TaylorMade SLDR Fairway, Rescue review

March 11, 2014 | by AmateurGolf.com Staff

-- TaylorMadeGolf.com

AmateurGolf.com takes an in-depth look at the SLDR Fairway and Rescue from TaylorMade

By Stuart Goldstein
AmateurGolf.com Player Staff »

Last year, TaylorMade Golf released the much anticipated SLDR driver. It quickly became the No. 1 selling and most-played driver on the PGA Tour. The driver has since gone on to win Golf Digest Hot List Gold for innovation and performance.

For the encore, TaylorMade unveiled the SLDR Fairway Woods and Rescue clubs.

I recently put these new sticks through their paces on all measurable counts: distance, feel, performance and looks.

As a player who previously had TaylorMade's RocketBallz Tour fairway woods and the RocketBallz Stage 2 Rescue club in the bag, I was impressed with the overall performance of the SLDR Fairway Woods and Rescues.

So what makes these clubs so special? Technology.

Building upon the SLDR driver technology, these new clubs combine for a low and forward center of gravity placement where weight is relocated to the front of the head to promote faster ball speed, a higher launch angle and a lower spin-rate.

However, despite the name SLDR, these clubs do not have the movable weight technology made popular with the SLDR drivers. So, even though they are in the SLDR family, some of the technology is a different.

An important design feature in the new SLDR fairway and Rescue clubs is a new Speed Pocket. As seen in the brand's RocketBallz metalwoods and RocketBladez irons, the Speed Pocket increases face flexibility to promote faster ball speed. Unlike the previous RocketBallz metalwood line-up, which had an open slot on the bottom of the clubhead, the SLDR has a more efficient Speed Pocket featuring a polymer fill to keep grass and debris out of the pocket. This is a small yet important upgrade. Cleaning all that dirt and mud out of the bottom of the RocketBallz sure was a nuisance.

Also unique to the SLDR Fairways and Rescues is Loft-Sleeve technology. This allows the golfer to adjust the loft 1.5 degrees up or down to dial in their optimal launch conditions. It is like getting three or more clubs in one.

A 15-degree 3-wood can be adjusted to play as between 13.5 and 16.5 degrees. This versatility is extremely helpful for changing weather and turf conditions. A simple turn of the wrench and you are good to go.

When it comes to fairway woods and rescues, appearance is very important. A good looking club instills confidence, which instills better swings. That, in theory, results in lower scores and more fun. Being a traditionalist, I easily gravitated to the classic pear shape design of the fairway wood. The Rescues are compact, offering little offset and both of these new offerings have a shallow face profile.

With TaylorMade among the first to offer white-colored clubheads I was glad to see the brand go back to its old roots-color wise. The SLDR comes in what TaylorMade calls “a charcoal-gray crown.” A contrasting silver clubface makes it easy to align the club without any distracting emblems. Combine all that and what you get is very pleasing to the eye.

One of the least talked about, yet very important design features for the line is the sound the clubs make at impact. If a club is too "tinny" it sounds cheap. Too much "thud" and it feels like the ball goes nowhere. The SLDR delivers a confidence-inducing sound that backs up its good looks.

So, what does all this technology translate to?

My previous TaylorMade 3-wood had a typical 15-degree of loft on it. After a fitting at the TaylorMade Performance Lab, it was determined that I should play the SLDR 17- degree adjusted to 16 degrees. The results were dramatic and really hammered home the technology and benefits behind the SLDR Fairway Woods and Rescues.

My shots launched higher and farther -- an increase of 20 yards. The distances gained were a result of a higher launch coupled with reduced spin.

Results with the Rescues were the same. Out is my old 5-wood and in is my new 3- Rescue set at 18.5 degrees.

The SLDR 4 Rescue set at 21 degrees is my alternative to the long iron, offering great versatility. The high launch generates increased distance yet provides enough spin to hold any green. And despite a higher launch, shots held the wind perfectly without ballooning.

The stock shaft for the SLDR Fairway is a Fujikura Speeder 77 made for TaylorMade available in R, S, and X flex and weighing in at approximately 70 grams. The SLDR Tour Preferred Fairway comes with a stock Motore Speeder TS 8.3 also available in R,S and X flex and weighs around 80 grams. Suggested retail price for the SLDR Fairway is $249 and $349 for the Tour Preferred version.

For the Rescues, the stock shaft is a Speeder 82 in R,S and X flex and weighs 80 grams. There is also a preferred version with the Speeder TS 9.3 shaft available in only S and X flex. Suggested retail price for the Rescue® and Rescue® TP is $219 and $289, respectively.

For either the fairway or Rescue, TaylorMade offers numerous custom shaft options. It is suggested you go to a fitter to get the right specs or if there is one near you, I highly recommend a visit to the TaylorMade Performance Lab.

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