SLDR-Another TMaG Revolution?

Over the past several weeks TaylorMade Golf has been field testing their latest driver on thePGA Tour and European Tour, putting them in the hands of their staff professionals to try. The uniqueness of the category-leading company’s new driver is the system to adjust the weighting of the clubhead in order to provided the user with a draw or fade bias.

Gone are the weights and weight ports pioneered by TMaG and copied by the rest of the industry. The new SLDR has a sliding weight that can be moved across the sole of the clubhead to suit the golfer.

TMaG said their testing show the SLDR to be the longest driver they have ever manufactured but more importantly this new sliding weight system is one-of-a-kind and another superb example of the immense gap between TaylorMade’s market position and all other club makers.

Key to the distance gains is a redistribution of the head weight to a lower and more forward position which moves the center of gravity (CG) forward for a hotter launch, lower ball spin and consequently faster ball speed. For those “keeping score” this is similar to the impact the “Speed Pocket” had on the performance of the RocketBallz fairway and Rescue clubs, TaylorMade engineers believe SLDR’s low and forward CG placement will redefine driver distance. 

“Without a doubt, this is the longest driver we have ever created,” said TaylorMade’s ChiefTechnical Officer Benoit Vincent. “Our expertise at positioning the CG low and forward sets us apart from our competitors, and is vital to making SLDR the spectacular distance machine that it is.” In addition to the low-forward CG benefits, SLDR also shows off the reinvention of the use of movable weights making easier to use.

The SLDR has a 20-gram weight that slides on a track located on the front of the sole.

Movable weight shifts the clubhead’s CG horizontally toward either the heel, to promote a draw, or toward the toe, to promote a fade. SLDR has six millimeters of movement, 50% more than the current R1 model, promoting a shot-dispersion of up to 30 yards. The SLDR weight slides on a 21-point track system and never comes loose from the clubhead. To position the weight allthat is required is to loosen the screw, slide the weight to the selected point and re-tighten the screw, all in as little as 10 seconds without worrying about losing the weight plugs used in the previous system.

Back in 2004 TaylorMade came up with the first movable weight driver, the r7 quad, which featured four weights that could be used to change the head’s CG location and influence ballflight.

SLDR also has TaylorMade’s Loft-sleeve Technology, which allows the golfer to easily adjust the loft. Golfers can choose from 12 positions within a range of plus-or-minus 1.5 degrees of loft change. The more loft added, the more the face closes and vice-versa.

“TaylorMade is well-known for creating technologies that help golfers hit better shots, but we also revere in the beauty of a golf club,” said Executive Vice President Sean Toulon. “It’s a very special feeling when you sole a club for the first time and fall head-over-heels in love with what you see.  SLDR is that club. And it is going to make you fall in love with your driver all over again.”

Available in four lofts – 8°, 9.5°, 10.5° and 12°, SLDR is equipped with a Fujikura Speeder 57 graphite shaft. The Tour Preferred version, SLDR TP, combines the same clubhead with the tour-caliber Fujikura Speeder Tour Spec 6.3 graphite shaft. A variety of custom shafts are also available. Availability for SLDR and SLDR TP begins August 9 at a suggested retail price of $399.

Photos courtesy of TaylorMade-adidas Golf

ED TRAVIS | Golf News & Opinion

Golf Illustrated

The Little One

The Little One

By ED TRAVIS

I first tried out the 7-iron version of The Little One several years ago and quickly saw the benefits claimed by the inventor and now the new PSP –which stands for Pure Sold Perfect—pitching wedge is available.

For those who may not be familiar with these practice irons, the Little One’s clubface is about half the size of a regular iron so for the new pitching wedge it is not very big.

But that’s the point. A smaller clubhead has a smaller face and is an ideal way to train your mind and body to make solid sweet spot contact with the ball time after time.

To practice, start by making some very short swings, pitches and chip shots from the edge of the green are good, then gradually work you way back and to making full swings.

You will quickly find out two very important principles: swinging hard with the hands and arms doesn’t work and a slow accelerating tempo produces the best results.

