Most hardcore fans of professional golf are familiar with the Driver Derby. It’s all about the world’s best clubs. This year, among the leading contenders for champion are the Titleist 913D2 Drivers and TaylorMade’s SLDR drivers. Currently the 913s and the SLDRs are neck and neck as of this writing, with 15 wins each, so we thought we’d compare them in case you were torn between buying one of the two greatest drivers in professional golf.
Comparing Drivers
Although there are lots of metrics we could use to compare these two sticks, we’re going to focus on characteristics that are most important to the average golfer today. Here we go, take a look:
Loft
If you’re searching for a high loft, all of the SLDRs, as well as the Titleist 913 D2 driver reach up to 12 degrees, but low lofts are a different story. For those of you who play at the bottom of the loft range, both the Titleist 913s reach down to 7.5 degrees.
Adjustability
For a lot of weekend golfers, adjustability is a big deal. They like the idea of having a club that will grow along with their game. TaylorMade is the King of adjustability, and the SLDRs aren’t lacking in any. With a sliding weight on the sole of the club head and a 12 position loft sleeve, you can shape shots any way you need. The sliding weight is a real winner. It’s permanently attached to a track, so it can’t get lost and takes no time to adjust.
That’s not to say that Titleist has dropped the adjustability ball on their 913s. It’s just a much smaller part of the package. Instead of the moveable weight, they’ve opted for the interchangeable weight on the sole. If you don’t plan to make many weight adjustments, this isn’t a problem at all. Just keep a weather eye out for your weight to prevent loss. Like the SLDR, the 913s can adjust club loft via their hosel — the same 1.5 degrees in either direction as the SLDR.
Length
If you’re an exactly average height player (that’s 5 feet 9.5 inches for American males), the length of either club doesn’t make as much difference. But if you’re shorter or taller than average, you know you’re going to have to make some adjustments. The Titleists come in at 45 inches, a full half inch shorter than the standard SLDRs and a quarter of an inch shorter than the Tour Preferred SLDRs.
Looks
Ok, this isn’t an objective metric, but looks matter. The color scheme of your driver can make the ball easier to see or inspire confidence you never knew you had. In the case of the Titleist 913s, the dark finish on the club head and face coupled with the white alignment arrow make it easy to see your ball on any surface. The little bit of red flash on the sole doesn’t hurt, either – the 913s are pure class, tuxedos in a leisure suit world.
The TaylorMade SLDRs feature a color-scheme that can only be described as techy and modern. The gray club head contrasts with the silver club face. It makes a player feel like they’ve got something special between their wrists. The subtle blues on the sole contribute to the Tron-like feel of this driver.
Whether you decide to go with one of the Titleist 913 drivers or a TaylorMade SLDR, you’ll be even happier with your decision if you choose a gently used or open box model from 3balls.com. Our website offers deep discounts on all the most popular drivers in golf, go take a look before you favorite club sells out!