The Making of SIM2 | How the Ring Was Forged
Forged Ring Construction is the engine that makes SIM2 drivers run. And like many high-performance machines, it requires meticulous fine-tuning and craftsmanship to run at its best.
The ring itself is relatively unassuming. Yes, the anodized blue coloration is eye-catching and delivers a uniquely premium aesthetic. However, the lightweight aluminum connector is far more than eye candy. Without it, TaylorMade engineers could not entirely reconstruct the driver head to unlock a new level of forgiveness and performance.
To fully appreciate how it's going, you have to know how it started.
If you deconstructed the head of a SIM2 driver, you'd find that it's composed of four critical pieces: The Forged Aluminum Ring, a six-layer carbon crown, a nine-layer carbon sole and the titanium milled back face cup.
FORGED ALUMINUM RING
Utilizing a lightweight and high-strength aluminum that's precision milled, the adjoining feature unites the driver head's critical components into a singular force. There's zero welding in this driver's construction, with the ring being the central component that holds the head together.
SIX-LAYER CARBON CROWN
The use of a lightweight crown allows for the redistribution of weight to make the club more forgiving. The woven texture provides a premium and confidence-inspiring look at address.
NINE-LAYER CARBON SOLE
A thicker sole underwent strenuous testing to ensure durability, ensuring it withstands the driver slam that lurks behind a misjudged tee shot. In addition, it provides additional weight savings while forming the asymmetric Inertia Generator that gives SIM2 its Shape in Motion name.
MILLED BACK FACE CUP
The milled back face cup is the only part of the driver head that's crafted from titanium. Behind the face, internal CNC milling varies face thickness to create an intelligent sweet spot that spans the areas of the face where golfers most commonly strike the ball.
How It All Comes Together
A billet of aircraft-grade aluminum is shaped into the ring using an 800lb forging press.
The Forged Aluminum Ring is CNC milled for precision detail and pinpoint accuracy, reducing any forging process inconsistencies.
The ring undergoes a thorough cleaning and polishing before it is sandblasted. This ensures a premium finish and the best possible preparation for bonding.
The ring is anodized, commonly known as metal dyeing, giving it the final rich blue coloration.
Laser-etched details are added to the exterior of the ring.
The Forged Aluminum Ring is bonded to the milled back face cup (which has been forged from titanium, painted and milled for precision face thickness). Bonding is done with the same adhesive used in the aerospace and automotive industries.
With the driver's body in place, the sole and crown are added using the same adhesive before the head is affixed to a machine that applies 40 different pressure points. Technicians alter the various pressure points to fine-tune the bonding process, adding a level of craftsmanship that ensures cosmetic perfection and high-strength durability.
The head is cured at low heat, cleaned and then cured again at 200° F for the final bonding. This step speeds bonding from 24 hours to 30 minutes.
The near-final head is CT tested (TaylorMade designs the heads to push the boundaries of USGA regulations), then TaylorMade's patented Speed Injection process brings it to the legal limit of speed.
The Final Result...
A Driver That's Been Reconstructed, So You Can Swing Away.
