Equipment
TaylorMade to release SLDR 430 driver
TaylorMade has announced the release of a 30-cubic-centimeter smaller version of its popular SLDR driver, the SLDR 430.
The much-anticipated driver, available on Dec. 20 for $399, will be offered in three lofts: 9.5, 10.5 and 12 degrees.
The SLDR 430 has the same 20-gram sliding weight as the SLDR 460, placing the center of gravity of the head in a low, forward position that Taylormade says reduces distance-robbing spin and adds ball speed. According to early testing results from club fitters, the SLDR 430 is even lower spinning than the already low-spin SLDR 460, which will likely position it as the lowest-spinning driver head on the market in 2014.
The knock on the SLDR 460, which has gained wide-spread usage on the PGA Tour since is launch in July, has been its low moment of inertia, a measure of a club’s forgiveness. Because of its smaller size, the SLDR 430 will likely prove to be even less forgiving, but that shouldn’t be an issue for its target audience: high-speed, high-spin golfers who want to maximize distance on center strikes.
The SLDR 430 has the same 12-position loft sleeve as the SLDR 460, giving it a 3-degree range of adjustability (1.5 degrees up or down). It also features the same charcoal grey crown, and comes stock with a Fujikura Speeder 67 graphite shaft. The TP model, which has a more robust Fujikura’s Speeder Tour Spec 7.3, shaft, will sell for $499.
Click here to see what members are saying about TaylorMade’s SLDR 430 driver.
Tour Edge Golf has today introduced the all-new Exotics mini driver, engineered to deliver a powerful combination of speed, control, and versatility in the long game.
The Exotics Mini combines a titanium face with a stainless-steel body in design to balance ball speed with stability and control, creating a versatile option at the top end of the bag.
At the core of the design is Tour Edge’s proprietary Combo Brazing technology, a high-precision thermal bonding process that seamlessly fuses a titanium cup face to a stainless-steel body into a single, continuous structure. By eliminating energy loss found in traditional multi-piece constructions, Combo Brazing is designed to deliver faster face response, more efficient energy transfer, and a uniquely powerful yet controlled feel.
The multi-material construction also allows mass to be positioned lower and deeper in the head in a bid to increase stability, while the thin titanium face is engineered to maintain ball speed across a wider impact area.
“While the initial goal was to enhance control and versatility in the long game, Combo Brazing ultimately drove measurable gains in ball speed and distance within the mini driver category. In robot testing, we’ve documented higher ball speeds, higher launch, reduced spin, and increased carry and total distance compared to leading models.” – Vice President of R&D Matt Neeley
In addition to distance performance, the Exotics mini emphasizes forgiveness through a heavier stainless-steel body that shifts mass toward the perimeter. This configuration increases MOI relative to traditional all-titanium mini drivers, helping preserve ball speed and directional stability on off-center strikes. Paired with Pyramid Face Technology from the Exotics metalwood line, the design is intended to support consistent speed across the face.
To further enhance MOI, a lightweight carbon fiber crown frees additional mass that is strategically repositioned low and deep in the head in design to improve stability and promote optimal launch with controlled spin.
“We designed the Mini to be about five millimeters shallower than other mini drivers on the market. That change improves playability off the deck. From a clean fairway lie, it can function as a strong 3-wood alternative while still providing control off the tee.” – Tour Edge CEO David Glod
An adjustable hosel system allows for loft and lie tuning to dial in trajectory and shot shape, while a fixed 13-gram rear weight helps stabilize the head through impact to improve dispersion consistency. The Exotics Mini Driver is available in 11.5 and 13.5-degree lofts in right-handed models.
Pricing & Availability
The Exotics Mini Driver is available for pre-order beginning today for $399.99 USD at touredge.com, and will be available for purchase at retail outlets worldwide on May 22, 2026.
