Equipment
Full details of the TaylorMade SIM changes made by Dustin Johnson, Jon Rahm, Matthew Wolff, and Collin Morikawa at the Sentry TOC
Earlier this week, GolfWRX Editor-in-Chief Ben Alberstadt reported the news of Dustin Johnson and Matthew Wolff being equipped at this week’s Sentry Tournament of Champions with the all-new TaylorMade SIM drivers which hit the USGA conforming list on Monday.
Ahead of round one at this week’s event, the company divulged further details on the new SIM additions in Johnson and Wolff’s bag as well as fellow TaylorMade golfer’s Jon Rahm and Collin Morikawa—including background behind the choices each man had made.
Dustin Johnson
As previously reported, during round one in Hawaii, Johnson played a 10.5-degree TaylorMade SIM Max driver with a 45″ Fujikura Ventus 6X shaft. According to TaylorMade representatives, Johnson has been extremely impressed with the consistency in spin rates, ball flight, as well as the extra head speed of the driver during testing.
The 35-year-old is also using a 15-degree SIM Max 3-wood with a 42″, 95-gram Project X HZRDUS Black shaft this week. Per the brand, Johnson made the decision due to the extra spin allowing him to carry 280-yards with the club, with the SIM Titanium 3-wood having too much ball speed, causing Johnson to carry the club too far.
Rounding out the SIM additions in Johnson’s bag this week is a 22-degree SIM Max Rescue club with a HZRDUS 105 Hybrid shaft. According to TM, Johnson has been mightily impressed with its consistent 255-260 yard carry as well it being an anti-left rescue club for the 2016-U.S. Open Champion. As a side note, Thursday’s opening round was Johnson’s first-ever competitive round in his life playing a rescue club.
Johnson is also using the brand’s 60 and 54-degree new MG2 chrome wedges and per sources, the American loves the raw faces on the wedges. Johnson is also playing a Spider X Copper putter in Kapalua this week.
Matthew Wolff
Matthew Wolff got his year underway on Thursday at the Sentry TOC, and he did so using a 9-degree TaylorMade SIM driver with a Graphite Design Tour AD TP 7 TX shaft, as well as a 15-degree SIM Titanium 3-wood with a new Graphite Design Tour AD XC 8 TX shaft.
According to TM representatives, Wolff feels that the driver is more consistent and forgiving than what he had previously been using, and stated that he loves the “flight and spin this week with the hard winds.”
With the 3-wood, Wolff claims that the clubs offer him more versatility with shots, calling it the “the best 3-wood I’ve ever hit” as well as it giving the 20-year-old “incredible confidence looking down at the shape” of the club.
Jon Rahm
The Spaniard began his 2020 with a 10.5-degree TaylorMade SIM driver with the same 75-gram, 45″ Aldila shaft he’s played in recent years. Per company sources, increased ball speed and distance with the club saw him choose it over the M5.
Rahm is also using 15-degree SIM Titanium 3-wood at 16.5 degrees, as well as a SIM Titanium 5-wood, both set to launch higher. According to TM, Rahm made the adjustments due to faster and longer results, and that the 25-year-old loves the shape and look of his new SIM Titanium woods.
Rahm is also playing a 50-degree new MG2 SB wedge with fresh grooves to start the year.
Collin Morikawa
The Californian has begun his year with a TaylorMade SIM driver with the head adjusted two notches higher, with a Mitsubishi Tensei White 70 TX shaft. Per TM, Morikawa has seen a 1-2 mph increase in ball speed with this set-up and has found his new driver easier to control, with the spin in an excellent window for his preferred fade shot.
Morikawa is also using a 15-degree TaylorMade SIM Titanium 3-wood with an MRC D+ 80 TX shaft, which according to the company, has given the 22-year-old a higher launch and 10 yards more carry on average than he previously had.
Morikawa is also using a TP Soto putter as well as a TP5 golf ball this week in Hawaii.
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- Kevin Streelman what’s in the bag accurate as of the Zurich Classic.
Driver: Titleist TSR3 (10 degrees, D1 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus TR Black 6 X
3-wood: Titleist TSR3 (15 degrees, A1 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Blue 8 X
5-wood: Ping G (17.5 degrees)
Shaft: Graphite Design Tour AD DI 10 X
Irons: Wilson Staff Model CB (4-9)
Shafts: Project X 6.5
Wedges: Wilson Staff Model (48-08, 54-08), Titleist Vokey Design WedgeWorks (58-L @59)
Shafts: Project X 6.5 (48), True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400 (54, 58)
Putter: Scotty Cameron TourType SSS TG6
Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet
Ball: Titleist Pro V1x
Check out more in-hand photos of Kevin Streelman’s clubs here.
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The year was 2012. Gangnam Style ruled supreme, its infectious beats and ludicrous horse-riding dance moves hypnotizing us with their stupidity. Everyone was talking about the Mayan calendar, convinced that the end of days was near. Superheroes soared on the silver screen, with the Avengers assembling in epic fashion. Katniss Everdeen survived The Hunger Games. And the memes! The memes abounded. Grumpy Cat triumphed. We kept calm and carried on.
