Equipment
TaylorMade launches White SLDR Driver, appoints new CEO
If you were a fan of the white drivers TaylorMade has been making in recent years, you might have a new favorite model. The company’s is releasing its SLDR 460 driver in white.
“The white crown with black button-back delivers a remarkable appearance at address,” said Brian Bazzel, TaylorMade’s senior director of metal wood product creation. “Many golfers fell in love with white when it came out in 2011, and now we are delivering a limited-edition white SLDR with low and forward CG for more distance when you loft up.”
The SLDR 460 drivers (click here to read our review) were released this summer with glossy, charcoal-painted crowns that were a departure from the company’s three straight years of white-painted metal woods, which included the R11, R11S, RBZ and R1 and RBZ Stage 2 models. The move didn’t come as a total shock to the industry, however, as TaylorMade’s release of a black-painted version of its R1 driver in May 2013 hinted that the company was headed away from white.
When the company released its first white driver, the R11 in 2011, the launch was met with intense skepticism in the industry. It proved to be a runaway success, however, as TaylorMade’s share of metal woods sales swelled from 30 percent at the start of 2011 to 52 percent in May 2012, according to Forbes.
The amount of non-traditional painted driver heads among top equipment manufacturers has increased significantly in recent years, making a white driver much less polarizing than it once was. Nike’s flagship drivers, the Covert 2.0 models, are painted a glossy red color, while Cobra offers its premium drivers, the Bio Cell and Bio Cell+, in five different colors.
The white SLDR drivers ($399) will be available in lofts of 9.5, 10.5, 12 and 14 degrees with a stock Fujikura Speeder 57 shaft in senior, regular, stiff and x-stiff flexes. They’re currently available for pre-order, and will be available in stores on May 2.
Leadership Change
New Adidas Group North America President Mark King will continue his involvement with the Hack Golf organization he founded, and remain a part of the PGA of America task force dedicated to growing the game of golf.
TaylorMade also announced Thursday morning that CEO Mark King has been appointed President of Adidas Group North America effective June 1. He will be replaced by Ben Sharpe, the current executive vice president of Adidas Golf and Ashworth, and will report to Adidas Group CEO Herbert Hainer.
“Mark King’s appointment underlines our clear commitment to the North American marketplace,” Hainer said. “Mark has a proven track record of success and leadership excellence. In turn, TaylorMade-adidas Golf is in best hands with Ben Sharpe who has been part of the successful TaylorMade leadership team since 2006. I am convinced that Ben will lead our golf business into the next era of growth.”
King started with TaylorMade as a sales rep in the 1980s. He was appointed president of the company in 1999, when sales were $347 million. King has since grown TaylorMade to be the largest and most profitable golf company in the world, with sales of 1.7 billion in 2013.
Sharpe, 40, spent six years as TaylorMade’s managing director in Europe prior to becoming the EVP of Adidas Golf and Ashworth in 2006. As managing director, he doubled the company’s business in the region, and also represented Great Britain in the 2000 Summer Olympic Games as a member of the country’s field hockey team.
“Ben’s business savvy, vision, charisma and competitive drive make him the right man to lead TaylorMade-adidas Golf into the future,” King said “My role on the board will allow me to stay connected with the golf business while focusing my efforts on ensuring adidas Group reaches its full potential in North America.”
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Whats in the Bag
Patrick Reed WITB 2024 (May)
- Patrick Reed what’s in the bag accurate as of the PGA Championship. More photos from the event here.
Driver: Ping G400 (8.5 degrees)
Shaft: Aldila Rogue Silver 125 MSI 70 Tour X
3-wood: Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Triple Diamond (15 degrees)
Shaft: Aldila Rogue Silver 125MSI 80 Tour X
Hybrid: Callaway Apex Pro (18 degrees)
Shaft: Aldila RIP Phenom Hybrid 100 TX
Irons: Titleist 716 TMB (2), Grindworks PR-202 (4), Grindworks PR-101A (5-PW)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100
Wedges: Cleveland RTX ZipCore (50-10 Mid), Titleist Vokey Design SM9 (56-08M @55), SM10 (60-04T)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400
Putter: Odyssey White Hot RX Pt Customs No. 2
Ball: Titleist Pro V1
Grips: Golf Pride MCC
More photos of Patrick Reed’s WITB in the forums.
