Sim Max Fairway Woods A Beast

[SwingMan]

6 hours ago, dmeeksDC said:

I also find the SIM Max heads too bulky for off the turf ease. Definitely can play them, but not as easy as others. The OG Sim Ti is easier than the MAX (off turf) IMO and it goes a mile. It does not look as tall at address. But even in testing it side by side with a Titleist 915 3 wood, the Titleist was easier for me. Just looks slightly lower profile. Off a tee the SIM Ti is the longest 3 wood I have ever hit. That Ti face is hot! I was in disbelief ar how long it is. And as it is smaller it is the easiest off the turf of the SIM and SIM2 heads. 
 

For 7 wood, I did not like the TM heads as much as the Cobra F8 I have and the one I just built: Callaway Epic Flash (adjustable, which is key for 7 wood lie angle) with an aftermarket oldie but goodie — Diamana Kal’li 8O shaft. I also play it a little shorter at 41.5 inches. Not a distance club for me, I want my 7 wood to go 210-215 yards every time and stop on greens, which it does. 
 

For those struggling off the turf, I’d say in addition to those listed take a look at the standard Mavrik 4 wood. The curved leading edge and sole design makes it easier to hit off turf. 

 

I seem to like the smaller yet forgiving woods. Heck, I'm using a Honma TR21 3wd because it launches easy and it's compact. Even the Mizuno ST-Z are fairly gigantic in comparison. Still experimenting but looking for consistency instead of pure inconsistent distance.

[platgof]

That Sim Max 7 wood is off the charts for playability. The same thing for the Ping G410 hybrids, awesome. Game changers!!

[OspreyCI]

So the Sim Max is NOT too big for off the deck?

[platgof]

Absolutely not. 

[Bye]

Just picked one up, am hoping it’s not too hot.

 

I had a SLDR & 2017 M2 which were great, but went too far.

 

 

 

 

[platgof]

3 hours ago, Bye said:

Just picked one up, am hoping it’s not too hot.

 

I had a SLDR & 2017 M2 which were great, but went too far.

 

 

 

 

Spoken like a true WRX'er!!!

[OspreyCI]

This thing just looks so big sitting on the ground. Been using a PXG Proto that is small and sits flat and loved the size. Guess I need to stop reading this and just get a Sim2 Ti. 

[beaney]

9 hours ago, Bye said:

Just picked one up, am hoping it’s not too hot.

 

I had a SLDR & 2017 M2 which were great, but went too far.

 

 

 

 

It’ll be perfect. High and floaty and much straighter!

[Bye]

7 hours ago, platgof said:

Spoken like a true WRX'er!!!

Lol, the ultimate complement.
 

No fitting, never tried the head or shaft before, keeping it everything crossed it goes well.

 

check,check,check. 

[OspreyCI]

Hope you guys are right about this one. I just picked up a Sim Max 3 wood. Haha. 

[Brausch24]

Put a 15* sim max in the bag this year and can confirm, rockets. Love that thing. 

[OspreyCI]

On 12/3/2021 at 2:53 PM, OspreyCI said:

So the Sim Max is NOT too big for off the deck?

First range with the Sim Max and it is so easy off the deck. Just wants to go straight and long. So much easier to hit than the PXG Proto than I just switched from.

[Radeon962]

Got a bit carried away with trying to find SIM fairway woods over the Black Friday and Cyber Week sales.  Changeable shafts would have been much nicer than going old school way, but is what it is.

 

Had some extra shafts so just needed a few heads and ended up with a few options after a buying binge over the past few weeks.  When I can't play I end up buying stuff if I find it at a good price as my mind wonders "what if....".

 

Looks like we may get a little warm up here in Michigan next week so I hope to get out to Carl's to hit some balls to see what setup works best:

 

* TM SIM2 Max 3w (15*) Fujikura Ventus Velocore Red 7s

* TM SIM2 Max 3HL (16.5*) Graphite Design Tour AD-IZ 7s

* TM SIM2 Max 3HL (16.5*) Mitsubishi Diamana FW75s

* TM SIM2 Ti 5w (play at 17*) Mitsubishi Diamana FW75s

* TM SIM Max 7w (21*) Fujikura Ventus Velocore Red 7s

* TM SIM2 Max 7w (21*) Mitsubishi Diamana D+ 80s

* TM SIM Max 9w (24*) Mitsubishi Diamana D+ 80s

 

Played a SIM TI @ 17* with the FW75s for a good chunk of last year and then found the SIM Max (and SIM2 Max) and found they are equally as nice and a bit more forgiving which led me down my current path.  Soon it was adding the 7w (with the Velocore) which I loved so then added then the 9w (with the D+) and then the idea of different shafts and how I ended up where I am today.

