SLDR or Jetspeed or Aeroburner

[Lemonde]

The sldr c has become infamous now due to Bobcats passion for it, heck I almost bought one on the bay yesterday that went for $30 in a mint 12 degree head! Plan was to cut it down to 44 as a 2nd driver fairway finder.

[DixieD]

The standard AeroBurner sets up a bit closed, has a long shallow face and a flattened head compared to D shaped Taylormades like the SLDR, R15, etc. It's a long and easy to hit driver, but the head is really light which is combined with a too long 45.75" shaft. They come in both a 12° and a HL version, I'd checked them both out and cut the shaft down a bit. Lots of these around, so a definite first choice.

 

The JetSpeed aesthetics did not click for many and was a huge bust for TM after the highly successful RBZ campaign. Besides, the new SLDR looked awesome and no one wanted a half-baked looking Jetspeed. It was an OK driver, but I'd take a pass on this one.

 

The SLDR C has little to do with the original SLDR driver, it's an entirely different clubhead. The C looks like a blown up SLDR S Mini with the Cs sole plate coming directly off the Mini. The 12° might work out perfect for you, it launches the ball easy and high. Not sure why we keep discussing these as the production was limited and and they are not easy to find. You're better off with the more recent price point offerings like the AeroBurner Black and the RBZ Black. The RBZ Black looks to have a modified SLDR C Sole plate and could be an SLDR C in all black guise.

 

You are correct that finding a (2015) SLDR-C Driver in 'new or mint condition'' is difficult now, but IMO, it's easily the best of the drivers mentioned by the OP, (especially those with 9.5* Loft and a Stiff Flex shaft).

 

However, that said, you can still find these in 'used condition' on ebay, but 'Buyer Beware', for any of those that were previously 'demo clubs'.

 

:golfer:

How do you know the 9.5 stiff ones are the 'best'ones?

[bobcat]

The sldr c has become 'famous' now due to Bobcats passion for it, heck I almost bought one on the bay yesterday that went for $30 in a mint 12 degree head! Plan was to cut it down to 44 as a 2nd driver, 'fairway finder'..

 

12* is a 'whole lotta loft' for a (2015) SLDR-C. There is no need to 'loft up' as with the original (2013-2014) SLDR's. The SLDR-C is very much a 'fairway finder', even with the lowest (9.5*) loft and the 45.5" stock shaft.

 

While 12* may be suitable for slower swingers, who probably also need a Senior Flex shaft, (like my wife for example....She has those exact specs in her SLDR-C Driver), However, that said, most non-Senior Men aren't likely to need more than 10.5* of loft for this Driver, and 'better players' will likely favor the lowest (9.5*) loft!

 

 

:golfer:

[bobcat]

How do you know the 9.5 stiff ones are the 'best'ones?

 

Obviously the 'best loft' depends on the particular player, but 9.5* is certainly 'the most popular loft' for the SLDR-C loft, and certainly the 'best loft' for me. (The shaft and the shaft flex can always be changed if necessary)

 

For some additional perspective how to identify the best loft for you, consider the following information:

 

A 12* loft in an original (2013-2014) SLDR, will have approximately the same trajectory as a 9.5* (2015) SLDR-C assuming the same shaft is used in both drivers. The SLDR-C plays very 'true-to-loft', while the original SLDR launches 'very low to loft',...so low in fact, that TM's 'loft up' campaign became necessary for the original SLDR Drivers, Too many people were buying far less loft than they needed for that particular driver, and the number of return requests was getting out of control.

 

You may also be interested to learn that In addition to the 9.5* SLDR-C in my bag, I also own a Tour-issued SLDR 430 12* which is quite good as well. (Actual loft, according to the 430's Tour sticker is 11.7*). I played the SLDR 430 driver at the 'standard loft', with no hosel adjustment..

 

For virtually my entire life I have played 9.5* of loft in my Drivers and never thought I would ever want a 12* Driver until those original, (very low launching), SLDR's came along in 2013. Now that I am back to a 9.5* 'true lofted' SLDR-C, I can say with a high degree of confidence that the (2) Drivers I mentioned above have the very same trajectory for me, despite having very 'different' loft numbers stamped on their soles.

 

Hopefully this additional perspective is helpful to you!

