Equipment
TaylorMade to release 14-degree SLDR driver
TaylorMade urged golfers to dial up the loft on its August-released SLDR drivers, but no one could see them taking it this far. The company has announced that it will launch a 14-degree version of the SLDR driver, a loft that is usually reserved for 3 woods.
The move is unprecedented, but necessary according to TaylorMade officials because of the weight placement in the club. Most drivers on the market have a center of gravity (CG) above the neutral axis line – an imaginary line drawn from back end of the club that is perpendicular to the club’s face angle. The closer the CG is located to that line, the “lower spinning” a driver becomes.
The SLDR has a CG that is well forward of most drivers, which helps move it lower in the head. According to TaylorMade officials, a lower, more forward CG will help golfers get closer to the ultimate distance formula — a launch angle of 17 degrees with 1700 rpms of spin.
Above: This TaylorMade graphic shows how a lower, more forward CG can lower a driver’s spin. But the CG placement also decreases dynamic loft at impact. That can lead to drives that launch too low and with too little spin, particularly for golfers with slower swing speeds.
While SLDR’s ability to reduce spin has helped many better golfers hit their drives farther, it has proven to be troublesome for many golfers with slower swing speeds. For that reason, TaylorMade has decided to release a 14-degree SLDR that will help those golfers boost their launch and spin closer to ideal levels.
Launching the ball higher with less spin is almost always the recipe to give golfers more distance, but a driver designed with 14-degrees of loft seems a little drastic. If golfers truly need that much loft, they likely don’t have enough ball speed to fully benefit from the SLDR’s low and forward CG. They’d be better off with a driver that has a more rearward CG, which will increase spin and dynamic loft at impact and help them carry the ball farther.
This week, we have our Tour Photographer, Greg Moore, on the ground at the OccuNet Classic at Tascosa Golf Club in Amarillo, Texas, for the 14th event of the 2026 Korn Ferry Tour season. With that, we see some great things in the Lead Tape Report as we roll into Amarillo.
Joel Thelen
Monday Qualifier, Joel Thelen is in the field this week. He has played on the Korn Ferry Tour for a full season in 2023, and he is back in action this week. A couple of clubs caught my eye this week in his bag.
First off: His trusted Titleist 816 H2 hybrid. This club came out in October of 2015, and it still remains strong in the bag. Also, take a look at this Odyssey White Hot OG 7, putting a capital S in the 7S model. This custom neck has some impressive lean for an arm-lock-style putter. The bottom of the putter is covered in tape for optimal weighting.
Mitchell Meissner
Taking a look at Mitchell Meissner’s bag this week, we have some great lead tape coverage. Top to bottom working from fairway metals, irons, and wedges. We can see on the short irons and wedges that there is tape at the base of the grip, adding a little counterbalance. Along with that, some tape on the short irons and wedges as well. Moving to his putter, he rolls the Odyssey 7 Bird putter. Meissner putts left-handed and strikes the ball right-handed.
Bud Cauley had >14 clubs in his bag when photographed prior to the Memorial Tournament.
Driver: Titleist GTS2 (8 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 6 X
3-wood: Titleist GTS3 (15 degrees, B1 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Chemical Tensei 1K Pro Red 70 TX
7-wood: Titleist GTS3 (21 degrees, D1 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Chemical Tensei 1K Pro Red 80 TX
Irons: Titleist U505 (3), Titleist 620 MB (4-9)
Shafts: Fujikura Ventus Black HB 8 X, True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue
Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM11 (48-10F, 52-12F, 56-14F), WedgeWorks (60-K*)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400
Putters: Scotty Cameron Tour Prototype, Scotty Cameron GOLO 6.3 Prototype
Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet Align
Ball: Titleist Pro V1
In our forums, one user has offered up a prompt for the true sickos, inviting fellow forum members to share every set of irons they’ve ever owned. As to be expected, this is a lengthy forum topic.
@Lamosteve began:
Can you name every set of irons you’ve owned? Here’s mine
Spalding Dots
Spalding Eclipse
Ram Lazer FX
Lynx Parallax
Mizuno EZ Comp
Ben Hogans
Cleveland CG Red
Taylor Made R9s
PING i20
PING iE1
Taylor Made M6
Our members in the forum have been offering up their own collections. Here are a few posts from the thread, but make sure to check out the entire discussion and have your say at the link below.
- macedan: “Started with a hand-me-down Golden Bear set from my brother when I was in high school, never really played more than once a year or got into the game until about summer of 2017. First purchased a set of Cleveland CG4’s (I actually really miss this set sometimes, soft & not terribly large for a GI iron), moved into Nike Vapor Fly’s by the end of the year. Those lasted until spring of 18 when I decided I wanted new, so I traded them in for TM Rbladez. Honestly, although I liked the Rbladez, poor decision on my part, I think this was really about the only time so far that after a week or two I was kicking myself for not staying with what I had. Rbladez stayed with me until late last summer when I switched to P790’s and (knock on wood) I am hoping this will be my longest lasting set.”
- JimmyC59: “MacGregor Jack Nicklaus Triple Crown. Palmer The Standard. Still play these.”
- jgrzask: “Tommy Armour 845u
Mizuno MP-32
Mizuno MP-33 (2 sets)
Bridgestone J33cb – still own
Srixon i-302 (2 sets) – still own
Tourstage X-Blades – still own
Mizuno Hot Metal – still own
Nike Forged Blades – still own
Titleist 714 AP1 – still own
Cobra Forged SS – still own”
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Best irons 2026: Best irons overall, most forgiving irons, and more
Bud Cauley WITB 2026 (June)
Bud Cauley had >14 clubs in his bag when photographed prior to the Memorial Tournament. Driver: Titleist GTS2 (8 degrees) Shaft: Fujikura...
