About this Review: This review is my honest opinion of the golf club, which I purchased with my own money in July of 2020.

My take

The TaylorMade SIM Max Fairway 3-wood club is good for any skill level. What I like best about this wood is its balance upon address. I feel like I can control the spin in either direction and always get a positive response off the face.

About the club

• Model: TaylorMade SIM Max Fairway 3-Wood
• Loft setting: 15 degree
• Shaft type: HZRDUS Smoke Black 70g
• Shaft flex: Stiff

About me

• Average score: 85
• Handicap: 12
• Experience: 20 years of golfing
• Right/Left-Handed: Right
• Typical ball flight: Mid
• Golf ball used: Chrome Soft
• Club swing speed: 115 mph

Test conditions

• When I bought the club: July 2020
• Days tested: 25 rounds
• Where I’ve used it: Five Ponds Golf Course in Warminster, PA; range and course Architects Golf Course in Phillipsburg, NJ; Rum Point Country Club in West Ocean City, MD.
• Weather and wind conditions: Sunny, little wind

How it performs

What I was looking for

I was seeking a wood to match my SIM Driver, which I love. I wanted a club with TaylorMade’s new Twist Face technology for workability and distance.

Why I chose this club

I chose to buy this club because I had a great demo session and loved the performance on the course. In addition, I have owned the previous version, M4, and wished to test out the new technology included.

What I love about it

• Distance: Distance is no issue with this club. The ball explodes off the hot face. The material in the face and design of the sole make it easy for the player to launch the ball in the air for max distance.
• Feel: I really like the feel of this club; it gives a very pure response and result when struck solid.
• Sound: The sound may be what I love most about the SIM line. It is a very solid sound, not metallic or clang-y. The materials in the crown of the club have sound-dampening characteristics, which make it very user-friendly and provide nice feedback on all strikes.
• Aesthetic Appeal: The simple crown and top-down design made me feel very confident looking down, upon address. I also really appreciated the non-glare coating and criss-cross design on the top of the crown.
• Launch Angle: The launch angle is a bit low compared to other fairway woods tested, which is not particularly a bad thing, just personal preference. Unfortunately, there is no ability to adjust the hosel, so if a golfer prefers higher launch, this club may not be right for them.

Issues I’ve encountered

• Adjustability: This club is not adjustable in any way. This would be my only complaint. Unfortunately, that puts a damper on the ability to work the ball off the tee right and left. For a mid-handicapper like myself I prefer a hosel where I can adjust fade/draw pre- or mid-round.
• Workability: The main limitation of this club is also the ability to work the ball left and right at will. I found that on the range and course, the club purely goes straight (which is not a bad thing!); however, for advance players and lower handicaps who need to work the ball into the green, the SIM MAX FW will not do.
• Spin: I would like to generate a little more spin from this club, as it is difficult to launch high at times.

Best shot with this club

My best shot was at a northern New Jersey club. Hole was too short and the fairway too tight for a driver. I used this wood and hit a beautiful, high, long draw that settled in the fairway, setting me up for a birdie!

Value for the money vs. other options

Since this club is a bit older now, it is possible to find it at a much lower price, which gives it a lot of value. I would prefer to save a few bucks and buy this one versus the SIM2.

Final verdict

All things considered, the TaylorMade SIM Max Fairway 3-wood club provided me options when I can’t hit the driver off the tee. It allowed me to swing with confidence and fit the ball into tighter fairways. Compared with the SIM2, which I have also owned, it is very comparable — this makes the SIM MAX a great value in 2022!