SLDR C series?

[DevilGolfer54]

Saw these at golfsmith today. Anyone know anything about them? Are they a one off of the S?

[illyc]

TMAG smdh

lol
[size=3]
The [b]TaylorMade SLDR C Series Driver[/b] offers maximum distance, maximum control, and maximum value. Its low and forward center of gravity (CG) promotes fast ball speed, high launch, and low spin for phenomenal distance, and the lower profile design provides for easy-to-launch performance. And when addressing the shot, the head shape inspires confidence like no other club.[/size][size=3]
[i]"The distance of an SLDR is rooted in its low-forward CG location, which you'll find in the entire SLDR C family."[/i]
Brian Bazzel
Sr. Director, Product Creation Metalwoods[/size]

[DevilGolfer54]

So it's the Walmart SLDR? Haha sounds like something I would've seen a few people on here make fun of by now.

[illyc]

[MinionGolf]

The "C" stands for cheap.

[Lowspinblake]

Haha in wouldn't be surprised if this was a rebadged jetspeed

[lowheel]

[quote name='MinionGolf' timestamp='1433127285' post='11663922']
The "C" stands for cheap.
[/quote]

lol well said

[JOHN GOLIA]

Funny guys. lol

Never heard of it.
C for counterfeit ?

[MinionGolf]

[quote name='JOHN GOLIA' timestamp='1433129465' post='11664098']
Funny guys. lol

Never heard of it.
C for counterfeit ?
[/quote]

No it's real...price point category at GolfSmith

Driver-$169
Fairway-$149
Hybrid-$129

[bruinsPATSirish]

An affordable golf club, with a big name name like TM behind it. Sounds like a smart business decision.

I'm sure it is about as technologically advanced as the $399 915... You guys make me laugh sometimes with your hate

[illyc]

An affordable golf club, with a big name name like TM behind it. Sounds like a smart business decision.

 

I'm sure it is about as technologically advanced as the $399 915... You guys make me laugh sometimes with your hate

 

 

[bruinsPATSirish]

An affordable golf club, with a big name name like TM behind it. Sounds like a smart business decision.

 

I'm sure it is about as technologically advanced as the $399 915... You guys make me laugh sometimes with your hate

 

 

 

Lol

 

I mean really let's think this one through together. Look at the baseball bat and hockey stick markets (also sports equipment)

Even the top brands like Easton, Bauer, Demarini, Etc, offer both high end and low end price point products. Why can't the golf club market be the same? Just because my Uncle Jim who plays 5 times a year wants to get a new driver shouldn't mean he has to shell out $400 for a top of the line stick, no? You get what you pay for, and a lot of people are ok with getting something made a little cheaper if it saves them money. Not everyone who golfs spend $300 for a sweet Tour AD shaft to go in their new Big Bertha driver.

[DevilGolfer54]

In all honesty, I agree this is a good idea. Sounds like a simple way to kind of help out golfers with the costs of clubs. That being said, why the heck call it another version of the SLDR? Gotta get new creative minds for TMAG.

[JackpotJohnny]

They call every one of these things another version of a previous line
Burner 3.0, RBZ pro etc..
But this one by far is the weirdest..a fixed hosel SLDR with no SLiDeR
And going for the same price point that last years SLDR S are at right now
With all the issues there been having loosing $, they are still flooding the market, just kinda interesting.

I've always wondered how good their 3rd tier equipment is compared to a he originals...wouldn't it be classic if some of this stuff out performed the clubs they were based on

[LorenRobertsFan]

Or you can get a lightly used SLDR for $130-$160 off the BST or eBay

[rafal]

I can see that some can be genuinely disturbed by a golf club being introduced to the market. Curious.

[j_king]

Are these new or old? Not sure how I missed hearing of these except for the fact that TM has nothing about them on their site and the two google hits are golfsmiths site and this thread. Strange...

[bruinsPATSirish]

[quote name='j_king' timestamp='1433151393' post='11664702']
Are these new or old? Not sure how I missed hearing of these except for the fact that TM has nothing about them on their site and the two google hits are golfsmiths site and this thread. Strange...
[/quote]

They are new. It is similar to the "made for" Dicks Sports Burner 3.0 and RBZ Pro lines

If people didn't know, Callaway has also done a "made for" line with Dicks Sports

[Auditor_Kevin]

When I was a kid my family was pretty poor (by today's standards anyway). I played on the golf team and was pretty good considering my set was cobbled together and missing anything higher than a PW.

My driver was a Walmart special because that was all the 'new' equipment I could afford. Its face caved in after one season. I would have passed out from joy if a genuine TaylorMade product had ever graced the aisles back then and mowed grass until either my legs fell off or I could pay for it - whichever would have come first.

I know it's entertaining to poke fun at offerings like this and I'm not pretending to be above it either, but I'm also genuinely glad TM is doing something like this. I don't think it cheapens the brand at all and it expands the reach of a bonafide golf OEM immensely, which can hopefully help grow the game. The big OEMs need to capture revenue wherever they can find it or we'll all be sent back to the days of playing department store clubs.

[mzennario31]

always wondered where those RBZ Pros came from. I guess if it helps people who are looking for a lower price point god bless.

[bobcat]

[quote name='Johnny4379' timestamp='1433139823' post='11664552']
They call every one of these things another version of a previous line
Burner 3.0, RBZ pro etc..
But this one by far is the weirdest..a fixed hosel SLDR with no SLiDeR
And going for the same price point that last years SLDR S are at right now
With all the issues there been having loosing $, they are still flooding the market, just kinda interesting.

I've always wondered how good their 3rd tier equipment is compared to a he originals...wouldn't it be classic if some of this stuff out performed the clubs they were based on
[/quote]

Looks like TM has brought Gloss Black back once again! I say give the new SLDR C-Series a chance...it just may be a pretty darned good driver because TM has had time to work the kinks out of the unforgiving SLDR Drivers that require you to 'loft up'. Keep in mind the SLDR Fairways and Mini drivers don't have the sliding weight either and nobody seems to miss it on those. In fact, those are damned good heads in my opinion. Perhaps getting rid of all the adjustment mechanisms will actually make this SLDR Driver better, (more forgiving), than the ones that came before which have been criticized for lack of forgiveness. Besides there are still folks who hate adjustable drivers and find them way too gimmicky. For those folks, this "back to basics" SLDR Driver should be very appealing.

The one weakness I do see with this new C-Series is having the 57 shaft as the only shaft option, but then again, so many of us like to change out the shaft anyway. It would have been nice to see either the Fuji Motore Speeder 6.3 or 7.3 Tourspec (TP) shaft offered as an option but that isn't likely to happen with these "C" models. It's is a "do it yourself" in that regard.

I suspect the "C" designation signifies 'Classic', (i.e. not adjustable features and that old familiar TM gloss black finish. Certainly the timing of this is quite interesting....TM is actually bringing out a new SLDR line, well after the R15 replacement has made its debut. Maybe this 'C' model is just too good [b]not[/b] to announce, despite the face that the R15 Driver is seen as a replacement for the SLDR Driver line.

I will say this: The C-Series Driver does appear to be quite a bargain right now because Golfsmith is offering these for 15% off the stated price plus free shipping if you order one today, (June 1st, 2105). This offer ends June 1st but will probably be repeated again soon, (perhaps for Father's Day).

You know, I really missed TM's Gloss Black...now its back again!

[j_king]

[quote name='Auditor_Kevin' timestamp='1433164678' post='11665240']
When I was a kid my family was pretty poor (by today's standards anyway). I played on the golf team and was pretty good considering my set was cobbled together and missing anything higher than a PW.

My driver was a Walmart special because that was all the 'new' equipment I could afford. Its face caved in after one season. I would have passed out from joy if a genuine TaylorMade product had ever graced the aisles back then and mowed grass until either my legs fell off or I could pay for it - whichever would have come first.

I know it's entertaining to poke fun at offerings like this and I'm not pretending to be above it either, but I'm also genuinely glad TM is doing something like this. I don't think it cheapens the brand at all and it expands the reach of a bonafide golf OEM immensely, which can hopefully help grow the game. The big OEMs need to capture revenue wherever they can find it or we'll all be sent back to the days of playing department store clubs.
[/quote]

It's $160 though... It's not going to help grow the game to those who can't afford clubs unfortunately. You could walk over to the used section in that same golfsmith and find a 9064ls for $30. Now that is a deal and a price any aspiring golfer can work with.

