Years ago, TaylorMade drivers took the title of No. 1 Driver in Golf away from Callaway, and TaylorMade has had a stranglehold on the driver market ever since. TaylorMade catches an earful for its unbelievable marketing machine, but give credit where credit is due; without leading the charge in innovation and technology, all of the sales tactics in the world would be for nought.
First, TaylorMade pioneered the adjustable driver, offering players the ability to change the weighting of the clubhead using Movable Weight Technology (MWT) in the 2003 r7 Quad. This technology made it easier for players to shape their shots or help take a problem slice or hook out of play, and versions of it have become ubiquitous in the industry ever since.
TaylorMade turned its eye toward increased swing speeds to achieve better distance, and turned out one of its all-time best-selling drivers, the Burner 460, which was the first to use Superfast technology, later seen in the Burner Superfast and Superfast 2.0 drivers. Superfast aerodynamics, coupled with Inverted Cone face technology (ICT), drive swing speeds and ball speeds higher than ever to add distance.
The next innovation came with adjustable loft, first seen in the 2008 Taylormade r9 driver. Known as Flight Control Technology (FCT), this hosel sleeve allowed players to add or subtract degrees of loft for trajectory control. The loft adjustment would also affect the face angle and lie angle of the club, so players enjoyed added workability, not only in terms of trajectory, but in side-to-side shaping as well.
The highly recognizable white crown, which aids in alignment and reduces glare off of the clubhead, first showed up in the Burner Superfast 2.0, but it really took off with the introduction of the R11 driver in 2011. With Tour players flocking in droves to these clubs, the science gained visibility and credibility among better players and recreational golfers, alike. The R11 driver also introduced the Adjustable Sole Plate (ASP), allowing players to tune loft and face angle independently for even more control.
With 2012’s RocketBallZ and R11S drivers, TaylorMade continued to add distance, forgiveness and accuracy throughout its driver offerings, and brought adjustability to a more affordable price point. In 2013, the R1 driver and RocketBallZ Stage 2 drivers added additional crown graphics to the white-matte finish, further aiding in alignment and ball framing at address. An even wider range of adjustability -- 12 unique loft positions, and, with movable weights and face angles, more than 80 unique settings -- obviated the need for separate lofts within the R1 line; now you can go from 8 degrees of loft to 12 degrees all in the same driver, helping to address the nearly universal problem of players using the wrong loft.
With a vast selection of new and used TaylorMade drivers available in store and online, 2nd Swing Golf can match you with the perfect club for the needs of your game. An award-winning fitting process can further tune you into the perfect specifications, so take advantage of a free fitting with every club you purchase!