Verdict
Designed with a carbon fibre club to provide maximum forgiveness and MOI (moment of inertia) on every drive, it is one of the best golf drivers in 2022 for a longer drive and a higher ball flight. Suitable for mid-high handicappers and people with an average experience level, it is the best choice for anyone looking for a high-quality golf driver to add a few extra yards to their drive in 2022.
| Pros | Cons |
| Uses a club crafted out of aluminium and carbon fibre – lightweight and easy-to-swing compared to the older titanium versions | Relatively expensive |
| Supports a much higher ball flight and longer drive than its predecessors | |
| Uses anti-slicing technology to help you score more | |
| Has a wider face compared to the TaylorMade SIM and SIM 2 |
Introduction
A comparison of the TaylorMade SIM 2 MAX with other top golf drivers from leading brands as well as the TaylorMade SIM and SIM 2 – its preceding models that are considered the industry standard golf drivers – can reveal whether its price is justified for its features and performance.
In the making of the TaylorMade SIM 2 MAX, TaylorMade has invested a lot in optimizing the club and the face for added power and precision. The carbon sole of the club is quite a unique feature that makes TaylorMade SIM 2 MAX one of the lightest drivers available in the market in 2022.
Being limited to titanium – which is quite a heavy material compared to aluminium or carbon – reduces the size of the face of a golf driver club. That makes you more likely to miss a shot and less confident when addressing the ball.
TaylorMade SIM and SIM 2 have claimed a lot of fame due to their furious marketing as well as their premium features. Like those two models, the SIM 2 MAX has also been released at around the same price – £450. It is one of the premium golf drivers available, and in this review, we will see whether the price is justified for a golf driver of this quality.
Is the TaylorMade SIM 2 MAX one of the most powerful golf drivers available in 2022?
The forged ring construction allows you to remain confident on address, and it certainly delivers more power than most other golf drivers. Using aluminium in the form of a ring around the club allowed TaylorMade to design a more lightweight and easy-to-manoeuvre version of the older models. According to its performance during our testing and comparison with other golf drivers, it is clearly one of the most powerful golf drivers available in 2022.
Launching the Ball Higher into the Air with the TaylorMade SIM 2 MAX
An average shot with the TaylorMade SIM 2 MAX covers more distance compared to that with an average golf driver. It launches the ball higher into the air as well. The ball speed, club speed, and the moment of inertia are different factors that contribute to it. The aerodynamic shape of the club is designed to reduce air resistance and push the ball further forward.
The MOI delivered by TaylorMade SIM 2 MAX
The moment of inertia behind every shot depends on the materials used in the formation of the club and its face. The face of the TaylorMade SIM 2 MAX is precision milled out of aluminium rather than polished titanium. That is why it produces a lighter, more acoustic sound compared to the dense thud produced by titanium drivers on address.
The Aerodynamics of its Shape – Streamlining of the SIM 2 MAX
The design is such that there is minimum air resistance and drag effect on every shot. We could observe this effect during the testing as every shot with the TaylorMade SIM 2 MAX covered more distance and was launched higher into the air. Increased ball and club speeds were observed. It is certainly one of the fastest golf drivers available in 2022.
Wider Face to Reduce Slicing
For over a decade, TaylorMade had been working on carbon fibre technology to manufacture a club with a wider face that could hit the ball more easily and reduce the number of misses. Although that feat was achieved with the TaylorMade Stealth HD, the TaylorMade SIM 2 MAX also uses a carbon sole to widen the face compared to older models.
We experienced fewer misses off the tee due to slicing when we were testing the TaylorMade SIM 2 MAX. Like the TaylorMade Stealth HD, it is known for being one of the best anti-slicing golf drivers available in the market in 2022.
Although no golf driver can prevent slicing completely because it also depends on your skill, having an anti-slicing golf driver definitely turns the odds in your favour.
Speed Pocket for Added Ball Speed
Many golf drivers use a weight pocket to lower the centre of gravity of the club and make sure that every shot delivers a higher ball speed and increased yardage. The SIM 2 MAX uses that technology in a different way with weights placed both in the front and the rear of the club with different proportions. We could certainly experience higher ball and club speeds due to the added speed pocket at the rear.
We Experienced fewer misses with the TaylorMade SIM 2 MAX
The aerodynamic design of the TaylorMade SIM 2 MAX reduces the number of misses that you would experience due to the ball hitting the toe or the tail of the driver and most of the tee shots are square against the face. Due to the wider face, there is an even lesser chance of missing a shot. It can help you score more and increase the accuracy of your shots.
Does the Split Mass Weighting make it easier to swing?
The split mass weighting and the speed pocket definitely kept us more confident when addressing the ball. It delivered more power and kept the driver easier to swing compared to other golf drivers. Its shaft is also of a suitable length and easier to manoeuvre.