 

I'm hopeful to just cut the herd in half to fill the 3w/4w, 7w and 9w spot to replace my old Callaway Steelhead 4+, 7w and 9w that I have played for better than 20 years.  

 

Should be a fun shootout if I can get to the range in between other commitments this time of year....

 

[OspreyCI]

2 minutes ago, Radeon962 said:

Got a bit carried away with trying to find SIM fairway woods over the Black Friday and Cyber Week sales.  Changeable shafts would have been much nicer than going old school way, but is what it is.

 

Had some extra shafts so just needed a few heads and ended up with a few options after a buying binge over the past few weeks.  When I can't play I end up buying stuff if I find it at a good price as my mind wonders "what if....".

 

Looks like we may get a little warm up here in Michigan next week so I hope to get out to Carl's to hit some balls to see what setup works best:

 

* TM SIM2 Max 3w (15*) Fujikura Ventus Velocore Red 7s

* TM SIM2 Max 3HL (16.5*) Graphite Design Tour AD-IZ 7s

* TM SIM2 Max 3HL (16.5*) Mitsubishi Diamana FW75s

* TM SIM2 Ti 5w (play at 17*) Mitsubishi Diamana FW75s

* TM SIM Max 7w (21*) Fujikura Ventus Velocore Red 7s

* TM SIM2 Max 7w (21*) Mitsubishi Diamana D+ 80s

* TM SIM Max 9w (24*) Mitsubishi Diamana D+ 80s

 

Played a SIM TI @ 17* with the FW75s for a good chunk of last year and then found the SIM Max (and SIM2 Max) and found they are equally as nice and a bit more forgiving which led me down my current path.  Soon it was adding the 7w (with the Velocore) which I loved so then added then the 9w (with the D+) and then the idea of different shafts and how I ended up where I am today.

 

I'm hopeful to just cut the herd in half to fill the 3w/4w, 7w and 9w spot to replace my old Callaway Steelhead 4+, 7w and 9w that I have played for better than 20 years.  

 

Should be a fun shootout if I can get to the range in between other commitments this time of year....

 

What a lineup!! Let us know. 

[Radeon962]

6 minutes ago, OspreyCI said:

What a lineup!! Let us know. 

 

Will do.

 

My bag is setup for the trip to the range.  Couple of shafts to demo in my Callaway Epic Max LS also.  Played a D+ 70s for most of the past season, but picked up a D+ 50s and GD Tour AD-XC 5s to see how a lighter shaft may work with the head and the swing.  

 

Might need a couple of buckets of balls.

 

Don't mind the headcovers as I typically just use an assortment of the Callaway headcovers as my bag is a Sun Mountain 2.5 that is red/black so I tend towards red/black headcovers.

 

[Bye]

On 12/4/2021 at 2:17 AM, platgof said:

Spoken like a true WRX'er!!!

Lol, I am on my second shaft already. Hopefully it won’t be for sale by the end of the weekend, but you never know!

[elwhippy]

Waiting for the price drop. 

[eddiebigeddie]

4 hours ago, Radeon962 said:

Got a bit carried away with trying to find SIM fairway woods over the Black Friday and Cyber Week sales.  Changeable shafts would have been much nicer than going old school way, but is what it is.

 

Had some extra shafts so just needed a few heads and ended up with a few options after a buying binge over the past few weeks.  When I can't play I end up buying stuff if I find it at a good price as my mind wonders "what if....".

