Taylormade M5 and SIM launch vs 2016 M2 launch

I am currently gaming the Taylormade M2 2016 10.5 loft in a Hzrdus Black shaft 6.0. Was looking online and heard lots of how the M2 was very low launch and that it would be similar to going to a 9.0-9.5 loft in the M5 and SIM. Was wondering if anyone has any opinions on this idea.

Interested in this thread. Played the 2016 m2 last season and loved it. Bought the m5 early this year and sold it before hitting it in favor of the sim. Haven’t hit that yet either. Hah

I went from a 16M2 at 8.5 degrees to an M5 at 9.0 degrees. I can tell you that the M5 launched significantly higher for me. I believe many have found the M5 launch high to loft. Have not had enough time hitting a SIM to provide a true comparison there unfortunately. I've lofted the M5 down below 8 degrees now to get the launch in a better window for me.

Have decided to lean towards the SIM. After looking into it once again seeing that SIM is actually low launch compared to the M5 should i stay in a 10.5 loft for the SIM?

The primary reason to keep the M5 in the discussion is by lofting down , I'm getting more distance/ ballspeed while keeping forgiveness due to the ability to pull CG rearward....M2 or SIM can only have that done with lead tape. A 9* M5 will fly higher than your 10.5 M2 ......I truly believe there is more loft than stated as I couldn't stand the appearance of the 10.5* .....YMMV

Despote the 2016 M2 being the best driver ever IMHO, there is a ton of variance in both the driver and the fairway woods. Face angle can be wide open or closed, a 10.5 can look like it has less loft than a 9.5 and vice versa and one driver can sound like a tin can while another can sound like a wood bat. It really speaks to finding one that works for you. Fortunately, quality control seems to have got a little better since then with Taylormade.

I have all three as we speak: the unicorn M2 Tour Issue 8.5, M5 9.0 Tour Issue and SIM 9.0.

Obviously, haven’t had many rounds outdoors with everything closed now but indoor on SkyTrak I’ve decided to go with the M5 for now. Shaft I’ve been using is the Kuro Kage XD 70TX. I’ve seen that no matter how I try setting it up, the SIM wants to fade right for me which is usually fine, but compared to the M5, I’ll hit more with no side spin where the SIM will still hit low fades. Given that I hate seeing the ball go left, that’s normally a good thing but now that I’ve been hitting more fades, I found the SIM sending balls often a bit more right than I was used to.

As far as launch, I think the SIM launches lowest of all three, followed by the M2, and then M5. However, I’ve got the M5 dialed in with 17 launch and 2,000 rpm spin so that’s pretty maxed as far as efficiency goes. I hit a few yesterday back-to-back with the M5 and SIM that we’re super consistent with my ideal ball flight and shape, and the SIM would be around 14 or 15 launch with 2400 spin while the M5 was 17 and 2000.

In my opinion, the M5 feels like it has a bit more pop and the M2 comes next, followed by the SIM. Not saying the SIM doesn’t pop, because it does, but all three certainly feel different off the face.

At the end of the day, I’m holding onto all three for now to play around with but if there was any reason to cross one off the list at the moment as of now, it would be the SIM only because of the heavy fade bias which may not be ideal if you already hit one.

Could the pop be the tour issued factor of M5/M2 ?

Certainly could be. I actually sold my non-TI M5 because it never felt that great. Neither have hot melt but the M5 TI just feels like it has more speed with the KK XD shaft.

A bit off topic.....but do you remember the CT on your TI M5?

I don’t have the sticker but was told it was 248.

I just picked up a TI M5 to experiment with and played it yesterday for the first time. I have been gaming the M3 440 for over a year and nothing has beat it. The SIM and SIM Max both fell short for me. This M5 could be the one to take it. I do have a M5 tour inbound as well because I have a serious problem but after yesterday I really don’t think there is a driver out there that could perform better. I have a bit more dialing in to do but wow was this thing long and forgiving! The SIM driver range imho is a bit of a flop.

Just to add more on the OP topic, I gamed a 2016 M2 TI 8.5 driver for a good bit and the M3 440 was the only club that could beat it for me.

As someone that also moved on from a 2016 M2 TI 8.5 to an M5, I can confirm the M5 is quite good.

Those TI M2's are pretty much unbeatable on those high toe strikes for distance, but the M5 is a much better overall driver.

From ballspeed retention on off-center hits, sound/feel, adjust-ability, and looks - it hits all the right notes. Many on this board say this head is "slow" but I don't find that to be the case.

Weight back and lofted way down was the magic formula that really made it come alive for me.

The M5 I had last year was definitely "slow." I didn't find it to launch abnormally high compared to other TM drivers of the same loft, was just about in the window that I expected. Have owned a 10.5 2016 M2 (favorite), 10.5 M5, and now bagging a 10.5 SIM. Went to 1 click lower on the SIM yesterday and that seemed to get the face angle and flight/direction I needed which is a consistent fade instead of an occasional draw that came from nowhere. The M5 did seem to sound a little better to me on average whereas the SIM can feel a little "clunky" when not hit out of the center. Could just be head variance, slightly colder temperatures still lingering, and some placebo thrown in.

Sounds like I may need to give a tour issue M5 head a try, may go with a 9* as well.

My M5 9 Degree from last year was SLAMMED SHUT, I have to set it to 8 to make it look square. It was a strange driver IMO didn't do anything but go sky high.

10.5 SIM Max turned down .75 is such a dramatic improvement.

Ok the M5 tour is going to be the winner. I just love the look of smaller headed drivers. I have a hard time getting the ball to draw with the 460 cc heads. This tour model is automatic! I will have a like new M5 tour issue head on BST soon.

thanks you all for all the input and feedback. Went to go get fitted and got put into a 10.5 Sim turned down .75 in a Hzrdus hulk shaft 70g 6.5 flex. Played the first week of golf with this and it’s been amazing!