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Equipment
John Daly’s $750 custom irons and 10 must-see gear photos from the 2024 PGA Championship
Welcome to the 2024 PGA Championship at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Kentucky.
In the last two PGA Championships held at Valhalla, Tiger Woods won in 2000 – when he famously pointed his golf ball into the hole during the historic duel with Bob May – and Rory McIlroy won the 2014 event, basically in the dark on the final hole.
The point is, history shows that Valhalla tends to produce top-tier champions and plenty of drama.
This week at the 2024 PGA Championship, GolfWRX got its first up-close look at what some of the LIV Tour players have in their bags in 2024. We also caught back up with a few PGA Championship legends, such as Rich Beem and John Daly, and we dove into the bags of PGA Sectional qualifiers, too.
In total, we captured 47 different photo galleries this week, including 32 individual What’s In The Bag (WITB) forum threads. Click here to see all of our photos from the event, or continue reading to see my 10 equipment highlights from Valhalla.
1) Brooks Koepka’s new putter
Koepka was previously using a Scotty Cameron T5.5 putter with a slant neck, which he used to win at the beginning of the month in Singapore on the LIV tour. This week, however, he tried a T5.5 with a plumbers neck instead of the slant neck, and it’s immediately going in the bag. According to Scotty Cameron Tour rep Drew Page, Koepka already loved the head, and now finds the plumbers neck a bit more familiar to the blade-style putters he’s used throughout most of his career.
2) The lead tape king returns, with putting goggles
Phil Mickelson has always been one of the GOATs when it comes to lead tape usage, so it was no surprise to see his 64-degree custom Callaway wedge slathered with slabs of lead tape on the back.
The big surprise was that lefty was spotted using ProAim putting training goggles on Wednesday during his warm-up session.
The ProAim goggles are helpful to find center lines and ensure proper alignment to the target.
See Phil Mickelson’s full WITB from the 2024 PGA Championship
3) Dobyns’ old-school gamer setup
Speaking of lead tape, check out Matt Dobyn’s old Titleist 718 T-MB irons, which are so loaded with lead tape that the club is nearly unrecognizable.
Respect.
The head professional at Meadow Brook Club is making his sixth start in a PGA Championship, and he’s using a throwback Callaway GBB Epic driver with MOI-boosting lead tape and adjustable weight placements.
As GolfWRX Forum user “InTheBag” pointed out in our Matt Dobyns’ WITB thread, he has the type of setup that makes you want to hide your wallet: “I don’t know Mr. Dobyns, but one look at that bag tells me he can take your money,” writes InTheBag.
Spot on.
4) John Daly’s custom Sub70 irons and wedges
We first saw John Daly using $750 direct-to-consumer Sub70 659-CB irons and TAIII wedges at the 2023 PNC Championship, and he still has them in the bag, but he’s since stepped up the customization on the Sub70 clubs.
Does Daly ever NOT keep things entertaining?
View this post on Instagram
A true showman.
5) DJ’s custom putter
Dustin Johnson has always been one to test multiple putters week-to-week, and he has a keen eye for different alignment lines and crowns. This week, he’s opting for a completely gray TaylorMade Spider Tour “T3.0” prototype with a short slant neck.
See the rest of DJ’s WITB from the week here
6) Patrick Reed still rocking GrindWorks irons
Patrick Reed knows his stuff when it comes to equipment, and he’s a prolific tester. Still, however, the GrindWorks PR-101A irons are squarely in the bag after his departure to the LIV tour.
The most notable new addition to Reed’s bag is this Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Triple Diamond 3-wood.
Click here to see Reed’s full WITB from this week
7) Beem’s Scratch set
Rich Beem, who won the 2002 PGA Championship at Hazeltine National, came to the 2024 PGA Championship at Valhalla with a bag full of Scratch Golf irons, which are loaded with lead tape and equipped with some of the coolest custom ferrules in professional golf.
See Rich Beem’s full WITB here
8) Jon Rahm’s 10-iron
Before going to LIV, Rahm was using a Callaway Apex TCB pitching wedge.
Now, he’s using a Callaway Apex TCB “10 iron.”
He’s also since upgraded to three Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke metalwoods, and fresh stampings on his Jaws Raw wedges. Click here to see Rahm’s full WITB from the 2024 PGA Championship.
