Review: TaylorMade SIM2 Max Fairway
By Curated Experts
Al El Kordi-Hubbard, Reid Graber, Matthew W, Ari T, Michael V, Vincent P. and Colin H
TaylorMade SIM2 Max Fairway
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The Curated Take
3.8/5
The SIM2 Max Fairway offers optimal performance with a pleasing aesthetic. It is forgiving, provides steady flight even on mishits, and has excellent distance with ideal launch and spin balance. The club produces a solid, pleasing sound, aiding quality strike feedback. It is easy to control and suitable for those who need consistent, straight shots. Despite less workability for hard fades, it can still control draws. It is ideal for golfers seeking a mid-to-high launch fairway wood.
Ideal for
- Control from the tee box
- Unmatched feel
- Impressive distance considering the added launch and spin
- Higher launching off the ground and tee
- Very forgiving across the face
- Great sound
- Extremely long
- Helps reduce hooks and slices
- Very easy to hit fairway wood
- Tight shot dispersion
- Available in many different lofts for different players
Not ideal for
- Not a good option for beginners with low clubhead speed
- Difficult to work both directions
- Not lower spinning
- Not adjustable
- Weight is low and back, harder to control trajectory
- Larger clubhead than some golfers might prefer for a fairway wood
Workability
The workability of the SIM2 Max Fairway is relatively average. While it has many great features, it is pretty difficult to work the ball significantly one way or the other....Read more
Forgiveness
Fairway wood forgiveness is a huge priority for me. I typically use my fairway wood off the tee and on approach into par 5s. In both cases, having a forgiving...Read more
Feel
The SIM2 Max Fairway has a face that feels very pure when I hit it out of the center of the face and maintains a solid feel that does not...Read more
Sound
The audio produced by the SIM2 Max Fairway is fantastic. It has a solid, piercing sound that is not overly high-pitched. Some fairway models have a high-pitched sound that closely...Read more
Launch
The SIM2 Max Fairway has a great launch. Many fairway options offer either too low or too high of a launch. The SIM2 Max is right in the sweet spot...Read more
Distance
The SIM2 Max Fairway has all the distance I need. While it does launch higher and spin more than some other models, the launch and spin are matched ideally on...Read more
Expert Reviews of the TaylorMade SIM2 Max Fairway
Reid Graber The SIM2 Max is the latest iteration from TaylorMade in their "Shape in Motion" line, and it's found a place in my bag. This fairway wood is ideal for people who don't like hitting fairway woods. It seems counterintuitive, but a good 3-wood or 5-wood is incredibly hard to find, and this is a great option. The SIM2 Max is designed to be easy to launch, which is the hardest part about hitting a low lofted club. It has a lot of weight low and back in the head, which gives it inherent forgiveness compared to other lower spinning heads on the market today.
I struggled to find a fairway wood I liked but immediately fell in love with the SIM2 Max. I picked out the 3HL, which acts as a 4-wood. It's a great option to fit in between my driver and hybrid. It can be a safe option off the tee or an attacking shot into a par 5. I love having it in the bag and recommend it to anyone looking for a new option for their long game. It has a bit of a draw bias and some protection if players fight the slice.
Matthew W This fairway wood is as long and forgiving as any other I have ever owned, and it consistently produces a very straight ball flight that makes it stand out from others. I also like how the silver piece on the top of the crown frames the ball at address. The sound and feel are explosive and solid. There are better options if someone wants to work the ball left and right. But if someone wants to hit the ball as straight as possible from shot to shot and a medium-sized clubhead, the SIM2 Max is a great option.
Ari T The SIM2 Max is a great overall all-around fairway wood that is easy to hit and launch from any lie. Its V sole helps improve contact. The SIM2 Max is not as long or hot-faced as the Titanium version but more accurate. Suitable for any handicap range. No ball flight bias is good for most players. It has a solid sound and feel.
Michael V TaylorMade's SIM2 Max Fairway wood is a great option for mid-to-high handicap golfers, offering a premium design and materials. Corrective loft face, helping golfers hit the fairway, with different lofts placed on different areas of the face to make the most out of mishits. Low torque carbon fiber stock shafts. A great pick for any golfer needing more forgiveness and distance from fairway woods.
Al El Kordi-Hubbard The SIM2 Max Fairway wood is a fantastic club. The SIM2 Max can easily get in the air and control consistent shots compared to many other fairway woods on the market. It has a slightly higher launch than the SIM2 Titanium and other fairway woods on the market. The center of gravity of the SIM2 Max also produces a little more spin than the SIM2 Titanium. The combination of slightly more spin with a higher launch makes this fairway wood forgiving and easy to hit. Working the ball in both directions to create shots is rather tricky.
Vincent P. The TaylorMade SIM2 Max Fairway is a top-tier wood for all beginners and those wanting a forgiving wood. This club is excellent to hit after a tee shot and is easy to hit from the fairway. This club has a very forgiving sweet spot and is great sounding. Overall, while this is not the best for the more advanced player, this club would benefit a player simply wanting to hit the ball far, straight, and high—a great club for most players.