In our forums, our members have been pitting a Srixon ZXi combo against a TaylorMade P7CB/770 combo. WRXer ‘edutch22’ is on the hunt for a new set of irons and kicks off the thread saying:
“Looking at picking up a new set of irons and think I’ve narrowed it down to Srixon ZXi combo or Taylormade P7CB/770 combo. I am currently a 5 cap and allbeit I feel irons are my weakness. My miss is a little to the toe side. I am decently steep at 4-5 down. Always thought I am high spin but recently on trackman my 7 was spinning at 5800 roughly.
My question or looking for thoughts on which one would benefit me more from a forgiveness standpoint? Or is there another iron is should be looking at entirely? I only get to play about once or twice a week, if I am not playing a 2-3 day event. Thanks in advance.”
And our members have been sharing their thoughts and suggestions in response.
Here are a few posts from the thread, but make sure to check out the entire discussion and have your say at the link below.
- manima1: “You just can’t go wrong with Srixon ZXi7.”
- MattM97: “You have to hit them to know, the V-Sole on the Srixon can be make or break for many.”
- dmeeksDC: “P7CB is more forgiving for me than ZXi7 because my main miss is low middle and the P7CB still flies and spins great on that miss. These are both really nice irons but I like the P7CB more than the Zxi7 and the P770 (or P790) more than the Zxi5. The Srixons are larger so if that gives you confidence that is the way to go. I don’t feel like I get any benefit from the V-sole and the P7CBs live up to their high Maltby forgiveness rating so the TaylorMades have been great for me.”
Entire Thread: “Srixon ZXi combo or TaylorMade P7CB/770 combo? – GolfWRXers discuss”
At GolfWRX, we are a community of like-minded individuals who all experience and express our enjoyment of the game in many ways.
It’s that sense of community that drives day-to-day interactions in the forums on topics that range from best driver to what marker you use to mark your ball. It even allows us to share another thing we all love – buying and selling equipment.
Currently, in our GolfWRX buy/sell/trade (BST) forum, @pianoman0123 has a 2024 Wilson Staff CB/Blade combo up for grabs.
From the listing: “2024 Wilson Staff CB/Blade Combo. 4-8 irons are CB’s and the 9,PW are Blades. 5-PW have Project X 6.0 Shafts and the 4 Iron has a Steelfiber CW110 Stiff Shaft. Standard Length, Lie and Lofts. These are in very good condition the shafts just don’t work for me. Like new Lamkin Grips on the 5-PW and a stock Golf Pride on the 4 Iron. $525 OBO.”
To check out the full listing in our BST forum, head through the link. If you are curious about the rules to participate in the BST Forum, you can learn more here: GolfWRX BST Rules
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Rob
Apr 30, 2014 at 12:43 am
I wanted to like the SLDR460,I purchase a couple different ones with there stock shaft they offered from R to S and lofts from 9.5 to 12. I could not hit it. This time I tried 430 with the Stiff flex and 10.5 loft. It wants to go straight and long. My problem was the shaft options. The speedeer 57 was too lite. The stock shaft on the 430 is 73 grams. I dont have a fast swing speed, The heavier shaft helped alot. The look the sound and feel is necter.
Mateo
Dec 26, 2013 at 1:53 am
Who cares. They’ll have another POS out next week.
Carlos Carvalho
Dec 22, 2013 at 2:49 pm
So, someone goes to a fitting session with SLDR 460 and tell to the club fitter : Hey, I want a less forgiving head!!!
I simply just do not understand.
aj
Jun 4, 2014 at 9:57 am
For me the smaller head allows me to rotate the club easier.
nik d
Dec 21, 2013 at 4:31 pm
remember, these clubs are made for high handicapper weekend warriors, and the tour players are paid to play them, those guys could use any club and probably have similar results. sure, driving distance for pros has gone up in the last two decades, but look at other technologies such as premium shafts and balls. I know I would prefer a rather 400 cc or under sized club head, makes you concentrate more. instead of grippin and rippin
Brandon A.
