Anyone using a taylormade mini sldr driver as a fairway wood?

[Undershooter]

Been looking at Tmag Sldr mini drivers lately as a fairway wood replacement. Anyone play one of these and what was your thought? Easy off the deck? This would be replacing my 3 wood, not my driver.

[whiskey golf]

I don't think those would be the easiest to hit off the deck, they are designed for off the tee primarily. You may be better off with a different fairway wood but I haven't really tried the SLDR Mini much so I could be wrong. 

[Mr_Theoo]

I tried it in the store and it wasn't too bad to hit off the mat. I know it's not the same as real turf but it's a start. I believe T bagged a mini driver. He might be able to give more insight here.

[GolfSpy Barbajo]

I used a Callaway X2 Hot 2 Deep last season - truly LOVE that club.  Awesome off the tee and very hittable off the deck.  It's 12.5 degrees - it rarely gets more than 15-20 feet in the air when used off the fairway, but it is a great club.  The face is deeper than a normal FW, but it's not quite as deep as the SLDR Mini driver.  Give it try..

[Undershooter]

I don't think those would be the easiest to hit off the deck, they are designed for off the tee primarily. You may be better off with a different fairway wood but I haven't really tried the SLDR Mini much so I could be wrong.

 

That is my major concern with it.

 

I used a Callaway X2 Hot 2 Deep last season - truly LOVE that club.  Awesome off the tee and very hittable off the deck.  It's 12.5 degrees - it rarely gets more than 15-20 feet in the air when used off the fairway, but it is a great club.  The face is deeper than a normal FW, but it's not quite as deep as the SLDR Mini driver.  Give it try..

That was the other club I was looking at. I know the x2hot 2 deep head is closer to 3 wood size, but is it that much better off of the fairway with turf interaction?

[N8ball]

I used a SLDR mini(14*) for a little while last season. It definitely wasn't impossible to hit off the deck and I am generally a pretty poor fairway wood player. Never tended to use it much on course though mainly on the driving range. I just found my driver to be easier to hit and a little longer with marginal difference in accuracy. So I sold the mini.

 

I just looked for a large headed 4-wood(TE XCG6) to replace it and called it a day.

[Undershooter]

I currently have a TEE cb4 13* that I enjoy but I have not been hitting it as far since I swapped out the stock shaft for the protopype. Absolutely love the ball flight now but it has hurt my yardage gaps. I now have close to 40 yards between driver and 3wood. Not to mention my 1 iron isn't far from catching the 3wood. I rarely use this club now and need something to better gap between my 1i and driver. The x2 hot 2 deep Barbajo mentioned and the sldr mini are my 2 competitors at this point.

[GolfSpy Barbajo]

 

That was the other club I was looking at. I know the x2hot 2 deep head is closer to 3 wood size, but is it that much better off of the fairway with turf interaction?

 

It's definitely more fairway wood than driver, although it is filthy long off the tee.  As far as off the fairway -- from what I've been able to tell is had a flatter sole than the Mini, so for me it's fairly easy to hit off the deck.  

[Undershooter]

Thanks Barbajo! I'm going to try and find both to hit but my pickings are slim around where I am. Might end up having to guess on one and if I don't like it then resell it and get the other.

[Tony Covey MGS]

When we got our sample I took it out on the course just to check it out. Never imagined it would stick in the bag, now I look at every other manufacturer cross-eyed when the tell me they won't have anything similar in their lineup.

 

I hit mine off the tee and off the deck. I'll hit it out of thick rough, and even heather. I'm a crap fairway wood player, but the mini has finally given me a viable option. As long as the lie is relatively level I'm good to go.

 

One consideration...the R&D guys I've spoken with about it have suggested that it's better suited for a guy with a steeper angle of attack. That's me. If you're a shallow sweeper, even if you don't want to go 100% traditional, you might be better off with a PING Rapture or Callaway Deep which are both significantly smaller than the mini. 

[Undershooter]

When we got our sample I took it out on the course just to check it out. Never imagined it would stick in the bag, now I look at every other manufacturer cross-eyed when the tell me they won't have anything similar in their lineup.

 

I hit mine off the tee and off the deck. I'll hit it out of thick rough, and even heather. I'm a crap fairway wood player, but the mini has finally given me a viable option. As long as the lie is relatively level I'm good to go.

 

One consideration...the R&D guys I've spoken with about it have suggested that it's better suited for a guy with a steeper angle of attack. That's me. If you're a shallow sweeper, even if you don't want to go 100% traditional, you might be better off with a PING Rapture or Callaway Deep which are both significantly smaller than the mini.

 

So the larger head on this is better for someone with a very steep swing? If that's the case you may have just sold me a fairway wood. I would definitely consider my swing on the steeper side.

