Last year, TaylorMade launched its Shape In Motion driver (SIM) and turned some heads with its ability to offer low spin, while making it easy to hit. The company is sticking with the SIM brand in 2021, with a version of the driver that is refined in practically every way.
SIM2 is available now in-store and online. Here’s everything you need to know about TaylorMade’s driver lineup.
“We are looking at every single part of the driver … much like a racing team would look at parts of their car.”
That’s Tomo Bystedt’s perspective on TaylorMade’s SIM2 driver. And Bystedt knows what he’s talking about—after all, he’s TaylorMade’s Senior Director of Product Creation, and has been involved in the minutia of the company’s products for years. To his way of thinking, it is TaylorMade’s commitment to technology that separates the company from others in the space. In that regard, SIM2 is a refinement of the original driver, with all of the key elements from the original version tweaked to make improvements, and some new elements added.
The keys to the new SIM—which is more forgiving than the original version—is the creation of what the company calls “Forged Ring Construction.” Essentially it is an aluminum collar that connects the key elements of the driver—the carbon fiber crown, the sole and the face. The creation allowed engineers to move more discretionary weight to increase MOI or forgiveness on the driver.
Full Carbon Crown and Sole
TaylorMade has been working at refining its carbon crown for 15 years. The latest carbon sole was crafted for durability and is made out of nine layers of advanced carbon. The use of carbon on the crown and sole saves significant weight, allowing the design to move weight low and back, optimizing launch and MOI.
Milled Back Face Cup
The only part of the driver that is made of titanium, the internal CNC milling varies face thickness and pinpoint the areas where golfers need performance most. Mapping impact from golfers, data that showed mis-hits extend low heel to high toe, meant engineers could create an oval sweet spot that stretches diagonally across the face. That means a more forgiving face—12% more versus SIM.
Old favourites—new look
The key elements of the original SIM are included—but they are a little more nuanced. “We want to optimize the fastest parts of the face,” says Bystedt.
Asymmetric Inertia Generator
Designed to provide faster club head speed through advanced geometry and aerodynamics, Shape in Motion continues by delivering speed at the most critical stage of the downswing leading to the moment of impact.
Twist Face
This technology, which first appeared in 2019, is still part of the equation with SIM2. The technology allows the face to straighten balls hit on the toe or the heel.
Speed Injection is also part of the new SIM2, though the injection ports that were featured on the face of the driver, have been relocated to the outer toe. Speed Injection is designed to ensure each driver is as fast as allowable under USGA restrictions, with TaylorMade injecting material into the face to ensure it is conforming, but as close to the regulations as possible.
Which SIM2 is right for you?
SIM2
The standard version of the driver, this offers the lowest spin while increasing MOI over the previous generation. A 16 gram weight is positioned in the “Inertia Generator,” while a TPS front weight is position behind the face to encourage launch with low spin.
Is it for you?
Don’t have a problem getting your drives in the air? Not worried about giving a little forgiveness away? Are you okay with a smaller clubhead? If you said yes to these considerations, then you’ll find SIM2 is likely the driver for you. This is the driver in the line that will likely appeal to better golfers.
SIM2 Max
The SIM 2 Max offers a larger sweet spot and face depth compared to the SIM2. The SIM2 Max is more forgiving, with a 24 gram weight in the Inertia Generator. The TPS front weight offers mid-to-high launch with mid-to-low spin.
Is it for you?
If you feel more comfortable with a larger clubface, or aren’t concerned about spin and want to hit more fairways, this is the driver to check out. “This delivers confidence to the golfer,” says Bystedt.
SIM2 Max-D
One of the notable changes in the SIM2 line. The traditional draw-bias drivers sacrificed forgiveness in order to help the slicer of the ball to move to the left instead of cutting to the right. By positioning the Inertia Generator closer to the heel, TaylorMade engineers are offering a more forgiving draw-bias driver—one without the standard compromises.
Is it for you?
Do you cut across the golf ball, resulting in a lot of spin and shots that head right of the fairway? If you can’t fix your swing, allow Max-D to resolve it for you.
To learn more about the TaylorMade SIM2 lineup of clubs, read more about the fairway woods & hybrids as well as the irons.