In breaking news throughout the golf equipment industry, TaylorMade has announced that it is coming out with a new driver next month. Starting in early May,Taylormade will make available a limited-edition, "white" version of their very popular SLDR driver.
For those of you who are a big fan of the white headed drivers you are in luck as you probably have held off buying the new SLDR because it was only available in the dark grey colored head. For the rest of us you are probably not surprised at the new release since it seems to be a normal process for TaylorMade. Last year they came out with the white R1 driver only to be followed later in the year with a limited-edition black model.
Now I don't believe TaylorMade will claim 17 yards more with the white head SLDR driver over dark head SLDR but the low-forward CG technology in the SLDR driver has been proven effective in producing additional yardage if fitted correctly.
In Taylormade's own words:
“The white crown with black button-back delivers a remarkable appearance at address. Many golfers fell in love with white when it came out in 2011, and now we are delivering a limited edition white SLDR with low and forward CG for more distance when you loft up.”
-Brian Bazzel, Sr Director of Metalwood Product Creation
The white SLDR drivers ($399) will be available in lofts of 9.5, 10.5, 12 and 14 degrees with a stock Fujikura Speeder 57 shaft in senior, regular, stiff and x-stiff flexes. They’re currently available for pre-order, and will be available in stores on May 2.
Here's a shock for all of you. TaylorMade is coming out with a new driver!!!!
Yes we know this is about as predictable as the sun rising in morning, but this driver is not your average, every-day driver. This is really a strong 3 Wood dressed up as a driver. It is designed for those golfers that are normally hitting their 3 Wood off the tee and TaylorMade's research shows that there are a lot of us that currently do that. The problem is that your current 3 Wood was not designed to be hit off a tee - it was designed to be hit off turf.
That is the niche that TaylorMade is looking to fill with the launch of this new SLDR Mini Driver. It is also a challenge to Callaway's X2 Hot Deep Fairways which are also designed to be hit off a tee and were made famous by Phil Mickelson last year.
What do you think of these new "Mini Drivers" or "Deep-Strong Fairways"?? Is this something you will look to add to your bag or this just another ploy from the manufacturers to help them drive (no pun intended) more revenue.
Here's is TaylorMade's Press Release on this new driver:
Carlsbad, Calif. (April 7, 2014) – TaylorMade Golf Company, makers of the No. 1 played driver in golf, today announced the launch of the SLDR Mini Driver, a 260cc metalwood equipped with a 43.5” shaft, designed to promote distance and accuracy off the tee for players who frequently drive with their 3-wood.
TaylorMade research indicates that a high percentage of golfers, regardless of skill level, hit 3-wood off the tee more often than from the fairway. However, the 3-wood is designed to hit the ball off turf, not a peg. That void between product design and product use led to the development of the SLDR Mini Driver, which is engineered to be longer off the tee than a 3-woood and incredibly accurate.
“Tour pros and betters amateurs often hit their 3-wood off the tee more often than from the fairway,” said Brian Bazzel, TaylorMade’s Senior Director of Metalwood Creation. “We embraced that fact to create a metalwood that’s sized between a 3-wood and driver and is designed to be easy to hit off a tee.”
Like the SLDR driver – the No. 1 driver on the PGA Tour – the SLDR Mini Driver features a low-forward center of gravity (CG) location that reduces spin. From there, most players benefit from playing a higher loft (what TaylorMade calls “lofting up”) by combining a low spin-rate with a high launch angle, which are the launch conditions that promote maximum distance.
The SLDR Mini Driver also incorporates TaylorMade’s Speed Pocket technology, which promotes lower spin on impacts low on the clubface, where the majority of driver mis-hits occur.
And though it’s engineered to be easier to tee off with than a 3-wood, the SLDR Mini Driver is also easy to launch the ball off the turf with, thanks to its smooth sole that’s smaller and offers less resistance than a driver’s.
Aesthetically, the SLDR Mini Driver’s sleek shape and smooth matte silver crown, black clubface and black button-back gives the club an attractive appearance from all angles, especially at address. The contrasting colors also facilitate easy and accurate face alignment.
The first Tour pro to put the SLDR Mini Driver in play was Troy Matteson, who put not one but two in his bag at the Valero Texas Open: one to use off the tee and one to use from the fairway.
“The SLDR Mini Driver is intended to appeal to a wide audience,” added Bazzel. “For the Tour pro or top amateur who places a premium on distance control and accuracy, this club is a fantastic option. It’s also a great choice for those amateurs who struggle with 460cc drivers.”
Two SLDR Mini Driver models are available, standard and TP. The standard model retails for $279 and is equipped with a Fujikura 57 shaft. It is the same shaft used in the SLDR driver, but at 43.5 inches (two inches shorter than the SLDR driver) it promotes tighter dispersion for increased accuracy. The TP model retails for $379 and is equipped with Fujikura’s Motore Speeder 7.3 shaft and is built to a heavier, D5 swingweight for improved control. Lofts in both models range from 12°, 14° and 16°.