[GolfSpy Barbajo]

 

That makes sense -- I'm kinda shallow and the 2Deep has worked well for me,  but then again I've only tried hitting the Mini in Golfsmith.  Would like to give it a legit try someday...

[RoverRick]

I have a friend that has a Mini 16*. I hit it the last couple of times we played and found it surprisingly easy to hit off the deck. I really liked it a lot off the tee and off the deck.

 

I have tried not to be a Taylormade fan, however, every time I hit one of their clubs, or balls, I leave fairly impressed.

[Undershooter]

Officially bought a tmag sldr mini driver 12* to throw in the testing stages. If it doesn't work out then I may try and sell it for a Callaway xhot 2 deep. Time will only tell. Thanks for the input everyone.

[RookieBlue7]

I have a SLDR S Mini and it plays fine off the tee or turf

[Zeasy]

I have a SLDR S Mini and it plays fine off the tee or turf

 

How does launch compare to stated loft vs you average 3 wood?

[Undershooter]

Thanks RookieBlue!

 

Zeasy, from what I understand it has a slightly hotter face than the regular sldr face so ball speed goes as does the spin rate. To me that means a somewhat higher ball flight. Not sure about the launch though. I should be getting mine in Tuesday so we shall see.

[Zeasy]

Thanks RookieBlue!

 

Zeasy, from what I understand it has a slightly hotter face than the regular sldr face so ball speed goes as does the spin rate. To me that means a somewhat higher ball flight. Not sure about the launch though. I should be getting mine in Tuesday so we shall see.

Lemme know. There's some good head only deals to be had, atm.

[RookieBlue7]

Mine is a 14* (actual loft of 14.6*) and is a long hosel model but it launches fairly high but ball speed is also up. So even though there's more loft than my T/S distance is even.

[Undershooter]

Lemme know. There's some good head only deals to be had, atm.

Face it definitely hot. No LM data but launches pretty high and is easy to hit off the deck. Prolly gonna end up in the bag.

[Mr_Theoo]

Face it definitely hot. No LM data but launches pretty high and is easy to hit off the deck. Prolly gonna end up in the bag.

 

Awesome, I can't decided if I should grab one or wait for the aeroburner version

[Undershooter]

Awesome, I can't decided if I should grab one or wait for the aeroburner version

I haven't hit the aeroburner fairway so I can't comment. This may appear hard to hit off the deck to some bc of the large face but I didn't have any problems.

[mr_divots]

Glad it worked out. Late to the party on this one. Was going to suggest checking out one of the Titleist F.d fairways as well.

[Undershooter]

Glad it worked out. Late to the party on this one. Was going to suggest checking out one of the Titleist F.d fairways as well.

I was not a fan of the 915 drivers but didn't get a chance to hit any of their fairways. Its pretty annoying to have ball speeds at 180 and not even carry it 285 yards. And it wasn't bc I was hitting low runners lol

[Jmikecpa]

I hit the 2 deep over the summer and was not a huge fan. I did pick up the X2Hot 3 Deep a few weeks ago and it is a beast. Ball speeds are in the high 150's consistently with a carry north of 270 on average. I was shocked last week when I saw the numbers on it with GC2.

[revkev]

I have a SLDR S Mini and it plays fine off the tee or turf

Is there any club ever made that you don't have?

[Undershooter]

I hit the 2 deep over the summer and was not a huge fan. I did pick up the X2Hot 3 Deep a few weeks ago and it is a beast. Ball speeds are in the high 150's consistently with a carry north of 270 on average. I was shocked last week when I saw the numbers on it with GC2.

If it turns out the mini doesn't work for me then that is definitely the next man up. I like the look of it as is.

[mr_divots]

I was not a fan of the 915 drivers but didn't get a chance to hit any of their fairways. Its pretty annoying to have ball speeds at 180 and not even carry it 285 yards. And it wasn't bc I was hitting low runners lol

I know. I have driver thru hybrid in the 913's without much intent of changing. Have routinely heard the fw's and hybrids of the 915's are much better than the 915 drivers to this point.

[Jmikecpa]

If it turns out the mini doesn't work for me then that is definitely the next man up. I like the look of it as is.

Another thing to look at is the X Hot Pro 13.5*.  I was comparing the one I have to the 3 Deep and the face is not that much shallower.  When I get to hit balls this weekend I will give you comparison of the ball speed compared to the 3 Deep.

[Jmikecpa]

I hit the 2 deep over the summer and was not a huge fan. I did pick up the X2Hot 3 Deep a few weeks ago and it is a beast. Ball speeds are in the high 150's consistently with a carry north of 270 on average. I was shocked last week when I saw the numbers on it with GC2.

Just went back and looked at the numbers that were sent to me and the carry was in the mid to high 250's.  I looked at the numbers wrong on the file, but still was shocked by the result.  I give no merit to the overall distance numbers since roll is a joke on just about every simulator.