Taylormade SLDR review

[duncan mackie]

Saw them in Silvermere yesterday. On the ground they look no different to many other drives out there now they've gone back to a dark colour. Not sure by the technology, which I know Mizuno for one have already done. If the R1 was suppose to be the next revolution it was pretty short lived

you make a good point re the R1 - my interpretation is that the R1 was the result of marketing research without any reality check!

(that said, the world is littered with failures where companies have delivered what people need rather than to their stated wants - but that's another matter!)

I have seen very few people aquire different weights to modify that element of their club - but I've had a huge number ask how to 'dial in a draw/fade' on the settings....SLDR would seem to meet this need (want )

On the tech front - TM were well ahead (years) of Mizzy's model with their patent.

 

[ludders]

Had a it with this at my club on Friday night. Our Pro shut the first tee at 6pm and had stiff and regular versions of the SLDR. I couldn't get this to go anywhere near straight even with a load of tinkering with the weights and lofts, struck about 30 balls with a mixture of results mainly sliced right. After this I picked up the Benross Hot 12* driver and proceeded to hit a dozen balls straight down the fairway about 20 yards further than my RBZ.

So after I have been away I will be trading in my RBZ and getting the Benross and at £120 is a damn sight cheaper than the SLDR is at £320.

I know with the increased loft it will aid to get rid of my slice but with the money I am saving I will get some lessons to improve my driving and get a consistent swing

 

[harpo_72]

having owned 9 of their drivers, from the very first Pittsburgh Persimmon, over the last few decades I have never been frustrated by this at all.

even the slightest thought will see the stupidity of such an argument - so you buy any driver, someone, somewhere, will bring out a new one the next day, and the next, then the next.......so what? Personally I've not bought an Anser, a 913, and X-Hot or an RBZ, R1 or SLDR (yet ) let alone the other 600 drivers that have come out since my last purchase.

what is frustrating is continually reading such tosh.

So I offered up an opinion and one that was echoed in the posts under the video, I suggested that perhaps people would be frustrated with their product life cycles. Sadly you have misunderstood and over reacted ... Of course you probably now drive the ball 250 yards with the 9 iterations of TM drivers you have purchased, I am very pleased for you.
I said the the driver looked interesting ( especially as I missed the R7 boat..) but the changing so frequently of product may ( MAY) put potential buyers off .... Don't get upset by that and don't rubbish it just because you have had 9 drivers made by the same company (and now can drive the ball 250 yards, which makes me very pleased for you. :rofl

 

[duncan mackie]

I suggested that perhaps people would be frustrated with their product life cycles. Sadly you have misunderstood ........

you seem to be confirming that there was no misunderstanding.

I simply pointed out why most people wouldn't be frustrated by industry product life cycles; I cited my purchase history as your post implied relevance.

You should also review your post before digging deeper - there's a 'sure' a 'will' and a definitive 'detracts' but absolutley no 'may(MAY)' anywhere to be seen in it.

 

[harpo_72]

you seem to be confirming that there was no misunderstanding.

I simply pointed out why most people wouldn't be frustrated by industry product life cycles; I cited my purchase history as your post implied relevance.

You should also review your post before digging deeper - there's a 'sure' a 'will' and a definitive 'detracts' but absolutley no 'may(MAY)' anywhere to be seen in it.

misunderstood ... Because you got uptight, and went off on one about a simple observation and opinion ... Any way I am pleased you can now drive the ball 250 yards :rofl:

 

[virtuocity]

misunderstood ... Because you got uptight, and went off on one about a simple observation and opinion ... Any way I am pleased you can now drive the ball 250 yards :rofl:

 

[Yosser]

Had a it with this at my club on Friday night. Our Pro shut the first tee at 6pm and had stiff and regular versions of the SLDR. I couldn't get this to go anywhere near straight even with a load of tinkering with the weights and lofts, struck about 30 balls with a mixture of results mainly sliced right. After this I picked up the Benross Hot 12* driver and proceeded to hit a dozen balls straight down the fairway about 20 yards further than my RBZ.

So after I have been away I will be trading in my RBZ and getting the Benross and at £120 is a damn sight cheaper than the SLDR is at £320.

I know with the increased loft it will aid to get rid of my slice but with the money I am saving I will get some lessons to improve my driving and get a consistent swing

Just out of interest were you fitted for the RBZ driver? That is a heck of a difference in lofts between the two drivers (Benross to RBZ).

 

[harpo_72]

is 250 yards too much?? I thought with 9 iterations it was plausible.

 

[Foxholer]

is 250 yards too much?? I thought with 9 iterations it was plausible.

It's probably more an indication of 'age and experience'

I've been less faithful to TM with only 8 - and only 235 or so carry. But I have had 3 non TM Drivers as well in my 20 years of Golf. That's a bit more frequent that I'd advise - 2 to 3 years would be my 'upgrade' period.

I don't actually have a problem with the release cycle. Just the load of tosh that the Marketing Department comes up with.

SLDR doesn't strike me as a replacement for the R1. More for the RBZ line imo. Not sure how long TM will keep the R1 going though. With the adjustability, there's no real reason to spend another £300 on another Driver!

 

[ludders]

Just out of interest were you fitted for the RBZ driver? That is a heck of a difference in lofts between the two drivers (Benross to RBZ).

No wasn't fitted for RBZ it is 9.5* loft set at about 11* and has regular stock shaft. I have been adjusting everything to do with my swing to get some results out of it (not bad as dropped from about 17 down to 12.7 since I have had it) just think I need to get a driver that suits my swing now rather than keep making adjustments to my swing to suit the club