Damn you TaylorMade and your #loftup campaign!

philly169

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Direct Golf Cambridge had a TaylorMade Experience Day today, so I booked myself in to have a look at an SLDR driver, I'm quite content with my current bag and with a wedding to pay for next year I'm on a new shiny ban..

I was quite interested in trying out the SLDR to see what all the fuss was about, when Jimbob had his at Woodhall Spa he was all over the place!! It was a free fitting so I thought what the hey, I've never got on with TaylorMade clobber..

I arrived and met Tom, the fitter and he gave me a few minutes to warm up, so i hit some wedges, a couple of hybrid and some drives. I was hitting them well so thought it was a good time for a comparison.

I set up to the flightscope with my 910D2 and smashed a few down the middle, each one out the face and booming down the middle. He checked out my driver and was impressed when he saw my shaft (get your mind out the gutter).. Its an upgrade shaft I spotted on the 910D2 when I bought it from DG at normal price, don't know why it was on it but I took it straight away when I noticed.

So numbers looked a little like this (ish):
Carry 240 Total 258, swing speed 101 clubhead 126 spin 3500

He then set me up with a SLDR Mini with the same shaft I had in my 910 but it was really working for me, although it did give me 10 more yards.. Then onto the SLDR, a different shaft this time, hit a few but felt a little bit whippy at the bottom, causing it to pull left, but still went the distance..

Finally he said "I've think I've got just the shaft for you..." and pulled out a Matrix Ozik 7M3 stiff, if i remember correctly.. Hit a few shots with it, bam down the middle, bam down the middle again.. "you caught those... you'll love these numbers"

Carry 285 Total 303, swing speed 102 clubhead speed 149 spin 1500

He was pretty chuffed and said he's normally just happy with 10 yard extra.. He then added me to his #loftup leaderboard with 45 yards!!! gained.

Loft didn't change, stayed at 9.5, but wow... what a club...... Damn you TM!!!

Mrs169 wasn't happy when I got home... Guess I need to win a few comps and trade in my Driver!!
 
I don't want to pee on your bonfire but did the guy fiddle with the launch monitor while your back was turned? I'm no expert but I don't believe 285 carry is possible from 102 mph swing speed.

I'm sure the numbers guys will be along soon to verify what distance you can actually get from that swing speed.
 
Wish people would stop posting things like this, its so bloody tempting and I got hols to save for!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 
I don't want to pee on your bonfire but did the guy fiddle with the launch monitor while your back was turned? I'm no expert but I don't believe 285 carry is possible from 102 mph swing speed.

I'm sure the numbers guys will be along soon to verify what distance you can actually get from that swing speed.

swing speed may have been faster, I'm working from memory here..
 
just the 9.5, with the sldr setting on full draw.. imagine if i could get more.....

After what I saw when fitted at the Belfry and talked to one of TMs top fitters Id almost certainly make sure you try hitting one with more loft before buying. Could you see real ball flight or just on a machine?
 
would love to try a sldr or mini but alas skint so will stick to topping the R1

great stats though Phil, will be interesting to see how it performs on the course ;)
 
After what I saw when fitted at the Belfry and talked to one of TMs top fitters Id almost certainly make sure you try hitting one with more loft before buying. Could you see real ball flight or just on a machine?

Both, was an outdoor range with range balls and flightscope behind.
 
I'm resisting but have to confess I'm bloody curious. The only reason I'm holding back is around my course my current driver is bordering to long on dog legs, if I gain any more length from what I have I'm going to need to fettle with the top end of the bag to space correctly.

I would only gain on maybe 4 holes on the main course, and maybe 7 holes over the full 27.....

The other option is to get fitted now as the sldr mk2 has got to be on the horizon soon and it would make sense to know my specs before they go on special offer.
 
45 yards distance increase is incredible

285 yard carry ?!? That's tour pro distance
 
Good to hear these stats, i'm getting more tempted. I went into AG Lakeside today to try one out out but they didnt have left handed.
 
I'm just going on the stats he gave me, should have taken a photo as evidence of what I was shown but I'm sure the flightscope reading said 285 carry 303 total 149 club head and 1500 spin..

I would recommend if you get the opportunity to have a fitting session to do so, especially the skeptics and those questioning the distance gain..

It could however mean than the shaft in my 910D2 isn't best fit for me, thus losing distance in the first instance..

But it takes a lot for Taylor made to impress me, and I tip my titliest cap to them on the SLDR.. They have well and truly impressed me..
 
I don't want to pee on your bonfire but did the guy fiddle with the launch monitor while your back was turned? I'm no expert but I don't believe 285 carry is possible from 102 mph swing speed.

I'm sure the numbers guys will be along soon to verify what distance you can actually get from that swing speed.

I'd agree. Using the formula (shamelessly stolen from elsewhere):

303 yards -5% = 288 yards (carry)
288 yards /1.75= 164 (ball speed)
163/1.5= 109 swing speed

How accurate the above formula is I don't know but the above formula suggests a marked difference in swing speed for that (285yard) distance. The 1.5 relates to smash factor so, again, a perfect strike. Anything not out if the middle would affect the total carry.

As I say, the above formula could be wrong so I'll happily be corrected if so.
 
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