Taylor Made SLDR Driver Review

August 25, 2013, 5:05 pm
Matt
In Golf Clubs

It is a surprise to no one that Taylor Made is once again on the cutting-edge of golf club design and technology. After all, many of the major innovations throughout golf history have come thanks to this Carlsbad, CA company. While they seemingly produce a new club at least once or twice a year, they still manage to make them fresh, exciting, and worth putting in your bag. So, does the SLDR live up to that reputation?

First, a quick explanation as to what the SLDR is all about. The name ‘SLDR’ is meant to sound phonetically like ‘slider’, because the movable weight technology on this driver is in the form of a 20g weight that can be slid back and forth across the sole of the club. The idea is the same as with the interchangeable weights that have been found on the sole of Taylor Made drivers for more than a decade now. By moving the weight closer to the toe or heel of the club, you can alter the ball flight you will achieve and help to correct any mistakes in your golf swing.

Intuitive Use

The greatest asset of the new Taylor Made SLDR driver is that the weight system is far easier to use for most average golfers. For one, there are no extra weights to keep track of like there were with the old system. Also, the sole is clearly marked with ‘fade’ and ‘draw’ so you can quickly slide the weight in the direction that you need and off you go. The old system never seemed all that complicated, but this mechanism is still a marked improvement. Practice sessions on the driving range where you adjust the weight after each shot to dial in your ball flight will be quick and easy with the SLDR.

Great Looks

The white-crown look of recent Taylor Made drivers such as the R1 have been a love-or-hate kind of thing with golfers. Looking from the address position, the SLDR has a much more traditional appearance. The crown is charcoal grey with only a small silver-colored accent toward the back of the club head. These aesthetics should please just about every played with their neutral tones and clean design.

Loft Sleeve Remains

Along with the sliding weight on the sole, the SLDR driver from Taylor Made also retains the ‘loft sleeve’ that allows for quick change of shafts and adjustment of the loft of the club +/- up to 1.5 degrees. When you combine those technologies, you are left with a club that can achieve more than 250 different unique settings. If you can’t find one that works for your game, it might be time to look at your swing rather than the club.

Overall, Taylor Made has outdone itself yet again with the SLDR driver. While the technology and how it is used doesn’t change that much from previous driver editions, the mechanism is significantly improved and made to be basically fool-proof. Those in the market for a new driver will love everything that the SLDR can offer to their game. This club is starting to ship mid-August, and retailers have been accepting pre-orders.