Last year TaylorMade introduced the world to the SIM driver. A driver that focused very much on clubhead aerodynamics to help deliver speed to golfers worldwide. SIM fairway woods brought back the famous V-Steel sole, while the SIM Max hybrid was good enough to be found in Dustin Johnson and Rory McIlroy bags. Today, we get our first look at the SIM2 lineup of woods and hybrids, and by the sounds of it, this isn’t just a rehash of 2020.
SIM2, SIM2 Max, SIM2 MAX D Driver
Last year, the SIM drivers’ main focus was the redesigned shape, with a concentrated effort on the Aerodynamic Asymmetric Sole and Inertia Generator. Thanks to that Inertia Generator, the sole looked slightly different from many drivers out on the market. Such a design’s whole premise was to allow the clubhead to move faster and more effortless through the air while positioning more mass to the rear of the club to boost its MOI properties. For SIM2, TaylorMade is taking what it learned from the SIM and reconstructed the driver to add more stability while maintaining the speed and launch characteristics. Okay, we hear stuff like this every year, but how they are doing so is rather interesting.
The position of mass plays such a massive role in how a driver performs these days. It affects launch angle, spin, forgiveness, and even ball speed. To assist with pushing the weight to the driver frame’s edges, TaylorMade engineers developed a new design they call Forged Ring Construction. With high strength, lightweight precision-milled aluminum, this Forged Ring acts as the centerpiece for this new construction, as it ties in TaylorMade’s four main components of technology that make the SIM2 a powerful yet forgiving option off the tee.
We’ve seen TaylorMade utilize a carbon crown for quite some time now, so it should be no surprise to see this material return in this location. Things have changed slightly on the sole, where a new high-strength, nine-layer carbon fiber sole stretches across the entire bottom of the club and helps shape the Inertia Generator. By expanding the carbon fiber’s use on the sole, a significant amount of weight can be repositioned throughout the head. As you may have guessed, those savings are utilized as a weight found at the tail end of the Intertia Generator. All three of the SIM2 models will have this design, but the weights at the back end will vary by model. SIM2 will have a 16g weight, SIM2 Max’s weight is 24g, while a 22g weight can be found in the SIM2 Max D.
If you haven’t caught on to this tidbit yet, between the aluminum Forged Ring Construction and the carbon fiber sole, the only titanium in these drivers is located on the face. TaylorMade uses a milled back face cup for the face, which they say has an intelligently optimized sweet spot. They have used CNC milling to create variable thickness in locations behind the face to give golfers a boost where they need it most. Many of those studies came from Twist Face’s development, which remains in play throughout the SIM2 lineup. Also to note, the faces of all three SIM2 drivers are larger than their 2020 versions. SIM2 gets a 12% boost over SIM, SIM2 and SIM2 D are 5% larger than their previous models. Larger faces, more weight pushed back, these drivers are made to be forgiving.
There is one more noticeable change on the SIM2 from the SIM and M5/M6 lineup, and that is the evolution of the Speed Injected face. For the last two years, TaylorMade has pushed the driver faces over the legal limit set by the USGA, only to bring them back down to conforming standards by injecting resin behind the face. That all used to be done via two ports on the front of the face. Now, TaylorMade has perfected their method by properly aligning this resin by only using a port to the face’s side. That’s right, no more screw holes on your driver face! We are told this improved method results in faster, more consistent speeds across the entire face.
Players will also get the ability to customize their SIM2 drivers with the new MySIM2 program. Below is a list of options that you can expect to see if you choose to go down this path and truly make SIM2 your own.
Aluminum Ring: Color options include Red, Blue, Gold, Orange, Green, Silver, Black, and Light Blue.
Topline Paint Color –Chalk or matte black.
Crown Decals: Color options include Red, Blue, Gold, Orange, Green, Silver, Black, and Light Blue.
Sole Decals: Color options include Red, Blue, Gold, Orange, Green, Silver, Black, and Light Blue.
Face Pin–Color options include Red, Blue, Gold, Orange, Green, Silver, Black, and Light Blue.
