2020 TaylorMade SiM Driver Review

By Nate Lammers, Club Fitter

TaylorMade has been known for pushing the limits of golf club engineering for 35 years and have no plans on stopping soon. Examples of technology that TaylorMade has used to help move golf club performance forward are: The first metal driver, early forms of adjustable driver sleeves, movable weights, inverted cone technology, the use of multi-materials (carbon fiber and titanium), the invention of twist face drivers and most recently speed injected technology for max COR. These technologies exist because of TaylorMade’s relentless pursuit of distance, and accuracy while staying within the boundaries that the USGA and R&A have set to keep equipment competitive and fair to all golfers.  Limits are put on club head volume, stability of club head (Moment of Inertia), the speed of the golf ball off the club face, and the shape of the club head are few important ones. 

Golf’s Governing body LIMITS:

• MAX volume of Driver head: 460cc
• MOI is when the club is in a 60 degree lie angle, the moment of inertia component around the vertical axis through the clubhead’s center of gravity must not exceed 5900 g cm2 plus a test tolerance of 100 g cm2. Horizontal MOI does not have a strict limit, the clubhead cannot have a combined MOI of 12000 g cm2
• Ball cannot leave more than 1.5 times the speed you swing the driver (Limits are to CT or Characteristic Time and COR or Coefficient of Restitution: Spring like effect of the face).  The limit for CT is 239μs (microseconds). The USGA allows for a tolerance of another 18 microseconds, making the real-world limit 257μs. The 257μs limit is the time the ball spends on the face and showing the clubs faces spring like effect. The USGA and R&A regulate COR in golf clubs to prevent manufacturers from making golf clubs that totally overwhelm golf courses with distance. The current COR limit in golf clubs is 0.83. Any club with a COR measuring higher than .830 is ruled non-conforming. COR shows the amount of energy (in) versus energy (out). Energy out not exceeding 83% of the energy in.
• Head shape must resemble driver or be plain in shape (Vague but this is up to the USGA and R&A’s subjective view of club shape)

The limits on driver performance have been in place since the mid 2000’s. TaylorMade has done well on getting their equipment right up to the legal limits with the advancements stated in the first paragraph (adjustable sleeves, inverted cone, multi-material, and twist face). The last frontier of club engineering seems to be improving aerodynamics and maximizing the drivers vertical and horizontal MOI as close to the 12000 g cm2 limit. The question now becomes: how can TaylorMade make the club move faster on the downswing while maintaining a heightened MOI?  TaylorMade’s answer is the NEW SiM (Shape in Motion) family of drivers.  The lineup of drivers consists of the SiM. SiM Max and SiM Max-D (draw). TaylorMade has implemented is most advance tech in all variations of the driver and are as follows:

• SiM has a revolutionary new shape with Aerodynamic Asymmetric sole and inertia generator.  The new shape is a rudder like weight protruding off the bottom rear of the club head. This design is to provide faster clubhead speed for more ball speed while weight in the rear creates a very high MOI for improved forgiveness.
• Speed injected technology used to optimize COR where golfers typically miss hit it. This allows TaylorMade to design the face past the legal limit and tuning it back to be conforming.
• Multi-Material construction with carbon-fiber, titanium, and steel. The combination the three materials allows TaylorMade to precisely position the weight to create a club head that is more stable with a low Center of Gravity for optimal launch conditions.
• Twist face as opposed to traditional bulge & roll. Twist uses corrective face angles designed to overcome inherent golfer tendencies on off center hits and to produce straighter shots
• Loft Sleeve provides adjustability to +/- 2° to help optimize launch conditions for maximum distance and consistency
• Sliding Weight technology is available in the standard SiM only not the MAX & MAX-D. The sliding weight allows for up to 20 yards of draw and fade bias for the best accuracy for each player.
• SiM MAX-D helps players with a miss right (RH players) in three draw biased stages. (1) the manipulation of divergent face/topline masking. This allows for TaylorMade to slightly close the face but to appear square/neutral. (2) CG movement towards the heel for increased rotation of the clubhead and the ability to slow down gear effect to right. (3) slightly reduced face progression or onset
• Each SiM alters its face size from standard SiM being the shallowest and moderately forgiving to SiM MAX-D with the largest deepest face for Maximum forgiveness on miss hits.

*Information of technology was referenced from TaylorMadegolf.com and the TaylorMade 2020 product guide

The SiM driver is available in three lofts: 8.0°, 9.0° & 10.5°

SiM MAX is available in 9.0°, 10.5°, & 12.0°

SiM MAX-D is available in 9.0°, 10.5°& 12.0°

TaylorMade offers a variety of shafts at no-upcharge for all three variations of the driver. See your club fitter at Miles of Golf for the best options for your game.

In the Cluboratory at Miles of Golf, we were able to conduct a test to see how the SiM technology compared to its predecessors (M5 & M6) on average. Test were conducted with 9° heads at standard loft and neutral weight settings if applicable.

*These tests are relative so don’t focus on the actual speed and carry, but the difference between them.

With the advancements in aerodynamics and the other technologies, the new TaylorMade SiM family seems to do as advertised. The club travels slightly faster, increasing ball speeds across the line to help achieve greater distance and better dispersion. If you are interested in learning more about TaylorMade SiM or the fitting process, contact Miles of Golf Ann Arbor or Cincinnati.