I would NEVER have thought this possible three months ago....

Obee · March 6, 2014

Not sure if I'm allowed to post this separately, or if I should put it in the TM SLDR 430 thread, but here goes:

So some quick background: I'm 46 years old and I'm a competitive amateur. Index ranges from a high of 1 to a low of +2 during the spring, summer, and fall. I have a driver swing speed of 100 to 104 and I generally have always hit the ball low and with a lot of spin. My preferred shot shape with the driver has always been a bit of a cut.

A few months ago I heard all the hubbub about the SLDR, and I tried it. Didn't like the 460 at all. Felt too ... big? Didn't like the feeling on off-center hits. Didn't like the shaft I had in it. Just didn't really like it. Gave it back after a day. Fast forward a few months and my buddy comes out with a SLDR 430. I hit his and like the "feel" much, much more. Liked it so much I went out and bought a 10.5 SLDR 430 with the stock Speeder 65 in stiff flex.

What a revelation. My backspin dropped dramatically and I was hitting the ball easily 15 to 20 yards farther on solid hits. EVERYONE in our group was coming up to me during rounds and saying, out of the blue: "Damn, Ober, you are back hitting the ball long again." I was hitting the ball to places I had NEVER seen at my course, and reaching par 5's in two again for the first time in years.

So now, fast forward again to today. I'm in the desert on a sales call and I decide to stop in a Golfsmith after my appointment for some golf fun. I thought: "If the 10.5 jacked up to 12 degrees has helped me this much, I wonder what would happen if I went to the 12 degree and jacked it up to 13.5 degrees.

So here's the deal. I'm about to play a driver with 13.5 degrees of loft. NEVER would have thought that possible.

Numbers on the Golfsmith monitors:

My old driver(s) (Titleist 913 D2 and D3 in 9.5 and/or 10.5 degrees loft; Callaway X-Hot; Cleveland "Classic" 9.0; et al.) These numbers are from the last couple years and from memory, but I have a good memory for stuff like this:

Backspin (2500 to 3200 rpm)

Average Carry: 235ish

Average Total Distance: 260ish

Longest Drives: 275ish

At Golfsmith today, I hit both of the following drivers at least 30 times each:

My current TM SLDR 430 10.5 (jacked up to 12 degrees) with slider set at "N" for neutral with the stock Fuji Speeder 65 in stiff flex

Backspin (1900 to 2200 rpm)

Average carry 246

Average Total Distance: 277

Longest Drives: 285ish

My soon to be current TM SLDR 430 12.0 (jacked up to 13 degrees) with slider set a "N" for neutral with the stock Fuji Speeder 65 in stiff flex

Backspin (1900 to 2100)

Average carry: 251

Average total distance: 284

Longest drives: 290-295

I know this driver is not for everyone, but it's been amazing for me. I really think this is an amazing driver for high spin guys like myself. If you are a high spin player, get one, and go with MUCH more loft than you think you should play. MUCH more. You will be amazed....

Ezgolfer · March 6, 2014

Good stuff!!
I am a believer in 430 ...

Grapehunter · March 6, 2014

If Taylormade can figure out how to work some forgiveness on slightly off center hits on SLDR drivers I am confident the SLDR will never leave my bag.

Obee · March 6, 2014

Yeah, the difference between a "nutted" driver and a slight mis-hit is pretty significant. If I neck one with the SLDR 430, I lose a good 30 yards.

Froth · March 6, 2014

I gained a good 15yds of pure carry seemingly overnight with the SLDR(I prefer the 460, but to each their own), Honestly I don't really care for how it looks, the sounds isn't terribly pleasing to me and I don't much like adjustable hosels. However, I still use the SLDR because the performance is top notch, never thought I'd have my driver spin numbers at 1800-2100rpm but the SLDR put that to rest.