SIM2 Details
Availability Preorder: January 19, 2021
Retail: February 19, 2021
MSRP $529.99
Lofts 8°, 9°, 10.5°
Shafts Mitsubishi Tensei AV Raw Blue 60
Project X HZRDUS Smoke RDX Black 70
Grip: Golf Pride Z Grip
SIM2 Max and Max D Details
Availability Preorder: January 19, 2021
Retail: February 19, 2021
MSRP $529.99
Lofts 9°, 10.5°, 12°
Shafts Max: Fujikura Ventus Blue, Mitsubishi Kuro Kage Silver
Max D: Fujikura Air Speeder 45
Grip: Golf Pride Z-Grip
SIM2 Fairways
Like the drivers, SIM2 Fairway Woods will come in three different models: SIM2 Titanium, SIM2 Max, and SIM2 Max D. All three of these models will feature the V Steel design, which made its long-awaited return with the 2020 Sim fairways. V Steel has long been proven to promote increased turf interaction from a whole host of lies.
With the SIM2 Titanium, golfers can expect a smaller, pear-shaped head than what SIM offered last season. This year’s model comes in a 170cc vs the 180cc it measured in at previously. This tour-inspired look boasts a lightweight carbon construction with a ZATECH Titanium face. In the sole, golfers will find an 80-gram steel sole weight, which helps create an ultra-low center of gravity and boosts MOI by 5%.
SIM2 Max and SIM2 Max D have taken the opposite tactics of the SIM2 Titanium. Instead of shrinking in size, the Max bulked up to 190cc, while the Max D checks in at 195cc. Neither feature titanium faces, but we could expect dependable ball speeds from the C300 steel faces. Both of these clubs also have strategically positioned weight to offer more forgiveness than the SIM2 Titanium.
The Details
Availability Preorder: January 19, 2021
Retail: February 19, 2021
MSRP SIM2 Titanium $399.99
SIM2 Max $299.99
SIM2 Max D $299.99
Lofts SIM2 Titaium: 13.5°, 15°, 19°
SIM2 Max: 15°, 16.5°, 18°, 21°, 24°
SIM2 Max D: 16°, 19°, 22°
Shafts SIM2 Titaium: Mitsubishi Tensei AV Raw Blue 75
SIM2 Max: Fujukura Ventus Blue FW(5,6)
SIM2 Max D: Fujikura Air Speeder 45
Grip: Golf Pride Z Grip
Sim2 Rescue
Of all the clubs in the 2020 SIM lineup, perhaps the hybrids were the most surprising. So much so, that the SIM Max hybrid found its way onto the PGA Tour. I’m not sure anyone reading about those last January thought that would happen.
There will be two models once again this year, a SIM2 Rescue and the SIM2 Max Rescue. Dustin Johnson and Rory McIlroy both gave plenty of insight into the design of the SIM2 rescue, which is why it should be no surprise that it features a rather sleek looking design. It comes in more compact than the Max and will suit the player looking for more of an iron-type hybrid.
SIM2 Max was a real winner last year but got some tweaks of its own for 2021. Those include a new leading-edge design, sole geometry, and the CG location has been positioned so that it still carries with it a high amount of forgiveness. Whereas the SIM2 Rescue comes with an adjustable loft sleeve, the SIM2 Max is a bonded hybrid.
Two similarities between these clubs are that they both feature a C300 face, including Twist Face technology. Since they are rescue clubs, the V Steel sole’s inclusion will likely become a favorite feature for those who give them a shot. Rescues are used from just about every lie one can find on the course; therefore, having a sole design that improves turf interaction can pay huge dividends.
The Details
Availability Preorder: January 19, 2021
Retail: February 19, 2021
MSRP SIM2 Rescue $279.99
SIM2 Max Rescue $279.99
Lofts SIM2 Rescue: 17°, 19.5°, 22°
SIM2 Max Rescue: 19°, 22°, 25°, 28°, 31°
SIM2 Max Ladies: 22°, 25°, 28°, 31°
Shafts SIM2 Rescue: Mitsubishi Tensei AV Raw Blue HY
SIM2 Max: Fujukura Ventus Blue
SIM2 Max Ladies: Aldila NV Ladies
Grip: Golf Pride Z Grip and Lamkin Ladies Sonar Grip
The custom options will be huge for them imo. I loved my SIM Max I had last year. Looking forward to testing one out.
