Agree! Have to wonder if they omitted those models knowing that they’d likely stack up better. Everyone knows the SLDR has no forgiveness and Ian has long said the m5 wasn’t a great head
1,000%! Would have been way more impactful to test the best 3 of the last 10 years, rather than every 5 years. Absolutely M2 and SIM. Especially given the 180 Taylormade has pulled in that time. SLDR was all about loft up and hit high launch low spin bombs. Qi10 is all about MOI and forgiveness. Totally different concepts. M5 was forgettable.
Would be really interested to see this. Especially since Ian put it back in play before his TSR3. Even in the last Taylormade driver video when he compared the sim up to the stealth2, he loved it. I’d love to see the comparison and their conclusion on it.
Not to be the conspiracy guy, but I imagine it was left out because performance was too close to the current releases. They likely have to leave big gaps so there is some significant differences between the tested clubs.
I've still got an SLDR that I play when I'm not feeling confident with my gamer. I trimmed the shaft down to 43.5" added a 10g weight in the head to get the swingweight back to D2-D3 and set the sleeve to Upright. It's unbelievable how consistent I'm able to hit it after those mods.
I love this series. Can't wait to see how far Titleist has come... I played the 913D2, 917D2, TSi3, and currently the TSR3. I played them because they looked, sounded and felt great. But now they actually perform (ball speed, spin, etc)!
Brilliant, I still have an SLDR 430 in my bag, I’ve had M5 and Stealth Plus, but always went back to the SLDR, not forgiving by any means, but out the middle it’s as long as anything out there!! Loved this video 👍🏻
I still play a TM M5 Tour. I had the standard M5 and it was similar to this video; nice, stable and a bit short. The M5 Tour is a different beast for me; a very neutral head with low spin in a slightly more compact profile. I also have a SLDR 430 TP which is fun to use, albeit marginally slower and same spin window as the M5 Tour (for me)
I love videos like this. My gamer right now is a TaylorMade R1 black and my irons are Adams A4R forged. I want to get in and get fit with new stuff to see the gains and how much more forgiving the new tech would be.
I remember when Taylormade came out to a huge demo night at the Golfsmith HQ. I worked with a lot of the OEM reps by working at the Golfsmith HQ and it was really cool to just walk around and talk tech with them. The Taylormade truck was out and there was a big monitor up that had a leaderboard of people who were hitting it long. SLDR was a big story and of course, everyone was to "loft up." The competitor at Callaway was the Big Bertha Alpha - it had the core that could be flipped to have the CG low or high in the head. These were two of the lowest spinning heads I think I have ever witnessed. We've come a long way.
Enjoyed this. Demonstrates the evolution. Not sure my poor swing would benefit from the progression thru the years, but good golfers would certainly pay attention to the performance biases.
I also wonder what the outcome would be if each of them were fitted. More time-consuming for sure, but it would better align with the overall message of the channel of getting fitted.
I've played M3 and every iteration since SIM. Currently have the Qi10 LS in 9°. The new Qi10 is the best driver head i have ever used. Gained 8 mph ball speed from Stealth 2+ and can really feel how the 10k MOI helps on off center strikes. Qi10 just seems to hold its line more than other drivers. $1,200 is a lot for a driver but I've been hitting more fairways than ever and consistently longer than before. The guys i play with talked crap about how much i paid until they saw the performance. Went with a Ventus Black TR 7s which is why the driver cost so much. Over all I'm extremely happy with what TM did with this driver.
I got the taylormade SLDR. I went to a taylormade demo day last week. I got fitted for their Qi10 standard. I gained average 25 yards with the hzrd Red 50 gram.
I bought the SLDR last year, it was the hardcore 430cc model in 9 degrees, I was injured at the time so could not get much out of it but might have to try it again after seeing this.
I love how this just shows how a 10 year old driver can be just as good as a brand new driver. I have an SLDR driver that I use as a practice driver and though the sound is a little louder, it still performs really well
I was still using my SLDR TP 12* delofted 10.5* TP setting..until 2 weeks ago...I've put the SIM head on now , but I still use my old TP shaft 6.3 ..67g with a jumbomax ultra lite grip..❤
Where were the M5 weights set? Apples to apples I would like to know if the M5 weights were up front. If both weights were up front spin rates on M5 would be lowest possible and more comparable to SLDR & Qi10. Just curious and thanks for always putting out great content!
Really enjoy this kind of video, as someone whose still gaming an r1 im constanly torn between sticking with what i know or upgrading to some new tech!