 

Looks like we may get a little warm up here in Michigan next week so I hope to get out to Carl's to hit some balls to see what setup works best:

 

* TM SIM2 Max 3w (15*) Fujikura Ventus Velocore Red 7s

* TM SIM2 Max 3HL (16.5*) Graphite Design Tour AD-IZ 7s

* TM SIM2 Max 3HL (16.5*) Mitsubishi Diamana FW75s

* TM SIM2 Ti 5w (play at 17*) Mitsubishi Diamana FW75s

* TM SIM Max 7w (21*) Fujikura Ventus Velocore Red 7s

* TM SIM2 Max 7w (21*) Mitsubishi Diamana D+ 80s

* TM SIM Max 9w (24*) Mitsubishi Diamana D+ 80s

 

Played a SIM TI @ 17* with the FW75s for a good chunk of last year and then found the SIM Max (and SIM2 Max) and found they are equally as nice and a bit more forgiving which led me down my current path.  Soon it was adding the 7w (with the Velocore) which I loved so then added then the 9w (with the D+) and then the idea of different shafts and how I ended up where I am today.

 

I'm hopeful to just cut the herd in half to fill the 3w/4w, 7w and 9w spot to replace my old Callaway Steelhead 4+, 7w and 9w that I have played for better than 20 years.  

 

Should be a fun shootout if I can get to the range in between other commitments this time of year....

 

If one of those 3Hl's don't work, I may be interested in a head 😉  

[Radeon962]

52* in Michigan this afternoon so I ran out to the range.  
 

I believe we have some winners…

 

Driver - Callaway Epic Max LS 10.5 N-1 with Diamana D+ 50s

 

3w - TM SIM2 Max 3w Fuji Ventus Velocore Red 7s 

 

7w - TM SIM Max 7w Fuji Ventus Velocore Red 7s 

 

9w - TM SIM Max 9w Diamana D+ 80s

 

Carl’s has TrackMan range and I have no idea how accurate it is as I use it more to compare relative performance between like clubs.  I don’t put much stock in the numbers but I have hit enough balls at their ranges that the numbers I see are in the ballpark of real life for me on the course so I have a good idea of how a club may perform for me at the range and then on the course.

 

You can change a setting to premium balls or something like that so it interpolates what a real ball would do based on what it reads from the range balls you are actually hitting and is what the numbers below are based on.

 

On course I play for 265 yard carry with the driver, 240 yard carry with my 3w/4w, 220 yard carry with my 7w and 200 yard carry with my 9w and 155 yard carry with my 7 iron.

 

Looks like all of these are in that ball park.

 

I did hit a large bucket but obviously not every ball/swing is shown below just what I believe was indicative of the club that will be going in my bag.

 

Driver (the first one I tried seeing what I could do taking a Bryson’esque type swing).  Other 2 were more normal driver swings.

 

 

3wood

 

 

7wood

 

 

I didn’t take the 9wood out as it had no competition and I know it’s in the bag.

 

I think I enjoyed hitting the PXG Gen3 0311P 7 iron with a True Temper Elevate 95s the most out of everything.  
 

It really is just a wonderful feeling and looking iron.  I love everything about it.  I can’t see Gen4 being a huge improvement but may try and find a set of Gen4’s this winter to compare.

 

 

Fun stuff and it would make more sense to just go get fit again but I enjoy the “buy and try” method of fitting.

 

Unfortunately I probably will not play until March when we head south for spring break.

 

Now to take some pictures of the losers this weekend….

Edited December 11, 2021 by Radeon962

[sleepyeg]

4 hours ago, eddiebigeddie said:

If one of those 3Hl's don't work, I may be interested in a head 😉  

Interested as well! 

[sleepyeg]

8 hours ago, Radeon962 said:

Got a bit carried away with trying to find SIM fairway woods over the Black Friday and Cyber Week sales.  Changeable shafts would have been much nicer than going old school way, but is what it is.

 

Had some extra shafts so just needed a few heads and ended up with a few options after a buying binge over the past few weeks.  When I can't play I end up buying stuff if I find it at a good price as my mind wonders "what if....".

 

Looks like we may get a little warm up here in Michigan next week so I hope to get out to Carl's to hit some balls to see what setup works best:

 

* TM SIM2 Max 3w (15*) Fujikura Ventus Velocore Red 7s

* TM SIM2 Max 3HL (16.5*) Graphite Design Tour AD-IZ 7s

* TM SIM2 Max 3HL (16.5*) Mitsubishi Diamana FW75s

* TM SIM2 Ti 5w (play at 17*) Mitsubishi Diamana FW75s

* TM SIM Max 7w (21*) Fujikura Ventus Velocore Red 7s

* TM SIM2 Max 7w (21*) Mitsubishi Diamana D+ 80s

* TM SIM Max 9w (24*) Mitsubishi Diamana D+ 80s

 

Played a SIM TI @ 17* with the FW75s for a good chunk of last year and then found the SIM Max (and SIM2 Max) and found they are equally as nice and a bit more forgiving which led me down my current path.  Soon it was adding the 7w (with the Velocore) which I loved so then added then the 9w (with the D+) and then the idea of different shafts and how I ended up where I am today.