This is well, just strange. They've already moved on from the sldr to the R15, not to mention you can get a a real sldr on the used rack or the bay for sub-$100.

[Auditor_Kevin]

I see what you're saying and I agree on that bang for the buck factor. Not everyone has access to a Golfsmith though. They are pretty few and far between in Walmart country.

I think it's a pretty good business move for TM. They can rely on the legacy advertising and hype from the SLDR line and still move lots of units thanks to the expansive reach of Wallyworld. It's possible this club will net TM more money than all of the rest of the SLDR models put together. So getting back to you part, agreed - not the best bang for the buck for the buyer (used clubs and internet/ebay deals will almost always be better deals than anything in a big box store) but it should be a good move for TM.

[bobcat]

[quote name='illyc' timestamp='1433106423' post='11662110']
TMAG smdh

lol

[size=3]The [b]TaylorMade SLDR C Series Driver[/b] offers maximum distance, maximum control, and maximum value. Its low and forward center of gravity (CG) promotes fast ball speed, high launch, and low spin for phenomenal distance, and the lower profile design provides for easy-to-launch performance. And when addressing the shot, the head shape inspires confidence like no other club.[/size]
[size=3][i]"The distance of an SLDR is rooted in its low-forward CG location, which you'll find in the entire SLDR C family."[/i]
Brian Bazzel
Sr. Director, Product Creation Metalwoods[/size]
[/quote]

Turns out the SLDR-C has a completely different head shape than the original SLDR. The head is longer from front to back and the clubface is wider from heel to toe.

[rcain1us]

"s***, we dumped the SLDR for the R15 already? What are we supposed to do with all these extra castings?"

"Hey, what if we have the guys at the factory weld a plate over the the sliding weight channel and rename it the C SLDR - as in you [b]C[/b]ould of bought an R15 but you wanted something [b]C[/b]heaper."

"Brilliant!"

[bobcat]

[quote name='rcain1us' timestamp='1433529237' post='11696426']
"s***, we dumped the SLDR for the R15 already? What are we supposed to do with all these extra castings?"

"Hey, what if we have the guys at the factory weld a plate over the the sliding weight channel and rename it the C SLDR - as in you [b]C[/b]ould of bought an R15 but you wanted something [b]C[/b]heaper."

"Brilliant!"
[/quote]

Maybe...or just maybe TM felt it would be smart to build an easier-to-hit SLDR at an attractive price for the masses...Lets not be so quick to write this one off as "scrap metal" or a recycled Jet Speed, because Interestingly, it has the exact same sole design as the 260cc Mini Driver which is the most solid and forgiving club that I have hit this year. [b]Can you imagine a 460cc SLDR Mini Driver? [/b]Of course, the 'C' has a longer shaft, (45.5"), and lower lofts available, (9.5*, 10.5* or 12*), but the shape and design is otherwise very much the same. (The SLDR-C Driver is just 200cc's larger than the SLDR Mini Driver).

By the way, the "C" series is not just a Driver...TM has announced C-Series Fairways and Rescue Hybrids as well.

[DevilGolfer54]

I'm just confused as to the characteristics. Is it still extremely low spin? Low launch? Should we loft up?

[Lag]

[quote name='Auditor_Kevin' timestamp='1433164678' post='11665240']
When I was a kid my family was pretty poor (by today's standards anyway). I played on the golf team and was pretty good considering my set was cobbled together and missing anything higher than a PW.

My driver was a Walmart special because that was all the 'new' equipment I could afford. Its face caved in after one season. I would have passed out from joy if a genuine TaylorMade product had ever graced the aisles back then and mowed grass until either my legs fell off or I could pay for it - whichever would have come first.