The SLDR was an amazing driver in matchplay coming down the stretch on 17 all square. Set it up on a little cut on purpose cause that thing sounds even more from a heel strike. It always caught the opponent off guard.
Great idea for a series! Would love to see a high handicapper mixed in or at least some off-center strikes to get a better idea of how much the new technology helps out us golfers who aren’t hitting it center every time like Ian. Awesome video though guys, looking forward to more!
I remember having the JetSpeed and I hit some crazy drives. 300 yards left and right, but when hit in the middle she was bad. Fras ate his Wheaties this morning, yea!
I kept my SLDR because it was so freakishly long. I've been through 4 drivers since, but I still take it out every once in awhile for fun. If you're striking it well, it's VERY hard to beat to this day.
Loved this, but I would really like to see a comparison of fitted drivers, if you took three different drivers from three different eras and put them up against each other but they were fitted to your current swing and were producing the ball speed, launch and spin numbers you wanted that would be an amazing comparison
Agreed. The stock shaft wasn’t for everybody. I have one that I put a ventus red in and I love it. I have a couple different bags. A persimmon bag, an old set of taylormade tp mb’s and sldr woods, i got a ping s55 set with g30 woods Long story short you need something that’s gonna launch and spin
I have a 12 degree SLDR, bought it second hand 7ish years ago. I have had several driver fittings over the years but the SLDR performs 5 to 10 yards off the pace of the new boys (in my hands). I can live with that to be honest. I don’t think 5 to 10 yards is worth spending £500 on a new one.
@@jonthornton4159 fair. I have gotten most of my clubs for free. When I want a new one. I will wait until the new one comes out and get the previous model, with a trade in for my “old driver” but I also collect clubs that I buy second hand off eBay and 2ndswing
Been playing an M5 since it come out. Great driver, the face recently cracked on it last month, little disappointing to give up. Think I’m between a Mizuno and Taylormade
Quick fact: Sean Tulon owns the patent for the SLDR along with 100+ other TM patents. It's why the SLDR and the Callaway Maverick had the same head shape. Can you hot melt an old head to help with the sound to get it more muted? If so get the Nike SQ driver in there too! lol
From the SLDR - Qi10, is there really many benifits or is it all marketing? That SLDR was still bombing, for the average golfer see many benifits to warrant the currrent price of new clubs? Great video, I’m enjoying this series fraz 👍
Ian, As your fitter, I would absolutely NEVER put you in that M5 driver, and because the SLDR punishes slight misses dramatically (plus it sounds awful), I'm eliminating that driver. You are in the correct driver among those three with your Qi10 model!
Same Smash with SLDR and Q. I can understand Ian being more comfortable and thus swinging faster. But ball speed is direct result of SS. I dont think I saw club data on M5. If SS is slopwer like SLDR and spin like Q i can see why its a bit further behind.
SLDR for the win Baby!!!! Dispite is truly unforgiving nature. The distance hasn't really moved on but the forgiveness has/ They have gotten way more forgiving as each model is released.
The M2 which I played for years was the true champ of the M series drivers. They got worse with each model IMO. Even the Stealth which I decided against for a Cobra which I love.
Curious as to why you all chose those specific drivers to compare... The M2 is arguably one of the greatest drivers ever made and the M1 arguably the most popular.
Correct me if i'm wrong but the tour head starts with a thicker face because they hit so many balls and they wear it thin. With that in mind, the M5 should be slower off the get go right?
Thanks for the video. Don't really see difference at all regarding ball speed. 1.43 vs 1.44 efficiency considering the low impact point with Qi10 compared to SLDR
Great video guys! I have a SLDR. I hope you can answer this question. When I got fitted for it, I think the shaft was the wrong stiffness. I had an instructor hit it and he said even for him it was stiff for his liking. As I bought the SLDR in 2014, he said that shaft manufacturers don’t make shafts for the SLDR. Is that true or was he just setting me up to buy a new club? Thank you!
I’d like to see you go all the way back to the Titleist 983K. I think it was the best driver ever made . In its day it was longer than anything else and quite forgiving for its small size.
The o.g. m2 needs to be involved in any old vs new TaylorMade test
I'm still sporting the M2 what a great driver.
Old vs new, what everyone always asks for
Could have a successful channel dedicated to it.
man, that SLDR was just BOMBING!
I still have one in my garage. Longest driver I've ever owned. Also the most crooked 😂
If I were to choose, I’d have chosen 2016 M2, OG SIM, and Qi10 for the comparison rather than have gone strictly by model year. Still, enjoyed it tho!
