Tour proven metalwoods incorporate low/forward CG and improved speed pocket for breakthrough distance
Two months after the release of SLDR, the current No. 1 selling and most-played driver on the PGA Tour, TaylorMade Golf Company has announced the release of five SLDR fairway woods and four SLDR Rescue® clubs.
Similar to the SLDR driver, each club combines a low and forward center of gravity (CG) placement, a recent TaylorMade engineering feat wherein weight is re-located to the front of the head to promote faster ball speed, a higher launch angle and a lower spin-rate. TaylorMade research indicates the SLDR fairway to be the longest adjustable fairway wood in company history.
“We have heard from all types of golfers ranging from weekend players to tour pros that SLDR is the longest TaylorMade driver they have hit,” said Tom Olsavsky, TaylorMade’s Senior Director of Product Creation for Metalwoods. “This eye-opening distance gain is a result of the low and forward CG placement. This is the Holy Grail for distance and we anticipate similar fanfare for the SLDR fairway and Rescue clubs.”
Tour professionals wasted no time putting SLDR fairway woods in play. It debuted at the Tour Championship at East Lake where TaylorMade Tour Staff pros Justin Rose and D.A. Points both put an SLDR fairway wood in their bags. At the Frys.com Open, the SLDR fairway wood again saw action as nine players carried the club that week, including the tournament winner.
The other performance attribute in the new SLDR fairway and Rescue clubs is an improved Speed Pocket. As seen in the RocketBallz metalwood and in the RocketBladez irons, the Speed Pocket increases face flexibility to promote faster ball speed. Unlike the previous RocketBallz metalwood line-up, which had an open slot on the bottom of the clubhead, the SLDR has a more efficient Speed Pocket design featuring a polymer fill to keep grass and debris out of the pocket.
The improved, smaller Speed Pocket of SLDR fairways and Rescues also allowed TaylorMade engineers to move the clubhead’s CG lower and farther forward, resulting in faster ball speed, a higher launch angle and a lower spin-rate. The new Speed Pocket also allows the clubface to promote fast ball speed across a larger portion of the face to promote consistently long distance, swing after swing.
Awe-Inspiring Aesthetics
SLDR fairways and Rescues incorporate the same rich, charcoal-gray crown and traditional shaping as the SLDR driver. The dark crown-color contrasts agreeably with the silver-colored clubface to make it easy to align the face accurately at address. They also have a shallow face that delivers a clean and confidence-inspiring look at address.
TaylorMade’s Loft-Sleeve Technology
Available in both the SLDR fairways and Rescue clubs, TaylorMade’s Loft-Sleeve technology allows golfers to adjust the loft 1.5° up or down to dial in their optimal launch conditions. In the past, better players have been reluctant to play higher lofted metalwoods because of an increased spin rate. However, the new low-forward CG location dramatically reduces spin and results in greater distances with higher lofted clubs.
Shaft, Pricing & Availability
SLDR fairway woods are equipped with the Fujikura Speeder 77 graphite (43.25″) shaft. Five models/lofts are available: Tour Spoon (14°), 3 (15°), 3HL (17°), 5 (19°) and 5HL (21°). The manufacturer’s suggested retail price is $249 per club. An upgraded TP shaft, the Fujikura Motore Speeder TS 8.3, is also available at an MSRP of $349.
The stock SLDR Rescue shaft is the Fujikura Speeder 82 (41.25″), available in five models/lofts: 2 (17°), 3 (19°), 4 (21°) and 5 (24°). The stock model retails for $219, while the TP version, equipped with the Fujikura Motore Speeder TS 9.3 shaft, is available at an MSRP of $289.
SLDR fairways and Rescues will be available at retailers nationwide starting November 15.
