TaylorMade SIM2 background
So TaylorMade moved away from their M line (which I was a huge fan of) and brought out their first-ever SIM driver. It’s safe to say the first SIM driver was a real hit and I started seeing plenty of them in the hands of amateur golfers at my club.
The great thing about the SIM range of drivers is that they released options to cater to a variety of players in terms of ability. They released a SIM Max alongside their regular SIM and a SIM Max D, which were designed to help offer players maximum forgiveness from their driver. The Sim Max D helped players struggling with a slice by giving them a driver with a draw bias.
Team TaylorMade took lots of inspiration from the way F1 teams strip down cars to maximize their efficiency. Stripping the head component by component in order to optimize construction the best they could.
Having reviewed the TaylorMade SIM2 drivers, it’s safe to say I’m a fan. If it’s good enough for the world number 1 it’s good enough for me! Hopefully my review of the all-new TaylorMade SIM2 drivers will help you decide whether it’s a club you should be adding to your bag.
TaylorMade SIM2 Driver Review
TaylorMade is probably one of the best-known brands for pushing the boat out when it comes to technology. Ever since their first drivers which included moveable weights, they’ve been pioneering some of the best equipment in the game with the use of technology, and their new clubs never cease to impress me.
They’re also the brand with one of the best marketing departments in the world. As a fan of golf, I love watching the world’s best players, and it’s been interesting to see the majority of them using TaylorMade clubs.
TaylorMade SIM2 Driver
The SIM2 driver is available in 8, 9 and 10.5 degrees of loft with the hosel adjustable by 2 degrees each way. The stock shaft that comes with the driver is either the Mitsubishi Tensei AV Raw Blue 60 or the Project X HZRDUS Smoke RDX Black 70. In terms of grip, the standard grip you get with the driver is the Golf Pride Z-Grip.
If you’re wondering what benefits this driver has compared to the original SIM driver which was impressive in its own right, it’s 12% larger in face size and it offers 5% more MOI (moment of intertia). The SIM2 makes use of a new Forged Milled aluminum blue back ring, with a 16g Inertia Generator weight. On the whole, this driver is designed to be one of the best low spinning, mid-launching drivers around.
As I mentioned previously, marketing is one of TaylorMade’s strongest points. Some people I’ve spoken to believe they’re better marketers than they are club makers, but in my view, it’s clear to see that they have manufactured some of the best golf clubs in history.
The SIM2 driver is another amazing club and in my opinion, there’s not another driver like it on the market right now. Looks-wise, I’ve heard mixed feedback from people but I think it looks awesome and if anything it’s ahead of its time. They have completely removed any form of weight track to help better utilize weighting, making it as efficient as possible.
TaylorMade used aluminum in the design and combined it with a carbon-fiber sole which allowed them to achieve an additional 5% in forgiveness. Knowing how fine-tuned the original SIM driver was, I for one find this pretty impressive.
For me one of the stand out features of the SIM2 driver is forgiveness. For a driver that allows such low spin and incredible distance, I’m amazed by how forgiving the standard version of the club is. This is already a huge hit on tour and it’s easy to see why. I think the technology used in this club will make a lot of amateur golfers feel confident they can use a low spin driver that doesn’t punish them too much with mishits.
TaylorMade SIM2 Max driver
The SIM2 Max driver is available in 9, 10.5, and 12.5 degrees of loft and like the regular SIM2 driver, the hosel is adjustable by 2 degrees each way. The stock shaft that comes with the Max drivers are the Fujikura Ventus Blue 5 or the Mitsubishi KuroKage Silver 60. The standard grip you get with the Max driver is the Golf Pride Z-Grip.
Comparing this to the previous model, you get 3% more MOI than the 2020 SIM Max. This driver offers more spin by a couple of hundred RPM when compared to the SIM2 driver and is a mid-high launching driver with a mid to low spin profile. Instead of a 16g Inertia Generator weight as used in the regular SIM2, the SIM2 Max comes with a 24g weight.
The engineering that’s gone into the SIM2 Max is absolutely tremendous. Earlier on I said that the guys at TaylorMade were inspired by F1 car tweaking, and I honestly believe that the design of this driver could have been made by F1 engineers; the quality is that good!
The back ring which is CNC milled looks absolutely outstanding. The attention to detail is second to none and I wouldn’t be surprised to see plenty of other manufacturers in the future taking inspiration from their design process.
This driver is as slick looks-wise as the regular SIM2, but it offers excellent forgiveness and is so long. I have no doubt that this driver will be a regular in the bags of amateur golfers all over the world for years to come.