9) “Why so serious?”
Tyrrell Hatton, another LIV player in the 2024 PGA Championship field, channels his inner Joker to ask everyone, “Why so serious?”
10) Block’s “Proto” iron, from address
As you probably know by now, Block switched out of his old TaylorMade Tour Preferred MC 2014 irons, and into a full set of TaylorMade’s new “Proto” irons. We’ve already seen the Proto 4-iron in the bags of Rory McIlroy and Collin Morikawa, but this is our first look at the higher-lofted irons in the set.
Here’s a look at the 7-iron from address:
See what GolfWRX members are saying about the Proto irons in our Forums
And, with that, we say goodbye to Louisville, and the second major championship of the 2024 season. We’ll see you next week at the 2024 Charles Schwab Challenge in Fort Worth, Texas after a champion has been crowned.
Until then, don’t forget to check out all of our photos from this week at the 2024 PGA Championship!
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Whats in the Bag
Club Junkie WITB, league night week 5: Another L.A.B. putter arises
We will be one quarter of the way through Thursday night men’s league season after this week. BK played much better last week, so he is hoping to continue that success and post another good score.
Here are the 14 clubs that will hopefully win him some skins!
Driver: PXG 0311 Black Ops (9 degrees, neutral setting)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Blue 6 X (2024)
3-wood: Cobra Dark Speed LS Titanium (14.5 degrees, set +1)
Shaft: Graphite Design Tour AD IZ-7x
Fairway: Callaway Apex UW (19 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura ATMOS Tour Spec Blue 8 X
Hybrid: PXG 0311 Black Ops 4h (22 degrees, Flat Setting)
Shaft: KBS Tour Graphite Hybrid Prototype 85 S
Irons: TaylorMade P770 Phantom Black (5-PW)
Shaft: KBS Tour 120 Stiff
Wedge: PXG Sugar Daddy II (50-13 BP)
Shaft: Nippon Modus3 Tour 120 Stiff
Wedge: PXG Sugar Daddy II (56-13 BP)
Shaft: Nippon Modus3 Tour 120 Stiff
Wedge: PXG Sugar Daddy II (60-13 BP)
Shaft: Nippon Modus3 Tour 120 Stiff
Putter: L.A.B. Mezz.1 Max
Shaft: Accra x L.A.B. White
Ball: Titleist ProV1 Enhanced Alignment
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bradford
May 8, 2014 at 1:12 pm
I really like the looks of this club. The SLDR was very refined looking, but I couldn’t stand the glossy grey head…just didn’t fit my eye but to each his own on that front.
ND Hickman
Apr 30, 2014 at 7:21 pm
Hate to admit it but I kinda want this. I had an R11S and I hated what they did with the R1’s paint job.
HackerDav
Apr 29, 2014 at 12:05 pm
Say what you will, no other brand in golf generates the amount of emotion… good or bad, than TMaG. 47 comments on a new driver color? It says a lot about their place in the industry… that being at the top of it whether people like it or not.
Matt
Apr 28, 2014 at 9:57 am
Here comes a lemming. Get yourself fit for a SLDR. Limited shaft offerings? Go to the site. Everything you could possibly want. SLDR knocked 1500 off my spin rate. I carried the G25 260 last year with 165 ball speed. My 12 * 460SLDR ADDI6X combo…Carrying it 285. 18* launch/1600 spin. If that makes me a koolaid drinker…fine, Ill take the Red.
JoeJumpMaster
Apr 26, 2014 at 6:00 pm
Next out (in 6 weeks) will be the JetBallz (wait, jets are slower than rockets, but TM will tell you they’re faster) Tour TP Mini white painted (faster, too) and it’s 37.6 yards longer.
And later this summer, they will buy a Persimmon forest, and harvest all the trees and grind them into 11 degree drivers, and tell you that their “enhanced persimmon treating process” is longer than titanium, and it’s not subject to the pesky .83 CoR rule, and that the persimmon driver will make you “Dustin Long.”
Thomas
Apr 20, 2014 at 7:41 pm
The white paint color increases accuracy 5%….
JEFF SMITH
Apr 20, 2014 at 2:18 am
wow…. how original!
