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.