In what might be the worst kept secret in golf equipment releases in light of all of the very prominent social media advertising, the TaylorMade SIM woods have finally been “officially” announced today. The TaylorMade SIM line has something for everyone with drivers, fairways, and rescues. Given the adoption rate on Tour, TaylorMade may have a big winner on its hands.
We have a lot to dive into so let’s get to it!
The Drivers – SIM, SIM MAX, SIM MAX-D
Whether TaylorMade likes it or not, drivers seem to be its bread and butter every year for as long as I can remember. Although they haven’t all had the success of the M2, TaylorMade drivers have been incredibly popular with golfers, and the M series continue to sell well through today. Looking to continue on that: enter SIM.
The SIM Drivers have a new shape for TaylorMade, although avid golfers may find them a little familiar (Lots of conversation on that part in the THP Forum). Of course, TaylorMade making its own take on a proven design is good for golfers and it appears they tried to put their own spin on an aerodynamic design with their feature pairings. TaylorMade says the this new “Aerodynamic Asymmetric Sole and Inertia Generator” will help deliver higher swing speeds while simultaneously increasing MOI by moving weight to the rear of the club to deliver greater forgiveness. TaylorMade is banking on this new aerodynamic design putting an end to the days of having to make a choice between speed or forgiveness.
Each SIM model features technology from previous TaylorMade releases, including the popular Twist Face (face angles designed to make mis-hits go straighter) and Speed Injected Technology for an optimized COR and better ball speeds across the face. Each SIM model also features a Multi-Material Construction, a mix of Carbon, Titanium and Steel, to move weight where it needs to be to deliver an ultra-low center of gravity and high MOI.
Where the standard SIM model stands out from the MAX models is its addition of a sliding weight behind the face that allows a golfer to personalize the flight bias from draw to fade and anything in between. The standard SIM also has a slightly smaller face than its MAX family. As the name suggests, the SIM MAX-D is the permanently draw biased model that features extra weight (and a center of gravity) in the heel to provide plenty of draw bias for those that need the extra help closing the face.
Like most TaylorMade drivers, I completely expect that the new SIM family will sell very well, and I think that golfers will be pleasantly surprised by the benefits of TaylorMade’s “Aerodynamic Asymmetric Sole and Inertia Generator” design.
The Details
SIM Driver
Available: 2/7/20
Price: $549.99
Shafts: Mitsubishi Diamana S; Project X HZRDUS Smoke Green 70
Grip: Men’s: Golf Pride Z-Grip
Lofts: Rocket 8° RH, 9°RH/LH, 10.5° RH/LH
SIM MAX
Available: 2/7/20
Price: $499.99
Shafts: Men’s: Fujikura Ventus Blue, Red; Woman’s: Aldila NV Ladies 45
Grip: Men’s: Golf Pride Z-Grip; Women’s: Lamkin Ladies Sonar
Lofts: 9° RH/LH, 10.5° RH/LH, 12° RH
SIM MAX-D
Available: 2/7/20
Price: $499.99
Shafts: Men’s: UST Mamiya Helium; Woman’s: Aldila NV Ladies 45
Grip: Men’s: Golf Pride Z-Grip; Women’s: Lamkin Ladies Sonar
Lofts: 9° RH/LH, 10.5° RH/LH, 12° RH
The Fairways – SIM Ti, SIM MAX, SIM MAX-D
The new SIM fairway woods, like most fairway woods, will likely play second fiddle to the drivers but the new design and inclusion of new materials should drive plenty of buzz. Among the three SIM models, there is one big, expensive difference just like TaylorMade’s previous irons – Titanium.
The entire TaylorMade SIM family of fairway woods feature a multi-material construction, with the MAX and MAX-D featuring a steel and carbon construction to allocate weight around the head and the SIM Ti (or SIM Titanium) having a carbon, titanium, and 80-gram steel soleplate construction. Each design allows for purposeful weight distribution for a low center of gravity, or a draw bias in the MAX-D, and varying spin characteristics.
The SIM Ti also features a titanium face and TaylorMade’s Next-Gen Speed Pocket to deliver what TaylorMade calls “unprecedented performance.” Rest assured, the SIM MAX and SIM MAX-D also feature Speed Pocket technology that will aid the retention of ball speed on low strikes, although it is not clear at the moment the difference between the two generations of this technology.
Rounding out the design of the SIM fairways, each model has the V Steel Sole Design, created for improved turf interaction in both tight and difficult lies, and Twist Face technology to produce straighter shots on mis-hits.
TaylorMade’s continued inclusion of Titanium into its clubs is exciting and opens the door to more design choices, but I can’t help but wonder if the increased performance will justify driver-like pricing.
The Details
SIM Titanium
Available: 2/7/20
Price: $399.99
Shafts: Mitsubishi Diamana FW Limited 75 (X,S) 65 (R)
Grip: Men’s: Golf Pride Z-Grip
Lofts: Rocket 3 (14°) RH, 3 (15°) RH/LH, 5 (19°) RH/LH
SIM MAX
Available: 2/7/20
Price: $299.99
Shafts: Men’s: Fujikura Ventus Blue; Woman’s: Aldila NV Ladies 45
Grip: Men’s: Golf Pride Z-Grip; Women’s: Lamkin Ladies Sonar
Lofts: Rocket 3 (14°) RH, 3 (15°) RH/LH, 5 (18°) RH/LH, 7 (21°) RH/LH, 9 (24°) RH
SIM MAX-D
Available: 2/7/20
Price: $299.99
Shafts: Men’s: UST Mamiya Helium FW 5; Woman’s: Aldila NV Ladies 45
Grip: Men’s: Golf Pride Z-Grip; Women’s: Lamkin Ladies Sonar
Lofts: 3 (16°) RH/LH, 5 (19°) RH/LH, 7 (22°) RH
The Rescue – SIM Max
The final complementary piece of the SIM MAX family is the SIM MAX Rescue. Built on essentially the same technology as the SIM MAX fairway woods, the Rescue takes the speed of the larger SIM woods and adds plenty of technology to increase the forgiveness and versatility that you need in a rescue.
The SIM MAX Rescue looks to be loaded with forgiveness – it features (1) the V Steel Sole that is designed to provide better turf interaction and reduced friction to provide performance and confidence regardless of your lie, (2) the Speed Pocket that is ubiquitous in TaylorMade products that increases sole flexibility for additional ball speed and forgiveness on low-face strikes, and (3) Twist Face designed to make your mis-hits go straighter. Although I haven’t had one in hand, they certainly have the look of a well-designed rescue club.
Overall, the SIM MAX Rescue looks like it will be a fast and forgiving replacement for those pesky long irons (or even a few mid-irons with a vast offering this year ranging from 19 degrees to 31 degrees), and might just make it into a lot of bags before too long.
The Details
Available: 2/7/20
Price: $249.99
Shafts: Men’s: Fujikura Ventus Blue; Woman’s: Aldila NV Ladies 45
Grip: Men’s: Lamkin Crossline 360; Women’s: Lamkin Ladies Sonar
Lofts: 3 (19°) RH/LH, 4 (22°) RH/LH, 5 (25°) RH/LH, 6 (28°) RH, 7 (31°) RH
