TaylorMade SLDR Fairway Wood Review
Last updated:
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At a glance
- TG Rating
- Owner Rating
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Pros
Return of traditional shape and colour as well as distance and versatility.
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Cons
Head size too small for game improvers.
What we say...
Technology
TaylorMade’s SLDR fairway wood maintains the driver’s philosophy of added distance through a forward centre of gravity (CG) and more loft, despite not featuring the sliding weight mechanism we saw in the driver.
Instead, a new cut-through “Speed Pocket” behind the face flexes with more efficiency than previous models. It places the CG lower and closer to the face for more ball speed and less spin. Like the SLDR driver, the woods are adjustable via the hosel. You can choose from 12 settings with TaylorMade’s “Loft Sleeve Technology”.
Come in lofts 14°, 15°, 17°, 19°. RRP £199 (Fujikura Speeder 77 shaft). TP version £249 with a Fujikura Motore Speeder TS 8.3 shaft.
Tested
As reviewed in our 2014 Fairway Woods Test – winner of our Gold Award: Ball speed consistently high, despite average club speed. Spin was very low. Very long – awesome from the tee, loads of run. Into a green I wouldn’t be that confident. I could go 16° and get a similar distance to 15° woods. Like the shape and size, but might be a too small for some. Balls come off fast and low spin means you get a really strong flight. Might add some loft to make it more versatile. That said, it was good from the rough. Felt really hot from the middle and decent performance from the heel and toe too.