Deaus
Apr 18, 2014 at 11:30 am
Now that Mark King has gotten every bit of the Market share he can and has made the company more “valuable” and the company has no place to go but down or level out he leaves so he wont have to take the Heat from Board or shareholders when the company does not continue to grow. His Undercover boss episode proved to me that Taylormade does not care about anything but growing the company(not Golf). From the lowest quality tolerances to claiming white paint increases accuracy. I refuse to support a company like that, even though every 3 or 4 years they release something great (r510 tp, Superquad tp)
fhdsjk
Apr 18, 2014 at 4:45 pm
Superquad TP for the record!! I game that baby and am still yet to be out driven by newer technologies.
Brandon
Aug 31, 2014 at 4:54 pm
that’s because they made good stuff back then. r7 425 still my favorite from that brand.
NG
Apr 18, 2014 at 5:56 pm
And tell me your business is not for profit right?
Brian Butler
Apr 20, 2014 at 9:30 pm
You are some kind of idiot. What is the point of that kind of negativity. Taylormade just does it better then anyone else. Mark King has surrounded himself with smart, talented people. Just because you are not a fan does not mean that you have to be so negative. Get over it. It’s just sport.
Dre
Apr 18, 2014 at 10:45 am
Why do so many people b*%ch and complain (hate), you have a choice – don’t want it or don’t like it – move on. Big corp goons are all about making money and they think change is progress.
I play a mix bag and whatever gets the job done should be the ultimate goal. In addition, I switch drivers every so often like my girlfriends, it could be black, white, red, yellow, etc…
I do want to add that if you have proper fitting, this driver is a low spinning bomber.
Tim
Apr 18, 2014 at 9:40 am
I recently hit one up again my current gamer.. my gamer smoked the SLDR from the fitting cart with it’s limited shaft offerings. Allow for my shaft offerings and I might try head to head again.. otherwise no need to change. GolfWRX will help promote it.. and in 3 months they will do the same for the V2 of it.
joro
Apr 18, 2014 at 9:00 am
Wonder when TM will make White Irons. Good Luck Mark, now is it going to be new styles every week?
HD
Apr 18, 2014 at 9:00 am
I play a white driver to match my belt, and a black golf ball to match the soul of Mark King
Bert
Apr 18, 2014 at 1:27 am
When does the white Jetspeed come out? I smell a Dick’s exclusive
CT
Apr 18, 2014 at 1:09 am
Low spin and a 17 degree launch is not the holy grail. I used to love TM, but I have stopped drinking the kool aid. Too many great drivers out there (Callaway, PING, Titleist, Cobra, etc). It is called product assurance people. It is nice to know that a club will not be drastically discounted/replaced a month after I shell out 400 bucks.
Chuck
Apr 18, 2014 at 1:05 am
What is the over/under on a “new” TM driver by August? The SLDR frankly is not a very forgiving club and most the hacks (swing speed under 90) I fit at Golfsmith should not be hitting it.
neil
Apr 19, 2014 at 5:36 am
Im not a hack but I coudnt hit it.
had a Ping G15 against it and it was night and day better than the SLDR.
Im a decent player 6 cap and just over 90mph.
CT
Apr 20, 2014 at 2:32 pm
PING clubs have amazing longevity. That company does not release inferior products ever
Jon
Apr 20, 2014 at 3:56 pm
Well as a fitter you should know the jetspeed is the right driver
CT
Apr 20, 2014 at 7:40 pm
300 bucks w/ a free hybrid or fairway wood! Must be a great club, so good they need an incentive to buy it
erkr
Apr 18, 2014 at 12:39 am
White Taylormade drivers are nice.
Chris
Apr 17, 2014 at 10:08 pm
Of course …. It’s been 3 months since they put something new out… I mean painted something a different color and calling it a “new” driver absolutely rediculous !!!!! I’ll stick with the Kings of Distance
lee
Apr 17, 2014 at 9:37 pm
I would love to have seen one with a silver crown and black bottom (same as the mini driver).
Mike
Apr 18, 2014 at 9:21 am
You will…
Dave
Apr 17, 2014 at 9:34 pm
The Taylormade rodeo is almost over, Callaway has caught them and Titleist dosnt care! If it wasn’t for the cash most of the PGA would play Titleist and Callaway.
