High loft, Forwad CG- Fad or the Future

[BlkNGld]

It's not a breakthrough in driver technology. The physics are well understood.

What I think TM has done is ask themselves if there is a design out there that, rather that get an incremental (ie, questionable) benefit for everyone, what if they built a driver that has substantial benefit for a smaller number of players. Players that get a big benefit from a new club will tend to be vocal about it (or for a pro, will get some media coverage/mention).

In this case that's the player with a negative angle of attack. Even though the theories talk about hitting the ball on the upswing to get high launch and low spin, a lot of players don't do that with their woods. Mickelson is one of those guys.

You can see how the SLDR seems to be one of those polarizing clubs that people either love or hate. It's optimized for certain swings.

What it says to me is that if you're the kind of player that tends to hit down on the ball and create a lot of spin, you may not have to have a different swing with your longer clubs anymore. If you're already a sweeper though you hope it's more fad (or niche) than future.

[Nessism]

A higher and more forward CG will reduce forgiveness, but reduce spin. Question is how good is your swing and do you need the extra distance? Case in point is the comparison of Ping Anser vs. G25 drivers. Interestingly, most Ping staffers are using the G25, and those guys are the best players in the world.

Personally, I don't care about an extra 10 yards if it increases the severity of my misses.

[LittleLeftToRight]

They can move the COG all over kingdom come but it is still the swing that determines the majority of the flight characteristics. I was at a GS tonight hitting my driver and someone handed me a SLDR. After a few whacks he commented that it didn't help my numbers at all. Clubs aren't magic bullets.

 

s500's????

 

Sorry...

 

Yes that is not a typo. s500's. Believe your own eyes.

 

[Lacey Underall]

Just my opinion......if TM continues to move the weight forward they will lose market share in their woods to Ping and others. The average guy needs forgiveness and these are the golfers the OEMs covet. They make up the majority of the market. In fittings this year the G25 is dramatically more forgiving than any of the TM heads.

[DaBigSaus]

[quote name='Lacey Underall' timestamp='1384466636' post='8149698']
Just my opinion......if TM continues to move the weight forward they will lose market share in their woods to Ping and others. The average guy needs forgiveness and these are the golfers the OEMs covet. They make up the majority of the market. In fittings this year the G25 is dramatically more forgiving than any of the TM heads.
[/quote]

That's where the jetspeed line comes in. That is the target for those clubs.

[nova6868]

[quote name='Lacey Underall' timestamp='1384466636' post='8149698']
Just my opinion......if TM continues to move the weight forward they will lose market share in their woods to Ping and others. The average guy needs forgiveness and these are the golfers the OEMs covet. They make up the majority of the market. In fittings this year the G25 is dramatically more forgiving than any of the TM heads.
[/quote]

That's what I'm wondering.

For the average 20-25 capper who skies a couple drives every round, hits some way out on the toe, etc... then maybe catches one or two really well... wouldn't they be better served with maximum MOI and forgiveness?

[dplasters]

[quote name='nova6868' timestamp='1384472371' post='8150148']
[quote name='Lacey Underall' timestamp='1384466636' post='8149698']
Just my opinion......if TM continues to move the weight forward they will lose market share in their woods to Ping and others. The average guy needs forgiveness and these are the golfers the OEMs covet. They make up the majority of the market. In fittings this year the G25 is dramatically more forgiving than any of the TM heads.
[/quote]

That's what I'm wondering.

For the average 20-25 capper who skies a couple drives every round, hits some way out on the toe, etc... then maybe catches one or two really well... wouldn't they be better served with maximum MOI and forgiveness?
[/quote]

Don't worry, they will circle around on that demographic with new models in what.. 4 months?

[enduro]

Nike Coverts improvements were claimed as a result of it more forward COG, well before TM and the SLDR. Most reviews of the Covert (Tour model especially) didn't exactly rave about the forgiveness of that head. Moving the COG more forward is basically just trading off forgiveness for lower spinrates.

[roll - gybe]

Hey, I know TM marketing is a total joke... ...but...


I tried the SLDR on trackman and was getting 700 rpms less than other current drivers, and 200 rpm less than my low-lofted, low spin driver that I have to hit way up on. The SLDR allowed me to swing more level into the ball, which allows [u]me[/u] more control. As a result, I did bring my launch down as well. The head also looks deeper and more traditional than I expected out of TM.

So my obervations:
This clubhead is not for everyone, that is for sure.
TM marketing makes me want to avoid their products.
The SLDR is a new level low spin.

[northgolf]

I would think that moving the cg up would just reduce the gear effect and not affect forgiveness - this would just require reducing the bulge some. My understanding was that most of the forgiveness came from perimeter weighting.

[jgripp81]

One thing that's not brought up with all these low spin driver arguments much if at all is the new grooves in wedges and irons. People want to spin their wedges and now with these drivers offering lower spin, people can start going to a higher spinning ball. I wouldn't be surprised if they start releasing balls that spin more just because people won't lose distance because they are getting the same spin rate they were with lower spinning balls but are able to spin their wedges like they did in 09

[roll - gybe]

My first thought after trying the SLDR was - "I can play a pro v1 regular now"

[DaveMac]

A thought came to mind about the SLDR, and the forward CoG, higher loft lower spin marketing. I am sure you are all aware of OEM ego lofts (a driver stamped 9.5 might actually be as much as 12 degree), what if the main technology in the SLDR is simply true loft, so a 9.5 degree driver is actually 9.5 degrees, in effect this would instantly drop around 900 rpm of spin.

[pingfool]

2 key takeaways....w/ SLDR

1.YOU NEED TO GET FIT! ....to benefit from technology - and maximize performance

2. 105mph clubhead speed - 155mph ballspeed - produced 280yd carry & 300yd total

those #'s are heretofore unheard of

[mr_divots]

I've heard good things from enough people that I have to put this on the list for the spring. Dangit.

[DaBigSaus]

[quote name='mr_divots' timestamp='1384558218' post='8155390']
I've heard good things from enough people that I have to put this on the list for the spring. Dangit.
[/quote]

I should have ya come out to the TaylorMade performance lab with us divots. You can put ANY shaft you want in SLDR and have at it. I guarantee you'd bag one.

[mr_divots]

[quote name='Rob G.' timestamp='1384561037' post='8155584']
[quote name='mr_divots' timestamp='1384558218' post='8155390']
I've heard good things from enough people that I have to put this on the list for the spring. Dangit.
[/quote]

I should have ya come out to the TaylorMade performance lab with us divots. You can put ANY shaft you want in SLDR and have at it. I guarantee you'd bag one.
[/quote]
I should go out there soon. Been swinging well. Would be the time to do it. I definitely want to get fit if I take on this club.

[roll - gybe]

[quote name='DaveMac' timestamp='1384554389' post='8155184']
A thought came to mind about the SLDR, and the forward CoG, higher loft lower spin marketing. I am sure you are all aware of OEM ego lofts (a driver stamped 9.5 might actually be as much as 12 degree), what if the main technology in the SLDR is simply true loft, so a 9.5 degree driver is actually 9.5 degrees, in effect this would instantly drop around 900 rpm of spin.
[/quote]

I would like to think that, but it is not the case.