Dan Bonomo, president of PSP Golf makers of The Little One, told me a good practice plan is to use the club for 15 minutes for a couple of weeks and the results will be evident. (He actually said 90 days but I cheated and only did it for 14).

The principles aren’t anything new but the PSP Little One works very well as a way to remind ourselves of their importance. Consistent practice with the Little One will make for more solid contact and better ball striking which of course are keys to lower scoring.

ED TRAVIS | Golf News & Opinion

TMaG R1 v2 TP Driver

The R1 driver from Taylor Made  Golf is the best selling driver and with its multiple settings for adjustment of ball flight it can be tweaked to fit the swing of any user.

TMaG is now made available  (so far only on its website) the R1 v2 TP model reflecting the desire by some of their tour staff professionals for a relatively heavy shaft or one that is up to an inch longer, which of course breaks the 46 inch barrier. With the stock R1 460cc clubhead though the increase in weight from more shaft makes the club’s total weight just too heavy.

The fix was to decrease the clubhead size from 460cc to 440cc while maintaining all the tuning adjustments. At 440cc, the R1 v2 has the same proportions as the R1 and can be tuned in the same way. However, the R1 v2’s lighter head weight allows use of heavier or Tour spec shafts without pushing the club’s total weight too high.

Stock shaft for the R1V2 TP is the RIP Phenom 65 graphite shaft and the price is $600 but at that price TaylorMade throws in the shipping charges.

Images courtesy of TaylorMade-adidas Golf

ED TRAVIS | Golf News & Opinion

Tight Lies - An Icon Returns

Tight Lies – An Icon Returns

By ED TRAVIS

Adams Golf not only resurrected the name Tight Lies from two decades ago but has also updated the design of the fairway that made their reputation and became one of the most popular fairways ever. Many of the features that made the originalTight Lies the choice of recreational and professional players have been retained but with the addition of the crown and sole slots pioneered by Adams.

"In the ever-present pursuit of maximum distance, today's fairway woods have become mini-drivers - extremely difficult to hit from anywhere other than from a tee," said Justin Honea, Director of R&D. "The low profile design places the center of gravity (CG) below the CG of the ball, making it easy to hit the ball in the air. The unique tri-sole design makes it easy to hit from a multitude of challenging lies and then we added a refined Cut-Thru Slot design so this new Tight Lies is twice as hot as the original. It's the perfect blend of playability and performance."

Adams thinks the new Tight Lies will be as revolutionary as was the original giving players the club that will get the ball out of virtually any lie and become the go-to club on par-5s and long par-4s. The new Tight Lies will be launched initially as a 16 degree 3-wood with other loft options available later.

According to 8-time major champion and Adams Golf staffer Tom Watson, "With the new Tight Lies, we've got a 3-wood that you can control, you can hit it out of bad lies. The most important thing for me is to know how far the ball is going to go, and with the new technology, here with Tight Lies, we can hit it where we want it to go and that's what you want in a golf club. Man, that's all I want."

In addition to the refined Cut-Thru Slots of the new version a hallmark of the original Tight Lies was the low-profile, upside-down design and it is back. This allows for a very low CG - below the CG of the golf ball, making it extremely easy to hit the ball in the air so golfers will see at once how easy it is to make solid contact from even “challenging lies.”

Adams also used the original Tight Lies tri-sole to reduce interaction with turf and help shots from the fairway, rough, sand - even tight or bare lies.

Tight Lies fairway woods will come standard with the Bassara Eagle graphite shaft by Mitsubishi Rayon. Tight Lies Tour willfeature the Aldila Tour Blue shaft. The Men's Tight Lies and Tight Lies Tour models will feature a matte black finish, while the Women's model will feature a matte grey crown. All models will include the familiar white half stripes low on the shaft that were also featured on the original. Tight Lies fairway woods will ship mid-August and will have a retail price of $199.99, and $229.99 for the Tight Lies Tour.

Photos courtesy Adams Golf

ED TRAVIS | Golf News & Opinion

Golf Illustrated

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