Equipment
TaylorMade to release 14-degree SLDR driver
TaylorMade urged golfers to dial up the loft on its August-released SLDR drivers, but no one could see them taking it this far. The company has announced that it will launch a 14-degree version of the SLDR driver, a loft that is usually reserved for 3 woods.
The move is unprecedented, but necessary according to TaylorMade officials because of the weight placement in the club. Most drivers on the market have a center of gravity (CG) above the neutral axis line – an imaginary line drawn from back end of the club that is perpendicular to the club’s face angle. The closer the CG is located to that line, the “lower spinning” a driver becomes.
The SLDR has a CG that is well forward of most drivers, which helps move it lower in the head. According to TaylorMade officials, a lower, more forward CG will help golfers get closer to the ultimate distance formula — a launch angle of 17 degrees with 1700 rpms of spin.
Above: This TaylorMade graphic shows how a lower, more forward CG can lower a driver’s spin. But the CG placement also decreases dynamic loft at impact. That can lead to drives that launch too low and with too little spin, particularly for golfers with slower swing speeds.
While SLDR’s ability to reduce spin has helped many better golfers hit their drives farther, it has proven to be troublesome for many golfers with slower swing speeds. For that reason, TaylorMade has decided to release a 14-degree SLDR that will help those golfers boost their launch and spin closer to ideal levels.
Launching the ball higher with less spin is almost always the recipe to give golfers more distance, but a driver designed with 14-degrees of loft seems a little drastic. If golfers truly need that much loft, they likely don’t have enough ball speed to fully benefit from the SLDR’s low and forward CG. They’d be better off with a driver that has a more rearward CG, which will increase spin and dynamic loft at impact and help them carry the ball farther.
Cameron Young’s WITB from his win at the 2025 Wyndham Championship. Cameron is a Titleist staff player but his bag is definitely filled with some unique clubs. Here are the clubs he used to secure his first PGA Tour win!
Driver: Titleist GT2 (9 degrees, A1 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Tensei 1K Pro Orange 70 TX
3-wood: Titleist GT3 (15 degrees)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Tensei 1K White 80 TX
Hybrid: Titleist GT2 (21 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus HB Black VeloCore+ 10 X
Irons: Titleist T200 (4), Titleist T100 (5), Titleist 631.CY Prototype (6-9)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold X7 (4-9)
Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM10 (48-10F, 52-12F, 56-14F @57), WedgeWorks (60-K* @62)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold X7
Putter: Scotty Cameron Phantom 9.5 Tour Prototype
Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet Cord
Ball: Titleist Pro V1x Prototype
- Peter Malnati what’s in the bag accurate as of the Wyndham Championship. More photos from the event here.
Driver: Titleist GT3 (10 degrees, C2 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Project X Denali Blue 60 TX
3-wood: Titleist GT3 (15 degrees, A1 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus TR Blue 7 X
7-wood: Titleist GT2 (21 degrees, D1 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus TR Blue 8 X
Irons: Titleist T150 (4, 5), Titleist T100 (6-9)
Shafts: True Temper AMT Tour White X100
Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM10 (48-10F @47, 52-12F, 56-08M @57, 60-04T @62)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400
Putter: Scotty Cameron Studio Style Fastback 1.5 Tour Prototype
Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet
Ball: Titleist Pro V1x Yellow
We’re proud to once again partner with 2nd Swing Golf to bring you GolfWRX Members Choice 2025! 2nd Swing has more than 150,000 new and pre-swung golf clubs available in six store locations and online. Check them out here.
What is the best driver in 2025? At GolfWRX, we take great pride in our online community and the cumulative knowledge and experience of our members. When it comes to the best driver of 2025, we want to know what our forum faithful think.
Since our founding in 2005, the bedrock of GolfWRX.com has been the community of passionate and knowledgeable golfers in our forums, and we put endless trust in the opinions of our GolfWRX members — the most knowledgeable community of golfers on the internet. No other group of golfers in the world tests golf clubs as frequently or as extensively, nor is armed with such in-depth information about the latest technology.
Below are the results of GolfWRX member voting for the 2025 best driver, along with the vote percentage for each club.
Best driver of 2025: The top 5
5. Callaway Elyte Triple Diamond: 6.02%
Callaway’s pitch: “For golfers looking for a fast, forgiving, yet workable driver, the Elyte Triple Diamond features a tour-inspired shape and is the preferred model by most Callaway tour players.”
You can read what other golfers are saying about the driver in the GolfWRX forums, and see our launch piece here. Shop the Callaway Elyte Triple Diamond here.
4. Ping G440 Max: 6.86%
Ping’s pitch: “The most forgiving G440 model, MAX has a hotter face to generate speed and distance, and a lighter overall system weight with a longer shaft (46″) for faster clubhead speed, higher launch and longer carries. The Free Hosel and Carbonfly Wrap crown save weight to create our lowest CG ever and increase forgiveness while contributing to a more muted, pleasing sound.”
