My Review: Taylormade Rescue 11 TP Hybrid

Taylormade Rescue 11 TP Hybrid Review

First off, I want to thank Ryan for letting me try out the new Rescue 11 TP. It was a great pleasure to get the chance for a review of such a solid performer.

Now, a little bit about myself and my game. I've been playing for about 8 years with most of those years playing just 15-20 times per year. For the last 3 years I have been working pretty hard on my game. I've taken lessons from my local PGA professional, played in more tournaments, and increased my play/practice to 4-5 days per week. Three years ago, I was a 12-13handicap. As I sit here today writing this review, my handicap reads 2.8. Just about all of last year I hovered around a 2-4 handicap. If I was to describe the best part about my game, it would, without a doubt be ball striking. I averaged 58% GIR over last season (127 full 18 hole rounds). My short game has always been my achillies heel. If I missed a green last year, there was only a 25% chance I would get up and down.

I'm an average length driver of the ball with a swing speed in the 105mph range and a carry distance of around 250 yards. My 7 iron goes 165. With that being said, I play regular flex shafts. Yes, regular flex in all of my clubs. I load the shaft very evenly and find most stiff shafts to feel harsh.

On to the review!

The first day I was able to hit the Rescue 11 TP #3 hybrid was this past Friday after work. My in-laws were in town and I took it out for a range session and 9 holes.

First impressions:

Wow, this white headed sleek looking club really catches myeye. The white crown with the black face really frames the ball nicely. To be 100% honest, I have never been a fan of Taylormade clubs, nor was I a fan of the white color on the crown when Taylormade first came out with it. Please read on!

Performance:

After grabbing a large bucket of balls, I hit the range(which is natural grass) to see how this baby performed. The wind was blowing right in my face at a steady 15mph as I lined up my first shot. I fluffed up the ball on a good lie and let it rip. Nice high fade that cut through the wind quite nicely. Wow….now that surprised me. Most hybrids are a little hooky upon first impression. Next shot, nice high fade. Hmmmm, this shaft feels stout. AsI look down at the shaft and make sure it reads "Regular" I notice it says Aldila Rip 85 'R'. Now I'm thinking, geeez, this club is anti-left. I line up my next shot – this time trying to hook it…………No way Jose, this baby aint going left. After hitting 15-20 more balls with the Rescue 11 TP, I made the official descision that I could not turn this thing over!

I have been playing Ping i15 hybrids since the start of this year (12 rounds now). A 20* and 23* with the TFC700 Regular flex shafts. They have been quite dependable and fun to hit. After hitting this Rescue 11 TP, Ican say that distances were very comparable between both #3 hybrids, with the Taylormade getting the slight edge. The differences in loft 18* for Rescue 11TP and 20* for Ping i15 probably have something to do with that. The shaft lengths between both clubs were very close, with the Taylormade being just ¼"longer.

During my subsequent rounds with the Rescue 11 TP, I could definitely count on the 10 yard fade. The #1 handicap hole at my home club is a 440 yard forced layup par 4. I hit the baby fade from the tee and from the fairway for a nice GIR on several occasions. This club was good for a solid 215-220 yards including roll for me. It was a very dependable ball flight that I loved!

Adjustability:

This is the first club I have played with that featured some sort of adjustability. This took a little reading on my part to fully understand what each setting would do for my ball flight. The Rescue 11 TP came with a little wrench to loosen/tighten the screw on the bottom of the club. There are 8 different positions for adjustment from -1 to +1 degrees of loft, a 4* face angle change and a 2* lie angle change. I found this to be very cool as Iam a notorious tinkerer with my clubs. My wife often shakes her head at me when I tell her I am headed out to the workshop.

Since I could not turn the ball over with this club, I decided to make it as hooked faced as possible with hopes that I could turn it over. After changing the setting to "Higher" which also changes the face angleto the most closed setting, I started hitting balls again. First shot…..nice high fade. I started laughing out loud!!! I could not get this thing to turn over! I was really awestruck. Nearly all hybrids I can turn over, some more than others and some only will go left for me. After hitting 40 or so balls, I determined it HAD to be this shaft. Or was it?

