About this review This review is my honest opinion of the driver, which I bought with my own money in April 2021.

My take

The TaylorMade SIM2 Max Driver has given me more confidence than I have ever had before. I have owned the last five drivers that TaylorMade has launched and this is by far the best TaylorMade driver I have played. I have been looking for a consistent driver - and the SIm2 Max has really delivered. I am able to hit shots like draws and fades whereas before, it was more of a hope the club would deliver when needed.

About the club I own

• Model: 2021 TaylorMade SIM2 Max Driver
• Loft setting: 10.5
• Shaft type: Aldila Silver 60
• Shaft flex: X-Stiff

About me

• Average score: 80
• Handicap: 6
• Experience: 22 years
• Right/Left-Handed: Right handed
• Typical ball flight: Low cut
• Golf ball used: Titleist Pro V1X
• Club swing speed: 114 mph

Test conditions

• When I bought the club: April 2021
• Days tested: 100+ days (and I currently still have the driver in the bag!)
• Where I’ve used it: I live in Pennsylvania, where I have played, practiced, and hit the range with it.
• Weather and wind conditions: Spring, summer and fall in the Northeast - in all weather conditions.

How it performs

What I was looking for

I was looking for something to gain distance and to understand what was going to happen with mishits. I knew what would happen with it if I hit it off the toe; longer and higher ball flight, and the heel of the club would cause me to lose distance. I previously had a TaylorMade M5 and it was slightly older and wasn't as forgiving as the new driver. I needed something to help with mishits and that’s what the SIM2 Max delivers. I needed something to break me out of a driver slump and the SIM2 Max did that!

Why I chose this club

The look and feel at address is better than any other driver I’ve tried. The sound and response at impact is also amazing.

I did hit a few other drivers such as the Callaway Epic and the standard SIM2 to make sure the SIM2 Max was the best driver for me. The SIM2 Max was more forgiving and gave me longer distance. I ended up going with the SIM2 Max because it delivered the best consistency off the clubface.

What I love about it

• Distance: I gained 10-15 yards with this club over the M5 model, which is the driver I played before.
• Forgiveness: I feel like mishits find their way back to the center and don't lose as much distance as before.
• Feel: Super solid contact feel when striking the ball, even hits off the heel and toe feel solid.
• Sound: Not overly loaded at impact, but the sound gives me feedback on where I hit the ball. The club is thin and the sound is lower, but the middle of the face is louder.
• Workability: I have the ability to work the ball when needed and can feel good about hitting all kinds of shots.
• Adjustability: I can adjust loft up or down, but I kept mine the same. It’s really based off if I am trying to hit it higher or lower.
• Shaft Feel: I upgraded the shaft from the standard option but no up charge! I have the Aldila Silver 60 X-stiff shaft which is a custom option.
• Shaft Performance: This shaft is the best Ihave ever used as it helps with consistency.
• Aesthetic Appeal: The top line of the driver head ensures there is no glare at address, which is great
• Launch Angle: The SIM2 Max delivered higher launch than my old drivers which is great, and I managed to get easy height. Overall, I don’t need to try as hard to get the ball up in the air.

Issues I’ve encountered

• Grip Feel: I changed the grip after a few months to match the rest of my grips in the bag and it felt better in my hands.
• Spin: For me, it offers too much spin but that's more because of my angle of attack. I usually hit down on my driver which causes higher spin rates, but this driver has helped lower the spin rate even with my attack angle.

Best shot with this club

I was on a golf trip at Pinehurst where I had an out-of-bounds left and water all down the right side on a par 5, and needed to get the ball in play. Slightly downhill, and I was able to hit a nice cut that went forever, a shot with this driver that I’m able to trust. I was able to go after the green in 2 and make a birdie!

Value for the money vs. other options

For an upper-priced driver, this is one of the best bang for the buck drivers on the market. The driver really lives up to the hype, it looks and feels great, and even though it’s a $449+ driver, it provides the ability to upgrade a shaft with no upcharge. I went with the Aldila Silver 60 X-stiff. I have played shafts from Aldila before and knowing they provide a consistent feel and performance is why I chose to go with this one. Other driver models such as the Callaway Epic and the Mavrik also provide similar performance, but pound for pound the SIM2 Max delivered the best bang for the buck.

Final verdict

The TaylorMade SIM2 Max Driver has brought back my faith in hitting good drives. I had been in a really bad slump with drivers in my hands, and this thing has lowered my scores and made me a better golfer all-around.