Colin H I have owned this club for over two years and consider it one of my favorites. I use it from the tee more often than I hit my driver. The powerful launch angle, exceptional distance, and spin control allow me to shape and execute the shot I want without sacrificing too much distance compared to a driver. Playing from the fairway can be tricky. Golfers will experience less forgiveness than off the tee. Still, this a versatile club and will be a great addition to their quiver.
Product Specs
| Gender | Men's |
| Shaft launch | Mid-High |
| Shaft spin | Mid |
| Adjustability | No |
| Adjustability tool | No |
| Grip name | Golf Pride Z-Grip |
Review Ratings
Workability
3/5
Al El Kordi-Hubbard gave 3 of 5 stars. The workability of the SIM2 Max Fairway is relatively average. While it has many great features, it is pretty difficult to work the ball significantly one way or the other. As someone who likes to draw the ball, I can hit a very nice controlled draw with this club, but when I need to hit a hard fade with it, I struggle to get it to go more than a few yards to the right.
Forgiveness
4/5
Al El Kordi-Hubbard gave 4 of 5 stars. Fairway wood forgiveness is a huge priority for me. I typically use my fairway wood off the tee and on approach into par 5s. In both cases, having a forgiving club is critical to ensure I get the most out of the shot, even if I did not strike it perfectly. I notice small drops in distance when I mishit the ball, and the same shots manage to hold a steady, consistent flight.
Feel
4/5
Al El Kordi-Hubbard gave 4 of 5 stars. The SIM2 Max Fairway has a face that feels very pure when I hit it out of the center of the face and maintains a solid feel that does not feel like it twists on off-center strikes.
Sound
4/5
Al El Kordi-Hubbard gave 4 of 5 stars. The audio produced by the SIM2 Max Fairway is fantastic. It has a solid, piercing sound that is not overly high-pitched. Some fairway models have a high-pitched sound that closely resembles an aluminum bat. In contrast, others feature a dead sound that does not let players know if they hit it well. The SIM2 Max Fairway's sound provides excellent feedback on the quality of the strike.
Launch
4/5
Al El Kordi-Hubbard gave 4 of 5 stars. The SIM2 Max Fairway has a great launch. Many fairway options offer either too low or too high of a launch. The SIM2 Max is right in the sweet spot of mid-to-high, allowing for plenty of distance while having a steep descent angle (the angle the ball comes into the ground), allowing the ball to stop in the fairway and on the green.
Distance
4/5
Al El Kordi-Hubbard gave 4 of 5 stars. The SIM2 Max Fairway has all the distance I need. While it does launch higher and spin more than some other models, the launch and spin are matched ideally on this club, allowing for plenty of distance. When I switched to the SIM2 Max from my old SIM fairway, I noticed a slight improvement of three yards of carry.
FAQs
What was your favorite moment with this gear?
Al El Kordi-Hubbard My favorite moment with the SIM2 Max would be during the club championship last summer at Lakewood Country Club. The 16th hole is a relatively long par 5 that takes two exceptional shots to reach the green. If I choose to take the green on, I have trees left, hazard long and right, and a bunker short. Additionally, the green is relatively shallow and pretty significantly uphill, making holding the green very challenging even if I hit a good shot. After a solid tee shot, I had 250 to the pin uphill. I pulled out my SIM2 Max Fairway and hit an incredible shot. The ball had plenty of height and spin and managed to find the green, leaving me a 15-foot eagle putt that I made to win the match. Without a doubt, that was my favorite moment with the SIM2 Fairway.
Why did you choose this product?
Al El Kordi-Hubbard There are many great fairway wood options, but the SIM2 was the optimal choice for me. I chose the SIM2 Fairway because it provides plenty of distance off the tee and the fairway while maintaining optimal height and spin. The result is a fairway wood that I can control very well whether I need to hit the fairway or hit a par 5 in 2 (or a long par 4). The previous fairway I had used was a bit lower launch and lower spin, making control more challenging. As soon as I hit a few shots with the SIM2 Fairway, it went right into my bag.
What is the value for the money versus other options?
Al El Kordi-Hubbard The SIM2 Max Fairway is a fantastic value for the money, especially compared to other similar options. At $250, the SIM2 Max Fairway features solid distance, great spin and control, and a pleasing aesthetic. In a similar price range is the Ping G425. The Ping G425 is a solid club that has similar spin and control numbers to the SIM2 Max, however, it lacks a bit of the distance the SIM2 Max offers, and the club head at address often looks very closed, which is not everyone's preferred look. Compared to higher price point options like the Titleist TSR2, the SIM2 Max packs very similar distance numbers, similar ball flight and spin, and at about $100 cheaper of a price point. Overall, the SIM2 Max Fairway is a fantastic value for the money.
What do you love about this product?
Al El Kordi-Hubbard The SIM2 Max Fairway is an excellent combination of aesthetics and performance. It has a higher launch and more moderate spin profile when compared to the standard SIM2 Fairway. At address, the profile of the head looks very good, leading to more confident swings. On the performance side, it has excellent distance coupled with an appropriate amount of spin that allows me to control the ball flight and have the ball stop more on the greens than other similar fairways.
Al El Kordi-Hubbard
Golf ExpertReid Graber
Golf ExpertMatthew W
Golf ExpertAri T
Golf ExpertMichael V
Golf ExpertVincent P.
Golf ExpertColin H
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