Morikawa Back in SIM

[NoCalHack]

17 hours ago, Grubs13 said:

 

Highlighted line was from the tweet, not me.

 

This was discussed on the NLU pod. He gained a stroke driving and lost strokes around the green. 

[NoCalHack]

duplicate

Edited March 10, 2023 by NoCalHack

[SheriffBooth]

1 hour ago, Superscroll said:

 

 

Remember this very well.  The orange mako bats were hot when my son was playing 11 and 12u.  The bats got crazy hot as the plastic broke down and the trampoline effect was flat out dangerous.  Then they would die suddenly.  It wasn't uncommon to buy two or three bats at a time to get through a season and at one point certain bats were going for big bucks on ebay.  I remember a home run derby at a big tournament won by a little twig of a kid whose bat had so much use (and likely the rolling mentioned above) that the entire paint coating was gone.  Literally looked like a wiffle ball bat.  

 

It took some time but eventually certain bats were outlawed from tournaments and for little league the entire bat requirement was changed to what was known as bbcore (essentially performance similar to wood bats).  The issue in baseball was pitcher safety particularly at those young ages with a 50' mound.  

I remember that same baloney with the old Miken Ultra bats in slow pitch back in the early 2000's - super hot right out of the package and then just got worse with time.  I can also remember guys sending their aluminum bats away to be disassembled and shaved down.  All to hit a few extra dingers in beer league...

[Tree Levino]

Sim was super fade bias. Spin did not kick up at all when fading the ball. Hit some of my longest drives ever with it. It's a pretty unique driver given how shallow it is and how low it will spin with a cut. It's not for everybody and I think the rose tinted glasses it's viewed with are unfounded. I thought the Sim2 was better even though I hit some of my longest drives ever with Sim. It was pretty erratic. 

I will say that Colin's ball speed seemed really good through that round and he hit some dimes. 

[Vlade15]

12 minutes ago, Tree Levino said:

Sim was super fade bias. Spin did not kick up at all when fading the ball. Hit some of my longest drives ever with it. It's a pretty unique driver given how shallow it is and how low it will spin with a cut. It's not for everybody and I think the rose tinted glasses it's viewed with are unfounded. I thought the Sim2 was better even though I hit some of my longest drives ever with Sim. It was pretty erratic. 

I will say that Colin's ball speed seemed really good through that round and he hit some dimes. 

I struggle with all Taylormade drivers for some reason.  Love the way they look.  Cannot hit them.

But I am in agreement here.  Tried both models with the Sim.  Hit some really big drives - but man they were all over the place.

[Mp14forlife]

Og sim was more forgiving than sim 2 and stealth. I think that's just the nature of chasing as much speed with every new driver.  As far as face wear, it would be interesting to see data on the wear out of carbon vs titanium. I've caved in a couple old callaway faces and before it happened the driver felt unbelievable, each ball felt so great coming off the face and then sure enough it would completely crack soon after. 

[meliaant]

2 hours ago, Aaronwilson_95 said:

3 years lol. Original sim came out right before Covid  on a public release so to tour players they had it in 2019 which would be 4 

but it's the fourth season since it came out.

[doc52]

8 hours ago, 95124hacker said:

As a youth baseball coach before the USA Baseball dead bat conforming era, I saw how hot the composite bats like the Easton Mako got over time & predicted on this site the same would happen with the Stealth faces too. The resin between carbon layers break down & become very flexible (trampoline effect) until eventually they fail.

Easton Orange Comp Stealth was a pitcher's nightmare.

[BagofToast]

19 minutes ago, meliaant said:

but it's the fourth season since it came out.

But he didn’t say 4 seasons he said 4 years. SIM is 3 years old. 

[gomuskies09]

Rory's comments about the OG Stealth getting close to the point of being illegal are interesting considering he used it for the first round @ Riviera . So did he know it was illegal and wouldn't pass the test going into the first round? Was his driver tested after the round and that is why he switched to the Stealth 2 for the second round (even though he said it was because he didn't like Tiger outdriving him). Why can't he go to one of his backup OG Stealths from last year? Just seems like an odd exchange in the interview yesterday.

[PNWSlinger]

Extremely odd exchange. My feeling is a players driver doesnt just pop up on their radar as “possibly being illegal” I mean its either 100% good to go, or its not. Like shouldn't they have tested BEFORE the tournament started…

 

The whole thing screams cover up considering the driver was used in round 1. Is DQ the penalty for using an illegal club during tournament round? 

 

His comment about “not being a good look for him and Taylormade” is very telling. Why did he have to play it off like he was trying ti keep up with Tiger. Thats a horrible excuse, like no one is gonna believe that. 
 

As well as the comment about the new heads being finicky?! Tour staffer, with virtually unlimited access to spec changes and modifications cant find a new driver head….and how the heck do they expect the regular consumer to get along with their retail version?! I understand they are looking for something that feels and performs perfect for them but c’mon this was cringy. 

