SLDR Fairway Wood Review

Had a chance to hit a SLDR 3 Wood today and wanted to share a couple of thoughts. I play a SLDR driver and LOVE IT. Once you get it dialed in there is nothing better. But in my opinion PING makes the best fairway woods and hybrids bar none. Never hit anything better. Right now I'm gaming an Anser 3 wood with an AD DI 7x and will never get rid of it. It's my security blanket 3 wood. Does exactly what I want it to do... when I make the correct swing that is. Anyway... I have some pictures below that show what it looks like next to my Anser.

First thought was....

Yes! TaylorMade got it right in a couple areas.... 1) No silly sticky SLDR logo that might pop off. It is actually all golf club with the cut out on the sole. 2) Awesome look. FINALLY a nice shallow 3 wood. Something to have confidence off the deck with. TaylorMade has made some bomber 3 woods if you like the deep face, but for me it was a deal breaker. I need something to hit off the deck with confidence. At address its pretty. Yes it has the little thing on the back of the crown, but doesn't really bug me all that much. No sight lines to mess with. Just a very nice classic pear shape.

Feel and Flight... Amazing feel. Yes it feels different than my Anser, but not in a negative way. Just good solid contact. It exudes confidence off the deck. Off the tee its just the same. Longer than my Anser and it shows. Ball flight is great. For me I like a Low/Mid flight and I got it with this club paired with an Oban Purple. Penetrating and no ballooning. Easy to work as well. THE BEST PART.... It flies just as nice off the toe or the heel. It doesn't penalize you as much as you might think coming from a shallow faced club.

All in all it will end up in my bag for sure. I'm sure I a missing thoughts but will plug them in as I remember. Can't wait to get it on the course on Friday to see how it plays. The range can only tell me so much. It's definitely my favorite TaylorMade offering since the V-steel. Has that same look with a ton more technology.

Ive posted about this club as well and feel pretty much the same... My post didn't have nifty pictures though! :-)

[quote name='Rob G.' timestamp='1383792234' post='8113212']
Had a chance to hit a SLDR 3 Wood today and wanted to share a couple of thoughts. I play a SLDR driver and LOVE IT. Once you get it dialed in there is nothing better. But in my opinion PING makes the best fairway woods and hybrids bar none. Never hit anything better. Right now I'm gaming an Anser 3 wood with an AD DI 7x and will never get rid of it. It's my security blanket 3 wood. Does exactly what I want it to do... when I make the correct swing that is. Anyway... I have some pictures below that show what it looks like next to my Anser.

[attachment=1939796:_MG_1225.JPG][attachment=1939798:_MG_1227.JPG][attachment=1939800:_MG_1231.JPG][attachment=1939802:_MG_1232.JPG][attachment=1939804:_MG_1233.JPG][attachment=1939806:_MG_1235.JPG]

First thought was....

Yes! TaylorMade got it right in a couple areas.... 1) No silly sticky SLDR logo that might pop off. It is actually all golf club with the cut out on the sole. 2) Awesome look. FINALLY a nice shallow 3 wood. Something to have confidence off the deck with. TaylorMade has made some bomber 3 woods if you like the deep face, but for me it was a deal breaker. I need something to hit off the deck with confidence. At address its pretty. Yes it has the little thing on the back of the crown, but doesn't really bug me all that much. No sight lines to mess with. Just a very nice classic pear shape.

Feel and Flight... Amazing feel. Yes it feels different than my Anser, but not in a negative way. Just good solid contact. It exudes confidence off the deck. Off the tee its just the same. Longer than my Anser and it shows. Ball flight is great. For me I like a Low/Mid flight and I got it with this club paired with an Oban Purple. Penetrating and no ballooning. Easy to work as well. THE BEST PART.... It flies just as nice off the toe or the heel. It doesn't penalize you as much as you might think coming from a shallow faced club.

All in all it will end up in my bag for sure. I'm sure I a missing thoughts but will plug them in as I remember. Can't wait to get it on the course on Friday to see how it plays. The range can only tell me so much. It's definitely my favorite TaylorMade offering since the V-steel. Has that same look with a ton more technology.
[/quote]
Please followup with your impressions of the club hitting off the real turf.

The SLDR driver has the sliding weight, why not the fairway woods?

Thanks for the review. That fwy looks super clean from your pics!

any thoughts on what shaft to get?
thinking aldila tour blue 75
Kai'li
VTS
looking for a little help in launching it

I'm going to try a 17* head as well on Friday off the turf. Apparently it may fly farther than the 15* head I have. More loft equals more distance in the SLDR line? Will post all my thoughts tomorrow!

[quote name='grasbunkers' timestamp='1383850027' post='8115704']
any thoughts on what shaft to get?
thinking aldila tour blue 75
Kai'li
VTS
looking for a little help in launching it
[/quote]

Tried it with Kai'li as well and that could be a winner in the SLDR fairway head as well.

