TaylorMade R11 Fitting
For the TaylorMade R11 fitting I went to Doug Curls at Edwin Watts in Palm Harbor, FL. Right away I was impressed with his initial questions and how he made me comfortable. Questions like what do you normally play to (handicap), what is your current driver and a how do you physically feel today. I don't think I had ever had a fitter ask me how I felt at the time I was starting a fitting. He would tell the golfer to come back another day if they were too tired, sore or just flat not in a good frame of mind. All these factors will affect your swing and thus your fitting.

He then had me warm up, then a few swings to gauge my swing style and club head speed. As a baseline, he setup the R11 to what I think I wanted and had me hit a few - low and pretty straight, around 250 yards off the monitor, with an average swing speed of 95. A quick change of shafts resulted in a swing speed of 103, a higher trajectory and more distance. He told me what the flex of the new shaft was and my male ego took a hit. It was a regular flex, I had always used a stiff. But the results were there - higher, faster, longer - the reality hit, I am getting older. We then tried a few more shafts and came back to the second one we tried. All these changes done with the turn of a wrench. A little tweaking - I wanted a little more of a draw and he changed a couple weights and there it was, more draw. All these changes maybe take a minute not counting the swing time.

So I am good to go, ready to hit the fairway, longer and straighter. I see strokes disappearing off my card. My first round with the R11 did in fact get me a (relatively) straighter ball flight, added a few more fairways hit and more distance (ego's back intact). So I think I am invincible but reality hits with a hook. Have to remember that ultimately it is the golfer that needs to keep the ball going in the right direction though having your clubs fit correctly always helps.

One last note, Doug said come back after playing the club for a number of rounds if a new trend started in my drives. He would readjust the club. These changes again could be done very quickly and easily, so as you improve (or head in the other direction), you don't have to go looking for a new driver.
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