Expert Comparison: TaylorMade SIM2 Max Fairway vs Callaway Rogue ST Max Fairway Wood

Published on 02/11/2024 · 6 min readCompare TaylorMade SIM2 Max Fairway and Callaway Rogue ST Max Fairway Wood. Get expert insight below!
Al El Kordi-Hubbard, Golf Expert
Vincent P., Golf Expert
Jon W., Golf Expert
Contributed By Golf Expert Al El Kordi-Hubbard, Vincent P., Jon W., Michael V, Brett Schwanke and others

VS

 

Side by side comparison

Runner up
TaylorMade SIM2 Max Fairway
Most recommended
Callaway Rogue ST Max Fairway Wood
Price
$199.99
29% off
$229.99
34% off
User rating
4.79(374)
4.87(82)
The Curated Take

Best for golfers seeking distance and forgiveness with a high launch and straight ball flight.

Best for mid to high handicap players seeking forgiveness and distance.

Shaft launch
Mid-High
Mid
Shaft spin
Mid
Low
Adjustability
No
No

In the world of golf, the TaylorMade SIM2 Max Fairway and the Callaway Rogue ST Max Fairway Wood are two top contenders. Both clubs are designed to offer golfers a blend of distance, forgiveness, and control. The TaylorMade SIM2 Max Fairway is a great club for those who typically struggle with their fairway woods, offering a higher launching fairway wood that lands softly on the greens. On the other hand, the Callaway Rogue ST Max Fairway Wood is an ultra forgiving and long fairway wood, perfect for mid to high-handicap players looking to maximize forgiveness. Both clubs have their strengths and weaknesses, and the choice between the two will largely depend on your personal preferences and golfing style.

The TaylorMade SIM2 Max Fairway is a club that caters to a wide range of golfers. It's a great option for those who typically struggle with their fairway woods, as well as for more skilled players looking to add a higher launching fairway wood that will land softly on the greens. The club is designed with a lighter, more aerodynamic head that allows for extra speed while maintaining a higher ball flight with moderate spin. This combination results in more distance with good control.

The SIM2 Max Fairway Wood is also very forgiving. The higher launch with moderate spin makes this fairway wood very forgiving, reducing the curve on miss hits and making them still very playable. The feel of the club is exactly what you would expect out of TaylorMade woods, with just the right amount of firmness to make contact feel solid, and just enough softness to give feedback when you pure it.

The aesthetics of the SIM2 Max are also impressive. It doesn’t have an adjustable sleeve, so the hosel looks really clean. The head size isn’t super large, but not super small either. The black crown contrasted with a white/gray portion looks really nice and makes it easy to aim.

However, the club does have some downsides. It can be challenging to work the ball with it, and the lack of an adjustable sleeve means that if you want to adjust the lie and loft, or the shaft you are playing, you cannot do so without going to a local club repair shop.

The combination of slightly more spin with a higher launch makes this fairway wood super forgiving and easy to hit. I do find that working the ball both directions to create shots is rather difficult. If you’re happy playing one standard shot shape with something a little easier to hit, this fairway wood is for you.

Al El Kordi-Hubbard
Golf Expert
Best seller

The Callaway Rogue ST Max Fairway Wood is an ultra forgiving and long fairway wood. It's designed for mid to high-handicap players looking to maximize forgiveness. The club is designed with a draw bias, meaning the face is closed slightly to help reduce slices. It also features a redesigned jailbreak system to promote speed and stability. The two jailbreak batwings are pushed to the perimeter, providing stiffness while allowing the face to flex for high ball speeds.

The Rogue ST Max Fairway Wood also features a tungsten speed cartridge, which strategically places 27 grams of mass low and forward in the wood's head. This increases ball speeds and creates optimal launch angles. The club also features an A.I. face optimization to include speed, launch, and spin. This unique face pattern is customized for each model and loft in the fairway lineup.

However, the club does have some downsides. It can be challenging to work the ball with it, and the lack of an adjustable sleeve means that if you want to adjust the lie and loft, or the shaft you are playing, you cannot do so without going to a local club repair shop.

The Callaway Rogue ST Max Fairway is one of the more forgiving woods to be released in 2022. This club has a large sweet spot, slight draw bias and A.I Jailbreak technology. All of these features give the club more forgiveness and ease of use. As a result, this would benefit all golfers, but especially new and high handicap players.

Vincent P.
Golf Expert
Best seller

Similarities

Both the TaylorMade SIM2 Max Fairway and the Callaway Rogue ST Max Fairway Wood are designed with the average golfer in mind. They both offer a blend of distance, forgiveness, and control, making them great options for those who struggle with their fairway woods. Both clubs feature aerodynamic designs that allow for extra speed, and both have higher ball flights with moderate spin for more distance and control.

Both clubs also prioritize forgiveness, with designs that reduce the curve on miss hits and make them still very playable. They both have firm yet soft feels, providing solid contact and feedback when you pure it. Neither club has an adjustable sleeve, giving them clean-looking hosels.

Differences and Who They're Good For

While both clubs have many similarities, they also have some key differences. The TaylorMade SIM2 Max Fairway is a great option for those who typically struggle with their fairway woods, as well as for more skilled players looking to add a higher launching fairway wood that will land softly on the greens. It's a great club for those who want a blend of distance, forgiveness, and control.

On the other hand, the Callaway Rogue ST Max Fairway Wood is an ultra forgiving and long fairway wood, perfect for mid to high-handicap players looking to maximize forgiveness. It's designed with a draw bias, meaning the face is closed slightly to help reduce slices. It also features a redesigned jailbreak system to promote speed and stability.

In terms of persona, the TaylorMade SIM2 Max Fairway would be a great fit for golfers who want a blend of distance, forgiveness, and control, while the Callaway Rogue ST Max Fairway Wood would be a great fit for mid to high-handicap players looking to maximize forgiveness.

Analysis on Who’s the Winner

When comparing the TaylorMade SIM2 Max Fairway and the Callaway Rogue ST Max Fairway Wood, it's clear that both clubs have their strengths.

In terms of distance, both clubs offer impressive distance capabilities. However, the TaylorMade SIM2 Max Fairway might have a slight edge due to its lighter, more aerodynamic head that allows for extra speed while maintaining a higher ball flight with moderate spin.

In terms of forgiveness, both clubs are designed to be very forgiving. However, the Callaway Rogue ST Max Fairway Wood might have a slight edge due to its draw bias and redesigned jailbreak system that promotes speed and stability.

In terms of control, both clubs offer good control. However, the TaylorMade SIM2 Max Fairway might have a slight edge due to its higher launching fairway wood that lands softly on the greens.

In terms of aesthetics, both clubs have clean-looking hosels and appealing designs. However, the matte black finish on the TaylorMade SIM2 Max Fairway might give it a slight edge in terms of aesthetic appeal.

Conclusions

In conclusion, both the TaylorMade SIM2 Max Fairway and the Callaway Rogue ST Max Fairway Wood are excellent clubs that offer a blend of distance, forgiveness, and control. The choice between the two will largely depend on your personal preferences and golfing style. If you're looking for a club that offers a higher launching fairway wood that will land softly on the greens, the TaylorMade SIM2 Max Fairway might be the better choice. However, if you're a mid to high-handicap player looking to maximize forgiveness, the Callaway Rogue ST Max Fairway Wood might be the better choice. Either way, you can't go wrong with either of these clubs.

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