2013 TaylorMade R1 Driver: Review, Video and Pics

[easyyy]

Click here to read our full front page story and review on the TaylorMade R1 driver, which includes an exclusive interview with Todd Beach, TaylorMade's VP of R&D, more photos, tech, specs and shaft options.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[easyyy]

[Breaker999]

From easyy's photos, the R1 doesn't look too bad.

[bravesgolf]

Hated the graphics on the top of the R1 when I first saw the pic's but it's growing on me! Couldn't imagine replacing my R11 at this stage but the R1 (and Ping's G25 or Anser) might have a good chance of dethroning it if the performance is there.

[MB Dirtyy]

I love the tech talk videos! And I mean no offense for the following: I can't help but notice how unnatural Zak's hand/arm movements are in his videos. I find it amusing, actually. In a harmless way, I assure you.

[Brianbigoats]

how many cc

[Big Ben]

Taylormade already knows how we feel, the industry is maxed out and I'm not being paid to play a walking billboard, poor form...BB

[ProBowler]

460

[TMBob]

Sole seems very rocker-ish to me more like the R11 vs the R11s, which for me at a 45" length sat very much on the back 1/3 of the sole, or to upright.

I did not see the adjustability for lies mentioned, but I think I heard there was a bunch of more upright positions, with little flat options....is this true?

Also, some good news on the shaft front I see,

GD Di 6 and 7 finally and Oban Devo 6 and Revenge 8

I did not see Fujikura Fuel though?

[Elpresidente]

Is the stage2 driver on the pic the tour version?? It looks so shallow!! All i can read out of this review is that there is no improvement if your are fitted right, and it is easier to fit somebody right with this club. I think it is not worth the money if you have an r11s already.

[scratchswinger]

This was probably one of the best written articles that I have read on WRX in a while. I like the way Y3's review was incorporated in the article. I honestly don't need to watch the video. It really answered every question that has been raised since the first photos were released.

I am still skeptical if there will be an R line of fairways. The R11s F is pretty much the same as the R11 F. Are they that confident in the stage 2 fairways? Or do they have something else coming?

[ProBowler]

Ordered !!!!

[schneidm10]

Not a fan of the graphics at all. No way I could look down at that. But I'm sure it will work for others. The compass is a little odd too.

[PMAC]

Love the graphics......

[ctfuzz21]

For better or worse, TM knows how to operate the hype machine and the crown graphics will do just that. Even the most casual golfer could tell you what Rocketballz was, bet they couldn't tell you what Cleveland's driver line was called. I get the pro of it, and conceptually isn't a terrible thought, but the decision to do it had to have been purely for hype/ pub. (it'll be in my bag before Easter lol)

[My2Dogs]

Just hate the fact that this years TM drivers will not work with the sleeves of the past drivers. Also no "real deal" shafts just made for. I will have to test them out and compare. Performance is what is going to get my spending cash so whoever performs the best will win.

[Kadin 25]

I hit it..
I like it...
I'll have it..

Enough said.

[Rustynuts]

A whopping 2 yards? talk about sucking us in

[Mschumacher]

[media=]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yCg7dHvt9m4[/media]

New videos from taylormade up

[ron lefthanded holmes]

[quote name='Kadin 25' timestamp='1357198690' post='6158615']
I hit it..
I like it...
I'll have it..

Enough said.
[/quote]
didn't you get yours for free at the TM outing

[ChrisX831]

I love it, feels fantastic, I'm trading my RBZ in for it!

[jokerusn]

I'm digging the shape of the head and deeper face but I'm not sold on the crown graphics OR the "uniloft" head. I needed a 8* head in the 11s just to keep the launch angle to a reasonable height and that was with the loft at "lower" and the sole plate at O+. (Didn't actually hit an 8* head but the 9* was just about a degree or 2 too high launching for me.) Crown graphics are easily fixed, though, if it performs.

[hmx3]

Wow, that´s all and what´s new compared with my old R11?

IMO a modified R11.

And the face angle setting is useless, because you have to ground the driver.

And mostly all competitors offer a better stock shaft.

