We've launched the new forums! Read more here

TaylorMade SLDR Driver - Review Thread

SuperStroke
Wonton said:
I've seen Rick Shiels' video on the R15 driver and he stated that it's more forgiving because you can widen the weights so the head would turn less on impact. So if that's what makes the R15 driver, why not try the same concept with the SLDR?
Click to expand...
Uhhh, because the SLDR has one weight, not two? Or are you talking about adding an additional weight to the SLDR? If so, in theory it should work, though IIRC the SLDR weights are 2.5 grams lighter ... which could really throw things off. :wink:
 
deuce said:
Uhhh, because the SLDR has one weight, not two? Or are you talking about adding an additional weight to the SLDR?
Click to expand...

Thats what they have been discussing on the last page, yep.
 
deuce said:
Yeah dang it ... got ahead of myself with this one. Nevermind me ...
Click to expand...

Yeah man! hahaha no worries.
Yeah adding another weight on the SLDR can throw things off. I'll be the lab rat and add the extra weight to see if it's more forgiving.
(I've been reading the R15 thread... oh it's interesting convo going on right meow!)
 
Wonton said:
Yeah man! hahaha no worries.
Yeah adding another weight on the SLDR can throw things off. I'll be the lab rat and add the extra weight to see if it's more forgiving.
(I've been reading the R15 thread... oh it's interesting convo going on right meow!)
Click to expand...
Honestly, I think it'll work just fine.

I know it's probably a bad comparison, but it's like converting a belly putter to a CB putter ... spec's should really be the same on both products, and you're going to save a ton of money to boot. Good luck with it!
 
deuce said:
Honestly, I think it'll work just fine.

I know it's probably a bad comparison, but it's like converting a belly putter to a CB putter ... spec's should really be the same on both products, and you're going to save a ton of money to boot. Good luck with it!
Click to expand...

Oh yeah, it can't be an exact spec comparison. It's apples to oranges. I was just curious on terms of forgiveness improvement because I've been reading/hearing how SLDR is unforgiving on mishits.
 
The blue sliding weight on the SLDR Driver is 20-grams. There are multiple listings on ebay for blue 10-gram sliding weights from Chjnese Sellers.

Just replace the single 20-gram weight with (2) 10-gram weights and you now have the same weight separation capability that TM says makes the new R15 Driver more forgiving than the SLDR. Cheap option compared to buying the new R15. The more you spread the weight apart, (heel and toe weighting), the more forgiving the driver should be, and swingweight remains the same as moveable weight is still 20-grams total.

This looks like a very easy and cheap experiment that just might improve forgiveness for both the SLDR 430 and 460 Drivers.

:act-up:
 
Jman said:
Who knows, its debated how much the weight slide does in the first place, I know in my testing with it I saw no real ball flight changes, especially when compared to the further back weigh slide like Bertha.
Click to expand...

I know others had similar findings with that as well. I must be weird, I put that thing all the way on the toe side and, well.. Didn't see much of the left side of the course or fairway that day. Beags fades
 
The mental aspect is real for people, it really is.

I just know I tested it with multiple golfers, and we saw minuscule effects over a lot of swings.
 
Mward said:
I know others had similar findings with that as well. I must be weird, I put that thing all the way on the toe side and, well.. Didn't see much of the left side of the course or fairway that day. Beags fades
Click to expand...

I'm with you Wardy.... I found a tremendous change with the slide. I do have a SLDR with the heavier weight so that might have a lot to do with it but I rarely find the left side of the course with mine. A lot of the guys on Tour also took out the plate towards the toe and put in a weighted toe screw to help with the towards on these
 
Jman said:
The mental aspect is real for people, it really is.

I just know I tested it with multiple golfers, and we saw minuscule effects over a lot of swings.
Click to expand...

I believe it, and it may be all mental. If some extra toe weight makes my dumb brain think it can't go left so release as hard as you want and it'll be repeatable, I'll take that all day
 
So I hit the 430 TP model for the first time today... Ummmm...
 
jlukes said:
So I hit the 430 TP model for the first time today... Ummmm...
Click to expand...
The thing is, I don't remember anyone complaining about the clubs when the hit it in the middle.
 
jlukes said:
So I hit the 430 TP model for the first time today... Ummmm...
Click to expand...
Ummmm as in "I hit it so well I don't have words to describe it."?

