TaylorMade SIM2 Driver Review

TaylorMade SIM2 Driver Review – TaylorMade’s SIM Drivers were the most seen and the most talked about of 2020 – last summer it was harder to get your hands on one than it was to get a tee time at your local golf club (especially if you live in the UK!)

TaylorMade SIM2 Drivers Review
TaylorMade SIM2 Driver

With its recognisable two-tone crown and head-turning inertia generator on the sole, as well as the fact it was in the hands of the likes of DJ, Tiger, Rory and Jon Rahm every week on the PGA Tour, it became the must-have driver in both the professional and amateur game.

At one point in 2020, TaylorMade sold more SIM drivers in a six week stretch than M5 or M6 drivers in six months of the previous year, and so unsurprisingly it was the number one selling metal wood in the UK last year.

TaylorMade SIM2 Drivers Review
TaylorMade SIM2 Driver

So where do they go next? Well the new SIM2 range has arrived, but can it improve on the SIM? To try and do so, TaylorMade has stripped the head down and tried to improve each piece individually like an F1 team would do on their car…

What’s It All About?

TaylorMade have pointed towards four ‘crucial elements’ of the construction of the new SIM2 Drivers which they say allows them to be fast, forgiving and powerful.

The first of these is the all-new forged ring construction, using a lightweight and high strength aluminium that is precision milled and is there to unite the other bits of technology for improved MOI and optimal CG placement. The result? A much more stable club head providing more forgiveness.

TaylorMade SIM2 Drivers Review
TaylorMade SIM2 Driver

Secondly, the SIM2 now features a full carbon crown and sole which saves plenty of extra weight, that has been redistributed onto the inertia generator low and back in the head, helping to shift the CG and improve forgiveness.

The carbon on the sole has also been designed to add more durability so that it doesn’t get damaged by turf interaction and high speed contact, whilst the black satin and chalk colourway on the crown aid alignment at address.

TaylorMade SIM2 Drivers Review
TaylorMade SIM2 Driver

The Milled Back Face Cup is the only part of the driver head that is crafted from titanium, and this encourages better energy transfer to improve ball speeds. Behind the face there is internal CNC milling which varies the thickness of the face at certain points, allowing for more consistent results on different strikes.

This, along with the data used to develop Twist Face technology, produces more of an oval shape that stretches from the high toe to the low heel so that you get more from your mishits.

TaylorMade SIM2 Drivers Review
TaylorMade SIM2 Driver

Speaking of Twist Face, this technology still remains in the SIM2 drivers although the Speed Injection ports (the blue dots) have been modified to just one port located on the outer toe which TaylorMade says can ‘manipulate speed across the face’.

TaylorMade SIM2 Drivers Review
TaylorMade SIM2 Driver

The Thru-Slot Speed Pocket also remains from last year’s SIM models, and works to improve ball speed and performance on those shots which are struck low on the face.

TaylorMade say that focusing on marginal gains will make their ‘shape in motion’ drivers better, I’m just hoping that the sequel is more like The Godfather 2 and not Jaws 2!

In terms of head options, these are largely the same as last years SIM, there’s three different models:

SIM2 Driver – The lower spinning, lower launching head used by DJ, Rory, Rahm and Charley Hull. It’s said to be 200/300 rpm lower spinning that the Max and with a larger face than last year’s model. Available in 8, 9 and 10.5 degrees.

TaylorMade SIM2 Drivers Review

SIM2 Max Driver – Features a 24 gram weight compared to the SIM’s 18 gram to increase MOI and forgiveness,. The face is also larger than the SIM2 and it encourages a slightly higher launch with a little more spin. Available in 9, 10.5 and 12 degrees.

TaylorMade SIM2 Drivers Review

SIM2 Max D Driver – TaylorMade’s draw-biased head features higher MOI and more weight in the heel than Sim Max D to increase the left biased flight. Available in 9, 10 and 12 degrees.

The SIM2 Max and SIM2 Max D are also available for women, with the heads being the same but shafts are shorter and with more lightweight options available.

The Test

I visited LSH Auto’s Mercedes Benz, Stockport to trial the SIM2 and SIM2 Max on the Trackman 4 with Titleist Pro V1x balls, before heading out to Prestbury Golf Club for on-course testing and my verdict. Could TaylorMade improve on the impressive SIM models from 2020?

You can watch my full review via the Golfalot YouTube channel here: