Equipment
TaylorMade to release 14-degree SLDR driver
TaylorMade urged golfers to dial up the loft on its August-released SLDR drivers, but no one could see them taking it this far. The company has announced that it will launch a 14-degree version of the SLDR driver, a loft that is usually reserved for 3 woods.
The move is unprecedented, but necessary according to TaylorMade officials because of the weight placement in the club. Most drivers on the market have a center of gravity (CG) above the neutral axis line – an imaginary line drawn from back end of the club that is perpendicular to the club’s face angle. The closer the CG is located to that line, the “lower spinning” a driver becomes.
The SLDR has a CG that is well forward of most drivers, which helps move it lower in the head. According to TaylorMade officials, a lower, more forward CG will help golfers get closer to the ultimate distance formula — a launch angle of 17 degrees with 1700 rpms of spin.
Above: This TaylorMade graphic shows how a lower, more forward CG can lower a driver’s spin. But the CG placement also decreases dynamic loft at impact. That can lead to drives that launch too low and with too little spin, particularly for golfers with slower swing speeds.
While SLDR’s ability to reduce spin has helped many better golfers hit their drives farther, it has proven to be troublesome for many golfers with slower swing speeds. For that reason, TaylorMade has decided to release a 14-degree SLDR that will help those golfers boost their launch and spin closer to ideal levels.
Launching the ball higher with less spin is almost always the recipe to give golfers more distance, but a driver designed with 14-degrees of loft seems a little drastic. If golfers truly need that much loft, they likely don’t have enough ball speed to fully benefit from the SLDR’s low and forward CG. They’d be better off with a driver that has a more rearward CG, which will increase spin and dynamic loft at impact and help them carry the ball farther.
Neal Shipley was the first to admit that he enjoyed his food while in college. But since his days at Ohio State, he’s slimmed down and earned a PGA Tour Card.
That hasn’t stopped him from having fun with his wedge stampings, though it’s led to some misunderstandings.
On the 54 (degree), we have ‘Big Fudge,'” Shipley told GolfWRX. “It was supposed to be ‘Big Fridge,’ so this happened a little while ago. ‘Big Fridge’ was a nickname between my college teammates and I, with ‘fridge’ meaning stomach, a big stomach.
“We told the Ping guys to put … ‘Big Fridge’ on it, and I think maybe some bad cell service or something, and they thought I said ‘fudge,’ so they put fudge on it.”
On Shipley’s 50-degree he also continues the food theme, this time with his go-to order at the “Golden Arches,” and his stamping “DONS 7.”
“The number 7 meal, the two cheeseburger meal, that was my McDonald’s order, back when I would have McDonald’s frequently,” Shipley shared.
At GolfWRX, we are a community of like-minded individuals who all experience and express our enjoyment of the game in many ways.
It’s that sense of community that drives day-to-day interactions in the forums on topics that range from best driver to what marker you use to mark your ball. It even allows us to share another thing we all love – buying and selling equipment.
Currently, in our GolfWRX buy/sell/trade (BST) forum, @raw10628 has a L.A.B. DF3 putter and Masters putter cover up for grabs.
From the listing: “Some great items here today, time to thin out and make room for next set of gear. All prices include shipping.
LAB DF3 Purple 33.5” 68° lie with TPT – $725. LAB Masters release DF3 cover – $150.”
To check out the full listing in our BST forum, head through the link. If you are curious about the rules to participate in the BST Forum, you can learn more here: GolfWRX BST Rules
Driver: Ping G440 LST (9 degrees)
Shaft: Accra TourZ Green 5-M4
3-wood: Ping G440 Max (15 degrees)
Shaft: Accra TourZ Green 6-M4
5-wood: Ping G440 Max (19 degrees @18)
Shaft: Accra TourZ Green 6-M4
Hybrid: Ping G440 (23 degrees)
Shaft: Oban Isawa Red Hybrid Shaft 04 Flex 70 Gms
Irons: Srixon ZXi7 (5-P)
Shafts: Aerotech SteelFiber Private Reserve i80
Wedges: Cleveland RTZ (50-MID, 54-FULL, 58-MID)
Shafts: Aerotech SteelFiber Private Reserve i105
Putter: L.A.B. Golf OZ.1i
Shaft: ACCRA Putter Shaft
Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet
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Driver: Ping G440 LST (9 degrees) Shaft: Accra TourZ Green 5-M4 3-wood: Ping G440 Max (15 degrees) Shaft: Accra TourZ Green 6-M4 5-wood: Ping G440...
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Driver: Callaway Quantum Triple Diamond (8.5 degrees) Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 6 X Mini driver: Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Mini...
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Driver: TaylorMade Qi4D (10.5 degrees) Shaft: Project X Titan Yellow 60 TX 3-wood: TaylorMade Qi4D Tour (15 degrees) Shaft: Project...