Or Ummmm as in "I don't like it."?

The JetSpeed and I get along pretty well, and while I may be leaving a good portion of game on the tee box because I've never been fit, all things being equal, I hit this as well or better than any of the other options I've tried. While the JetSpeed isn't the SLDR/R15, I'm intrigued enough to give them a test. May not buy it, but going to give it the benefit of the doubt.
 
deuce said:
You must've really hated it then, huh? :p
Click to expand...
With a D+ 62 in it it was... Wow.

After my fitter/instructor watch me hit the X2 Hot pro and bio cell + he said try it. I almost threw up in my mouth. Didn't like like the stock shaft much. Threw in the whiteboard and, well, I've just never hit a club like it. I tried to hit huge cuts with it and simply couldn't. I was launching it around 13 degrees and spinning at 1800. And straight. Just a tiny tiny fade. 283 average carry.

Average carry with X2 Hot pro was 265. Bio cell + was 270. Dispersion with sldr 430 was so much tighter with the 430. I don't know why.

I hit 15 Balls with each driver. I'd hit 3 and then rotate to the next. Every time I got to the 430 it was magic
 
bobcat said:
While the new R15 Driver is being applauded by some for having (2) movable (slider) weights, keep in mind the SLDR Driver also has (2) weights, one movable, and one not movable. The familiar blue slider weight is 20-grams and there is also a 16-gram weight hidden beneath the toe plate. This means the SLDR has weights that were separated by design predumably for enhanced heel/toe weighting which should improve forgiveness. Because there is only one slider weight on the SLDR, only one adjustment is needed to achieve a draw/fade bias verses the two screw adjustments required by the new R15 to accomplish the same thing. Becoming wrench happy TM??

Perhaps some of TM's claimed technology benefits for the R15 are not quite what they first seem.

:angel:
Click to expand...


I believe there is only one weight on the SLDR the toe plate is not covering a weight it covers the hole where you can change the weight there might be weight there but it is inside the club head and not removable


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
blugold said:
That esculated quickly. Hahah
Click to expand...
There wasn't even a ponder dude. If I hadn't been hitting two other drivers along with it I would have never believed the numbers I was seeing. Even on mishits.
 
jlukes said:
There wasn't even a ponder dude. If I hadn't been hitting two other drivers along with it I would have never believed the numbers I was seeing. Even on mishits.
Click to expand...
Awesome. Love it dude. It was the longest driver I have ever played.
 
blugold said:
Awesome. Love it dude. It was the longest driver I have ever played.
Click to expand...
I couldn't get over the dispersion (or lack thereof). My brain hurts just thinking about how a driver with a smaller head and low/forward cog could give me more consistency.

Does
Not
Make
Sense
 
jlukes said:
I couldn't get over the dispersion (or lack thereof). My brain hurts just thinking about how a driver with a smaller head and low/forward cog could give me more consistency.

Does
Not
Make
Sense
Click to expand...
Might as well quit golf. ;)

I will catch you on the quilting forums.
 
I am a convert myself. I just replaced my Big Bertha with a 12* White SLDR. Truth is I probably would have bought it in the first place if they came out in white to begin with. I was a bit worried by all the talk about how the SLDR was so penalizing for so many. How I got the SLDR is another story, I actually ended up with two BB drivers, one belonged to a friend that had to quit because of a bad back, I was hitting both at the range with different shafts next to a guy with the SLDR. We started talking and he told me the SLDR was a mistake that he couldn't hit the damn thing. By the time I left we swapped one BB for his SLDR so I guess that worked out good for me because I have been killing it since. When I make a bad swing I get a bad result but it really doesn't seem any worse than it would have been with BB. I still have one if I feel the need to go back but I don't see that happening.
 
Still in disbelief with what I experienced yesterday. Again, if I wasn't hitting two other drivers along with it I would have never believed what I was seeing with the SLDR 430
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top