You can read what other golfers are saying about the driver in the GolfWRX forums, and see our launch piece here. Shop the Ping G440 Max here.
3. Ping G440 LST: 9.53%
Ping’s pitch: “LST is an especially good fit for faster swings, offering less spin and more control with a penetrating trajectory. A hotter face, lighter overall system weight and longer shaft (46″) deliver more speed and distance while maintaining tight dispersion.”
@phizzy30: “Not a fan of Ping drivers in general, but 440 LST takes the cake. It’s super forgiving across the face for a low spin head, looks and sounds good and the ability to make it play neutral or slightly fade biased through the hosel settings is very appealing.”
You can read what other golfers are saying about the driver in the GolfWRX forums, and see our launch piece here. Shop the Ping G440 LST here.
2. Titleist GT3: 16.55%
Titleist’s pitch: “The GT3 Driver offers Titleist’s boldest combination of power and personalization through adjustable performance. Dial in the CG Track to your frequent contact location to make your biggest drives even bigger while taking total control over flight and shaping.”
@mrmikeac: “I’ve been Anti-Titleist for years and years and years (outside of Vokey, of course). With that being said, HOLY BEGEEZUS the GT3 driver is an absolute NUCLEAR MONSTER! This thing blew my G430 10K Max out of the water in every single category. Forgiveness is the biggest thing that stands out of me, the 3 model has always been one of the less forgiving models in the past but this GT3 can take bad shot after bad shot and still end up in the fairway, I think a ton of that has to do with the adjustability, it’s actually effective. Feel and sound is perfect, that solid crack is so addicting to hear and when you hit it out the screws this thing can absolutely bomb it. Titleist, I’m sorry for doubting you. You have converted me.”
You can read what other golfers are saying about the driver in the GolfWRX forums, and see our launch piece here. Shop the Titleist GT3 here.
1. Titleist GT2: 22.91%
Titleist’s pitch: “Delivering impressive distance from any impact point, the Titleist GT2 Driver extracts maximum performance through a forgiving design. Get the stability and added confidence of a high-MOI driver without sacrificing speed.”
@DTorres: “The Titleist GT2 has proven to be the best driver of the year. Packaged in a classic profile, GT2 perfectly balances performance and forgiveness while consistently being a high performer across all categories.”
You can read what other golfers are saying about the driver in the GolfWRX forums, and see our launch piece here. Shop the Titleist GT2 here.
Other drivers receiving >2% of the vote
| Driver | Vote percentage (%) |
|---|---|
| Cobra DS Adapt Max K | 4.85% |
| Ping G430 Max 10K | 3.85% |
| Callaway Elyte Triple Diamond | 3.68% |
| TaylorMade Qi35 | 3.51% |
| Callaway Elyte | 3.18% |
| Cobra DS Adapt X | 2.34% |
| Cobra DS Adapt LS | 2.17% |
| TaylorMade Qi35 LS | 2.17% |
View this post on Instagram
‘Why would anybody want to change that swing?’ – Brandel Chamblee says PGA Tour star was wrong to change his swing
‘The stupidest freaking thing I’ve ever heard’ – Billy Horschel slams Open idea suggested by Padraig Harrington
WITB Time Machine: Brandt Snedeker’s winning WITB, 2018 Wyndham Championship
Golfer proudly posts photo of ball mark on iron, receives immediate roasting
WITB Time Machine: Matthew Wolff’s winning WITB, 2019 3M Open
Oakmont Country Club bans Wyndham Clark over locker incident; Reveals specific conditions to earn reinstatement
Adam Scott puts Callaway blades in the bag at Wyndham Championship
Report: LIV star fires caddie and coach in shock shake up
Rickie Fowler makes equipment change to ‘something that’s a little easier on the body’
The championship formula: How 3 key stats separate winners from the field
Peter Malnati WITB 2025 (August)
Peter Malnati what’s in the bag accurate as of the Wyndham Championship. More photos from the event here. Driver: Titleist...
Cameron Young’s winning WITB: 2025 Wyndham Championship
Driver: Titleist GT2 (9 degrees, A1 SureFit setting) Buy here. Shaft: Mitsubishi Tensei 1K Pro Orange 70 TX 3-wood: Titleist...
Camilo Villegas WITB 2025 (July)
Camilo Villegas WITB accurate as of the Wyndham Championship. Villegas was undecided on a 3-wood when we shot his bag. ...
WITB Time Machine: Brandt Snedeker’s winning WITB, 2018 Wyndham Championship
Brandt Snedeker fired a final-round 65 at the 2018 Wyndham Championship to outlast Webb Simpson and C.T. Pan. His 5-under...
