Help, is this a fake club?

[Bman22]

I bought a TaylorMade SIM MAX driver from eBay, the seller (Golf Partner USA) in Japan has great feedback (99.9%), over 2200 feedback in the last 12 months and all buyers reviewed that they were happy with their clubs.  The reason I bought from this seller is because the driver is the Asian version with the lighter 50g shaft (and shorter) which is better suited for me.

I received the club this morning and I suspect it's a fake because it looks really great for a used club with virtually no scratch in the face. From what I've read, the best way to tell if it's a fake is by the screw in the face's speed injected port (real one has an actual screw but the fake one is just one is painted on).  The screw port is so small it's very difficult to see, I took several pictures and I still can't tell so I hope someone can help me. 

From certain angles, it looks like a real screw with a hole in the middle but at other angles it looks faked, like painted (like no screw edge).  I don't have a real SIM MAX to compare so I can't really tell, the pictures of some of the real club looks like there's a gap between the screw and the face housing but I can't really see a gap between the screw and the face.  The top half of the word Made in the logo TaylorMade has a darker color than the rest.

Anyone has a real SIM MAX that can compare my pics and let me know if this is a Fake or Real?

Thanks

 

[Pastit]

11 minutes ago, Bman22 said:

I bought a TaylorMade SIM MAX driver from eBay, the seller (Golf Partner USA) in Japan has great feedback (99.9%), over 2200 feedback in the last 12 months and all buyers reviewed that they were happy with their clubs.  The reason I bought from this seller is because the driver is the Asian version with the lighter 50g shaft (and shorter) which is better suited for me.

I received the club this morning and I suspect it's a fake because it looks really great for a used club with virtually no scratch in the face. From what I've read, the best way to tell if it's a fake is by the screw in the face's speed injected port (real one has an actual screw but the fake one is just one is painted on).  The screw port is so small it's very difficult to see, I took several pictures and I still can't tell so I hope someone can help me. 

From certain angles, it looks like a real screw with a hole in the middle but at other angles it looks faked, like painted (like no screw edge).  I don't have a real SIM MAX to compare so I can't really tell, the pictures of some of the real club looks like there's a gap between the screw and the face housing but I can't really see a gap between the screw and the face.  The top half of the word Made in the logo TaylorMade has a darker color than the rest.

Anyone has a real SIM MAX that can compare my pics and let me know if this is a Fake or Real?

Thanks

 

I can send you a picture of the U.K. version if required after next comment.

 

Have you carried out a magnet test as I doubt whether anyone is supplying a fake with a titanium face ?
 

In other words, if the clubface attracts a magnet it’s a fake. 

Edited November 3, 2022 by Pastit
Syntax Error corrected

[TwistedSister]

Screws are a good sign.  Those look like screws to me.

[Bman22]

21 minutes ago, Pastit said:

I can send you a picture of the U.K. version if required after next comment.

 

Have you carried out a magnet test as I doubt whether anyone is supplying a fake with a titanium face ?
 

In other words, if the clubface attracts a magnet it’s a fake. 

I did try the magnet test, the only place the magnet stuck to was the screw in the back of the club, the rest of the clubhead including the face did not.

[Pastit]

Pic. Scratches from a dirty range ball. 

[third-times-a-charm]

1 hour ago, Bman22 said:

I bought a TaylorMade SIM MAX driver from eBay, the seller (Golf Partner USA) in Japan has great feedback (99.9%), over 2200 feedback in the last 12 months and all buyers reviewed that they were happy with their clubs.  The reason I bought from this seller is because the driver is the Asian version with the lighter 50g shaft (and shorter) which is better suited for me.

I received the club this morning and I suspect it's a fake because it looks really great for a used club with virtually no scratch in the face. From what I've read, the best way to tell if it's a fake is by the screw in the face's speed injected port (real one has an actual screw but the fake one is just one is painted on).  The screw port is so small it's very difficult to see, I took several pictures and I still can't tell so I hope someone can help me. 

From certain angles, it looks like a real screw with a hole in the middle but at other angles it looks faked, like painted (like no screw edge).  I don't have a real SIM MAX to compare so I can't really tell, the pictures of some of the real club looks like there's a gap between the screw and the face housing but I can't really see a gap between the screw and the face.  The top half of the word Made in the logo TaylorMade has a darker color than the rest.

Anyone has a real SIM MAX that can compare my pics and let me know if this is a Fake or Real?

