job of getting you close. Cheap, too.  :-)

  Something else you might consider is dropping that 3W for a 4th wedge. Your 3i goes 225 now and from any of the tees before Legend you're looking at pretty much driver/wedge golf. Use all of the shots with your wedges and you'll have 20 different full swing yardages where they will help the most-getting close to the pin. Work on that and your putting will fix itself.

  I will admit if credits were no object I'd be really tempted to regularly use the 33 Callaway, but the meter on these Taylor Mades is so quick I just may be forced to opt for the Callaway Slow Meter.  Granted, I'd be losing a significant amount of length and spin from level 33 ball, but theoretically a slower meter = fewer missed dings = more GIRs = more Pars.  No matter how good your clubs are, your distance to the pin is going to be bad unless you can fully understand wind, elevation, slope of green, VEM, and distance control via the swing power bar, and that is something that even after nearly a year on tour I still struggle with.  

  And with regards to a 4th wedge, I think realistically the only courses I would use it on would be St Andrews, potentially Kiawah, Whistler, and maybe Cabo.  I typically only play Whistler and Cabo if they are in the rotation for the free weekly 18 holers, and there are still times on Kiawah where I'd want the 3wood.  I'd be spending a minimum of 895 credits for a 4th wedge, and I consider that to be a trifle excessive for a club that becomes obsolete once I hit Legend tier -- that is, if I ever make it there LOL.