[Flip4000]

5 minutes ago, PNWSlinger said:

Extremely odd exchange. My feeling is a players driver doesnt just pop up on their radar as “possibly being illegal” I mean its either 100% good to go, or its not. Like shouldn't they have tested BEFORE the tournament started…

 

The whole thing screams cover up considering the driver was used in round 1. Is DQ the penalty for using an illegal club during tournament round? 

 

His comment about “not being a good look for him and Taylormade” is very telling. Why did he have to play it off like he was trying ti keep up with Tiger. Thats a horrible excuse, like no one is gonna believe that. 
 

As well as the comment about the new heads being finicky?! Tour staffer, with virtually unlimited access to spec changes and modifications cant find a new driver head….and how the heck do they expect the regular consumer to get along with their retail version?! I understand they are looking for something that feels and performs perfect for them but c’mon this was cringy. 

I think they do get them tested before every tourney and maybe each round. My guess is it was tested and came up legal, but it was very very close to not passing and he didnt want to risk an on course failure or accusation of using an illegal driver 

[PNWSlinger]

1 minute ago, Flip4000 said:

I think they do get them tested before every tourney and maybe each round. My guess is it was tested and came up legal, but it was very very close to not passing and he didnt want to risk an on course failure or accusation of using an illegal driver 

That makes more sense. 

[TiScape]

Now every time I see the hysterical fargiveness commercial I feel betrayed… 

[Flip4000]

1 hour ago, Tree Levino said:

Sim was super fade bias. Spin did not kick up at all when fading the ball. Hit some of my longest drives ever with it. It's a pretty unique driver given how shallow it is and how low it will spin with a cut. It's not for everybody and I think the rose tinted glasses it's viewed with are unfounded. I thought the Sim2 was better even though I hit some of my longest drives ever with Sim. It was pretty erratic. 

I will say that Colin's ball speed seemed really good through that round and he hit some dimes. 

Stop it, you're making me miss my Sim og that cracked!

As a drawer of the ball who did so because he was fighting spin, the Sim OG was a perfect driver. Allowed me to explore a little fade without having my spin get crazy which was a welcome change. Hit some crazy long drives with it. Have definitely considered picking up another head 

Edited March 10, 2023 by Flip4000

[Haleone]

2 hours ago, Flip4000 said:

I think they do get them tested before every tourney and maybe each round. My guess is it was tested and came up legal, but it was very very close to not passing and he didnt want to risk an on course failure or accusation of using an illegal driver 

They don’t really get them check at all actually. If they do it is usually voluntary and if any testing is done it is before the tournament starts. The last example I could find was in 2019 30 people were randomly selected and some pros made a big stink about why everyone wouldn’t just be tested.

 

it seems these days it’s actually up to the tour trucks to check them since if one is found to be (hot) it is considered there fault and not the players and the players can’t be penalized for it. 
 

The USGA still has 2 mandatory checks are year I believe but that is not much considering how much everyone plays

[JDIL]

Morikawa said he has a stealth 2 plus he likes but hasn’t had enough time with it yet. 

[PowderedToastMan]

These manufacturers need to figure out a way to keep making money without essentially forcing staff players into new product. Some guys just aren't made to constantly tinker, yet if you sign with an OEM, you have to tinker constantly. Arnold Palmer would have thrived in today's equipment game in his prime because he was always tinkering. Nicklaus though? The guy played the same driver for 10 years or something like that. 

 

Like Nicklaus, Rory swings driver like a god. The last thing that guy should be thinking about is the head of the driver he's swinging. Forcing a guy like that to switch to drivers that, for him, have zero improvement, should be a crime. 

[gbang15]

SIM was hot off the face, but for a natural drawer, the head profile made draw swings feel 'awkward' for me. Ultimately, ruining my ball flight. With just a few swings with Stealth og after gaming sim, I was able to regain confidence in my ball flight. 

 

Comparing my stealth og to how i remember my og sim, I can say the hosel design and face height had a huge influence on how i was able to release the club head. 

 

Collin being a natural fader, probably meant he had to "hold off" his release when playing stealth heads. If anything Taylormade should come out with two 'players drivers' designs in the future for their draw biased players and fade biased players. bc obviously many of their marquee players are having difficulty transitioning. I.e. release the same heads with  slightly different hosel designs, lie angles, face height, or even shape. 

[DixieD]

One things for sure, two of your top staffers kicking up a stink in the same week about your new offering isnt a good look for TM

[realitycheck]

18 minutes ago, DixieD said:

One things for sure, two of your top staffers kicking up a stink in the same week about your new offering isnt a good look for TM

Facts

[AThompson_3]

2 hours ago, gbang15 said:

SIM was hot off the face, but for a natural drawer, the head profile made draw swings feel 'awkward' for me. Ultimately, ruining my ball flight. With just a few swings with Stealth og after gaming sim, I was able to regain confidence in my ball flight. 

