Adjusting a TaylorMade SLDR driver

[dmcnab]

Hi all...I have a TaylorMade SLDR 10.5 degree 460CC driver....I know that the weight on the bottom of the club can be adjusted to promote a fade or a draw, and that the loft can be adjusted.....problem is, that I can't find any info on how much adjustment is possible. How does the loft adjustment work, and how much can I change the loft with each adjustment? And, if (for example) I change the loft, how does that open (or close) the club face...is it all trial-and-error, or does TMade have any info that it puts out there to help with knowing how much to adjust things.....any suggestions or info? Thanks in advance.

[iacas]

Looks to be +/- 1.5 degrees and "30 yards" of distance.

Is that what your'e asking?

Yes, it's pretty much trial and error. Though if the reports are correct, a 25 handicapper may not be a good fit for a SLDR. It requires some pretty good contact.

 

[Mr. Desmond]

Hi all...I have a TaylorMade SLDR 10.5 degree 460CC driver....I know that the weight on the bottom of the club can be adjusted to promote a fade or a draw, and that the loft can be adjusted.....problem is, that I can't find any info on how much adjustment is possible. How does the loft adjustment work, and how much can I change the loft with each adjustment? And, if (for example) I change the loft, how does that open (or close) the club face...is it all trial-and-error, or does TMade have any info that it puts out there to help with knowing how much to adjust things.....any suggestions or info? Thanks in advance.

Hi - found some vids on youtube. 

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=taylormade+sldr+adjustments+

I also will confirm that while the SLDR is now relatively inexpensive, reports over the last 2 years are that it is definitely a driver for the better player. The driver will magnify your issues. It is best to find one that is forgiving on off-center hits - the SLDR is not that driver from all reports.

[dmcnab]

Thanks, guys, for that info.....I am not having any problem hitting it (my 25 hc is caused by a host of other problems ), but I would like more distance.......at the moment, carry is about 225, but I would like to try for more distance by adjusting the loft (and producing more of an ascending blow)......I originally started with the loft set at about 11degrees (d)....bottom weight was set to neutral.........then, (for some crazy reason) I decided that b/c the Long Drive Competition guys use a very low loft, I should do the same (thinking that I would be hitting 'straight out', rather than 'up'.....I put it at about 9.5d.........that didn't work out......so, I put it back to about 10.5d or 11d, and set the bottom weight to 'fade' (to counteract a tendency to pull the ball)......the 'fade' adjustment works surprisingly well -- nice and straight now.......my next test will be to go to maximum loft (12d with this driver) and see if that helps....my question is posed b/c I can't really find that much info on adjusting the club head...eg: if I add loft, am I closing the club face? Or does that tend to open the club face? And, any suggestions about tee height if I am using maximum loft (12d)?........and, I will take what each of you have already provided (thank you!), and continue the experimenting.

[MrFlipper]

This may help as well. I have a SLDR also     http://viewer.zmags.com/publication/f1a181b8#/f1a181b8/2

I have to say, though, that with a 25 handicap it has to be difficult to consistently hit the club in a way that you can tune/adjust the driver optimally yourself. 

And your comments in the previous post lead me to think that you don't really understand how the adjustments work from a cause/effect basis, which would seem to make it that much more difficult to fit yourself: even if you randomly hit on the optimal settings you wouldn't know it. So I'd really suggest you pay the $40 or so and get fit at a Taylormade fitter, for the cost of one round (or less) you would get it adjusted correctly right away and take all the (probably incorrect) guesswork out of it.

Good luck!

 

 

 

[Mr. Desmond]

Typically, adding loft closes the face depending on how the club's adaptor works. If it does close the face, square it, then take your grip. Use a grip without a rib reminder - it's what people use anyway with adjustable clubs.

Teeing up is a balance - try teeing so no more than 1/2 the ball if above the crown and adjust from there.

To hit up, it helps a right hander to place the ball lined up around the lead big toe. Belt towards the sky on the downswing like your throwing a boulder is an image to to use when hitting up.

[Tat14]

SLDR came with a book; I think all of these adjustable clubs do. If you got yours 2nd hand then I would Google it.

Take a look at your adapter, it should show three settings - standard for the loft you bought, and then lower or higher, +/- 1.5* 

Other companies have more complex adapters that do loft, lie, and face angle. TM's adapters are relatively simple. 

I would try that 12* with a little fade bias. More loft could help; typically does.