Charlie
Apr 19, 2014 at 1:06 am
+1
HackerDav
Apr 29, 2014 at 12:03 pm
Not sure what you mean in terms of Callaway catching them. As of March, Taylormade still has substantially more marketshare in every category in comparison to them… I can almost certainly assure you that Titleist does in fact care. These are businesses we’re talking about, no hobbies. The sole purpose of these companies is to make money and sell products. Period.
bradford
May 8, 2014 at 1:10 pm
Why wouldn’t “Titleist” care? Acushnet has been trying to avoid going under for ten years. It’s better because it’s more expensive just isn’t holding up anymore.
Vansmack73
Apr 17, 2014 at 8:22 pm
I am in Tokyo now and just saw a black sldr 430
burner42
Apr 17, 2014 at 8:00 pm
Any word on if or when they will make a white SLDR Driver in the TP model?
WILSON
Apr 28, 2014 at 5:57 pm
The same time as the basic one. Check the website.
jc
Apr 17, 2014 at 7:41 pm
they need to make a clear head and then you could put in your own color…maybe mix up some foot coloring and put it in the special taylor made hole (the device will cost 50 dollars extra).
Peter Williams
Apr 17, 2014 at 7:09 pm
I’m now hitting my drives 450m since I first bought a TM Burnet years ago. I’m so grateful that I can add 15m every 6 months
Tony Lynam
Apr 17, 2014 at 7:01 pm
Of course they came out with this club, NOW.
Lee H
Apr 17, 2014 at 6:01 pm
Saw the white model in person. Looks great.
Rodney
Apr 17, 2014 at 5:46 pm
I get the hate for Taylor made, but this isn’t a ‘new driver’, just a different colour, isn’t it just what Callaway & cobra do with their colour choices for drivers? But don’t let facts get in the way of a good rant!!
MD
Apr 17, 2014 at 5:21 pm
Well said ……. If you don’t want the best then use your old a$$ equipment !
SA golfer
Apr 17, 2014 at 4:01 pm
I just hate it when Taylor Made forces people to buy new products……stop hating…..if you don’t like it don’t buy it. Simple
Roger
Apr 17, 2014 at 1:48 pm
Great to see another New Model !
Those tired old R1’s are now very affordable used !
Clearly i’m giving up 17 yards to the SLDR..but
MY ego is ok with a 250 yard driver In The Fairway!
Happy Easter.
Don’t forget, TM is committed to The Growth Of Golf.
That means they are Our Friend ! Wishing you all a Happy Easter !
benseattle
Apr 17, 2014 at 1:24 pm
Damn, do Mark King’s new responsibilities mean that we won’t be able to take advantage of TaylorMade’s traditional bi-annual new product introduction cycle? I love the fact that I can pick up another 17 yards every six months just by spending a paltry $400 on a new driver. I mean, this IS the best way to grow the game, right?
HD
Apr 17, 2014 at 3:03 pm
copy/paste much?
paul
Apr 17, 2014 at 6:47 pm
Ha ha. Agreed
TheFightingEdFioris
Apr 17, 2014 at 1:05 pm
I understand the hate and skepticism.. But one thing people cannot deny is that these products just WORK. Did TM really need to bring out a white version? Probably not, but they like making money like anyone else. I was annoyed when I bought the R1 black and then SLDR came out, but I would be even more annoyed if the clubs weren’t fantastic.
MBA-J
Apr 17, 2014 at 10:02 pm
So do other golf clubs from other golf manufacturers not work? I’m confused…
Reggie Ramos
Apr 17, 2014 at 12:48 pm
The Taylormade SLDR driver white with glossy black bottom sounds awesome.
Van BTs
Apr 17, 2014 at 11:46 am
I dig it! Would probably have the crown refinished in Black, but I could give white a shot.
adam
Apr 17, 2014 at 11:29 am
They need to make a SLDR Superdeep in black, just like the R9.
lco21
Apr 17, 2014 at 11:12 am
And let the hate begin in 3…2…1……
MHendon
Apr 17, 2014 at 12:57 pm
And here it comes, Know actually I like the look of it and don’t really care how often Taylormade brings new product to the market. If people want to buy in to the B.S. that Taylormade spews every 3 to 4 months, more power to them!
Frank
Apr 19, 2014 at 10:07 pm
And let the lemmings come to TM’s defense in 3…2…1…