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.
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Photos of a new Callaway Forged iron popped up in our GolfWRX Forums, and our members are trying to figure out whether they’re going to be replacements for Apex Pro irons, or whether they’re an update on the Legacy series. They could also be X-Forged irons, but since Callaway recently came out with new X-Forged irons, that would be unlikely.
Here’s what GolfWRX Members are saying:
- elwhippy: A new Legacy iron? Looks a bit Japanese shaped.
- mattTHEkatt: Like an X-Forged/Legacy Black mashup. They look powerful.
- DTown3011: …gotta be the next Apex!
- J13: Pics look like a newer legacy black.
- mgholda: Pics look like a newer legacy black.
- TheMoneyShot: I thought Cally was going to phase out the Apex name after they released the MBs?
- john443: A larger cavity in these then the X- Forged… competitor to the 750 and AP3 maybe? …or Legacy Black finally brought to retail…hallelujah. CF16 replacement???!
- Equipto: These look very sharp, and like thumpers. I don’t care if they are a Legacy Black or Apex replacement, call them whatever… i’ll try them
- mrmikeac: Next gen Callaway Apex Legacy? Hmmmm…..
- Brizam: The Legacy Black might be the best players cavity back ever made. If they were to become available they’d move straight to the top of the list of clubs to buy for me.
- Jourdan M: This is the Apex Pro
Here are photos of the new Callaway irons we spotted
Previous Apex Pro irons
Previous Legacy irons
Which one do you think the new iron looks like?
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Wilson came out with its FG Tour V6 irons in 2016, but these new Raw versions have a different look… and with time, they’ll have a VERY different look.
The new FG Tour V6 Raw irons have an unplated finish, and they’re designed to “develop a unique patina based on age, exposure and use over time,” according to Wilson. This gives each iron a unique look, and one that’s far from the clean cut original FG Tour release that had a chrome finish (which won’t rust).
In addition to the rusting effect, the irons are different because they have a copper badge in the cavity that will eventually match the color of the golf club over time. Here’s a graphic mock-up of how the Raw irons may look overtime.
Like the original releases, the irons have tungsten weights and mass behind the impact area for a “forged feel” and “improved feedback,” according to the company.
The FG Tour V6 Raw irons are a custom option on Wilson.com, and are available through Wilson’s premium partner accounts as of today, Tuesday, June 19. According to Wilson, the Raw irons “are a very limited production run,” so only a certain amount of sets will even be built.
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Equipment
Chief Engineer Chris Voshall on Mizuno’s approach to the Tour and some of the most insightful pros
Mizuno’s Chief Engineer Chris Voshall chatted with Johnny Wunder on the latest episode of the Gear Dive.
Voshall offers innumerable interesting anecdotes–particularly interesting is the development of the JPX 900 iron for Brooks Koepka and Voshall’s discussion of his work with other Tour talents.
In the excerpt below, however, Voshall discusses Mizuno’s approach to Tour players and further, whose feedback has proven particularly valuable.
“We’re not making them something special. If they’re coming to us, it’s because the product is that good…They come to us instead of us having to go to them…that’s one of the really exciting things.”
Voshall indicated that players on Tour play essentially the same Mizuno products that are available at retail.
“If the Tour van is out of inventory, they can reach out to us…and we’ll get them more heads. There’s nothing unique about what they’re playing, which I think speaks to the customer…you can almost not trust marketing around the whole world these days, but for us to say ‘there’s nothing different’…that’s something we really hang our hat on.”
With respect to excellent testers on Tour, Voshall sang Luke Donald’s praises, as well as Jhonny Vegas and Brian Gay.
“I love working with Luke. Luke, especially when you’re talking irons…turf interaction, that’s the thing he’s looking for. So with Luke, you’ve really got to speak to him about how it feels, how it enter, how it exits [the turf] and how that’s causing the ball to launch. You could give him the exact same head with a slightly different sole grind, and he will love or hate one versus the other. He’s really cool to work with on that front.”
“Jhonny Vegas…he’s raw power. He goes at it. He wants to slam the club into the ground as hard as he can and see where it goes. He very much on the opposite end of the spectrum as Luke, who’s very much an artist out there, trying to work it, trying to do different things.”
“One of my favorite guys to work with, even though he’s not on staff anymore, is Brian Gay. He knows his game. He knows equipment. Speaking to the fact that he’s been out on Tour as long as he has and has the wins he has with the length he hits the ball, it shows that he does not miss a shot. And he knows everything…when he makes a comment on a club, that’s the one that I take most serious.”
For the rest of Voshall’s insights and perspective, give the full podcast a listen below.
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The story behind Jason Dufner’s new National Custom Works irons
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Jason Day’s Winning WITB: 2018 Wells Fargo Championship
Brooks Koepka WITB 2018
Spotted: New Titleist “TS2” and “TS3” drivers at the 2018 U.S. Open
Spotted: Ping i210 irons and Glide Forged wedges
Webb Simpson’s Winning WITB: The 2018 Players Championship
Brooks Koepka’s Winning WITB: 2018 U.S. Open
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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!