Ezgolfer · March 6, 2014

I love the way 430 looks and sets up( open and a bit flatter). I was getting 10-12 yards more with 430 c/w 460.
I find it easy to nail sweet spot on a smaller headed driver.
Last few months I have been hitting my 15 degree SLDR 3 wood almost as far as my 460 cc SLDR .
The stock shaft is awesome IMHO. The japanese black version of 430cc SLDR also looks tempting.
SLDR is the only TM driver where I am getting ton of roll after the ball lands . I used to back spin my drives with the older TM drivers.

dcr147 · March 6, 2014

[quote name='Obee' timestamp='1394084524' post='8809427']
Not sure if I'm allowed to post this separately, or if I should put it in the TM SLDR 430 thread, but here goes:

So some quick background: I'm 46 years old and I'm a competitive amateur. Index ranges from a high of 1 to a low of +2 during the spring, summer, and fall. I have a driver swing speed of 100 to 104 and I generally have always hit the ball low and with a lot of spin. My preferred shot shape with the driver has always been a bit of a cut.

A few months ago I heard all the hubbub about the SLDR, and I tried it. Didn't like the 460 at all. Felt too ... big? Didn't like the feeling on off-center hits. Didn't like the shaft I had in it. Just didn't really like it. Gave it back after a day. Fast forward a few months and my buddy comes out with a SLDR 430. I hit his and like the "feel" much, much more. Liked it so much I went out and bought a 10.5 SLDR 430 with the stock Speeder 65 in stiff flex.

What a revelation. My backspin dropped dramatically and I was hitting the ball easily 15 to 20 yards farther on solid hits. EVERYONE in our group was coming up to me during rounds and saying, out of the blue: "Damn, Ober, you are back hitting the ball long again." I was hitting the ball to places I had NEVER seen at my course, and reaching par 5's in two again for the first time in years.

So now, fast forward again to today. I'm in the desert on a sales call and I decide to stop in a Golfsmith after my appointment for some golf fun. I thought: "If the 10.5 jacked up to 12 degrees has helped me this much, I wonder what would happen if I went to the 12 degree and jacked it up to 13.5 degrees.

So here's the deal. I'm about to play a driver with 13.5 degrees of loft. NEVER would have thought that possible.

Numbers on the Golfsmith monitors:

My old driver(s) (Titleist 913 D2 and D3 in 9.5 and/or 10.5 degrees loft; Callaway X-Hot; Cleveland "Classic" 9.0; et al.) These numbers are from the last couple years and from memory, but I have a good memory for stuff like this:

Backspin (2500 to 3200 rpm)
Average Carry: 235ish
Average Total Distance: 260ish
Longest Drives: 275ish

At Golfsmith today, I hit both of the following drivers at least 30 times each:

My current TM SLDR 430 10.5 (jacked up to 12 degrees) with slider set at "N" for neutral with the stock Fuji Speeder 65 in stiff flex

Backspin (1900 to 2200 rpm)
Average carry 246
Average Total Distance: 277
Longest Drives: 285ish

My soon to be current TM SLDR 430 12.0 (jacked up to 13 degrees) with slider set a "N" for neutral with the stock Fuji Speeder 65 in stiff flex

Backspin (1900 to 2100)
Average carry: 251
Average total distance: 284
Longest drives: 290-295

I know this driver is not for everyone, but it's been amazing for me. I really think this is an amazing driver for high spin guys like myself. If you are a high spin player, get one, and go with MUCH more loft than you think you should play. MUCH more. You will be amazed....
[/quote]I'm curious as to what your Angle of Approach is with the 430 and what length you are playing at. I think both the 460 and 430 are excellent clubs but I also think that TM go the stock length wrong for most people. My belief is that a shorter length(431/2 to 441/2) would be much easier to control especially since it needs to be approaching the teed up ball with a positive AoA, more so than drivers of old that have had a CG further back from the face.

mgilly200 · March 6, 2014

I agree it could be a bit shorter for control, especially with it being so important to find the center with this club. Obee's right, its not the most forgiving club in the world but if you catch one watch out. Anything 45" or sub 45" will probably work out better for most. I was very impressed with it, but I made the mistake of buying the wrong loft and in order to make it optimal I would have to look at a shut face to get there. Guess I didn't buy into the "loft up" campaign.