In much the same way that automotive enthusiasts love classic cars, we at GolfWRX love taking a backward glance at some of the iconic designs of years past. Heck, we love taking iconic designs to the tee box in the present!
In that spirit, GolfWRX has been running a series inspired by arguably the greatest fighting game franchise of all time: Mortal Kombat. It’s not “choose your fighter” but rather “choose your driver.”
Check out some of the standout combatants of 2012 below.
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Nike VRS
Often harshly critiqued during its years releasing golf equipment (right, Phil Mickelson?), Nike’s tenure in the club-and-ball business gets a gloss of nostalgic varnish, with many of its iron and putter designs continuing to attract admirers. Among the company’s driver offerings, the 2012 VRS — or VR_S, if you will — drew high marks for its shaping and toned-down appearance. The multi-thickness, NexCOR face was no joke either.
Check out our coverage from 2012 here.
Callaway RAZR Fit
Callaway’s first foray into moveable weight technology (married with its OptiFit hosel) did not disappoint. With a carbon fiber crown, aerodynamic attention to detail, and variable and hyperbolic face technologies, this club foreshadowed the tech-loaded, “story in every surface” Callaway drivers of the present, AI-informed design age.
Check out our coverage from 2012 here.
Cleveland Classic 310
Truly a design that came out of left field. Cleveland said, “Give me a persimmon driver, but make it titanium…in 460cc.” Our 2012 reviewer, JokerUsn wrote, “I don’t need to elaborate on all the aesthetics of this club. You’ve seen tons of pics. You’ve all probably seen a bunch in the store and held them up close and gotten drool on them. From a playing perspective, the color is not distracting. It’s dark enough to stay unobtrusive in bright sunlight…Even my playing partners, who aren’t into clubs at all…commented on it saying it looks cool.” Long live!
Check out our coverage from 2012 here.
Titleist 910
While there’s no disputing Titleist’s “Titleist Speed” era of drivers perform better than its 2010s offerings, sentimentality abounds, and there was something classically Titleist about these clubs, right down to the alignment aid, and the look is somewhere between 983 times and the present TS age. Representing a resurgence after a disappointing stretch of offerings (907, 909), The 910D2 was a fairly broadly appealing driver with its classic look at address and classic Titleist face shape.
Check out our coverage from 2012 here.
TaylorMade RocketBallz
The white crown. The name. You either loved ‘em or you hated ‘em. TaylorMade’s 2012 offering from its RocketBallz Period boasted speed-enhancing aerodynamics and an Inverted Cone Technology in the club’s titanium face. Technology aside, it’s impossible to overstate what a departure from the norm a white-headed driver was in the world of golf equipment.
Check out our coverage from 2012 here.
Ping i20
Long a quietly assertive player in the driver space, Ping’s i20 was more broadly appealing than the G20, despite being a lower-launch, lower-spin club. Ping drivers didn’t always have looks that golfer’s considered traditional or classic, but the i20 driver bucked that trend. Combining the classic look with Ping’s engineering created a driver that better players really gravitated toward. The i20 offered players lower launch and lower spin for more penetrating ball flight while the rear 20g tungsten weights kept the head stable. Sound and feel were great also, being one of the more muted driver sounds Ping had created up to that time.
Check out our coverage from 2012 here.
GolfWRXers, let us know in the comments who “your fighter” is and why!
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Equipment
Coolest thing for sale in the GolfWRX Classifieds (4/29/24): Krank Formula Fire driver with AutoFlex SF505 shaft
At GolfWRX, we are a community of like-minded individuals that all experience and express our enjoyment of the game in many ways.
It’s that sense of community that drives day-to-day interactions in the forums on topics that range from best driver to what marker you use to mark your ball. It even allows us to share another thing we all love – buying and selling equipment.
Currently, in our GolfWRX buy/sell/trade (BST) forum, there is a listing for a Krank Formula fire driver with AutoFlex SF505 shaft.
From the seller: (@well01): “Krank formula fire 10.5 degree with AUtoflex SF505. $560 shipped.”
To check out the full listing in our BST forum, head through the link: Krank Formula Fire driver with AutoFlex SF505 shaft
This is the most impressive current listing from the GolfWRX BST, and if you are curious about the rules to participate in the BST Forum you can check them out here: GolfWRX BST Rules
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Dave Portnoy places monstrous outright bet for the 2024 Masters
John Daly stuns fans into silence with brutal opening tee shot on PGA Tour Champions
Justin Thomas on the equipment choice of Scottie Scheffler that he thinks is ‘weird’
Things got heated at the Houston Open between Tony Finau and Alejandro Tosti. Here’s why
Tiger Woods arrives at 2024 Masters equipped with a putter that may surprise you
‘Absolutely crazy’ – Major champ lays into Patrick Cantlay over his decision on final hole of RBC Heritage
Report: Tiger Woods has ‘eliminated sex’ in preparation for the 2024 Masters
Two star names reportedly blanked Jon Rahm all week at the Masters
2-time major champ announces shock retirement from the sport at age of 33
Report: LIV Golf identifies latest star name they hope to sign to breakaway tour
Kevin Streelman WITB 2024 (April)
Kevin Streelman what’s in the bag accurate as of the Zurich Classic. Driver: Titleist TSR3 (10 degrees, D1 SureFit setting)...