As I said earlier, I think the technology is far ahead of its time and for that reason, the club will be as forgiving and long as many of the future releases from other brands. By investing in the TaylorMade SIM2 Max, you’re getting a club that you’ll struggle to take out the bag for a long time.
TaylorMade SIM2 Max D driver
Like the regular SIM2 Max driver, the SIM2 Max D is available in 9, 10.5 and 12.5 degrees of loft and has a hosel that is adjustable by 2 degrees each way. The stock shaft that comes with the Max D driver is the Fujikura Air Speeder 45. The standard grip you get with the Max D driver is the Golf Pride Z-Grip. The SIM2 Max D is a draw-biased, highly forgiving driver that offers mid-spin rates.
In comparison to the original SIM Max D driver, this club has the same face size but offers 15% more MOI. The Inertia Generator weight is slightly lighter than the one used in the SIM2 Max, weighing in at 22g rather than 24g.
To put it more simply, the SIM2 Max D driver is a great option for anyone who struggle with slicing the ball. It’s impressive how the slightly closed face at address is subtly hidden thanks to the efficient paintwork.
In my opinion, the SIM2 Max D has all the forgiveness benefits of the SIM2 Max, but is designed to help you fight those horrible shots that leak right, lose your balls and wreck your scorecard. I’d recommend getting a shaft fitting with this club in order to maximize the benefits of the draw bias, but the standard shaft option would still be great for the majority of golfers.
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- Who should invest in TaylorMade SIM2 drivers?
Generally, when I review drivers I like to create a section that helps clarify which types of golfers are suited to each driver within the range. This section of my review will be exploring which type of golfer should be using which of the three models on offer from the TaylorMade SIM2 driver range.
High handicap golfers
If you're a high handicap golfer, I would recommend going for the SIM2 Max or the SIM2 Max D driver. This is because of how forgiving they are but they still allow you to achieve excellent distance. As a high handicapper, chances are you probably don't strike the ball out the middle as much as you'd like to.
Whether you opt for the regular SIM2 Max or the SIM2 Max D depends on your shot shape. If you struggle with a slice, then I would highly recommend checking out the SIM2 Max D which could be a life-saver thanks to the draw bias. For those of you who don't need a draw bias and want a forgiving driver with a neutral flight bias, the SIM2 Max is the way to go.
Mid-low handicap golfers
For mid and low handicap players I can't look past the regular SIM2 driver as the option for you. This is because of how incredibly forgiving it is while allowing you to maintain excellent spin numbers to maximize your distance.
In my opinion, this driver could be one that stays in your bag for years to come thanks to its adjustable hosel that will allow you to tweak the loft yourself and maximize performance ball speed and distance-wise.
️ -What’s the difference between the SIM 2 and the SIM 2 Max?
The SIM2 is a driver designed to offer low spin rates and mid-launch, which makes it an excellent choice for players with high swing speeds who are chasing distance rather than forgiveness.
The SIM2 Max is a higher launching driver that allows you to achieve mid to low spin rates but is incredibly forgiving. This makes the SIM2 a better option for low handicap players and the SIM2 Max the best option for high handicap golfers.
️ -Who is in the TaylorMade SIM2 Commercial?
The popular TaylorMade SIM2 showcases Tiger Woods, Dustin Johnson, John Rahm, Rory Mcllroy, Collin Morikawa, Jason Day and Matthew Wolff using the all-new TaylorMade SIM2 drivers.
️ -Are TaylorMade clubs good?
Yes, TaylorMade actually makes some of the best golf clubs in the world. They use cutting-edge technology and you’ll see their clubs in the hands of some of the world’s best players including Tiger Woods, Dustin Johnson and Matthew Wolff. TaylorMade offers a great selection of clubs from drivers to putters and you’ll find something that caters to your game regardless of your handicap.
TaylorMade SIM2 Driver Conclusion
The Taylormade SIM2 drivers are a range of clubs that offer state-of-the-art technology, awesome numbers and are being used by some of the world’s best players. In my opinion, TaylorMade has really set the bar high with these drivers using technology that many manufacturers are likely to take inspiration from.
The SIM2 driver is one of the best drivers of 2021 and I wouldn’t be surprised to see it in the bags of tour players and recreational golfers for many years to come.
Hopefully, my Taylormade SIM2 drivers review has given you some insight into TaylorMade’s most recent driver release at the time of writing. These are seriously good clubs that sound and feel amazing, can help improve your tee shots, and can ultimately change your golf game for the better.
