Three new TaylorMade drivers were added to the USGA and R&A’s Conforming Clubs lists on Monday. The yet-to-be-released SIM2, SIM2 Max and SIM2 Max D drivers are all now legal for play in PGA Tour events, European Tour events and any rounds played under the Rules of Golf.
While TaylorMade has not released any details about the new drives, there are some things that we can presume based on images of the clubs on the USGA’s website.
The SIM2 appears to have a similar shape to the original SIM driver that was released in January 2020. It looks like there is a weight in the back of the sole and an asymmetrically-shaped panel that holds it in place. Last season’s driver had a similar piece designed to lower the center of gravity and pull it further back, away from the hitting area, while being more aerodynamic.
We can also see a large slot in the sole, behind the leading edge, labeled Speed Pocket. TaylorMade has been adding slots like this to the bottom of drivers for years to allow the lower portion of the face to flex more efficiently at the moment of impact on low-struck shots.
There is an adjustable hosel mechanism and a weight labeled “High MOI, Low Spin” in the sole’s front. And, while it might be cosmetic, a significant portion of the sole appears to be made from carbon fiber. TaylorMade has used carbon fiber in the crown and panels on the sole for the last few seasons.
In the toe area, we can see a few words, with one being “injected.” TaylorMade has injected material inside its drivers’ heads for two seasons to ensure they are as fast as the game’s governing bodies allow without exceeding characteristic time (CT) limits.
The SIM2 Max appears to be very similarly shaped to the SIM2, but the sole’s weight is slightly more to the heel side, which could encourage a draw bias. Max drivers have been clubs that featured a higher moment of inertia (MOI) and extra stability compared with standard-model drivers in previous seasons.
The weight in the SIM2 Max D is positioned much farther into the heel. Previously, drivers labeled with a D have been significantly draw biased and designed to help golfers who have a slice.
As more details about the SIM2, SIM2 Max and SIM2 Max D drivers become available, Golfweek will report on them.