Hannah Green WITB 2026 (June)
Driver: Titleist GTS3 (10 degrees, D4 SureFit setting) Shaft: Mitsubishi Chemical Diamana RB 53 S 3-wood: Titleist GT3 (15 degrees,...
Asterisk Talley WITB 2026 (June)
Driver: TaylorMade Qi4D (9 degrees) Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Blue 6 S 3-wood: TaylorMade Qi4D (16.5 degrees) Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Blue...
Brianna Do WITB 2026 (June)
Driver: Callaway Quantum Triple Diamond (9 degrees) Shaft: KBS PGW 3-wood: Callaway Elyte Titanium (15 degrees) Shaft: KBS PGW 5-wood:...
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Mike
Feb 12, 2014 at 10:21 pm
These comments and the article miss out on a slice of good players and this product release may just (finally) help. I am a 5.6 index but that is after two terrible seasons, spent most of the last 35 years @ a 2-4 HDCP. My swing speed on any number of launch monitors (trackman mostly) consistently comes in @ 105-110+ with my driver. I had recently switched to a 12 degree Titleist and yet my launch is normally in the 7 degree range and 3000rpm spin, resulting in 250-260 yard drives, max. I have two golfing partners with similar launch conditions and of similar to better ability. These aren’t clubs to simply help the slow swinging super seniors. They may finally get my drives more in line with my 170+ yard carry 7 irons. I m excited to demo them!
Hertz
Dec 25, 2013 at 9:38 pm
Any idea on availability? Or is it still a maybe on if it will be released?
derek
Dec 21, 2013 at 12:47 pm
I found a 16 cleveland (ladies) driver , put a graff blue launch in it and it is longer than anything i have hit. g20 12 degree is moving out there but I dare you to try way more loft , it seems to be working
Regis
Dec 11, 2013 at 6:03 pm
Start with the understanding that most manufacturers market drivers with lofts that are higher than stamped on the head to placate the ego of golfers (who love to say that they are hitting an 8.5 or a 9.5). Add that most golfers with would benefit from playing a higher loft. Then factor in that I have an 85 mph swing speed and the SLDR is adjustable. Not a problem for me.
JEFF SMITH
Dec 11, 2013 at 2:33 pm
I have some nice boat fenders by Taylor Made. That would be the only thing I would use with that name on it!
nik dallos
Dec 10, 2013 at 6:24 pm
I have hit it once at dicks sporting goods. the only shafts they had were stiff and sub 60 gram. I couldn’t hit this thing for hell. I launched it so high even with a 9.5 degree head lofted down, that I hit moonballs that went….185 yards. with my swing wich is around 107 average, I couldn’t get it to go over 250, then with the most lazy non caring swing, I hit it 307 with only 100mph clubspeed and 140 ball speed. maybe dicks should drop 30$k on a trackman. so,maybe be the shaft I was using and the cheap hard cover balls, but I was not impressed with this thing. but it was inside, not on the course, so who am I to say.
nik dallos
Dec 10, 2013 at 6:25 pm
and man oh man am I in the wrong thread, sorry guys. long day
JimmyO
Dec 10, 2013 at 5:51 pm
This is nothing new. They’re currently called “HL” (high launch) in TM terms. Most major manufacturers offer something similar or have this type of loft in their women’s drivers. Most people’s ego just gets in the way of getting properly fit.
jc
Dec 10, 2013 at 12:15 pm
I am waiting until they come out with a 15 degree adjustable driver and the companion 10 degree 3 wood and 6 degree 5 wood. That should be in about 2 weeks from now.
Mx
Dec 10, 2013 at 2:34 pm
its funny because i ctually play my sldr at 10.5 degrees and my 3 wood at 11.5
kwoot
Dec 10, 2013 at 4:34 pm
WHAT ARE YOU 12,
TJ
Dec 10, 2013 at 11:02 am
for what ever distance I gained (Maybe 10 Yards) I find the accuracy of this club to be brutal. stick an extra inch on your current driver and you will come close to what this can offer in my opinion, with both the increase of distance and decrease in accuracy. I also understand that a lot of tour pros are using this model of driver so it could very well be me but I believe there is some truth to my statement.
kwoot
Dec 10, 2013 at 4:33 pm
Obviously you are not a very good golfer,
Mike ChonM
Dec 10, 2013 at 9:36 am
Should just use the 3 wood too tee off
P
Dec 9, 2013 at 1:27 pm
I’m going to use it for chipping.
Anthony Penney
Dec 8, 2013 at 9:42 pm
Tom Wishon stated a few years ago that people with a 09 mph.swing speed should be using a 13.5 ddegree lofted driver, using a garden hose effect for launch and distance. I agree!
Michael Garrard
Dec 8, 2013 at 9:37 pm
Hireko Golf has the Thriver, a 14 deg. driver type club, but with a 3-wood weight. That allows the club to be shorter, which also helps accuracy. I think it was designed for the senior golfer.
markb
Dec 8, 2013 at 8:25 pm
I don’t play the SLDR because it launched way too low for me. I tried putting a high launch shaft in my 10.5 and dialing it all the way up, but it still launched low. A 14° might work.
dave rose
Dec 8, 2013 at 6:56 pm
Not at all surprised they done this.. with the new technology.. carrying the 12 or 14 degree SLDR is the same as using the RBZ 9 o r 10.5 degree..but a lot longer.