TaylorMade SLDR Driver
TaylorMade SLDR Driver
When a company uses all-upper case letters in the name of a club, those letters are typically an acronym. Not in the case of "SLDR," the name of the newest TaylorMade Golf driver. "SLDR" is for "Slider," and it describes an innovation TaylorMade introduces in this driver.
So far, adjustable weighting systems on drivers have consisted of stationary weights. You can screw them in, screw them out, change from one gram-weight to another to affect ball flight.
The TaylorMade SLDR, however, using a sliding weight system - a weight literally slides across the bottom of the driver. Want to counteract a hook or draw? Slide the weight toward the fade side. Want to fight a slice? Slide it toward the draw side.
The slider mechanism really functions like a dial. Dial in your shot shap preference by sliding the 20-gram weight in the appropriate direction along its track, toward the toe or heel, or somewhere in the middle. (Position the weight toward the heel to promote a draw, toward the toe to promote a fade.) Repositioning the weight requires loosening and then tightening the screw in the weight.
The SLDR mechanism moves the driver's center of gravity low but more forward, something TaylorMade says promotes a hotter launch, lower spin and fast speeds off the face. Or, to put it more simply: More distance.
The TaylorMade SLDR driver is also adjustable for loft through the company's Loft-Sleeve Technology. The SLDR weight can affect shot shape by up to 30 yards; the loft can be changed to one of 12 positions with a range of 1.5 degrees up or down.
The crown of the SLDR is charcoal gray. The driver comes in lofts of 8, 9.5, 10.5 and 12 degrees. A Fujikura Speeder 57 graphite shaft is stock. A SLDR TP version replaces the Speeder 57 with a Speeder Tour Spec 6.3 graphite shaft. The MSRP is $399. taylormadegolf.com
Compare prices for TaylorMade drivers
Fourteen Golf FH-1000FG Forged Irons
Fourteen Golf's FH-1000FG Forged Irons are the first forged blades offered by the company. They will be available in the traditional set configuration of 3-iron through pitching wedge.
As you can probably tell from the use of the term "forged blades," these irons are aimed at low-handicap golfers who "can maximize the advantage of the muscle back design and will appreciate their workability," in the words of company COO Marcy Kamoda.
Fourteen calls the clubhead design a "Reverse Muscle Back Design." The lower half of the clubface is backed by a full muscleback; the top half of the clubface is thin at its middle (looking at it from sole up to topline) and slightly thickens as the clubface moves up to its topline. The design allows for better spin control, according to Kamoda.
The center of gravity in the long irons is lower to help with a higher launch angle and softer landings, but the CG position moves higher in the short irons.
The FH-1000FG Forged Irons have minimized offset and a pearl satin finish. fourteengolf.com
KZG HPS Irons
The KZG HPS irons are game-improvement irons aimed at mid- and high-handicap golfers.
The HPS irons are oversized, with progressive sole widths (increasing through the set). The deep center of gravity, beveled leading edge, deep cavityback and strong perimeter weighting helps golfers get the ball up in the air on a better launch angle. And the irons have stronger-than-traditional lofts for distance performance.
KZG clubs are available through affiliated teachers and clubfitters, and the HPS makes 18 different sets of irons for fitters and golfers to work with. The MSRP for the HPS irons starts at $84 per club with steel shafts and $94 per club with graphite shafts, with many shafts from which to choose. Visit kzgolf.com to find authorized fitters.
The primary goal of Nike Golf designers was to increase the range of motion in the garment without sacrificing waterproofing.
The result is the Hyperadapt Storm-Fit Jacket, which combines stretchiness akin to that of a sweater with an outer layer the company calls "impenetrable."
Nike says a 4-way stretch system in the shoulders and arms of the woven, stretch knit laminate inner layer eliminates any restrictions during the golfer's swing.
It also produces a sweater-like feel and a quieter piece of outerwear.
The jacket is breathable, yet seam-sealed, with adjustable cuffs, and is fully waterproof. It comes in half-zip and full-zip styles, the half-zip in three color options and full-zip in four color options.
The Nike Hyperadapt Storm-Fit Jacket has an MSRP of $240 for the half-zip and $280 for the full-zip. nikegolf.com
Compare prices for Nike Golf outerwear
The latest outerwear from FootJoy is rainwear, called DryJoys Tour XP. The XP in the name stands for "Xtreme Performance," with waterproof protection up to 20,000mm of water column pressure. And that, FootJoy says, "greatly exceeds any rain golfers experience during play."
Pieces in the DryJoys Tour XP line feature a 3-layer bonded fabric that is waterproof and windproof, but also stretchable and breathable.
The shell fabric offers a 4-way stretch, while the inner lining is smooth. The main zipper is also waterproof.