Agree! Have to wonder if they omitted those models knowing that they’d likely stack up better. Everyone knows the SLDR has no forgiveness and Ian has long said the m5 wasn’t a great head
@@jtbsox99 YUP
1,000%! Would have been way more impactful to test the best 3 of the last 10 years, rather than every 5 years. Absolutely M2 and SIM. Especially given the 180 Taylormade has pulled in that time. SLDR was all about loft up and hit high launch low spin bombs. Qi10 is all about MOI and forgiveness. Totally different concepts. M5 was forgettable.
SIM 2 Max beat the QI 10K Max by 7 yards
Need to see Ian hit the SIM again
Would be really interested to see this. Especially since Ian put it back in play before his TSR3. Even in the last Taylormade driver video when he compared the sim up to the stealth2, he loved it. I’d love to see the comparison and their conclusion on it.
Not to be the conspiracy guy, but I imagine it was left out because performance was too close to the current releases. They likely have to leave big gaps so there is some significant differences between the tested clubs.
@@marshallw4492that theory makes no sense as the sldr always beats out on total distance time and time!
I've still got an SLDR that I play when I'm not feeling confident with my gamer.
I trimmed the shaft down to 43.5" added a 10g weight in the head to get the swingweight back to D2-D3 and set the sleeve to Upright.
It's unbelievable how consistent I'm able to hit it after those mods.
I played SLDR for 5 years and LOVED it
These old vs new comparisons never get old
Love to see Old vs. New! And I’m sure RB is happy to see it back as well :)
Would love you to build a budget set or a full bag from 5-10 years. Would be interesting
M5 was my favorite driver. Was never the farthest for me but man it was so accurate. Loved that weight track
2016 M2 vs OG SIM vs Qi10. We need it!
Middle striker all day, what a beautiful sight. Thanks fellas.
I love this series. Can't wait to see how far Titleist has come... I played the 913D2, 917D2, TSi3, and currently the TSR3. I played them because they looked, sounded and felt great. But now they actually perform (ball speed, spin, etc)!
917d2 was definitely a beast
Still use ping g30, Everytime I hit it sounds like an explosion, sooo loud the older drivers. But still sounds better than some of the new thuds
Brilliant, I still have an SLDR 430 in my bag, I’ve had M5 and Stealth Plus, but always went back to the SLDR, not forgiving by any means, but out the middle it’s as long as anything out there!!
Loved this video 👍🏻
I still use my sldr s 16 loft driver. Yes 16 degree driver. Straight high bombs.
Old vs. new are among my favorite videos!
I'm excited to see these, as someone who has found old drivers perform as well or better than new ones. We need this kind of information.
one of the best videos of 2024
Awesome video guys! Love the old vs new!!
I still play a TM M5 Tour. I had the standard M5 and it was similar to this video; nice, stable and a bit short. The M5 Tour is a different beast for me; a very neutral head with low spin in a slightly more compact profile. I also have a SLDR 430 TP which is fun to use, albeit marginally slower and same spin window as the M5 Tour (for me)
Same here. Love my M5 tour.
I love videos like this. My gamer right now is a TaylorMade R1 black and my irons are Adams A4R forged. I want to get in and get fit with new stuff to see the gains and how much more forgiving the new tech would be.
I remember when Taylormade came out to a huge demo night at the Golfsmith HQ. I worked with a lot of the OEM reps by working at the Golfsmith HQ and it was really cool to just walk around and talk tech with them. The Taylormade truck was out and there was a big monitor up that had a leaderboard of people who were hitting it long. SLDR was a big story and of course, everyone was to "loft up." The competitor at Callaway was the Big Bertha Alpha - it had the core that could be flipped to have the CG low or high in the head. These were two of the lowest spinning heads I think I have ever witnessed. We've come a long way.
Enjoyed this. Demonstrates the evolution. Not sure my poor swing would benefit from the progression thru the years, but good golfers would certainly pay attention to the performance biases.
I still play the sldr driver ,3wood and the 5 wood they are staying in my bag
This made me miss my M5 with Gamma Hulk shaft. Loved that head, looked awesome and sounded great. Thanks for another great comp video y'all!
LOVE THIS. Cant wait for the PING episode.
Love it. Can't wait for Mizuno and Titleist woods :)
My gamer is a SLDR, looking forward to this
As far as your club speed with the SLDR vs QI10, I believe the SLDR was a pretty heavy head. Maybe up to 10g heavier than the QI10. That would do it.
More of this series please
Just upgraded from the 2017 M3 to the Qi10. I can't wait to get out on the course and give it a try!
Loved this video. Excited to see more! Would also be interested in seeing something like the old diamana whiteboard vs the newest WB shaft
I also wonder what the outcome would be if each of them were fitted. More time-consuming for sure, but it would better align with the overall message of the channel of getting fitted.