Thanks

 

 

GolfPartner - if it was a real account from them - will never ever sell a fake. If you bought it from them it is 100% legit.

 

Nothing to worry about.

Edited November 3, 2022 by third-times-a-charm

[larciel]

So since the club looked so new for a used club, you suspect it's a fake? Rather than the store is really good at rating the club? 

Come on. give them some slack. 

[brew4eagle]

1 hour ago, third-times-a-charm said:

 

GolfPartner - if it was a real account from them - will never ever sell a fake. If you bought it from them it is 100% legit.

 

Nothing to worry about.

Agree, if from Golf Partner USA it's legit

[theboypinoy]

Golf Partner is great. Big presence in Asia, and feedback from their operations that sell abroad: 

 

[Jeri6gt]

GolfPartnerUSA is the biggest reseller in Japan I’ve bought from them.

 

edit: they also have this section on their own site

https://golfpartnerusa.com/pages/spot-the-fake

Edited November 4, 2022 by Jeri6gt

[Bman22]

16 hours ago, larciel said:

So since the club looked so new for a used club, you suspect it's a fake? Rather than the store is really good at rating the club? 

Come on. give them some slack. 

I did not suspect it's a fake just based on "looked so new"

The main reason I suspected it was a fake because I could not tell whether the speed injection ports have actual screws or if they were painted on.

I forgot to mention that after I received the club, I searched and saw this video by SAS golf _https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BmStad446rU (remove the underscore for the link), at 9:40 he indicated that the Tensei shaft showing "exclusive for TaylorMade" is an indicator that it's a Fake club.  Maybe his statement is just an assumption, not a fact, and it's an incorrect assumption, but the shaft of the club I received does have "exclusive for TaylorMade" printed on the shaft, hence more suspicion.

 

Please accuse my ignorant of not knowing anything about GolfPartnerUSA before ordering this club on eBay.  But when you spent $400 on a club and have some suspicions that it might be a fake, it is not unreasonable for you trying to verify the club to ensure you didn't waste $400 on a fake club, so please give me some slack.

 

I'm going to try to get to a store later today to compare the results of hitting this club vs one with same specs in the store if they let me.  I'll post the results to let you know.

 

Thanks for all the helpful replies. 

[larciel]

I purchase the SIM2 Max from their USA website.. And it looked very different than the US version. I asked them and they said it was a Japanese only release so it might have looked different. FyI

[Bman22]

UPDATE

I took the club to a local golf shop and asked to test the store's SIM MAX driver with the same specs (same 10.5 loft, same Reg shaft) as the one I bought.  Hit 15 shots with each club, very similar results.  The club felt good to hit from the very first shot so I'm glad to report that it is the real deal, it actually was averaging a few yards longer than the one in the shop, I guess the JDM version is more suited for me (JDM 50g shaft vs USDM 60g shaft) because I have a slower swing speed (avg 88 mph clubhead speed or 130 mph ball speed).  I also read somewhere awhile ago that JDM club head has a flatter lie so it's more suited for shorter player (5'6 or below), not sure if that's true. 

I just took it out to the driving range and was very impressed with it, all shots were straight and long (compared to my old driver), even those shots that I felt were mishits still went long and just slightly off target, I can't wait to use this club on a course.

Thanks everyone for your replies, the verdict is in: it's a real TaylorMade club, not a fake.  Golf Partner USA is the real deal.

 

 

Edited November 6, 2022 by Bman22

[TwistedSister]

$400 for a SIM Max?  
 

[brew4eagle]

1 hour ago, Bman22 said:

UPDATE

I took the club to a local golf shop and asked to test the store's SIM MAX driver with the same specs (same 10.5 loft, same Reg shaft) as the one I bought.  Hit 15 shots with each club, very similar results.  The club felt good to hit from the very first shot so I'm glad to report that it is the real deal, it actually was averaging a few yards longer than the one in the shop, I guess the JDM version is more suited for me (JDM 50g shaft vs USDM 60g shaft) because I have a slower swing speed (avg 88 mph clubhead speed or 130 mph ball speed).  I also read somewhere awhile ago that JDM club head has a flatter lie so it's more suited for shorter player (5'6 or below), not sure if that's true. 

I just took it out to the driving range and was very impressed with it, all shots were straight and long (compared to my old driver), even those shots that I felt were mishits still went long and just slightly off target, I can't wait to use this club on a course.