Mike
Feb 12, 2014 at 10:21 pm
These comments and the article miss out on a slice of good players and this product release may just (finally) help. I am a 5.6 index but that is after two terrible seasons, spent most of the last 35 years @ a 2-4 HDCP. My swing speed on any number of launch monitors (trackman mostly) consistently comes in @ 105-110+ with my driver. I had recently switched to a 12 degree Titleist and yet my launch is normally in the 7 degree range and 3000rpm spin, resulting in 250-260 yard drives, max. I have two golfing partners with similar launch conditions and of similar to better ability. These aren’t clubs to simply help the slow swinging super seniors. They may finally get my drives more in line with my 170+ yard carry 7 irons. I m excited to demo them!
Hertz
Dec 25, 2013 at 9:38 pm
Any idea on availability? Or is it still a maybe on if it will be released?
derek
Dec 21, 2013 at 12:47 pm
I found a 16 cleveland (ladies) driver , put a graff blue launch in it and it is longer than anything i have hit. g20 12 degree is moving out there but I dare you to try way more loft , it seems to be working
Regis
Dec 11, 2013 at 6:03 pm
Start with the understanding that most manufacturers market drivers with lofts that are higher than stamped on the head to placate the ego of golfers (who love to say that they are hitting an 8.5 or a 9.5). Add that most golfers with would benefit from playing a higher loft. Then factor in that I have an 85 mph swing speed and the SLDR is adjustable. Not a problem for me.
JEFF SMITH
Dec 11, 2013 at 2:33 pm
I have some nice boat fenders by Taylor Made. That would be the only thing I would use with that name on it!
nik dallos
Dec 10, 2013 at 6:24 pm
I have hit it once at dicks sporting goods. the only shafts they had were stiff and sub 60 gram. I couldn’t hit this thing for hell. I launched it so high even with a 9.5 degree head lofted down, that I hit moonballs that went….185 yards. with my swing wich is around 107 average, I couldn’t get it to go over 250, then with the most lazy non caring swing, I hit it 307 with only 100mph clubspeed and 140 ball speed. maybe dicks should drop 30$k on a trackman. so,maybe be the shaft I was using and the cheap hard cover balls, but I was not impressed with this thing. but it was inside, not on the course, so who am I to say.
nik dallos
Dec 10, 2013 at 6:25 pm
and man oh man am I in the wrong thread, sorry guys. long day
JimmyO
Dec 10, 2013 at 5:51 pm
This is nothing new. They’re currently called “HL” (high launch) in TM terms. Most major manufacturers offer something similar or have this type of loft in their women’s drivers. Most people’s ego just gets in the way of getting properly fit.
jc
Dec 10, 2013 at 12:15 pm
I am waiting until they come out with a 15 degree adjustable driver and the companion 10 degree 3 wood and 6 degree 5 wood. That should be in about 2 weeks from now.
Mx
Dec 10, 2013 at 2:34 pm
its funny because i ctually play my sldr at 10.5 degrees and my 3 wood at 11.5
kwoot
Dec 10, 2013 at 4:34 pm
WHAT ARE YOU 12,
TJ
Dec 10, 2013 at 11:02 am
for what ever distance I gained (Maybe 10 Yards) I find the accuracy of this club to be brutal. stick an extra inch on your current driver and you will come close to what this can offer in my opinion, with both the increase of distance and decrease in accuracy. I also understand that a lot of tour pros are using this model of driver so it could very well be me but I believe there is some truth to my statement.
kwoot
Dec 10, 2013 at 4:33 pm
Obviously you are not a very good golfer,
Mike ChonM
Dec 10, 2013 at 9:36 am
Should just use the 3 wood too tee off
P
Dec 9, 2013 at 1:27 pm
I’m going to use it for chipping.
Anthony Penney
Dec 8, 2013 at 9:42 pm
Tom Wishon stated a few years ago that people with a 09 mph.swing speed should be using a 13.5 ddegree lofted driver, using a garden hose effect for launch and distance. I agree!
Michael Garrard
Dec 8, 2013 at 9:37 pm
Hireko Golf has the Thriver, a 14 deg. driver type club, but with a 3-wood weight. That allows the club to be shorter, which also helps accuracy. I think it was designed for the senior golfer.
markb
Dec 8, 2013 at 8:25 pm
I don’t play the SLDR because it launched way too low for me. I tried putting a high launch shaft in my 10.5 and dialing it all the way up, but it still launched low. A 14° might work.
dave rose
Dec 8, 2013 at 6:56 pm
Not at all surprised they done this.. with the new technology.. carrying the 12 or 14 degree SLDR is the same as using the RBZ 9 o r 10.5 degree..but a lot longer.