Love these comps! Well done
I've played M3 and every iteration since SIM. Currently have the Qi10 LS in 9°. The new Qi10 is the best driver head i have ever used. Gained 8 mph ball speed from Stealth 2+ and can really feel how the 10k MOI helps on off center strikes. Qi10 just seems to hold its line more than other drivers. $1,200 is a lot for a driver but I've been hitting more fairways than ever and consistently longer than before. The guys i play with talked crap about how much i paid until they saw the performance. Went with a Ventus Black TR 7s which is why the driver cost so much. Over all I'm extremely happy with what TM did with this driver.
I got the taylormade SLDR. I went to a taylormade demo day last week. I got fitted for their Qi10 standard. I gained average 25 yards with the hzrd Red 50 gram.
Great series! Great idea
I had both the SLDR 430 and the M5 Tour. Real beasts. SLDR wasn’t that hard to hit as they wanted people to believe.
I bought the SLDR last year, it was the hardcore 430cc model in 9 degrees, I was injured at the time so could not get much out of it but might have to try it again after seeing this.
I love how this just shows how a 10 year old driver can be just as good as a brand new driver. I have an SLDR driver that I use as a practice driver and though the sound is a little louder, it still performs really well
Great review. Compare the sim 2 max , and qi10 core head
I was still using my SLDR TP 12* delofted 10.5* TP setting..until 2 weeks ago...I've put the SIM head on now , but I still use my old TP shaft 6.3 ..67g with a jumbomax ultra lite grip..❤
Where were the M5 weights set? Apples to apples I would like to know if the M5 weights were up front. If both weights were up front spin rates on M5 would be lowest possible and more comparable to SLDR & Qi10. Just curious and thanks for always putting out great content!
Really enjoy this kind of video, as someone whose still gaming an r1 im constanly torn between sticking with what i know or upgrading to some new tech!
This is one of the first years since the M2 days when a lot of the tour pros have opted for the core model instead of tour/LS.
The SLDR was an amazing driver in matchplay coming down the stretch on 17 all square. Set it up on a little cut on purpose cause that thing sounds even more from a heel strike. It always caught the opponent off guard.
I just want to say Ian your swing is looking really really nice recently. You might end up in one of those tempo town videos at this rate 😂
Great idea for a series! Would love to see a high handicapper mixed in or at least some off-center strikes to get a better idea of how much the new technology helps out us golfers who aren’t hitting it center every time like Ian. Awesome video though guys, looking forward to more!
Love this evolution testing concept lads, brilliant work! Had it on a string The Glasgow Ranger 💣🔥
I remember having the JetSpeed and I hit some crazy drives. 300 yards left and right, but when hit in the middle she was bad. Fras ate his Wheaties this morning, yea!
This was awesome. I cant wait for you to do ones for cobra and Titleist
Love this new serie!!
I kept my SLDR because it was so freakishly long. I've been through 4 drivers since, but I still take it out every once in awhile for fun. If you're striking it well, it's VERY hard to beat to this day.
Anyone remember the nike sasquatch now that was a loud driver
lol called it the soup can because that’s what it sounded like you were hitting the ball with.
Hope when you do Callaway you use the epic flash, see what I'm missing out on using an older driver
Hilarious this comes up. I was just talking to a buddy about the m5 and how much I loved it
Holy consistency!
Fraz The Glasgow Ranger.love it, simply the best!👍
Cool series. Love it!
It’s loud because the sldr patch came off the bottom, happened to mine and it changed the sound. Taylormade was nice and sent me a M1
I had a 8 degree sldr and that thing was a monster
Loved this, but I would really like to see a comparison of fitted drivers, if you took three different drivers from three different eras and put them up against each other but they were fitted to your current swing and were producing the ball speed, launch and spin numbers you wanted that would be an amazing comparison
Had M3, M5, and SIM max, and i think M5 still my favorite in terms of performace and shape
Shaft selection is critical with SLDR
Agreed. The stock shaft wasn’t for everybody. I have one that I put a ventus red in and I love it. I have a couple different bags. A persimmon bag, an old set of taylormade tp mb’s and sldr woods, i got a ping s55 set with g30 woods
Long story short you need something that’s gonna launch and spin
I have a 12 degree SLDR, bought it second hand 7ish years ago. I have had several driver fittings over the years but the SLDR performs 5 to 10 yards off the pace of the new boys (in my hands). I can live with that to be honest. I don’t think 5 to 10 yards is worth spending £500 on a new one.