 

Comparing my stealth og to how i remember my og sim, I can say the hosel design and face height had a huge influence on how i was able to release the club head. 

 

Collin being a natural fader, probably meant he had to "hold off" his release when playing stealth heads. If anything Taylormade should come out with two 'players drivers' designs in the future for their draw biased players and fade biased players. bc obviously many of their marquee players are having difficulty transitioning. I.e. release the same heads with  slightly different hosel designs, lie angles, face height, or even shape. 

They should really just adopt the Callaway model. 3ish general public releases. 20 different tour models. That way basically every tour player is in a new model, but it’s the same exact headshape as they’ve been playing. The average consumer has no idea that what they can buy at Golf Galaxy is different than what the guys on TV play. 

[BHI 99]

Just put a sticker on the damn thing like they used to do. 

[Albatross Dreamer]

9 hours ago, gomuskies09 said:

Rory's comments about the OG Stealth getting close to the point of being illegal are interesting considering he used it for the first round @ Riviera . So did he know it was illegal and wouldn't pass the test going into the first round? Was his driver tested after the round and that is why he switched to the Stealth 2 for the second round (even though he said it was because he didn't like Tiger outdriving him). Why can't he go to one of his backup OG Stealths from last year? Just seems like an odd exchange in the interview yesterday.

Lots of Rory's exchanges seem odd. I wonder if he's an external processor that needs to say things out loud to flesh them out, know plenty of people like that. I mean if he was trying to keep up with Tiger wouldn't he want the hotter face?

[95124hacker]

13 hours ago, Superscroll said:

 

 

Remember this very well.  The orange mako bats were hot when my son was playing 11 and 12u.  The bats got crazy hot as the plastic broke down and the trampoline effect was flat out dangerous.  Then they would die suddenly.  It wasn't uncommon to buy two or three bats at a time to get through a season and at one point certain bats were going for big bucks on ebay.  I remember a home run derby at a big tournament won by a little twig of a kid whose bat had so much use (and likely the rolling mentioned above) that the entire paint coating was gone.  Literally looked like a wiffle ball bat.  

 

It took some time but eventually certain bats were outlawed from tournaments and for little league the entire bat requirement was changed to what was known as bbcore (essentially performance similar to wood bats).  The issue in baseball was pitcher safety particularly at those young ages with a 50' mound.  

You’re almost correct. Little League, Pony, other youth orgs adopted a new USABat standard issued by USA Baseball. National High School Federation & NCAA college had been BBCOR for years after the older BESR standard.

[StudentGolfer4]

13 hours ago, JourneyToBreak80 said:

This is why I like free agent bags so much. No pressure to market and game this years latest releases, you see them playing what they really feel works best. 

Same here. That’s why I refuse to accept any equipment sponsors!! Playing 6-10 year old clubs helps me maintain a low profile too. And just now I’m learning that my driver face is extremely hot! What a day. 😂

[SE Gamer]

14 hours ago, csiachos said:

Guys, the pros find a driver that they like and know exactly what it is going to do, and like to stick with it.  It doesn't mean it's better than the new or the new is better than the old.  It means the pros like the consistency of what they know.  I saw Adam Scott hitting 3 woods at Augusta with a fairway wood and you literally could have thrown a blanket over his 10 shots that I watched. Was that wood better than the newer Titleist?  No, but he liked it because it was familiar and he could count on it.  Same goes for driver and other clubs.  

 

And amateurs should take some direction from this. But no, plenty of guys out there every year. Buying the newest stuff off the rack. Chasing the latest and greatest. But never get any better.

 

Even as a scratch or plus handicap, there's a transition period with any club changes. How long that is will vary based on a variety of factors. But I see no sense in forcing yourself to adapt to new gear every single season. 

[Redbird]

On 3/9/2023 at 4:18 PM, jomatty said:

Interesting.  Reminds me of high level slow pitch softball.  

As much as I tried new bats I kept swinging the OG Flexes and Miken Freaks. 

 

[Flip4000]

On 3/10/2023 at 1:02 PM, Haleone said:

They don’t really get them check at all actually. If they do it is usually voluntary and if any testing is done it is before the tournament starts. The last example I could find was in 2019 30 people were randomly selected and some pros made a big stink about why everyone wouldn’t just be tested.

 

it seems these days it’s actually up to the tour trucks to check them since if one is found to be (hot) it is considered there fault and not the players and the players can’t be penalized for it. 
 

The USGA still has 2 mandatory checks are year I believe but that is not much considering how much everyone plays

This makes sense. I recall watching a video where trottie at taylormade mentioned testing the heads before they go out to the players

[robbie91]

Drivers are maxed out and the guy hits the ball out of the dead center of the face almost all the time. It just comes down to feel, look, and sound. The OG SIM was also a spin killer.