Great shaft options too. I’m looking at the hzrdus smoke blue for both driver and 3w. Also really excited they brought back the adjustable hybrid. Hello 2h 17*!
The custom options right out of the gate sounded cool to me too.
One problem for me is everything I see driver wise is an automatic nay with how well I am hitting the B21. It has changed my game in 4 months.
Could be the same for me, subconsciously I just know it won’t be as good .
I have hit the sim2 and, honestly, found it delightful. Launch, spin, and ball speed were right where I want. And best of all it felt nicely forgiving and straight. My miss of late is a hook. And if I start trying to swing to correct that I can go down the path of pull hooks and push slices. With the sim2, I didn’t have to worry about any of that. My g410 lst is solid for now, but if I make a switch the sim2 and
mav(typo) epic max ls are both right there for with enough goodness that I might grab one or the other.Maybe more importantly for setting up my bag this year, I look forward to trying the sim2 fairways and rescues. If the goodness I felt with the driver carries through, I will be in a serious ponder mode.
The hybrids look sleek.
I am SO super curious about the sound.
The constructing brings me back to the Honma TR20 drivers that had a ton of Carbon as the sole plate. But they at least had more of a cage design to them where these really don’t.
I know some people didn’t love the sound last year in SIM. I was one that loved it. But sound it so synonymous with feel that I understand why you’d either love it or hate it. With soooo much carbon and aluminum, I have to assume the sound has changed from last year.
interestingly enough, it seems like sound doesn’t play a massive role in proplayers feel.
it sure is a wildly different tech story from a materials aspect. I’m intrigued
I’ve been experiencing the same issue. It worked eventually for me after lots of refreshing of page
I’ve never really been a fan of TM drivers but they sure get a lot of tour play and the tech here seems legit.
I tend to agree that I like the deadened carbon fiber sound. My M6 doesn’t sound like I am going to go deaf if I catch one really clean and the SIM 2 feels like they took the M6 and SIM and threw them into a blender with even more carbon fiber.
This cycle is going to be tough to determine who has the best driver for each segment though. TSi, Radspeed, G425, SIM 2, ZX7, Epic Speed, etc. all seem to be exceptional with none of them feeling particularly weak for the average to the a bit above average player. I’m very excited to see in the near future if my M6 is due for an upgrade head to head with the SIM 2 and Radspeed specifically as they look the best down at the ball IMO.
The custom options are amazing. That alone caught my eye. The hybrid in all black looks awesome.
Great review, Dean!
Big improvement over the SIM? Not sure yet.
The Sim1 really intrigued me and I absolutely loved the look. Never got a chance to swing it or test it out at any point. Would be fun to get the Sim2 in my hands and test out. Always been a TaylorMade fan and have been happy with my TM irons over the past few years.
With drivers and materials getting lighter and lighter like in this SIM2, how if at all does that affect swing weighting and where does that come back into play? Shaft? grip?
Did the over all weight drop? I seems most are just using lighter and lighter materials to allow for specific weight placement in the form of tungsten. Overall weight staying basically the same.
Well i dont honestly know. Adding more carbon and taking away titanium seems to lend to the mantra of it being lighter. Im sure it gets redistributed but where…..
One thing…Don’t confuse weight savings that are repositioned with driver heads that just massively cut out weight.
hmmmm. ok
so here’s a couple of things.
Look at the swingweight here vs the previous and keep in mind stock shaft lengths are the same. Yes, SW doesn’t always tell the whole story, but I would guess we aren’t seeing a crazy different in total head weight when it’s all said and done.
SIM – D5
SIM2 – D5
SIM Max – D3
SIM2 Max – D4
Stock Rear Weights
SIM – 12g
SIM2 – 16g
SIM Max – 18g
SIM2 Max – 24g
Also, in the last year I had two Honma drivers that were built very differently, TW XP1 and TR20. TR20 used a carbon sole for weight savings, whereas the XP1 was more traditional in that matter. Both weighed in at 196 grams. I’m only using those as an example because TR20 talked about weight savings and redistribution. Here I’m going to strongly assume we will see a similar outcome if weighed next to each other. I would bet that would be relatively close in terms of headweight.