[quote name='Rob G.' timestamp='1383852183' post='8115854']
[quote name='grasbunkers' timestamp='1383850027' post='8115704']
any thoughts on what shaft to get?
thinking aldila tour blue 75
Kai'li
VTS
looking for a little help in launching it
[/quote]

Tried it with Kai'li as well and that could be a winner in the SLDR fairway head as well.
[/quote]

Kai'li is really a winner in any fairway wood.

I hit the driver and didnt care for how big the head was. Im a pear shape guy but I really like the way that 3 wood looks!

Tried it with a 'ahina. BINGO!!!

[quote name='Hot Rod 71' timestamp='1383830694' post='8114466']
The SLDR driver has the sliding weight, why not the fairway woods?
[/quote]

I think it's too far forward and would get in the way when hitting a fairway off the deck. I see you are playing KBS tour S+ in your irons. What a great shaft. I play the same shaft in my irons.

[quote name='LONG&STR8 ' timestamp='1383888298' post='8118186']
[quote name='Hot Rod 71' timestamp='1383830694' post='8114466']
The SLDR driver has the sliding weight, why not the fairway woods?
[/quote]

I think it's too far forward and would get in the way when hitting a fairway off the deck. I see you are playing KBS tour S+ in your irons. What a great shaft. I play the same shaft in my irons.
[/quote]

I'm getting ready to try the C-Tapers in S+. I do love the KBS Tours S+ (what a great shaft), but I need to bring the flight down a bit.

There are actually hybrids out there with sliding weights on the rear of the head. Check it out.

[url="http://www.golfwrx.com/forums/topic/903733-sliding-weight-technology-in-a-hybrid/"]http://www.golfwrx.c...gy-in-a-hybrid/[/url]

Hit both the fairway and the hybrids yesterday, solid feeling clubs. Head shape reminds me a lot of older TM clubs.

Good to hear. IMO, the old V-Steel was the last "nice looking" head they produced. It was the perfect blend between size, shape, and looks for me.

Will the RBZ Stage 2 Fairway adapter fit into the SLDR Fairway head ?

[quote name='rocker40' timestamp='1383951441' post='8121092']
Will the RBZ Stage 2 Fairway adapter fit into the SLDR Fairway head ?
[/quote]

it should

[quote name='ksavy17' timestamp='1383952597' post='8121146']
[quote name='rocker40' timestamp='1383951441' post='8121092']
Will the RBZ Stage 2 Fairway adapter fit into the SLDR Fairway head ?
[/quote]

it should
[/quote]

Yes it will.

Has anyone verified the COR of the SLDR fairway wood is maxed out like the RBZ fairways are?

...I want a bonded hosel version next. That being said, I'm still going to test the adjustable version against my 3wood and 2hybrid. Worth a shot, I test everything else so might as well.

[quote name='rbilramz' timestamp='1383977843' post='8122654']
Has anyone verified the COR of the SLDR fairway wood is maxed out like the RBZ fairways are?
[/quote]

Rbz fairways were not maxed out.

Thems SLDR FW and hybrids is some nice sticks! Look even better in person. Best of all the FW doesn't have that hollow sound that the RBZ Stg 2 had, and the hybrid didn't have that metallic "tink!"sound that the TBZ Stg2 did

Are these clubs only for golfer with high swing speeds?

[quote name='Zunes' timestamp='1384048989' post='8125690']
Are these clubs only for golfer with high swing speeds?
[/quote]

No.

Got the chance to hit it today and will be picking it up soon to go with my oban revenge

Demoed at TM Performance Center last week in Palm Desert. tP 3 HL was a monster and easy to hit off the deck. Loved the TP 4 hybrid to. Non TP shafts did not work but with upgraded TP shafts watch out!

Hit the hybrid as well and boom! Easy decision to ditch my Anser hybrid. I'm super excited to get them out tomorrow and give em a try! I will report back with outside findings tomorrow!

[quote name='Rob G.' timestamp='1384442170' post='8147932']
Hit the hybrid as well and boom! Easy decision to ditch my Anser hybrid. I'm super excited to get them out tomorrow and give em a try! I will report back with outside findings tomorrow!
[/quote]

Good, I'm looking forward to your post round review.

I hit the SLDR 3 wood and hybrids the other day at the local shop and they remind me a lot of the R9 fwy's which I still think are the best TM fairways to date. The 3 wood head was a little smaller then I'd like as for me it's mainly a tee club but it was consistent off the deck. The hybrid looked ok but wasn't a fan of the shape. I've grown accustomed to a boxier type hybrid so I like a more squared toe. Anyway I think they are much better then the R11 series and RBZ's.

[quote name='yahtzee' timestamp='1384053428' post='8125966']
[quote name='Zunes' timestamp='1384048989' post='8125690']
Are these clubs only for golfer with high swing speeds?
[/quote]

No.
[/quote]

Disagree - The combination of low/forward CG is really only going to benefit players with a mid/late release and those who put a pretty significant load on the shaft - I understand there are some slower swingspeed players with these characteristics, but not many.....the vast majority of players who will benefit from the SLDR fw/hyb will be high swing speed players...