Feel:

I hesitate to add this part to my review as it is so subjective. But, I will add it for the sake of my opinion.

The Aldila Rip shaft in this hybrid has a nice weight (85g) and stiffness to it. It is definitely more stout than the TFC700 shaft that I currently play in my i15 hybrids. But, it never felt harsh or hard to load. Thetip is stiffer and the ball flight is lower than that of the i15. The factory swingweight is spec'd at D4. I love to tinker, so a while ago I bought a swingweight scale to set up all my clubs with the right weight for me. I was pleasantly surprised to see that the Rescue 11 TP came in right at D4! That speaks well of Taylormade's QC department.

Off the face, the ball really rockets. It has a pleasant, muted "thawack" sound when my ProV1 leaves the face. The shaft carries the vibrations up to my hands nicely and lets me know when I've flushed it or when I've toe'd it. Finding the sweet spot on the Rescue 11 TP was quite easy.

Overall:

I am definitely a fan of the new Taylormade Rescue 11 TP.The anti-left properties, weight, balance, feel and distance are all excellent.The white crown is actually quite nice and frames the ball beautifully at address. The adjustability is great for helping dial in distance gaps and ball flight tendencies (although I could only hit a fade with it in fully closed).

I would give Taylormade 2 thumbs up on this new hybrid!

Nice review.. I really like the shape of that hybrid, but man I don't want white!!!

Nice review

nice review I agree the white throws me off

great review buddy. nice looking clubs

Nice work Kendall! Glad this one worked out for you...it's definitely a solid contender this year in the hybrid category.

I just tried this club at GG tonight, I like it. One step closer to an almost all TM bag. Gonna add the 4H and Corza Daytona putter. After these new additions, my SW and 3W will be the only non TM in my bag (a Chikara might kick the 52* XFT out the bag). My TEE CB3 is money, I'm not gonna mess with it; my SW is compliments of Morton Golf with GolfWRX logo. That club has been good to me, so no change there.

Nice write up TCMP. I want to try the 85g shaft TP shaft but GG didn't have any.

Thanks for the replies. Don't overlook this one! It is a great looking and performing hybrid.

Nice review!


Just bought this in a #2. Only negative is the headcover doesn't go all the way down to #2 so it only shows an "x." Anyone else have this issue or did I get the wrong tag?

I think you may have gotten the wrong tag.

Great review! Its interesting that you weren't able to draw/hook the hybid even though you had it fully closed. Sounds like you had the same/similar ball flight no matter what adjustments you made? Seems like the adjustment factor is more of a gimmick than something that really works? Just wondering...

I just got bought one of these with the stiff shaft. It's the first hybrid that I have been able to hit with any remote sense of consistency. I may have finally found a replacement for my old G2 two iron.

[quote name='gklim22' timestamp='1312392929' post='3448199']
Great review! Its interesting that you weren't able to draw/hook the hybid even though you had it fully closed. Sounds like you had the same/similar ball flight no matter what adjustments you made? Seems like the adjustment factor is more of a gimmick than something that really works? Just wondering...
[/quote]

I'm not sure about the adjustability making a lot of difference for me. Part of me not being able to hit it left was the shaft. For an "R" flex, that RIP shaft was stout. I would be willing to guess that it CPM'd at least a stiff if not more.

[quote name='TCMP' timestamp='1312388753' post='3447958']
I think you may have gotten the wrong tag.
[/quote]

The headcover is definitely correct since it's a rescue with FCT. Could it have been switched with the burner rescue tag?

This is a sick club but you have to go after it with the 85 gram shaft the stiff plays like a X .Its also very easy to work a draw or fade .

[quote name='EWL5' timestamp='1312417927' post='3449397']
[quote name='TCMP' timestamp='1312388753' post='3447958']
I think you may have gotten the wrong tag.
[/quote]

The headcover is definitely correct since it's a rescue with FCT. Could it have been switched with the burner rescue tag?
[/quote]

Not sure on that. TMAG would be willing to switch it out for you I bet. Give them a call and see what they say.

