TaylorMade add to SLDR wood line-up
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TaylorMade’s SLDR became the No.1 driver on tour soon after it was launched in August last year. Its low-spinning clubhead required almost every Tour player to “loft up” while the £349 price tag matched its position as TaylorMade’s range-topping club. Now, the company has unveiled its “everyman” range of SLDR S woods.
The two main performance benefits carry over from the original SLDR – a low, forward centre of gravity contributing to faster ball speeds and less backspin and the sliding weight in the sole to change the draw/fade bias by up to 30 yards. But loft on the S isn’t adjustable – instead, it will be offered in higher standard lofts of 10°, 12°, 14° and 16° (the highest-lofted TaylorMade driver ever) and it will retail for £279. It also has a silver crown and a black back section to aid alignment.
The driver sits between the original SLDR and the JetSpeed (£249) and has a lower centre of gravity than the latter, as well as an eight-gram heavier shaft. This should generate marginally faster ball speeds with slightly less spin.
SLDR S Driver
“It’s no secret that high launch and low spin maximise driver distance, but some players think that only Tour pros can benefit from lofting up. This is simply not true,” Benoit Vincent, Vice President of R&D, told TG. “By lofting up, you can generate serious distance gains regardless of swing speed with SLDR S, which has a low and forward CG, along with a sliding weight that assists shot shaping.” After the introduction of SLDR, PGA Tour and European Tour Pros began lofting up their drivers at an unprecedented rate. On average, players who use SLDR have gone up a full degree or more in loft, and in many cases Tour Professionals have gone as high as 12°. In fact, at the 2014 RBC Heritage there were 14 drivers with 12°of loft or more in play.
SLDR S Fairway wood
It has more weight forward than the previous RBZ Stage 2 and a new Speed Pocket. The heads also get smaller as the loft increases. “Golfers were asking for an SLDR fairway that has a lower and more forgiving profile,” says Todd Beach, VP of Product Development for TaylorMade. “This fairway has a shallower face and larger head engineered to deliver distance and playability.” RRP: £189. Available in 15-23° in 2° increments.
SLDR S Hybrid
It has a shallower face and lower head profile than the RBZ Stage 2 to raise the launch angle. “Golfers were asking for an SLDR Rescue that has a lower and more forgiving profile, says TM’s Rob Rigg, metalwoods category manager. “This rescue has a shallower face and a larger head size engineered to deliver distance and playability.” RRP: £159. Available in 19°, 21°, 25°, 28°.
For more information visit www.taylormadegolf.com