@@jonthornton4159 fair. I have gotten most of my clubs for free. When I want a new one. I will wait until the new one comes out and get the previous model, with a trade in for my “old driver” but I also collect clubs that I buy second hand off eBay and 2ndswing
Can you tell me more? I'm struggling with my sldr...the shaft is stock shaft I guess, the one with that Mitsubishi logo...
@@mohamadgilang545 SLDR driver is too finicky. There are several more recent used TM drivers to choose from
Great vid! But where's the M2?
That SLDR adds another 10-15 in carry if tee'd up high and you aim for the clouds. I couldn't hit it straight enough to trust it though.
When I watch videos like this I think the big improvement in golf clubs is within the marketing departments 😂
Looking forward to more of these
We NEED more old vs new!!!
Been playing an M5 since it come out. Great driver, the face recently cracked on it last month, little disappointing to give up. Think I’m between a Mizuno and Taylormade
I have an M5 driver and it's nearly impossible to get the spin down 3500 to 4000 spin it's good to see that even you guys struggled to get it down
Great contents! What flex is that AD VF shaft? 6S or 6X?
6x
@@ianfrasergolf Thanks!
SLDR is a goat tier driver for high speed players it was just so fragile… I went through 7 heads in 3 years
I loved my SLDR, from the numbers it looks like ball speed doesn't mean longer distance. In 10 years and all this talk of moi, we've lost yardage
Great vid guys
Glad I kept my slider in the shed all these years 😂
That’s crazy the SLDR is longer, lower spinning, etc. Thanks
Quick fact: Sean Tulon owns the patent for the SLDR along with 100+ other TM patents. It's why the SLDR and the Callaway Maverick had the same head shape. Can you hot melt an old head to help with the sound to get it more muted? If so get the Nike SQ driver in there too! lol
Still using my R9 and had a 313 yard drive calculated by my shot scope yesterday, averaging 265 due to my high handicap lol
From the SLDR - Qi10, is there really many benifits or is it all marketing? That SLDR was still bombing, for the average golfer see many benifits to warrant the currrent price of new clubs?
Great video, I’m enjoying this series fraz 👍
Do this with mizuno !!!
Ian, As your fitter, I would absolutely NEVER put you in that M5 driver, and because the SLDR punishes slight misses dramatically (plus it sounds awful), I'm eliminating that driver. You are in the correct driver among those three with your Qi10 model!
Same Smash with SLDR and Q. I can understand Ian being more comfortable and thus swinging faster. But ball speed is direct result of SS. I dont think I saw club data on M5. If SS is slopwer like SLDR and spin like Q i can see why its a bit further behind.
SLDR for the win Baby!!!! Dispite is truly unforgiving nature. The distance hasn't really moved on but the forgiveness has/ They have gotten way more forgiving as each model is released.
SLDR 430 vs Qi10 would be no comparison i believe. the SLDR 430 was an absolute monster that i still play quite often
That was a stripe show, so good
Loved the user name that Fraz used ⚽
The M2 which I played for years was the true champ of the M series drivers. They got worse with each model IMO. Even the Stealth which I decided against for a Cobra which I love.
Since when was 2000-2200 spin “knuckly?
Curious as to why you all chose those specific drivers to compare...
The M2 is arguably one of the greatest drivers ever made and the M1 arguably the most popular.
Just let’s see the Sim2 vs the Qi10.
SLDR, tuned in can be monster...but not so forgiving.
The SLDR420 was a bomber!!
Edit: didnt the SLDR have a very quite upright lie as well? Or no?
Correct me if i'm wrong but the tour head starts with a thicker face because they hit so many balls and they wear it thin. With that in mind, the M5 should be slower off the get go right?
Thanks for the video. Don't really see difference at all regarding ball speed. 1.43 vs 1.44 efficiency considering the low impact point with Qi10 compared to SLDR
Great video guys! I have a SLDR. I hope you can answer this question. When I got fitted for it, I think the shaft was the wrong stiffness. I had an instructor hit it and he said even for him it was stiff for his liking. As I bought the SLDR in 2014, he said that shaft manufacturers don’t make shafts for the SLDR. Is that true or was he just setting me up to buy a new club? Thank you!
Gotta do this with the Mizuno drivers
I’d like to see you go all the way back to the Titleist 983K. I think it was the best driver ever made . In its day it was longer than anything else and quite forgiving for its small size.
Watching the Rick S video it seems that Taylor made got it right with the Sim Max and have gone backwards with Qi10???
SLDR was a good driver. It bombed the ball and i played it for 2 years. The main problem with it is that it wasn't that forgiving.