TaylorMade SIM Ti Fairway Review
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The TaylorMade SIM fairway wood has a titanium chassis just like a modern driver.
2019 was the year Tour pros started not just playing titanium fairway woods, but winning with them, too.
Last year, TaylorMade created their first titanium fairway for ages. The M5 had a cute little head (just the sort of shape Tour pros love), and its lightweight titanium chassis housed a massive 65g sole weight which upped launch and shot shape potential.
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Tiger, Rory, DJ and Jon Rahm were all big fans, and each won with M5 fairways in the bag. Thanks to their success, it’s no surprise a new SIM titanium fairway will appear in 2020.
Just like the rest of the SIM family there’s an ultra-lightweight carbon crown, with high toe and low heel Twist Face technology. TaylorMade have reintroduced V-Steel soles, which they say reduces sole drag by 19% over last year’s M6.
There’s also a next generation Speed Pocket design to improve ball speed forgiveness on low-face hits and a 2° hosel adaptor to let golfers dial in loft and face angle at will.
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What you need to know about the TaylorMade SIM Ti fairway wood
There’s an all-new titanium face
TaylorMade’s R&D dept developed the new “Zatech” titanium face (it’s a material they’ve developed internally). It’s 30% stronger than previous titanium, yet remains flexible to create explosive ball speeds and distance.
It’s high launch, low spin
SIM has 80g of steel positioned in the sole (up from 65g in M5). It’s so efficient, TaylorMade say SIM is their lowest CG fairway. Whereas most fairways have a CG height of 16-20mm, in SIM it’s 12.1mm, which translates to higher launch and lower spin.
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Verdict: TaylorMade SIM Ti fairway wood
2019 was a breakthrough year for titanium fairways. Tiger, Rory, Jon Rahm and DJ all won with a titanium M5 in their bags, which shows how a lightweight titanium chassis and a carbon crown really are the best ways to make fairways in a perfect world.
The problem is that they come with hefty price tags, as they’re made from the same expensive materials as a driver. Our pro felt the SIM had a fraction flatter lie than SIM Max, which helps reduce left bias for faster swing speeds.
The SIM also launched more than a degree lower and peaked shots out a couple of yards less than the SIM Max, which says everything you need to know about how it launches the ball into the air, and who it will perform best for – reasonably strong and powerful golfers.
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What TaylorMade say about the SIM Ti fairway wood
The SIM has a titanium head that combines a lightweight carbon construction with a new Zatech titanium face and heavy 80g steel sole weight. The strategically positioned weight creates an extremely low CG that allows for increased ball speed, higher launch and improved forgiveness on low-face hits.
The Zatech titanium face is a breakthrough in materials technology that enables TaylorMade engineers to push the limits of speed in a titanium fairway wood. It’s the first time TaylorMade has used this rare and ultra-strong material in the construction of a metalwood.
Zatech Ti is made in small batches using a unique process that allows engineers to improve the strength of the face while maintaining a high level of ductility. The SIM titanium fairway is engineered for crazy distance with adjustability through the loft sleeve.
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Review written by: Simon Daddow
Job title: Today’s Golfer – Equipment Editor