 

:golfer:

[Gautama]

 

You can still find these in 'used condition' on ebay, but 'Buyer Beware', for those that were previously 'demo clubs'.

 

Bobcat, I see the demo club thing a lot on ebay and have wondered if it's always true, or if it's maybe just used to justify seeking below the manufacturer's restrictions on price...is it also sign of counterfeit goods or something?

[Gautama]

 

You can still find these in 'used condition' on ebay, but 'Buyer Beware', for those that were previously 'demo clubs'.

 

Bobcat, I see the demo club thing a lot on ebay and have wondered if it's always true, or if it's maybe just used to get around the manufacturer's restrictions on lowest price...is it also sign of counterfeit goods or something?

[bobcat]

You can still find these in 'used condition' on ebay, but 'Buyer Beware', for those that were previously 'demo clubs'.

 

Bobcat, I see the demo club thing a lot on ebay and have wondered if it's always true, or if it's maybe just used to get around the manufacturer's restrictions on lowest price...is it also sign of counterfeit goods or something?

 

A 'demo club' is by no means synonymous with a 'counterfeit club', it simply means that many people of various skill levels have probably tested it inside a golf facility, and in the case of a driver or a fairway wood, it's unlikely that a headcover was ever placed on it when it was not in use. Such clubs are more likely to have sky marks, sole damage, and other blemishes as a result of being used as a 'demo club'. Sometimes clubs are stamped' as 'demo' by the manufacturer, but usually not. If the club is stamped 'demo' the club will have no warranty, even if new and never actually used as a demo.

 

You may also run across 'brand new' clubs on ebay that have been stamped 'no warranty', and those clubs may be perfectly fine or it may have some minor blemish; that doesn't affect play. TM sends such clubs to ebay frequently. It simply means that the club was once at a Retail Outlet before, and for some reason, it was returned to TM. It could just be 'unsold merchandise' or merchandise that was reclaimed by TM for non-payment by a Retailer. These clubs probably won't be in the original packaging. Items stamped 'no warranty' by TM just indicates that that club was returned to TM by one of their Authorized Retailers and TM does not send that kind merchandise out to any Authorized Retailer as 2nd time. However, TM often sends this kind merchandise to certain ebay Sellers. As a result, you can often pick up a bargain on a brand new club simply because it has that 'no warranty' stamp. The ebay Sellers TM uses are required to indicate the club has the 'no warranty' stamp when listing the item on ebay and they typically list them at a substantial discount over identical clubs that do not have that 'no warrany' stamp. ...

 

:golfer:

[bubbagump]

its like beetlejuice lol.

[Gautama]

You can still find these in 'used condition' on ebay, but 'Buyer Beware', for those that were previously 'demo clubs'.

 

Bobcat, I see the demo club thing a lot on ebay and have wondered if it's always true, or if it's maybe just used to get around the manufacturer's restrictions on lowest price...is it also sign of counterfeit goods or something?

 

A 'demo club' is by no means synonymous with a 'counterfeit club', it simply means that many people of various skill levels have probably tested it inside a golf facility, and in the case of a driver or a fairway wood, it's unlikely that a headcover was ever placed on it when it was not in use. Such clubs are more likely to have sky marks, sole damage, and other blemishes as a result of being used as a demo club. Sometimes clubs are 'stamped' as a demo club, by the manufacturer, but usually not.

 

You may also run across brand new clubs on ebay that have been stamped 'no warranty', and those clubs may be perfectly fine. TM does sends such clubs to ebay frequently. It simply means that the club was once at a Retail Outlet before, and for some reason, got returned to TM. It could just be 'unsold or merchandise' or merchandise reclaimed by TM for non-payment by the Retailer. These clubs probably won't be in the original packaging. Items stamped 'no warranty' by TM simply indicates that that club was returned to TM by one of their Authorized Retailers and TM does not send that merchandise out to Authorized Retailers as 2nd time. However, TM often sends this kind merchandise to certain ebay Sellers. As a result, you can often pick up a bargain on a brand new club simply because it has the 'no warranty' stamp. The ebay Sellers TM uses are required to indicate the club has the 'no warranty' stamp when listing the item on ebay...

 

:golfer:

 

Gotcha, thanks!