Damn you TaylorMade and your #loftup campaign!

[Hacker Khan]

I have had the same experience after a massive fall out with my titleist I went to my local golf shop and was speaking to the pro there and after wanting a sldr since they came out I asked him to fit me for one, the stock shafts the had wasn't really holding my swing speed to great I'm not gonna divulge numbers due to the fact I'm a high handicapper and everybody will call BS but anyway he put the head onto his own shaft that he games and it was the same black tie shaft and I was getting pretty giddy with the numbers I was seeing! For all the doubters if you haven't tried it I really wouldn't be so quick to judge with the right head/shaft combo I honestly think it's a complete game changer. Still haven't bought one the wife said no

As already mentioned by a few, I don't think anyone is doubting that a lot of (but not all) players will get some distance increase with the SLDR. And it could conceivably be called a game changer. I expect many manufacturers will follow suit and well played to TM as they have really stole a march on the market. I think the fact that Ping are now introducing turbulators on top of their drivers is a direct result of this and the fact they know they need something to excite the market. As if they (and others) just bring out another driver now with nothing to shout about apart from the usual guff about 5 % increase in MOI of whatever they say, then they are stuffed. TM have stolen your thunder. Hey, I've even got a SLDR mini driver.

I think what was under question were the massive gains and the validity of the distance data that was being produced by the fitter. Especially as Justin Rose was getting roughly the same carry form his drive with a SLDR as seen on the video above.

But having said that, if the OP goes back to his course and then is constantly getting another 40 odd yards and carrying at 280/290 all the time on his drives then I'm more than happy to bake some humble pie and have it for tea.

 

[Hacker Khan]

let the fun begin! Total distance was 303 yards using a a pro v1x swing speed 112 smash was 1.53 head was a neutral setting 9.5 but I'm a 28 handicap player how is this possible?

You must have an absolutely awful short game

 

[big_eck]

As already mentioned by a few, I don't think anyone is doubting that a lot of (but not all) players will get some distance increase with the SLDR. And it could conceivably be called a game changer. I expect many manufacturers will follow suit and well played to TM as they have really stole a march on the market. I think the fact that Ping are now introducing turbulators on top of their drivers is a direct result of this and the fact they know they need something to excite the market. As if they (and others) just bring out another driver now with nothing to shout about apart from the usual guff about 5 % increase in MOI of whatever they say, then they are stuffed. TM have stolen your thunder. Hey, I've even got a SLDR mini driver.

I think what was under question were the massive gains and the validity of the distance data that was being produced by the fitter. Especially as Justin Rose was getting roughly the same carry form his drive with a SLDR as seen on the video above.

But having said that, if the OP goes back to his course and then is constantly getting another 40 odd yards and is out there at 280/290 all the time on his drives then I'm more than happy to bake some humble pie and have it for tea.

Im a big driver anyway and probably the strongest part of my game on any round with my titleist I can reach 300 yards but usually with a nice connection it's 270-280 but the consistent distance from taylormade was for me anyway pretty impressive, and if the op is currently using the wrong shaft altogether then to me anyway that gains are possible

 

[big_eck]

You must have an absolutely awful short game

its frightening and that's why my handicap blows anything under a 8 iron for me is trouble

 

[Ethan]

Anybody who has gained 40 yards is someone who had a totally unsuitable club before and would have gained at least 25 or 30 of those years with each of another 10 types of club.

The SLDR looks like a nice product, although the stock shaft is [redacted]. There are some decent choices available as custom options, but it isn't a miracle worker. If it was, imagine what SLDR 2 will do, and it should be along shortly.

I am happy with my GM provided Titleist 913D3, by the way. No plans to go SLDR.

 

[moogie]

let the fun begin! Total distance was 303 yards using a a pro v1x swing speed 112 smash was 1.53 head was a neutral setting 9.5 but I'm a 28 handicap player how is this possible?

Not gonna even argue your ss or dist
But smash at 1.53......??......!!!

I don't believe that's possible

Read a few articles that seem to put max smash factor possible, with a legal COR driver, at 1.494

 

[jimbob.someroo]

Jimboo,

Would you be able to post up some date where fittings days are happening in the south? I'm up for going and getting done.

Cheers,
Ash.

