Equipment
Spotted: TaylorMade SLDR Fairway Wood
Check out the photos of TaylorMade’s new SLDR fairway wood, which was being tested by Dustin Johnson at the Tour Championship.
The SLDR fairway wood does not have the sliding weight track that was featured on the company’s new SLDR driver. Instead, it has what appears to be a new version of TaylorMade’s Speed Pocket, which like the slot on the company’s new SpeedBlade iron has curved design that looks to cut all the way through the club’s sole. It also has an adjustable hosel that seems to have the same adjustability as the SLDR driver, 1.5 degrees up or down from the standard loft.
Johnson was the first player to test the club at East Lake, a 15.5-degree model, but according to TaylorMade tour reps it’s still up in the air if Johnson will put the club in play this week at East Lake.
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”
Justin Rose WITB 2026 (April): Full WITB breakdown with new McLaren irons
What’s the story behind Webb Simpson’s custom-stamped irons?
Memorial Tournament Tour Report: Rory McIlroy, Cameron Young switch up drivers, and more
Cadillac Championship Tour Report: Spieth’s sizable changes, McLaren Golf launches, and more
Russell Henley’s winning WITB: 2026 Charles Schwab Challenge
Kristoffer Reitan’s winning WITB: 2026 Truist Championship
Aaron Rai’s winning WITB: 2026 PGA Championship
J.T. Poston’s winning WITB: 2026 Memorial Tournament
Cameron Young’s winning WITB: 2026 Cadillac Championship
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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P Healey
Oct 1, 2013 at 1:28 pm
I believe that the R9 was the last good driver from Taylormade. Everything with an “R” in front of it has been kind of a joke to be honest, and with the constant new releases it is tough for a purist to like Taylormade. But, the SLDR, unlike the R11s, R1, and the RBZs, has captured my attention. I like that there is actually some technology behind it, unlike recent Taylormade drivers which are just about “more adjustability!!!” I am definitely looking forward to trying the SLDR, mainly because of the notion that it is a very low spinning driver. Overall, I think that this is the first promising driver from Taylormade in a while and am excited to try it out soon. Hopefully Taylormade doesnt let me down although I am trying not to get my hopes up!
MB
Nov 20, 2013 at 9:43 pm
The SLDR once matched to the right shaft and the weighting placed by adjusting the sldr mechanism, I have improved my driving distance by 20 yds and am more accurate.
I recently played in a tournament in Fl with 3 members of my home club. I have always been shortest off the tee, (one our pro, and other 2 2-3 hcps and very long) wirh my prior Nike and R 11 before that I was always 20 yds short. But, since my SLDR and Fujikura Fuel stiff shaft, and settings with a draw bia on weights, I crushed to be longer than all but my freaky long pal, Doug. More than that consitsent in center right of tight fairways. By end of trip all were serious about getting SLDR. It Rocks
bl21
Sep 20, 2013 at 4:24 pm
Oh, sweet…. how soon until we can get one for half price?
Kc
Oct 1, 2013 at 12:56 pm
Like 🙂
Tim
Sep 19, 2013 at 10:57 am
Well I certainly have to give them a round of applause. They keep pumping out product and consumers keep buying it. The sole looks quite a bit like the RBZ (slot is a bit different). I do like the change in the paint color. For now I think I will stick with my VSteels.
Dave
Sep 18, 2013 at 8:48 pm
As mentioned, R11 and R11s didn’t have weights, the head isn’t big enough. Plus with the SLDR weight turf interaction would be even more of an issue than with the slot.
TaylorMade gets the fact that the customer base is broken into segments, innovators & early adopter consumers will always buy new b/c it’s new. Early and late majority will buy some at full and at rebate/reduced pricing. The laggards will clean out what’s left at a nice discount. Decide where you fall on that curve and buy what you can afford. I don’t understand the haters, other than TM is clearly winning the club-selling fight… It’s actually BETTER for the consumer to have this accelerated product life cycle. More options, pricing reductions which offset depreciation, etc.
Taylerhater
Sep 18, 2013 at 8:36 pm
The last good fairway taylormade had was the 07 burner TP. I played it for years until the 913FD took it out. The 913FD is a fairway finder beast!!
Dan
Sep 19, 2013 at 8:05 pm
did the same thing
Randy
Sep 18, 2013 at 5:53 pm
They have a small company named gigagolf that has been developing and put out a fairway that looks very similar to this earlier this year. It’s under their pursuit line, they also had a driver with that same slot that they put out 3-5 years ago I think. They even have similar weight cut outs.on the sole. Not a big TM fan, now they are starting to show that technology is not a priority. How do they not put a movable weight on a line that they market a SLDR sliding weight? Step backwards for TM.