Thanks everyone for your replies, the verdict is in: it's a real TaylorMade club, not a fake.  Golf Partner USA is the real deal.

 

 

What were you going to do if it didn't feel right?  Does GP USA accept returns once you've hit a club?

[Bman22]

2 hours ago, brew4eagle said:

What were you going to do if it didn't feel right?  Does GP USA accept returns once you've hit a club?

Yes, they indicated Return Accepted. The club face was taped when I tried it, there wouldn't be any sign hitting 15 shots on a taped face.  Furthermore the store taped their clubhead so I also wanted to tape mine too for accurate comparison. 

[Bman22]

3 hours ago, TwistedSister said:

$400 for a SIM Max?  
 

The club was about $300, plus FedEx shipping fee & Canadian duties, it came to about CDN$380 total (about US$280).

The stores here sell the same club for $450+13%tax, but it only comes with a 60g shaft and I'll probably replace with a lighter shaft, so the JDM version is perfect for me.

[mister2cool]

I still don't get it. You can't tell if the screws are real or painted on? Run your finger over it you'll know right away. 

[Bman22]

8 hours ago, mister2cool said:

I still don't get it. You can't tell if the screws are real or painted on? Run your finger over it you'll know right away. 

You must have super sensitive finger to be able to run your finger over those tiny screws to know right away, the hole is probably about 1/16 inch, I had to take picture and zoom in 10X to barely see it.  The fake ones (see youtube videos from Rick Shields & SAS golf) also have groves carved in and painted that look just like screws in the real club.

I was just wondering if the counterfeit people saw the video and drill a tiny hole to make it look real, the screw hole in the Pic posted by Pastit (thanks Pastit) look clean and sharp but the holes in my club look all smeared up so I was suspicious it's not real.   

But anyway, it's the real deal, just not sure how the previous owner got the screw holes all smeared up, I don't believe those screws can be removed.  From what I've read, the speed injected port are used for injecting resins to balance out the weight of the head to meet usga standard, so purpose of the screws are just to cover it up these ports, nothing else, there's absolutely no reason trying to unscrew them.

[Bman22]

On 11/4/2022 at 11:42 AM, larciel said:

I purchase the SIM2 Max from their USA website.. And it looked very different than the US version. I asked them and they said it was a Japanese only release so it might have looked different. FyI

I'm surprised to hear that.  Before purchasing this club, I checked a video (can't recall who it was) someone tested and compare the SIM MAX driver JDM version to the USDM version.  He showed the 2 and indicated that the clubheads are exactly the same, just different shaft, so I'm surprised to hear that the SIM2 MAX heads are different.

The only (unconfirmed) difference would be lie angle, I read somewhere that the JDM version clubhead is 1 degree flatter as the average Asian golfers are shorter than US golfers but not sure if it's true.

 

[mister2cool]

then lock up the topic since it's all done and verified. 

[larciel]

8 minutes ago, Bman22 said:

I'm surprised to hear that.  Before purchasing this club, I checked a video (can't recall who it was) someone tested and compare the SIM MAX driver JDM version to the USDM version.  He showed the 2 and indicated that the clubheads are exactly the same, just different shaft, so I'm surprised to hear that the SIM2 MAX heads are different.

The only (unconfirmed) difference would be lie angle, I read somewhere that the JDM version clubhead is 1 degree flatter as the average Asian golfers are shorter than US golfers but not sure if it's true.

 

I should have said

The coloring of the head was different not the shape. It was like myTaylormade- like coloring

[brew4eagle]

46 minutes ago, Bman22 said:

You must have super sensitive finger to be able to run your finger over those tiny screws to know right away, the hole is probably about 1/16 inch, I had to take picture and zoom in 10X to barely see it.  The fake ones (see youtube videos from Rick Shields & SAS golf) also have groves carved in and painted that look just like screws in the real club.

I was just wondering if the counterfeit people saw the video and drill a tiny hole to make it look real, the screw hole in the Pic posted by Pastit (thanks Pastit) look clean and sharp but the holes in my club look all smeared up so I was suspicious it's not real.   

But anyway, it's the real deal, just not sure how the previous owner got the screw holes all smeared up, I don't believe those screws can be removed.  From what I've read, the speed injected port are used for injecting resins to balance out the weight of the head to meet usga standard, so purpose of the screws are just to cover it up these ports, nothing else, there's absolutely no reason trying to unscrew them.

The injected material is to bring the COR of the face just to the legal limit, supposedly (not for weighting purposes)