TaylorMade SIM Max Fairway Wood

Wood Options & Stock Shafts

Technology

Game Improvement Fairway Wood

The SIM Max is TaylorMade's forgiveness-first driver from the 2020 SIM lineup, and it does exactly what a game-improvement driver should. It's built for golfers who don't strike the center every time and want a club that keeps mishits playable instead of punishing them. The head is a full 460cc with a larger face than the standard SIM, so there's more real estate to catch the ball on off-center hits.

What sets this one apart from the standard SIM is what TaylorMade left out. The SIM has a sliding weight track on the sole for shot-shape tuning. The Max drops that track and moves the mass low and back in a fixed position, which raises launch and pushes forgiveness up. You give up the ability to fine-tune your ball flight with a weight, but you get a more stable, higher-launching head in return. For most mid and higher handicap players, that's the right trade.

The face tech carries over from the rest of the family. Speed Injected Twist Face means each head is tested and injected with resin to push ball speed right up to the legal limit, and the Twist Face geometry corrects the two misses most amateurs fight, high-toe and low-heel. This is a forgiving driver, but it isn't trying to be a low-spin bomber. Know what you're buying.

• Mid and higher handicap players who miss the center of the face often and want those misses to still find the fairway.
• Anyone who tends to launch the ball too low and wants a driver that gets it up in the air without swing changes.
• Golfers who want simple adjustability from a loft sleeve and don't care about sliding-weight shot shaping.
• Players moving up from an older driver who want a real jump in ball speed on off-center hits.
• Slice-fighters who don't need a full draw bias but want a stable, forgiving head that resists twisting open.

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the difference between the SIM Max and the standard SIM driver?

The standard SIM has a sliding weight track on the sole for adjusting shot shape, and it launches a bit lower with slightly less spin. The SIM Max removes that track, uses a fixed low-back weight, and has a larger face. The Max launches higher and is more forgiving, so it's the better pick if you value stability over the ability to tune your ball flight with a weight.

Is the SIM Max adjustable?

Yes, through the loft sleeve at the hosel. You can adjust loft about two degrees in either direction, which also shifts lie and face angle. There is no movable sole weight on the Max, so shot-shape tuning comes from the sleeve and shaft rather than a sliding weight.

What lofts does the SIM Max come in?

The standard options are 9, 10.5, and 12 degrees, and each can be adjusted roughly two degrees up or down with the sleeve. Because the head already launches high, a lot of players who'd normally reach for 10.5 do well starting at 9 and adjusting from there.

Is the SIM Max good for a slice?

It helps, but it isn't a dedicated draw driver. The high moment of inertia and Twist Face make the head resist twisting open on off-center hits, which reduces the worst slices. If your slice is severe and you want built-in draw bias, the SIM Max D is the version tuned for that.

Is the SIM Max a forgiving driver?

Yes, forgiveness is its main job. The deep Inertia Generator weight, the larger face, and the Speed Pocket all work to keep ball speed and launch consistent when you miss the center. It's one of the more forgiving drivers in the 2020 SIM family, which is exactly why it carries the Max name.

Alternatives to the TaylorMade SIM Max

Other game improvement fairway wood models from different brands, closest to its model year.