 

I'm hopeful to just cut the herd in half to fill the 3w/4w, 7w and 9w spot to replace my old Callaway Steelhead 4+, 7w and 9w that I have played for better than 20 years.  

 

Should be a fun shootout if I can get to the range in between other commitments this time of year....

 

 

[OspreyCI]

First round with the Sim Max 15* 3 wood. Very, very impressed. I only use it off the deck on Par 5’s and I was getting (dare I say) getting about 15 more yards from the same spots over the PXG Proto 3 wood I played for a long time. Easier to hit off the deck and just goes nice and high and gets down there. Glad I made the switch. 

[platgof]

So, you outdrive me with your 7 wood, hmmm!

[jafstar]

I have a Sim Max 5 wood and it's never leaving my bag, I might be buried with it.

 

I love out driving people with it then blowing 40 yards past them with my driver just to prove the 5 wood wasn't a fluke.

 

I also had but sold a Sim Max Rocket and it's seriously the only fairway I would take up to a 480 yard par 4, I did so in a tournament once and had 170 left, I think I bogeyed it though, 2nd shot was off I was so hyped to have such a short shot in. 

 

Just as reference I play a M4 3HL as my next fairway because the extra loft helps on fairway shots under pressure.  There wasn't a Sim Max version except in the draw version so not gonna switch unless it breaks. It took 7 years to arrive at this combo and for once not buy a new fairway for all of 2021.

Edited December 20, 2021 by jafstar

[ScottHutch2]

SIM2 Max 3HL will likely be my next purchase. Tried a TSi2 3w, and just didn’t like it. Will experiment with a 4wood / 7wood set up for next year as I think that will fit me better.

[OspreyCI]

On 12/13/2021 at 7:09 AM, OspreyCI said:

First round with the Sim Max 15* 3 wood. Very, very impressed. I only use it off the deck on Par 5’s and I was getting (dare I say) getting about 15 more yards from the same spots over the PXG Proto 3 wood I played for a long time. Easier to hit off the deck and just goes nice and high and gets down there. Glad I made the switch. 

Second round with the Sim Max 3 wood and is sure is a beast. This thing is a monster off the deck. Got me near the green in two on several Par5’s. I can say this single club is affecting my scores in a negative 😉 way. 

[STank724]

Is there anyone out there that goes from Sim Max 3w (15*) to Sim Ti 19*? Curious if the hot face of the Ti starts to get too close in distance to the Max 3w.

 

I like the 5w spot to hit a certain distance range and come in soft. Maybe the Sim 2 Ti 19* might be just a hair better because of the slight increase in launch and spin? I also like a smaller headed 5w which is why I'm looking at Ti instead of the Max.

[opensupoverthere27]

Finally a thread I can share this on...

 

Went and got fitted last year for a Ping G425 4 wood (5 wood turned down, rogue white 80 stiff) and couldn't hit the ball straight with it for the life of me after the fitting. Ended up struggling all of the 2021 season with it.

 

Recently picked up an original SIM max 3 wood with the stock ventus blue and hit constant straight and fast shots off the deck. Haven't seen the light like that in a while.

 

gotta love golf...

Edited March 8, 2022 by opensupoverthere27

[wantacigar]

On 7/22/2021 at 8:06 PM, platgof said:

I was having problems going left with the 7 wood and switched to a midsize grip to slow the hands down, and now it is one of my best clubs. Love the impact sound. I agree that the G425 is a great fairway club, but I will stay with the Sim Max for now. It is really good off the deck. That 7 wood now puts a smile on my face. Plus the Ventus shaft is no joke either.

Wait, going to a midsize grip will slow the hands and not pull or hook left?  That may the be answer I'm looking for.  

[platgof]

On 3/8/2022 at 9:30 AM, wantacigar said:

Wait, going to a midsize grip will slow the hands and not pull or hook left?  That may the be answer I'm looking for.  

Some!