Wayne
Sep 18, 2013 at 2:38 pm
What a scam! I still play the 200 steel 3/5 woods reshafted with an Arthur Xcaliber T6.
joro
Sep 18, 2013 at 1:07 pm
Face it, newer is not always better, but it does pull out the suckers that think they buying a game, or the egotists who have to have the newest. Wise people spend their money on a GOOD teacher.
andy
Sep 18, 2013 at 12:42 pm
haha! how absurd.
chris
Sep 18, 2013 at 11:38 am
Combination of the R9 and RBZ fairway woods
Anthony
Sep 18, 2013 at 10:38 am
I’m not sure why more people aren’t happy about this. I think it would be difficult for TM fans who want to upgrade to the newest driver technology to play a gray driver with matte white fairway woods. i think it’s great to maintain a consistency of look throughout the set.
MFB
Sep 18, 2013 at 10:16 am
Wait about 6 months and you can get it for half price when the new SLDR2 woods come out.
gary
Sep 21, 2013 at 2:36 pm
Lol too true.
paul
Sep 21, 2013 at 4:48 pm
Im hoping titleist comes out with a new driver so i can pick up a 913 d3 soon.
OP
Sep 18, 2013 at 9:23 am
Its just looks like the R9 fairway with new graphics. Yawn!
David Winchester
Sep 18, 2013 at 5:57 am
To my eyes the head looks like the old Titleist 906 range.
Popo
Sep 18, 2013 at 1:55 am
TM should provide us with a “Slot-cleaning” stick
JD
Sep 17, 2013 at 11:34 pm
This thing looks graat, SOOOOOO happy the white trend has come and gone, despite that last statment, I’m still gaming a superfast 2.0 TP 3w and a R11s 5w, love them both, been hard to get out of the bag. Interested to hit this, IMO taylormade makes the best fairway woods.
Desmond
Sep 18, 2013 at 11:09 am
You’re jerking us around, right?
TM makes very unfriendly fairway woods.
The stock shafts are of poor quality, the heads are not exactly high launching, and the stock lengths are a prescription for failure.
Cannon
Sep 17, 2013 at 10:48 pm
Taylormade is making its return to golf clubs and taking a break from the toy industry…
Andrew
Oct 14, 2013 at 9:02 pm
I totally agree with you this club looks great and classic, but you gotta admit those “toys” are pretty fun. R1 owner*
Desmond
Sep 17, 2013 at 10:13 pm
I’m waiting for them to sell the fairway wood for the rest of us … you know, the guys with moderate swing speeds.
Tried the RBZ and Stage 2 – failures for normal guys.
Bye, TM.
eg
Sep 17, 2013 at 9:38 pm
the speedpocket there looks like a smiling minion
Dan
Sep 17, 2013 at 9:26 pm
reminds me of the burner TP 3W
cj
Sep 17, 2013 at 8:45 pm
I might actually like this TM fairway wood
Rick
Sep 17, 2013 at 7:42 pm
This is Taylormade being bored and putting their marketing department to the test.
“Can we take a club we released last year (RBZ fairway wood, original), paint it grey, call it a Little Hamburger, and still get people to buy a “new” club!? Let’s try!”
NG
Sep 17, 2013 at 9:33 pm
Well done- first negetive comment! I propose you have your eyes checked…first things first, the speed pocket is totally different by the look of it so your statement the have restamped an painted this club is a load of…!
pooch
Sep 17, 2013 at 6:13 pm
Looks like a deep face for a lower trajectory. Better have some swing speed.
Billy
Sep 17, 2013 at 5:22 pm
I like these better than the driver, and I am not a TM fan at all.
NG
Sep 17, 2013 at 4:16 pm
Best looking fairway I’ve seen in a long time from TM, almost has a Vsteel look about it….and with speed pocket, I’m in!
R
Sep 17, 2013 at 2:46 pm
if the feel and sound are as good on this wood as they are on the driver i’m buying
Lloyd
Sep 17, 2013 at 1:55 pm
Well wot can I say I want one or two now great looking club perfect match for the SLDR driver
Will o'the Glen
Sep 17, 2013 at 1:49 pm
The Marketing Team seems to be wagging the dog at TaylorMade.
KK
Sep 17, 2013 at 1:45 pm
SLDR without the SLDR feature. Kinda like a Speedblade without the blade. I think TM is doing this intentionally to annoy discerning golfers and TM critics. Next, they will turn bladed putters into precision mallets, hybrids into driving hyper-irons and 3 woods into inverted mega-swing tour driving pistons.
MorikawaTMaG
Sep 18, 2013 at 12:47 am
you wont see a diffrence in woods, its like why they didnt have the movable weights in the r11 and r11s woods
yomomma
Sep 17, 2013 at 1:35 pm
It doesn’t even have a sliding weight! haha this is an entirely different concept then the SLDR driver, so why the same name…?
Alex
Sep 17, 2013 at 4:53 pm
Being so die hard Titleist and being so against Taylormade I can’t really believe I’m saying this but I actually like the look of this club.
Cannon
Sep 17, 2013 at 10:46 pm
Has a finish that looks similar to old titliest woods.
joe
Sep 19, 2013 at 2:58 pm
hahaha… totally agree… it does look nice though
MorikawaTMaG
Sep 17, 2013 at 1:12 pm
nice!