Equipment
GolfWRX Spotted: TaylorMade SIM2 drivers on conforming list
The highly anticipated and buzz-creating TaylorMade SIM2 drivers are now officially on the R&A’s conforming list. (Expected soon on the USGA Conforming Club List). The Monday, December 14 list includes the new SIM2, and SIM2 Max, but there is no sign of a SIM2 Max D (Draw) version like there was from the 2020 line.
It could be TaylorMade is dropping the draw-biased model from the 2021 line, but there could be another explanation—and we’ll get to that in a minute.
We’re not 100 percent sure what this means for the launch date, but with the PNC Championship (formerly PNC Father-Son) taking place this week December 18-20th—featuring TaylorMade staffer Tiger Woods along with his son Charlie—it would be no surprise to potentially see it in play during this “silly season” charitable event.
TaylorMade SIM2 driver
What we know
It appears the SIM2 will continue to be the flagship model geared towards faster players based on the previous model designations. The noticeable omission right off the bat is the removal of the sliding weight track in favor of a weight screw positioned behind a through slot Speed Pocket. Around the weight it says “High MOI – LOW Spin.” This is interesting because nowhere on the previous SIM did it say anything about MOI, and this most likely means that these new TaylorMade drivers add extra stability to increase MOI.
The Speed Pocket on the sole is not a new technology, but this new pocket looks to be one of the widest TaylorMade has ever put on a driver.
Without the sliding weight, the next noticeable thing about the driver and the other SIM2 driver on the list is the amount of carbon used on the sole of the club. This weight saving must be TaylorMade’s way of removing mass from the middle of the head to reposition around to increase stability, with the final piece of the puzzle being what looks to be a larger weight for the inertia generator at the rear of the head.
Other mainstay technologies assumed to again be built into the new head include the Twist Face and Speed Injected Face to keep the SIM2 right to the max for CT (Characteristic of Time). The only unknown aspect of the sole is a small port visible on the toe—this could be where another adjustable weight screw is being used to boost MOI or it could have something to do with the Speed Injection system.
TaylorMade SIM2 Max driver
What we know
The SIM2 Max looks very similar to the standard SIM2 except for the front weight being slightly more heel biased to make the head easier to draw.
It’s hard to tell from the black and white USGA image, but the shaping of the head also looks to fall in line with the previous Max, and it could have a slightly taller face height.
Where is the SIM2 Max-D (Draw)?
As mentioned off the top there is no sign of a SIM2 Max D driver on the list yet, but it doesn’t mean there isn’t one on the way. The USGA list is intended for competition and it is less likely there would be any players who currently have any plans to put it into play and thus TaylorMade has no desire to submit a draw driver.
Conclusion
With the huge success of the 2020 SIM driver line, TaylorMade is sticking with a proven formula of shape and design characteristics. If there is one thing engineers and designers know, it’s not to mess with a good thing and the 2020 drivers were very good.
To see what other golfers are saying check out the GolfWRX forums.
- LIKE211
- LEGIT42
- WOW27
- LOL15
- IDHT8
- FLOP20
- OB10
- SHANK81
- 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.
- LIKE3
- LEGIT0
- WOW0
- LOL1
- IDHT0
- FLOP0
- OB0
- SHANK0
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.
View this post on Instagram
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!
- LIKE13
- LEGIT0
- WOW0
- LOL0
- IDHT0
- FLOP2
- OB0
- SHANK1
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
- LIKE9
- LEGIT2
- WOW0
- LOL0
- IDHT0
- FLOP1
- OB0
- SHANK0
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...
-
19th Hole3 weeks agoDave Portnoy places monstrous outright bet for the 2024 Masters
-
19th Hole1 week agoJustin Thomas on the equipment choice of Scottie Scheffler that he thinks is ‘weird’
-
19th Hole3 weeks agoTiger Woods arrives at 2024 Masters equipped with a putter that may surprise you
-
19th Hole1 week ago‘Absolutely crazy’ – Major champ lays into Patrick Cantlay over his decision on final hole of RBC Heritage
-
19th Hole2 weeks agoTwo star names reportedly blanked Jon Rahm all week at the Masters
-
19th Hole2 weeks agoReport: LIV Golf identifies latest star name they hope to sign to breakaway tour
-
19th Hole2 weeks agoNeal Shipley presser ends in awkward fashion after reporter claims Tiger handed him note on 8th fairway
-
19th Hole2 weeks agoBrandel Chamblee has ‘no doubt’ who started the McIlroy/LIV rumor and why
Pingback: GolfWRX Spotted: TaylorMade SIM2 fairway woods and hybrids on conforming list – GolfWRX
Brandon
Dec 14, 2020 at 7:38 pm
Just glad they got rid of the shiny part on the fin.
Carolyn
Dec 14, 2020 at 4:34 pm
If your going to improve the driver every year maybe it is time to start offering one or two year leases on there clubs? Buying one means you pay $500 and 18 months later one round or a hundred the club is worth $98 cash or maybe $130 max on trade in. Be nice if they just charged $250 for use of the club and let you trade in in and get the next years model for another $250 we would all be ahead with that…
Craig
Dec 14, 2020 at 11:30 pm
There are shops that will do this. This is an Australian one, but I am sure there are similar elsewhere https://www.golfbox.com.au/golf-blog/golfrent-get-your-golf-gear-now/
Paulo
Dec 14, 2020 at 4:02 pm
The blue colour scheme is truly horrid on the actual retail model
Gunter Eisenberg
Dec 14, 2020 at 12:52 pm
Same old…same old…
SnotsaJerk
Dec 14, 2020 at 11:07 am
Buy the newest, bestest, and longest from the company that Needs to continue pay for play through minimal progress releases. I suggest some of us go play as a walk on and feel that “moneys worth” feeling of being “that’s You next”, multiple yards behind a Srixon, Tour Edge, or Titleist.I Love my SIM Dr, 3wd and Hy, first ever matching woods for me. My heads and covers are already painted over “custom” so B&W won’t sell me. If You still need 5 more yards You better find Yoga or Martial Arts, which You can do with Your families for a better value!!!
JP
Dec 14, 2020 at 9:49 am
Why don’t they just make a TP version. That would make a lot of golfers go crazy over it. Literally, offer a little smaller head with a TX shaft and put the TP stamp on the toe. Instant sales
gwelfgulfer
Dec 14, 2020 at 10:34 am
Because it was only the shaft that really made the old TP lines a bit better, heads were the same. So no point in todays day and age when everyone has shafts to swap out.
Travis
Dec 14, 2020 at 9:23 am
They look good in black and white, but wait until the public sees what the actual color scheme is. It’s horrendous… although European golfers might be happy =P
Bill Bogle Jr.
Dec 14, 2020 at 9:11 am
The back of the club is aluminum with a weight that Taylormade can swap out, not the consumer. Special screw. It will be interesting to see how durable the carbon fiber on the sole is when it it this prevalent. TM had some cracking with the M3&M4. It looks like the sliding weight has become a thing of the past with both Callaway and Taylormade moving on. Only fixed position changeable weights remain with TSi and G425.
matt
Dec 14, 2020 at 9:09 am
forged aluminum is the only thing i can see that’s a bit different. besides going with a crap ton of carbon on the sole, but that’s been done. isn’t this supposed to be a massive release? I mean you hear that constantly but from guys like Ian Fraser on TXG it carries a little extra weight.