Mike
Feb 12, 2014 at 10:21 pm
These comments and the article miss out on a slice of good players and this product release may just (finally) help. I am a 5.6 index but that is after two terrible seasons, spent most of the last 35 years @ a 2-4 HDCP. My swing speed on any number of launch monitors (trackman mostly) consistently comes in @ 105-110+ with my driver. I had recently switched to a 12 degree Titleist and yet my launch is normally in the 7 degree range and 3000rpm spin, resulting in 250-260 yard drives, max. I have two golfing partners with similar launch conditions and of similar to better ability. These aren’t clubs to simply help the slow swinging super seniors. They may finally get my drives more in line with my 170+ yard carry 7 irons. I m excited to demo them!
Hertz
Dec 25, 2013 at 9:38 pm
Any idea on availability? Or is it still a maybe on if it will be released?
derek
Dec 21, 2013 at 12:47 pm
I found a 16 cleveland (ladies) driver , put a graff blue launch in it and it is longer than anything i have hit. g20 12 degree is moving out there but I dare you to try way more loft , it seems to be working
Regis
Dec 11, 2013 at 6:03 pm
Start with the understanding that most manufacturers market drivers with lofts that are higher than stamped on the head to placate the ego of golfers (who love to say that they are hitting an 8.5 or a 9.5). Add that most golfers with would benefit from playing a higher loft. Then factor in that I have an 85 mph swing speed and the SLDR is adjustable. Not a problem for me.
JEFF SMITH
Dec 11, 2013 at 2:33 pm
I have some nice boat fenders by Taylor Made. That would be the only thing I would use with that name on it!
nik dallos
Dec 10, 2013 at 6:24 pm
I have hit it once at dicks sporting goods. the only shafts they had were stiff and sub 60 gram. I couldn’t hit this thing for hell. I launched it so high even with a 9.5 degree head lofted down, that I hit moonballs that went….185 yards. with my swing wich is around 107 average, I couldn’t get it to go over 250, then with the most lazy non caring swing, I hit it 307 with only 100mph clubspeed and 140 ball speed. maybe dicks should drop 30$k on a trackman. so,maybe be the shaft I was using and the cheap hard cover balls, but I was not impressed with this thing. but it was inside, not on the course, so who am I to say.
nik dallos
Dec 10, 2013 at 6:25 pm
and man oh man am I in the wrong thread, sorry guys. long day
JimmyO
Dec 10, 2013 at 5:51 pm
This is nothing new. They’re currently called “HL” (high launch) in TM terms. Most major manufacturers offer something similar or have this type of loft in their women’s drivers. Most people’s ego just gets in the way of getting properly fit.
jc
Dec 10, 2013 at 12:15 pm
I am waiting until they come out with a 15 degree adjustable driver and the companion 10 degree 3 wood and 6 degree 5 wood. That should be in about 2 weeks from now.
Mx
Dec 10, 2013 at 2:34 pm
its funny because i ctually play my sldr at 10.5 degrees and my 3 wood at 11.5
kwoot
Dec 10, 2013 at 4:34 pm
WHAT ARE YOU 12,
TJ
Dec 10, 2013 at 11:02 am
for what ever distance I gained (Maybe 10 Yards) I find the accuracy of this club to be brutal. stick an extra inch on your current driver and you will come close to what this can offer in my opinion, with both the increase of distance and decrease in accuracy. I also understand that a lot of tour pros are using this model of driver so it could very well be me but I believe there is some truth to my statement.
kwoot
Dec 10, 2013 at 4:33 pm
Obviously you are not a very good golfer,
Mike ChonM
Dec 10, 2013 at 9:36 am
Should just use the 3 wood too tee off
P
Dec 9, 2013 at 1:27 pm
I’m going to use it for chipping.
Anthony Penney
Dec 8, 2013 at 9:42 pm
Tom Wishon stated a few years ago that people with a 09 mph.swing speed should be using a 13.5 ddegree lofted driver, using a garden hose effect for launch and distance. I agree!
Michael Garrard
Dec 8, 2013 at 9:37 pm
Hireko Golf has the Thriver, a 14 deg. driver type club, but with a 3-wood weight. That allows the club to be shorter, which also helps accuracy. I think it was designed for the senior golfer.
markb
Dec 8, 2013 at 8:25 pm
I don’t play the SLDR because it launched way too low for me. I tried putting a high launch shaft in my 10.5 and dialing it all the way up, but it still launched low. A 14° might work.
dave rose
Dec 8, 2013 at 6:56 pm
Not at all surprised they done this.. with the new technology.. carrying the 12 or 14 degree SLDR is the same as using the RBZ 9 o r 10.5 degree..but a lot longer.