Question for SLDR owners

rob2

rob2

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Quick question.

Has anyone that has moved across to a SLDR driver noticed an improvement in their driving? Either distance or dispersion?

I am currently trying to improve my launch angle with driver (right set up, ball position etc) but was wondering whether "lofting up" would be worth it also?

So did the SLDR make a noticable difference for you?

Thanks all.

Rob
 
There will be tons of replies soon as its a popular model. I tried one this week, don't own one though. I currently play a 12 degree driver, popped in my pro shop and they had a 14 degree SLDR with stiff shaft in the ex demo bin, so took it our for a spin!

Wow, it did go for miles. launched really well, probably a little too high but that was only using naked eye, no stats. I should have taken it onto the launch monitor and had a tinker with the settings. But long story short, it was pretty awesome. Maybe not the right loft for me and possibly stick with 12 and adjust + 1/2 a degree maybe, it did go a fair distance and was pretty consistent! I probably will end up getting one soon, unless i come into some sheckles and i will try the R15.
 
As Rooter said it will be horses for courses. As ever, try one yourself. I got the impression that it was for the slightly better player with a faster swing speed. That's not to say slower swing speeded less competent players may not notice an increase in distance. But I think it's one of those drivers you need to hit in the sweet spot to get a lot of benefit from. And if you don't do that the relative lack of forgiveness could override any potential yardage increases you do get if you do nut one.
 
If your looking to improve launch angle then loft is the number one way to do this. It does not have to be a SLDR though, just loft or a lesson to get up on the ball a little more.
 
I personally don't think it's very forgiving, even strikes slightly away from the sweet spot seem to affect direction.

The sliding weight definitely works if you want it for that, and the reduced spin definitely works.

The biggest difference I found is that it's absolutely brilliant into the wind because of the reduced spin.

Apart from that, the best drives were maybe a bit further than my previous driver (910D2) but overall probably about the same distance and slightly wider dispersion.
 
I bought one about 3 weeks ago. I love it, I am flippy at impact so my spin rate is quite high resulting in my pitchmark usually being within 3' of the ball. Since hitting the sldr i now see the ball bouncing down the fairway... Haven't hit it on a launch monitor to compare spin rates yet.
Dispersion hasn't changed I wouldn't say- it's not as harsh as I was expecting, I hit a toey one last weekend and it finished dead centre and further up the fairway than I would have been with my i20 driver.

I have played around with the loft, I think I have it set at 8 now, produces a nice flight for me... I doubt carry distance has improved... Roll out definitely has.
 
I've said it to anyone that will listen...the standard SLDR took me to places I could only dream of. I used to have a Nike Covert and if I flushed it would get around 240 yards, but dispersion wasn't great. The SLDR sees me regularly hit 270-280 yards (not forum yards btw) and with better dispersion.
 
I hit the ball further and straighter with my 14 degree SLDR S than I have with any other driver I've previously owned.

Not miles further but quite a bit straighter and much more consistently, but swapping to that driver also coincided with a lesson and I've been hitting all of my clubs better since then.

One definite advantage is into the wind, goes MUCH further than any previous drivers I've had.
 
adam6177 said:
I've said it to anyone that will listen...the standard SLDR took me to places I could only dream of. I used to have a Nike Covert and if I flushed it would get around 240 yards, but dispersion wasn't great. The SLDR sees me regularly hit 270-280 yards (not forum yards btw) and with better dispersion.
Click to expand...

min 30yd gains are what dreams are made of. The shaft has helped as well I would factor.
 
Length wise the only real gains are if your previous driver wasnt optimal spec for you imo, you may get a couple of yards otherwise but not anything significant. The big advantage for me has been the ball flight, far more penetrating and therefore controllable. Cutting down the shaft appears to have improved on the dispersion too. Its not the most forgiving driver but its not unforgiving either, Ive had far worse in that department, the adjustability is great if you know how to use it to counteract a specific swing fault (and you keep that swing fault once you know youve moved the weighting to deal with it, rather than trying to fix the swing as well)
 
rob2 said:
Quick question.

Has anyone that has moved across to a SLDR driver noticed an improvement in their driving? Either distance or dispersion?

I am currently trying to improve my launch angle with driver (right set up, ball position etc) but was wondering whether "lofting up" would be worth it also?

So did the SLDR make a noticable difference for you?

Thanks all.

Rob
Click to expand...

The need to loft up with SLDR is driven off the location of its COG I believe.

Therefore to actually improve launch angle, you'd need to loft up, and then loft up again.

Lofting up generally makes hitting a driver easier, so I can't see any downside. However, as also noted above, there are more forgiving drivers out there. Try a few.
 
when I tried it, it ballooned and launched far too high, that was even at 9.5* then tweaked down further.

My Titleist 905R with totally inappropriate shaft for me launches with a penetrating flight but loses distance as no run on these really soft fairways.
 
CMAC said:
min 30yd gains are what dreams are made of. The shaft has helped as well I would factor.
Click to expand...

Absolutely, when I hear Mark Crossfield talk about how little the shaft changes your results I laugh. I've recently changed my irons and hybrids to stiff shafts with amazing results. I'm about to change the shaft in my SLDR to a stiff also.....as I think my swing has changed a lot and I think I can get even more out of the club than I currently do.
 
Best I've ever hit a driver. But you must get the right shaft. My problem was a very high launch with lots of backspin. The Black Tie shaft brought the launch down and, fitted to the SLDR, gave a big reduction in spin. It now launches as high as I want it to, set to 10.5° or 9.5°, and just soars through the air, even against the wind.

With the standard stock shaft it was just another high launching, high spinning driver. The head & shaft combination is the key.
 
MendieGK said:
Shaft Shaft and a little more Shaft. get that right and the head you use will make limited difference.
Click to expand...

I haven't tried hitting the ball with the shaft. Maybe that's where I'm going wrong.

Seriously though, it's all about finding the middle of the club face and I'm quite certain that your grip and swing path takes care (or ruin, in my case) of that. You can talk about kick points, torque, weight and flex all you want but it's essentially a plastic tube- there's only so much that it can do.

HOWEVER, I'm happy to be proven wrong.
 
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