Team McIlowry (Rory McIlroy, Shane Lowry) winning WITBs: 2024 Zurich Classic
Rory McIlroy WITB Driver: TaylorMade Qi10 (9 degrees @8.25) Buy here. Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 6 X (45 inches) 3-wood:...
Steve Stricker WITB 2024 (April)
Steve Stricker WITB accurate as of the Zurich Classic. More photos from the event here. Driver: Titleist TSR3 (9 degrees, C4...
Alex Fitzpatrick WITB 2024 (April)
Alex Fitzpatrick what’s in the bag accurate as of the Zurich Classic. Driver: Ping G430 LST (10.5 degrees) Shaft: Fujikura...
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19th Hole3 weeks agoDave Portnoy places monstrous outright bet for the 2024 Masters
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19th Hole1 week agoJustin Thomas on the equipment choice of Scottie Scheffler that he thinks is ‘weird’
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19th Hole3 weeks agoTiger Woods arrives at 2024 Masters equipped with a putter that may surprise you
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19th Hole1 week ago‘Absolutely crazy’ – Major champ lays into Patrick Cantlay over his decision on final hole of RBC Heritage
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19th Hole2 weeks agoTwo star names reportedly blanked Jon Rahm all week at the Masters
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19th Hole2 weeks agoReport: LIV Golf identifies latest star name they hope to sign to breakaway tour
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19th Hole2 weeks agoNeal Shipley presser ends in awkward fashion after reporter claims Tiger handed him note on 8th fairway
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19th Hole2 weeks agoBrandel Chamblee has ‘no doubt’ who started the McIlroy/LIV rumor and why
Jack
Jan 21, 2020 at 1:00 pm
Testing has shown the SIM is shorter than most for non tour swings… this is a low sping how swing speed club.
Shane
Jan 4, 2020 at 1:29 pm
Length on Matt and Collin’s metals? Also Jon’s length?
gunmetal
Jan 4, 2020 at 11:37 am
Everything is awesomer about SIM than M5. Really. It is. More everything. It’s got magic sauce.
matt
Jan 4, 2020 at 6:48 am
Astronomical, stupendous & lovely was overheard on the range. These are the best golfers in the world results would be the same if they used a driver from 5 years ago.
Com’on Man!
Jan 3, 2020 at 5:14 pm
This whole article sounds like one giant ad for TM….
“According to TM reps so and so LOVES this new club”
“Per TM reps Johnson was hitting the other SIM 3 wood too far!!” And certainly the best of them all “Johnson is really happy with the extra club head speed he gets with the new SIM driver”. REALLY????? SMDH This has to be one of the worst articles on all of the internet. The crazy thing is people getting paid for this…
joshua jackso
Jan 3, 2020 at 5:06 pm
From what I saw of DJ’s drives this thing will be perfect for those that need help getting it to go left. Way left.
Bradley
Jan 3, 2020 at 2:59 pm
This new driver is so exciting. Is it and the shaft made in China?? So it will retail for around $199, right?
Rich Douglas
Jan 3, 2020 at 10:53 am
The real thing to note here isn’t the TM club–who cares anymore? It’s that all of these guys play a driver shaft shorter than what is sold off-the-shelf to consumers. If these guys can’t control a 45.5″ driver, why do you think you can?
HatlessHarold
Jan 3, 2020 at 11:22 am
I mean look at Rahm my man takes a 3/4 swing with a 45″ driver and yesterday was at least when I was watching producing high 170 mph ball speeds
Brent Blackburn
Jan 3, 2020 at 11:30 am
Agree 100%. It infuriates me how all the new drivers are 46 inches off the rack and I have to do all this lead taping and balancing once I cut my driver down to 43″. I laugh when they talk about forgiveness for off-center hits and accuracy…another way to cut down on off-center hits is to shorten what is becoming an absurdly long club, especially for players under 6 ft tall.
Prime21
Jan 3, 2020 at 6:11 pm
Or……you could have it custom made to spec instead of being CHEAP.
gunmetal
Jan 4, 2020 at 11:35 am
You sound like a hater.
Adam
Jan 3, 2020 at 10:40 am
TM staffers always sound like hostages when they’re promoting new clubs
Prime21
Jan 3, 2020 at 6:13 pm
& you sound like a hater.
Josh
Jan 3, 2020 at 10:02 am
I don’t think it’s Dustin Johnson’s first time ever playing a rescue. When he first came out, he played a rescue. The most recent time he played a rescue was in 2009 when he played the Taylormade Rescue TP.