Golfing News & Blog Articles

Key Takeaways

TaylorMade is releasing three fairway models and two hybrid models.The SIM2 rescue is a new iron-like hybrid.SIM2 fairway woods ($299-$399 MSRP)SIM2 hybrids ($249-$279)

We are in the throes of “release SZN.” If you’re not down with the lingo, it’s basically the post-holiday period in which many of the major manufacturers debut their new equipment. In this instance, it is the TaylorMade SIM2 fairway woods and hybrids.

Before COVID knee-capped retail sales in 2020, TaylorMade seemed poised to claim its status as the No. 1 selling metalwood brand. No doubt, this was due to the early success of its SIM driver. However, driver sales tend to be a pretty solid indicator of sell-though on fairway woods and hybrids.

As a result, some brands held off on scheduled 2020 equipment updates. Others tried the “early discount” approach to grab some sales while big box stores remained closed. Then the industry went bananas and here we are, more or less back on schedule.

TaylorMade SIM2 Fairway Woods

TaylorMade is, once again, going with three models in its fairway wood stable: SIM2 Ti, SIM2 Max and SIM2 Max D. By name alone, it appears to be roughly the same setup as the outgoing SIM line. And to some degree, it is, though TaylorMade is quick to point out that it’s worked to create more separation between models. The objective of “increased model differentiation” (my term) is becoming a theme in 2021 and it’s reasonable to expect that to continue.

The TaylorMade SIM2 driver family includes three models (SIM2, SIM2 MAX, SIM2 MAX D).Each of the models has a single-piece face cup and a forged aluminum ring to support the crown and sole.Retail price is $529.99. Availability starts Feb. 19.

With the release of the TaylorMade SIM2, SIM2 MAX and SIM2 MAX D, the company reaffirms its commitment to the shape (and, I suppose, the in motion) portions of the story behind last season’s SIM drivers. With SIM2, the shape carries on because speed is still important (you don’t say?) and so aerodynamics remain important, too.

So, much of what we first saw with SIM carries over with SIM2 drivers. A ubiquitous TaylorMade technology has been chopped, however, and the materials and construction used to create the signature SIM (and now SIM2) shape have been replaced with different and potentially compelling materials.

In some ways, SIM2 is pretty much the same as the original. In other meaningful ways, it’s significantly different.

Given the announcement of new PGA TOUR staffers late last week, it’s not particularly surprising to see PXG 0811 GEN4 drivers on the USGA conforming clubs list. What is surprising is that, with GEN2 being its current lineup of metalwoods, the company appears to be skipping GEN3 entirely.

A line of drivers so good they skipped an entire generation?

TBD, obviously.

PGA TOUR Staff announcements from @PXG.

New troops:

Jim Herman
Sung Kang
Danny Lee
Luke List
Henrik Norlander
Adam Schenk
Kyle Stanley
Hudson Swafford

— Tony Covey (@GolfSpyT) January 15, 2021

As per usual, the USGA pics don’t tell us everything we’d like to know. The description (and the sole of the driver) reference AV Carbon Fiber Tech but beyond that, there’s not much to go on. AV could be short for the technology or, like Titleist’s ATI face, it could refer to the company that produces the carbon material used in the driver.

Monterey Peninsula Country Club

June 21-25, 2021

Player Information / Pairings / Results

*Pairings will be posted one week before the championship*

 

Key Takeaways

Shaft profiles based on Nippon Tour 105/125 iron shaftsAvailable through Nippon distributors at the end of January.Uses Torayca 1100G+ Pre-preg and 7-axis/9-axis construction

The Nippon N.S. PRO Regio Formula MB+.

It’s a long name with a simple value proposition. For golfers who find optimal performance with one of Nippon’s Modus Tour iron shafts, why not create a commensurate driver (or fairway) shaft? At face value, it’s a concept that seems to almost make too much sense. Almost.

So, why now and why Nippon?

One or the Other

Historically, shaft companies produced either steel or carbon-composite (graphite) shafts. And to some degree, that’s still the dominant structure, though we are seeing some brands crossing the aisle. For two seemingly similar products, the materials, technology and designs are actually quite different.

Three shots behind with six holes to play, Kevin Na birdied three straight holes and finished with an up-and-down birdie from behind the 18th green for a one-shot victory in the Sony Open on Sunday.

Brendan Steele had the lowest score of his PGA Tour career with a 9-under 61, giving him a two-shot lead and another chance to win the Sony Open.

Nick Taylor holds a 2-shot advantage at the Sony Open, but a large pack that includes Stewart Cink and Webb Simpson is chasing the leader in sunny Hawaii.

In a statement, Ralph Lauren said the anti-gay slur Justin Thomas used in a PGA Tour event last week conflicts "with the inclusive culture that we strive to uphold."

The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has forced the PGA to move this year's WGC-Mexico Championship to Florida next month.

 

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2020 was an epic year for golfers of all levels. Rounds played were up coast-to-coast and abroad. The sport was a beacon of safe and socially distant outdoor recreation for millions in a difficult year. Golfers appeared to savor their rounds like never before. Golf Advisor received over 264,000 reviews in 2020 alone! That is […]

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Callaway will offer two fairway wood models – Epic Speed and Epic Max.Ball speed targets are in line with Epic Speed drivers.MSRP is $299.

The Callaway Epic Speed fairway woood is the latest iteration of Callaway’s Epic franchise. We’ll forgive you if you’re feeling like that might also be the name of the previous version. That was actually Epic Flash. And before that was Epic. Epic Star slid in there as well as a primarily Japanese release. Then, in between copious Epic releases, we had Rogue and, of course, the 2020 Mavrik line.

Citing chapter and verse of each Callaway Epic release over the past four years is an onerous task. And possibly worthy of a Jeopardy question or two.

That said, the Epic franchise is now in its fourth year. And as with every other Epic release, the primary design consideration is class-leading ball speed born, in part, from Callaway’s Jailbreak Technology.

With that, Callaway is releasing two models – Epic Speed and Epic Max. Let’s dig in.

Callaway is releasing three new Epic drivers: Epic Speed, Epic Max and Epic Max LS.The Speed and Max build on the previous generation while Max LS is something new entirely.Retail price is $529.99. Retail availability begins Feb. 18.

With every release, Callaway likes to call our attention to a first. Epic Speed, Epic Max and Epic Max LS drivers are the result of the FIRST time that AI has been used to design Callaway’s AI face and Jailbreak technology concurrently.

As you may know, for the last several generations of products, Callaway has leveraged a farm’s worth of supercomputers, artificial intelligence and machine learning to accelerate its design objectives.

While most manufacturers use some flavor of supercomputing, Callaway believes nobody else is using AI to the extent it is nor is it playing as prevalent a role in what ultimately comes to market.

Callaway Epic Drivers – AI Speed Frame