I don't have them to hand as they're organised between our on the road guys and the clubs themselves. If you PM me your rough location, I can drop a note to the relevant area person to see if there's anything lined up nearby.

 

[Hacker Khan]

its frightening and that's why my handicap blows anything under a 8 iron for me is trouble

What about using a putter? As if you are out there at 300 yards then surely you could get under 28 handicap by using your putter from then on.

 

[delc]

I think that Taylor Made drivers are designed so you have to 'loft up' as a marketing ploy! When I bought my R1 set at the standard 10 degrees of loft, I could hardly get the ball into the air at at all. Tried setting it at the maximum loft of 12 degrees and then hit it too high with little run when the ball came down. Ended up at 11.25 degrees which gives a similar flight to my previous 10.5 degree Callaway driver, although about 10 yards further. Generally happy with my R1.

 

[rickg]

I think that Taylor Made drivers are designed so you have to 'loft up' as a marketing ploy!

With a statement like that you obviously have no idea how the technology behind the SLDR works.....

This is rather worrying as you claim to be a scientist and an engineer.........

 

[delc]

With a statement like that you obviously have no idea how the technology behind the SLDR works.....

This is rather worrying as you claim to be a scientist and an engineer.........

I thought the design philosophy was to launch the ball higher with less back spin, so that the ball both carries further through the air and runs more when it lands. Seems to work, but perhaps they should quote the dynamic loft angle rather than the static one!

 

[garyinderry]

afaik the low CG is only in the sldr, not the R1 ! I could be wrong. I was once before!

 

[Rooter]

afaik the low CG is only in the sldr, not the R1 ! I could be wrong. I was once before!

I believe it is on the R1 to a degree (ie lower COG), was chatting to the pro at my course who is quite a club geek and he understood that the R1 needed a higher loft than normal.

Taylormade themselves will admit the whole "loft up" campaign actually came after the official release, they were focussing on the moving weight to start with, then had a eureka moment when it got into the hands of the pro's.

 

[garyinderry]

I believe it is on the R1 to a degree (ie lower COG), was chatting to the pro at my course who is quite a club geek and he understood that the R1 needed a higher loft than normal.

Taylormade themselves will admit the whole "loft up" campaign actually came after the official release, they were focussing on the moving weight to start with, then had a eureka moment when it got into the hands of the pro's.

make that twice then! :thup:

 

[Hacker Khan]

Can you imagine what Rory would do with a SLDR if he can do this with a Nike?

[video=youtube_share;kFtmbGnFVlQ]http://youtu.be/kFtmbGnFVlQ[/video]

 

[delc]

afaik the low CG is only in the sldr, not the R1 ! I could be wrong. I was once before!

As I understand it, both the R1 and the SLDR have their c of g more forward, i.e closer to the face, than previous generation large headed drivers. One of the effects of this is to reduce dynamic loft when you actually hit a golf ball. Hence for a similar ball flight you need more static loft on these drivers. I would guess from my experience at least one degree more.

Large headed drivers create more aerodynamic drag when swung at 100+ mph and will reduce club head speed. If you consistently hit the middle of the clubface, you may be better off with a smaller headed driver. Hence the SLDR Mini!

 

[JCW]

For the record i have on order the new TM CB tour preferred irons , my game is sound but was impressed with TM , I also bought the SDLR 5 wood , lovely club .................EYG

 

[Val]

Good news for the OP is that he is only 3 yards short of Justin Rose now. Mind you, he did have a bit of wind behind him

[video=youtube_share;6_NtWQNW5vo]http://youtu.be/6_NtWQNW5vo[/video]

There certainly was plenty of wind and Justin let him know

 

[Alex1975]

Not gonna even argue your ss or dist
But smash at 1.53......??......!!!

I don't believe that's possible

Read a few articles that seem to put max smash factor possible, with a legal COR driver, at 1.494

This was also my understanding.... ?!

 

[philly169]

Phil - were you fitted for your precious driver ?

No, wanted a Titleist driver... tried one in DG saw it wasn't a standard titliest shaft, tried it and hit it better than my previous driver which was a Nike Dymo (If I can remember) - it went straight and was adjustable so I bought it.

If I can convince Mrs169 to let me have a newen I will most likely go to a proper fitting centre for all the options.. Though going round my track, SLDR might be too long... so I might need to fairway and hybrid.... uh oh...