I know it's entertaining to poke fun at offerings like this and I'm not pretending to be above it either, but I'm also genuinely glad TM is doing something like this. I don't think it cheapens the brand at all and it expands the reach of a bonafide golf OEM immensely, which can hopefully help grow the game. The big OEMs need to capture revenue wherever they can find it or we'll all be sent back to the days of playing department store clubs.
[/quote]

Truth. Perfect example is Tour Edge they sell a driver at $150 retail every year that keeps up distance wise with almost any driver in golf. I don't see anything wrong with this BUT BUT BUT BUT....tmade is flooding the market again....they are just digging a bigger hole for themselves.

[bobcat]

TM..Please send one to Tiger! He could sure use a simple and easy-to-hit driver right now. If not a "C" Series, then perhaps even the SLDR Mini Driver which has the same shaft as the "C" but shorter at 43.5". (Have you noticed that both these heads share the exact same sole plate design?) In fact, based soley on the soleplate design, the "C" actually looks far less like a JetSpeed or the SLDR "S" and more like a 460cc SLDR "Mini Driver" in a new gloss black color.

If only TM would build a normal sized driver Driver with a normal length shaft that was as solid and forgiving as the SLDR Mini Driver...now that would be something, now wouldn't it? Then again, (sigh), maybe that's just wishful thinking on my part...but still, where can I find some C-series reviews?

Below pic is the SLDR Mini Driver sole...pics of the C-Series and JetSpeed sole were posted earlier in this thread if you want to compare them.

[attachment=4020934:SLDRMini.jpg] [b]SLDR MINI'S SO[/b][b]LE PLATE IS THE SAME AS THE SLDR-C DRIVER[/b]

[bobcat]

Well I actually saw the SLDR C-Series Driver up close today and compared it to an original SLDR 460 (charcoal grey) head. Much to my surprise, the HEAD SHAPES ARE COMPLETELY DIFFERENT, so the "C" is definitely NOT a recycled SLDR 460 head. As mentioned in the prior post, the sole design is the same as the SLDR Mini Driver.

These (2) different head shapes are comparable to what you see with the Titleist D2 vs D3 models or TM's R540XD vs the R580XD Drivers from awhile back. On those models, some people get along better with one over the other, but both head shapes work well. Just a matter of what head shape performs best for a particular individual. These lower profile designs are a bit wider from heel to toe as well than the deep faced models, which should mean more lateral forgiveness when missing the sweetspot left or right of center.

I understand now what Brian Bazell of TM meant by saying the "C" Driver has a "lower profile design for a higher launch". It does have the same low forward weighting for lower spin like the SLDR original, but I know from the examples mentioned above that lower profile head designs spin a bit more than a deep face design simply because the latter has a higher COG. Perhaps with the lower profile and lower COG, the "C" will play more true-to-loft than the other SLDR Drivers, but we'll just have to wait and see on that.

I must say that I found the "C" to be a very handsome head in the new gloss black color...to my eye, it's the best of the (4) colors we have now seen on SLDR Drivers. It would be interesting to test a 9.5* "C" against my current 12* 430 TP SLDR gamer to compare ball flight.

Unfortunately, I didn't have the opportunity to hit it, but if the higher angle is borne out by reviews, then the C-Series Driver may be much better-suited for mid-to-high handicappers than the ultra low spin, low-launching SLDR original Driver(s). Having no adjustments to worry about might not be such a bad thing for those players either.

UPDATE: I HIT IT TODAY, SATURDAY JUNE 13TH!
I was actually quite impressed with it. Plays as good as it looks! The 10.5* goes a bit higher than my 12* SLDR 430 TP but distance is still very good with the "C". Not the slightest hint of a low left miss either, so finally there is a forgiving SLDR Driver. I didn't expect to like the Fuji 57 stock shaft, but the S-Flex was actually fine for me. I need to back to a 9.5* loft with this one which is the loft I have used most of my golfing life. The "C" definitely looks and plays differently than other SLDR Drivers, the club face is a bit more shallow and is wider from heel-to-toe, but this is one very nice SLDR Driver indeed! The new gloss black color is stunning and makes the new 460cc head look smaller than it actually is. This is a Classic (bonded) SLDR Driver that TM should have announced long before now. Seems that the adjustability features on the other SLDR's are grossly overrated. This one is classic, simple and just works! [b]REMEMBER - THERE IS NO NEED TO 'LOFT UP' WITH THIS NEW SLDR-C DRIVER! [/b]