LIVE UPDATES: The $5000 TaylorMade SLDR Guarantee Event! Before/After Results Added!

CheckJV · June 20, 2014

So here is my update after a few months. Recall that I was fitted for a 12 degree SLDR 430 with an AD DI 70 S shaft. Also got a SLDR 17 degree 3 wood and a 4 SLDR hybrid.

I came back to my home club and the story of my trip spread like wildfire. I was absolutely bombing the driver and was consistently longer than my old Cobra AMP Cell. Eight guys I know ended up buying a new SLDR after seeing my results and trying one.

The 3 wood and hybrid arrived several weeks after our trip and I could not hit either of them for beans. I even got a lesson with my pro. Not sure what it was (got to be mental) but the 3 wood and hybrid had no future with me. So I traded them to my pro for a 14 degree SLDR 460 with a TS 6.3 stiff.

After 2 weeks with the 460 I am in love. I hit the thing a bit shorter than the 430 but I am super accurate. Plus I now have a tee ball trajectory like "normal" golfers. I had tried a higher lofted Ping in the past but I ballooned the thing all the time. The 14 degree SLDR is just what the doctor ordered for yours truly. I'm keeping the 12 degree SLDR for days where i have to hit it low.

Also bought a 16 degree Mini to replace my 17 degree Stage 2. Still testing the Mini.

So would I have purchased a SLDR on my own? Probably not because I would not have believed the hype. With the stock shaft, hell no. So the only words of wisdom I have is the SLDR works for me. But if you try it be sure to try a bunch of different lofts and shafts to get the right combo for your swing.

TMBob · June 20, 2014

My update will be coming soon after a few more rounds with this head and my GD DI 6 from my trusty R11s
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cphrey · July 9, 2014

I now play SLDR D, 3w, 5w, and 5 iron through PW with C Taper 120 S, and I love them all. The 5 wood is my favorite club in the bag right now, that thing is a little beast. The Mini is in the closet unfortunately but I got the 3 wood to replace it, and hit it nearly as far as the Driver. This line was made for cphrey, I am a very happy guy this golf season. Thanks again TMaG and WRX, would never have made this jump without either of ya!

bubbagump · July 25, 2014

Circling back to throw some progress out there and how the SLDR stable is working out mid summer.

Driver: Its still a bad dude. I thought through time I might struggle with the 430 head a bit, but with the weather warming up after the trip I was able to start getting my swing back in track, and see the real performance of these clubs. After spending the early months working on my swing and not swaying and really releasing the club, I am seeing some changes from the early season test at Sawgrass. On course, Im up about 10 yards up consistently from the showdown and the dispersion is alot tighter. To me, the feel of the 430 is awesome..its the first "smaller" head driver Ive really used and I really like the impact feel. The sound is great, a solid crack but the impact feels like a trampoline...almost like the ball is glued to the face until it just bolts. The first time in my life, I have felt comfortable in pulling a driver and really having a genuine idea of where it is going...feels great. Never had this much confidence in a driver.

3 wood: This is a tie with the hybrid as to the bag favorite. This thing is hardly much shorter than the driver and the flight is a missile with great roll. Coming from a rain maker shot shape to now a driving penetrating bullet (still higher than most, but noticeably lower for me) the 3 wood has really stretched out the top end of the bag and its been great. I tend to hit this or the hybrid off the tee alot, and ive never been in the fairway more than I have this year. Its moderately forgiving, and the distance is top notch. I personally think the shape/colorway is the best TM has put out in some time and the combination of that and performance has really just blown me away.

Hybrid: This has been the one, that has finally replaced my old faithful Nickent Genex hybrid. I have never been able to find a hybrid that I was as fond of like the Nickent. I could be topping every ball, but that old Nickent I could always hit. The SLDR hybrid from address looks alot like the old Nickent to me, and Ive developed the same trust and affection for it. Its power is obvious, but where this really shines is in the versatility department. Out of the rough, fairway bunker, or tee it just seems to work...even when you dont nut it in the center, it still helps you out enough to keep you on the course and with minimal distance loss.

Again, may sound like a rabid fanboy speech, but I assure you.....I really didnt care for TM AT ALL (thus part why I was picked lol), I always recognized that they had good stuff....but I just grew tired of the constant claims and blind following. I never bothered to even pick up TM clubs when I was shopping, just avoided them all together. Obviously, looking at my bag I have done a 180....this trip taught me 2 things. The importance of maximum performance (regardless of brand) and getting fit. I am so far shooting the lowest scores I ever have, and the SLDR clubs are a part of why. Are they for everybody? Nope.....Are they magic sticks that correct anything? Hell no, after the trip and we got home and had to wait another month to play I was God awful again and rusty. Was incredibly irritating....new clubs or not. After putting in some serious work on my swing, and my clubs I am now enjoying some good golf. If you are in the market for some new woods or hybrids......you would be doing yourself a disservice if you dont pick up the SLDR and see what it can do.