All in all TM has a name in golf, but the R1 is not a technology leader.

2013 Nike and Cobra make the pace in evolution.

[Philfil]

I haven't hit it...
I don't like it...
I won't have it...

Too much said...

[Marlockey]

A grey, orange and black racing stripe extends diagonally from the driver's hosel to the rear-toe section on the crown, and is is accented with a white R1 logo on the heel section. A matte silver section on the toe meets the three-colored stripe to form a triangle alignment aid a few inches behind the familiar TaylorMade "T" logo that is positioned on the front center of the crown. Our first impression of the graphics resulted in a verbal "wow." But after about 20 minutes, the crazy looking graphic started to settle in.

 

 

Looking at the R1, we couldn't help but think of the racing stripes on the Ferrari F430 Scuderia, which Ferrari made to showcase its racing technology in a street car. Just as racers ignore the aesthetics of cars when they're driving, we forgot about the graphics during testing, turning our to the front of the crown. There, the black "T" logo helped us find the sweet spot, and the white crown and black face provided a strong perpendicular contrast that assisted us while squaring the face to the target line.

 

There is a difference when your driving at 200 mph, Racing car drivers are only looking at the tarmac in front of them, Also there is no way that driver looks as good as that Ferrari sorry

 

possibly more like The Herbie Beetle ( No offence to volkswagen Beetle owners)

 

Taylor Made have in my opinion lost it big time, I regularly play Golf with 3 guy's who own R11s/RBZ drivers and they have all stated there is no way they will switch to this purely on Graphic's alone, The one Guy is a Former World rally co driver, so who better to ask, what you have to understand is this is swaying the Taylor Made faithful ( and i was once a big TM user) to either stick with their current driver or switch to another OEM, it is not going to make guy's switch to the brand that never liked the R11 so who is this marketed at?

 

jeez how many people have taking a swipe at the Trousers/strides that John Daly wears, well hey John you now have a matching driver available to you.

 

and before the TM fan boy's start ganging up on me, do some research, the guy's on here will back me up in saying how big a TM guy i was ( former Forum name was TM Tour Club Ho)

 

Message to Taylor Made, start looking over your shoulder, the other company's have Faster Cars than you this year!

[ufgatrs82]

[quote name='Big Ben' timestamp='1357191575' post='6158219']
Taylormade already knows how we feel, the industry is maxed out and I'm not being paid to play a walking billboard, poor form...BB
[/quote]
+1

[JaxBeachNole]

I like the crown graphics and the tech in the thick thin crown. I am curious why the CG goal for TM is to have a lower more forward CG, while others, Ping, have a lower farther back CG goal.

I'm sure that it does work better for TM but I just am wondering why this works better for their designs vs. the opposite for other OEMs.

Is there going to be a TP model for the head or just the different shaft?

[Imp]

[quote name='Marlockey' timestamp='1357212503' post='6158835']
The one Guy is a Former World rally co driver[/quote]

1) You have piqued my interest in this line alone (WRC has been and will be my favorite racing) and I'm curious who this may be (I've met quite a few owners, drivers and navvys). PM Me if you wish.

2) Ask him if he ever refused to co-drive based on the livery alone on the car? Granted, he's not being paid to play these clubs as he WAS being paid to silly-seat.

--kC

[coghillcutter]

Gonna be a busy season for the guys at Continental Golf. I don't mind offering other color options like Cobra is doing but those graphics are a tad bit busy to say the least.

[Puppetmaster]

[quote name='jokerusn' timestamp='1357209077' post='6158779']
I'm digging the shape of the head and deeper face but I'm not sold on the crown graphics OR the "uniloft" head. I needed a 8* head in the 11s just to keep the launch angle to a reasonable height and that was with the loft at "lower" and the sole plate at O+. (Didn't actually hit an 8* head but the 9* was just about a degree or 2 too high launching for me.) Crown graphics are easily fixed, though, if it performs.
[/quote]

Agree with this completely. Looks great and will likely perform great, if you can get past the crown. I hit the R11S and that was awesome, it's hard to think that this could be better, haha.