Great Review!!!...I Was given one of these the other day from a buddy who owns a local shop ( mostly because he knows my un-natural love for Adams, and he doesn't really stock it), but also because he said I would never regret hitting one.. And boy was he right, it is the easiest to hit hybrid I have ever had in my hands that is not a GI hybrid..Also the turf interaction off the ground at contact is fantastic, it just drives through the ball just like an iron (most hybrids seem to just skim the ground I feel like I have to force myself to drive through them).. It's not a question of will it be in my bag, but how many of them will be?

Anyone else out there own a 2? I'm thinking of giving up on the 3 wood as the distance is nearly the same for me.

Anyone try the Motore F3 shaft in these yet?

Great review! It's making it awfully hard for me to keep from upgrading from the previous version (which I love).

[quote name='ajs72287' timestamp='1312771112' post='3460787']
Great review! It's making it awfully hard for me to keep from upgrading from the previous version (which I love).
[/quote]


Do you own the 2009 TP version? That also has the FCT. Not sure if you would benefit unless you really like the new white color.

Solid review. I've been debating whether or not to pull the trigger on a new hybrid or not

Have the 18 and 21 degree firmly in my bag as well..RIP 85 in stiff is a very nice shaft and is plenty for my ss (110)...

I thought i've given up on hybrids, but i would like to try one of these in a #3. who has the best prices on these? discount dan's??

I've tried the 18 degree that a buddy of mine has on several occasions. Maybe it's just me, but I absolutely HATED this hybrid. The feel was horrid. Don't start bashing the comment yet as I understand feel is subjective but the feel to me felt as bad as any hybrid I've ever hit. Some had to do with the fact I don't like the RIP shaft, but the head just felt ... off. I don't know another way to describe it but I was very disappointed in the club.

I'll stick with my $25 Nickent 3DX hybrids for the time being.

[quote name='topekareal' timestamp='1312863401' post='3464760']
Have the 18 and 21 degree firmly in my bag as well..RIP 85 in stiff is a very nice shaft and is plenty for my ss (110)...
[/quote]

I have the 21 as well with a RIP85 in stiff... and we have the same SS. The combo flat out performs.. I want a 23.5 now.

I want to not like it becasue I really don't like the white, I love my all black clubs, I think the contrast helps with me lining the ball up, but I can't seem to stay away from this and the review isn't helping. I play the TM driver right now (SuperTri and SuperDeep) with the Aldila TM RIP (a) 70x and I think I need to try me one of these bad boys... I'm blaming you guys

[quote name='gmetcalf18' timestamp='1312869461' post='3465034']
I want to not like it becasue I really don't like the white, I love my all black clubs, I think the contrast helps with me lining the ball up, but I can't seem to stay away from this and the review isn't helping. I play the TM driver right now (SuperTri and SuperDeep) with the Aldila TM RIP (a) 70x and I think I need to try me one of these bad boys... I'm blaming you guys
[/quote]


I got an R11 first and the Rescue 2011 2H the following week. My wallet needs time to recover.

This hybrid is fantastic. Out of the rough i have never had anything better. Great combo with the RIP beta.

[quote name='sTmGolfer' timestamp='1312865402' post='3464879']
I've tried the 18 degree that a buddy of mine has on several occasions. Maybe it's just me, but I absolutely HATED this hybrid. The feel was horrid. Don't start bashing the comment yet as I understand feel is subjective but the feel to me felt as bad as any hybrid I've ever hit. Some had to do with the fact I don't like the RIP shaft, but the head just felt ... off. I don't know another way to describe it but I was very disappointed in the club.

I'll stick with my $25 Nickent 3DX hybrids for the time being.
[/quote]

The Rescue 11 TP with the RIP shaft is a stout combo. I think the Miyazaki hybrid shaft would be a great combo for those who don't like the RIP in this hybrid.