Dec 21, 2013 at 7:22 am
i hit the 430 about 2 weeks ago at a taylormade demo day at my job. i currently have the sldr 460 and once i hit the 430 i immediately had buyers remorse, kind of, since i didn’t pay for the sldr. but now i have the 430 coming also. i have a very moderate swing speed which suprised me because my numbers on trackman were better with the 430 than the 460. needless to say the 430 is SWEET!!!
Floyderick
Dec 20, 2013 at 9:54 pm
Revolutionary driver! A must buy! A+++
Mateo
Dec 26, 2013 at 1:51 am
LOL. Ok.
DS
Dec 19, 2013 at 8:02 pm
Why are they making another one of these? Good lord. All the 460 head did was break… Trust me, I went through 3 of them. So now they’re making a smaller “player” head? Good call. Maybe next time don’t try an idea that a company already went through and failed… Cough cough… Mizuno already did this… Cough cough…
NG
Dec 19, 2013 at 10:49 pm
I think you should get your facts correct first…hint, timing of patents
nik d
Dec 21, 2013 at 4:34 pm
whats your clubhead speed ? I believe you man, I know a 70 year old man with slow swingspeed that cracked a burner 2.0 . did the faces cave in or the welds crack? that’s the only thing keeping me from buying another tm wood. or iron due to the fact that they look stupid
Jay
Dec 18, 2013 at 10:54 pm
A little confused, the GolfWRX editor review of the 460 says it has more forgiveness, while this article says the knock with the 460 is that it has less forgiveness.
It makes sense to me that because of the more forward CG you would have less forgiveness but the review says the opposite. I actually got a 460, to some degree based on the editor review and the statement about more forgiveness.
Ryan
Dec 19, 2013 at 12:06 am
The article says the 430 is even lees forgiving. As the 460 is already pretty low MOI.
Westphi
Dec 19, 2013 at 4:55 pm
The SLDR 460 is less forgiving than many other 460 drivers, because of the SLDR’s low/forward CG, and will reduce spin considerably. The SLDR 430 will have even less forgiveness than the SLDR 460, and have even less spin than the SLDR 460. Hope that clarifies it for you…
No Thanks!
Dec 18, 2013 at 3:38 pm
If they offered the better JDM version…. Maybe.
Correction…. I said better…. I meant both paint jobs.
No thanks!
the.landshark
Dec 18, 2013 at 2:40 pm
Bummer that the TP version isn’t coming in black, nor with the Speeder 757 shaft like the Japan model. That combo had a *really* good chance of being the 1st Taylormade club in my bag ever! Oh well… then again, perhaps it’ll become a ‘special limited edition’ in a few months time 🙂
Van BTs
Dec 18, 2013 at 2:19 pm
R1 must have flopped pretty hard lol. This is going to be a good sell though, mostly to people that don’t have the game for it.
Chum
Dec 20, 2013 at 11:11 am
The white did flop, but not the black.
Chris W
Dec 20, 2013 at 12:26 pm
The white R1 was the best selling driver of 2013 and one of the fastest selling drivers of all time. The black was limited edition and, yes, it did sell well, but significantly less than the white.
Stephen Lee
Dec 18, 2013 at 1:46 pm
i say taylormade is trying different marketing strategy this time. taylormade made 430cc version of the new driver first and then 460cc version saying its longer and more forgiving over the last few years. like the r9 and then r9s, the r11 and then r11s. now the other way around? 460cc first and 430cc for better players? i dont get that taylormade were saying 460cc is longer because of the size of the head is bigger than 430cc making it more forgiving and longer. now they are saying 430cc is longer because of reduced spin rate. does anyone know what is the bigger factor in the driving distance? spin rate or head size? or am i thinking wrong way? even though the most important thing is smash factor given the head speed produced by individuals but im still curious.
Conrad
Dec 18, 2013 at 12:54 pm
love it how taylormade is going back to trying to market to all audiences…