TaylorMade SIM Max D Fairway Wood

Wood Options & Stock Shafts

Technology

Max Game Improvement Fairway Wood

The SIM Max D is the slice-fighter of TaylorMade's 2020 SIM lineup. The D stands for draw, and this is the most forgiving of the three SIM drivers, built for players who lose the ball to the right and want the club to help pull it back. If your miss is a fade that turns into a slice by the time it lands two fairways over, this is the model TaylorMade aimed at you.

The draw bias comes from internal weighting shifted toward the heel, which closes the face a touch faster through impact and encourages a right-to-left ball flight. TaylorMade paired that with a high-launch setup, so the Max D gets the ball up in the air without you having to work for it. Combine those two things and you get a driver that fights the two most common recreational misses at once: the slice and the low, weak flight that runs out of gas.

This is not a driver for low handicappers who shape shots on demand or fight a hook. It commits to helping a specific golfer, and it does that job well. If you already draw the ball, the Max D can turn your draw into a hook you did not ask for. Know your miss before you pick this one.

• You fight a slice or a fade and want the driver to help square the face for you.
• Your typical miss is weak and low, and you want more height and carry without swinging harder.
• You have a moderate swing speed and want a big, forgiving head that stays stable on mishits.
• You want anti-slice help built in rather than something you have to set up through a weight track.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between the SIM Max and the SIM Max D?

The SIM Max is the neutral, straight-flying model with even weighting. The SIM Max D adds a draw bias through internal heel weighting, so it helps close the face and fight a slice. Both are forgiving, but the D is specifically for players who lose the ball to the right. If you hit it straight or already draw the ball, go with the standard Max.

Will the SIM Max D fix my slice?

It will help, but it won't erase a big slice on its own. The draw weighting and Twist Face nudge the ball back to the left and straighten out off-center hits, so a mild fade can turn into a straight ball or a light draw. A severe slice caused by an open face and out-to-in path still needs a swing fix. Think of the Max D as a driver that meets you partway.

Is the SIM Max D adjustable?

Yes. It has a loft sleeve that adjusts loft and lie across a four-degree range, so you can tune launch and add or reduce left-right bias. What it does not have is the sliding weight track found on the standard SIM. The draw bias is fixed, so you can't dial it out, only soften it a little through the sleeve.

Does the SIM Max D launch high?

Yes, high launch is one of its main selling points. The low-and-back weighting from the Inertia Generator raises launch and adds spin-friendly height, which helps slower and moderate swing speeds carry the ball farther. If you already launch it high and spin it too much, this is not the model for you. It leans toward height on purpose.

Who should not buy the SIM Max D?

Players who fight a hook or already draw the ball hard should skip it, because the built-in draw bias can make a left miss worse. Better players who like to work the ball both ways will also find it too one-directional. For those golfers the standard SIM or SIM Max makes more sense, since they offer a neutral flight and shot-shaping control.

Alternatives to the TaylorMade SIM Max D

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