I'm moving on, for now, to the BB Alpha. I'm sure TMAG has something up their sleeve in the not so distant future with a new version of the SLDR, I would love a 430cc/460cc that looks like the miniwood, but more forgiving. Sign me up..

BrianL99 · March 6, 2014

[quote name='Obee' timestamp='1394084524' post='8809427']

I have a driver swing speed of 100 to 104 and I generally have always hit the ball low and with a lot of spin. My preferred shot shape with the driver has always been a bit of a cut.

Backspin (2500 to 3200 rpm)
Average Carry: 235ish
Average Total Distance: 260ish
Longest Drives: 275ish

My soon to be current TM SLDR 430 12.0 (jacked up to 13 degrees) with slider set a "N" for neutral with the stock Fuji Speeder 65 in stiff flex

Backspin (1900 to 2100)
Average carry: 251
Average total distance: 284
Longest drives: 290-295

[/quote]

No offense Obee, but I think you may have been napping at the switch. With a swing speed of 100-104 and good launch parameters, you should be able to carry the ball in the 250 yard range. Your previous launch parameters were way off in my opinion and I'm surprised you didn't notice that guys with slower swing speeds could out drive you.

Nice to see you're maximizing now!

Sean2 · March 6, 2014

I have NEVER experienced anything like this. Well done. :-)

Obee · March 6, 2014

[quote name='BrianL99' timestamp='1394114334' post='8810387']
[quote name='Obee' timestamp='1394084524' post='8809427']
I have a driver swing speed of 100 to 104 and I generally have always hit the ball low and with a lot of spin. My preferred shot shape with the driver has always been a bit of a cut.

Backspin (2500 to 3200 rpm)
Average Carry: 235ish
Average Total Distance: 260ish
Longest Drives: 275ish

My soon to be current TM SLDR 430 12.0 (jacked up to 13 degrees) with slider set a "N" for neutral with the stock Fuji Speeder 65 in stiff flex

Backspin (1900 to 2100)
Average carry: 251
Average total distance: 284
Longest drives: 290-295

[/quote]

No offense Obee, but I think you may have been napping at the switch. With a swing speed of 100-104 and good launch parameters, you should be able to carry the ball in the 250 yard range. Your previous launch parameters were way off in my opinion and I'm surprised you didn't notice that guys with slower swing speeds could out drive you.

Nice to see you're maximizing now!
[/quote]

That's the point, though, Brian. I have tinkered and fiddled and fiddled and tinkered, and it didn't matter what I did. I could NOT figure out a way to reduce backspin while still getting the ball airborne with any other previous driver set-up. If I took enough loft to get the ball in the air (I used to have a 12 degree Callaway driver), it would balloon and have way too much backspin -- regardless of the shaft I chose.

Someone finally came up with a driver that can launch the ball high but with reduced backspin. I never found it before because it simply didn't exist until know. This is a breakthrough driver for many of us. It will be copied and other companies will come up with great low spin drivers with high loft now, too. Some will be better than the SLDR for sure. But this concept is for real, and TaylorMade should be proud.

And for the record: I play PING irons, Cleveland and Titliest wedges, Titleist hybrids and a Callaway 4-wood. LOL! The TaylorMade driver is the only TM club in my bag, so I'm not fanboy. :-)

BrianL99 · March 6, 2014

[quote name='Obee' timestamp='1394119302' post='8810957']

Someone finally came up with a driver that can launch the ball high but with reduced backspin. I never found it before because it simply didn't exist until know. This is a breakthrough driver for many of us. It will be copied and other companies will come up with great low spin drivers with high loft now, too. Some will be better than the SLDR for sure. But this concept is for real, and TaylorMade should be proud.

[/quote]

As we seem to be hearing, the SLDR isn't for everyone. I think it's rare to find someone in the Amateur ranks, who has such a high spin rate, that it can't be controlled with the right shaft or head weights.

An extra 20 yards is a big help!