Among the pieces in the line are a Full-Zip Jacket (MSRP $270), Pullover Rain Shirt (MSRP $250), Short Sleeve Rain Shirt (MSRP $190) and and Rain Pants (MSRP $195). footjoy.com
Compare prices for FootJoy rain gear
When a company uses all-upper case letters in the name of a club, those letters are typically an acronym. Not in the case of "SLDR," the name of the newest TaylorMade Golf driver. "SLDR" is for "Slider," and it describes an innovation TaylorMade introduces in this driver.
So far, adjustable weighting systems on drivers have consisted of stationary weights. You can screw them in, screw them out, change from one gram-weight to another to affect ball flight.
The TaylorMade SLDR, however, using a sliding weight system - a weight literally slides across the bottom of the driver. Want to counteract a hook or draw? Slide the weight toward the fade side. Want to fight a slice? Slide it toward the draw side.
The slider mechanism really functions like a dial. Dial in your shot shap preference by sliding the 20-gram weight in the appropriate direction along its track, toward the toe or heel, or somewhere in the middle. (Position the weight toward the heel to promote a draw, toward the toe to promote a fade.) Repositioning the weight requires loosening and then tightening the screw in the weight.
The SLDR mechanism moves the driver's center of gravity low but more forward, something TaylorMade says promotes a hotter launch, lower spin and fast speeds off the face. Or, to put it more simply: More distance.
The TaylorMade SLDR driver is also adjustable for loft through the company's Loft-Sleeve Technology. The SLDR weight can affect shot shape by up to 30 yards; the loft can be changed to one of 12 positions with a range of 1.5 degrees up or down.
The crown of the SLDR is charcoal gray. The driver comes in lofts of 8, 9.5, 10.5 and 12 degrees. A Fujikura Speeder 57 graphite shaft is stock. A SLDR TP version replaces the Speeder 57 with a Speeder Tour Spec 6.3 graphite shaft. The MSRP is $399. taylormadegolf.com
Compare prices for TaylorMade drivers
Fourteen Golf FH-1000FG Forged Irons
Fourteen Golf's FH-1000FG Forged Irons are the first forged blades offered by the company. They will be available in the traditional set configuration of 3-iron through pitching wedge.
As you can probably tell from the use of the term "forged blades," these irons are aimed at low-handicap golfers who "can maximize the advantage of the muscle back design and will appreciate their workability," in the words of company COO Marcy Kamoda.
Fourteen calls the clubhead design a "Reverse Muscle Back Design." The lower half of the clubface is backed by a full muscleback; the top half of the clubface is thin at its middle (looking at it from sole up to topline) and slightly thickens as the clubface moves up to its topline. The design allows for better spin control, according to Kamoda.
The center of gravity in the long irons is lower to help with a higher launch angle and softer landings, but the CG position moves higher in the short irons.
The FH-1000FG Forged Irons have minimized offset and a pearl satin finish. fourteengolf.com
KZG HPS Irons
The KZG HPS irons are game-improvement irons aimed at mid- and high-handicap golfers.
The HPS irons are oversized, with progressive sole widths (increasing through the set). The deep center of gravity, beveled leading edge, deep cavityback and strong perimeter weighting helps golfers get the ball up in the air on a better launch angle. And the irons have stronger-than-traditional lofts for distance performance.
KZG clubs are available through affiliated teachers and clubfitters, and the HPS makes 18 different sets of irons for fitters and golfers to work with. The MSRP for the HPS irons starts at $84 per club with steel shafts and $94 per club with graphite shafts, with many shafts from which to choose. Visit kzgolf.com to find authorized fitters.
The primary goal of Nike Golf designers was to increase the range of motion in the garment without sacrificing waterproofing.
The result is the Hyperadapt Storm-Fit Jacket, which combines stretchiness akin to that of a sweater with an outer layer the company calls "impenetrable."
Nike says a 4-way stretch system in the shoulders and arms of the woven, stretch knit laminate inner layer eliminates any restrictions during the golfer's swing.
It also produces a sweater-like feel and a quieter piece of outerwear.
The jacket is breathable, yet seam-sealed, with adjustable cuffs, and is fully waterproof. It comes in half-zip and full-zip styles, the half-zip in three color options and full-zip in four color options.
The Nike Hyperadapt Storm-Fit Jacket has an MSRP of $240 for the half-zip and $280 for the full-zip. nikegolf.com
Compare prices for Nike Golf outerwear
The latest outerwear from FootJoy is rainwear, called DryJoys Tour XP. The XP in the name stands for "Xtreme Performance," with waterproof protection up to 20,000mm of water column pressure. And that, FootJoy says, "greatly exceeds any rain golfers experience during play."
Pieces in the DryJoys Tour XP line feature a 3-layer bonded fabric that is waterproof and windproof, but also stretchable and breathable.
The shell fabric offers a 4-way stretch, while the inner lining is smooth. The main zipper is also waterproof.
Among the pieces in the line are a Full-Zip Jacket (MSRP $270), Pullover Rain Shirt (MSRP $250), Short Sleeve Rain Shirt (MSRP $190) and and Rain Pants (MSRP $195). footjoy.com
Compare prices for FootJoy rain gear
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