The most common miss in golf is a slice, which is why TaylorMade D-Type drivers and fairway woods came into design. When you choose a d-type driver or d-type fairway wood, you are selecting a golf club with a draw-biased design that will counteract your slice.

Though TaylorMade began designing d-type drivers as early as 2004, they’ve had a resurgence in popularity the last few years. The TaylorMade M2 D-Type driver came out in 2017, resurfacing the trend. Every even-numbered M-model driver since has a D-Type variant. The first TaylorMade D-Type fairway wood appeared in 2019 with the M6 D-type.

Starting with the latest TaylorMade drivers and fairway woods, we delve into the history of the D-Type driver and fairway wood and how TaylorMade Golf’s technology is leading the charge against slices.

TaylorMade SIM2 Max D Driver vs. TaylorMade SIM2 Max Driver

The TaylorMade SIM2 Max D driver was released in 2021 and has revolutionary technology. Both the TaylorMade SIM2 Max driver and its D-type counterpart have what’s known as Forged Ring Construction, which builds on prior model designs by adding aluminum; this increases the drivers’ forgiveness.

The TaylorMade SIM2 Max D driver allows you to draw the ball without missing out on forgiveness. Because the weight and Inertia Generator technology is placed in the heel of this TaylorMade D driver, you’ll notice you’ll be able to fix your slice even if you didn’t hit the ball perfectly square -- an improvement from previous models.

TaylorMade SIM2 Max D Fairway Wood vs. TaylorMade SIM2 Max Fairway Wood

The SIM2 Max D fairway wood is a more forgiving version of the SIM Max D fairway wood. With the weight positioning in the heel and the design specifically calling for a higher launch, not only will you hit this TaylorMade fairway wood with a draw, but you’ll hit it higher and further as well.

The VSteel™ technology found in both the SIM2 Max D and SIM2 Max fairway woods decreases the friction of the clubhead against the grass at impact, allowing you to hit your golf ball more freely and more accurately.

TaylorMade SIM Max D Driver vs. TaylorMade SIM Max Driver

The TaylorMade SIM Max D driver was released in 2020. The SIM Max D driver has all the same technology as the TaylorMade SIM Max driver, but the D-type model goes a step further with its draw technology.

As a basis, the SIM Max driver has the most aerodynamic and forgiving TaylorMade club head yet, featuring Speed Inject™ technology to increase ball speed across the clubface and Twist Face™ technology to keep the clubface square through impact. The SIM Max D driver builds on the latter by adding more offset to the club head, which allows you to adjust up to 20 yards of draw bias.

TaylorMade SIM Max D-Type Fairway Wood vs. TaylorMade SIM Max Fairway Wood

Similar to the SIM Max drivers above, the TaylorMade SIM Max D fairway wood has the same foundation as the SIM Max fairway wood. With the same sole and clubface design, which increases the TaylorMade fairway wood’s speed and accuracy, the SIM Max D fairway wood promotes more of a draw thanks to its club head’s increased size, positioned weighting and offset. This draw technology gives you up to 10 yards of draw bias.

TaylorMade M6 D-Type Driver vs. TaylorMade M6 Driver

Continuing the theme, the TaylorMade M6 D-Type driver from 2019 has the same technology as the M6 driver, though there are a couple noticeable differences. Like the SIM Max driver, the M6 D-Type and M6 driver both have Speed Inject™ and Twist Face™ technologies as well as an aerodynamic shape; in fact, the M6 driver has 54% more carbon in its clubhead than the M4 driver.

However, the biggest difference between the TaylorMade M6 D-Type driver and M6 driver is the appearance. To the trained eye, you will notice that the M6 D-Type driver’s black and white design on the clubhead leads you to believe the clubface is open, causing you to subconsciously close the clubhead at impact. In addition to the specifically positioned weight, this tactic will set you up for a draw -- or at least effectively counter your slice.

TaylorMade M6 D-Type Fairway Wood vs. TaylorMade M6 Fairway Wood

The most significant innovation associated with the TaylorMade M6 D-Type fairway wood and M6 fairway wood is the Twist Face™ technology. The M6 is the first line to incorporate it into their fairway woods, giving you much more distance and accuracy off the tee and fairway. Additionally, both M6 fairway wood models offer stronger launch angles and more forgiveness.

The TaylorMade M6 D-Type fairway wood is the first TaylorMade D-type fairway wood as well. It achieves draw bias through the same face mask design as the driver and the position of the internal weights.

TaylorMade M4 D-Type Driver vs. TaylorMade M4 Driver

The TaylorMade M4 D-Type driver and M4 driver from 2018 are a major turning point for TaylorMade innovation. This was where the Twist Face™ technology began for drivers as well as the Hammerhead slot, which increased the sweet spot on the driver by 67% compared to the TaylorMade M2 driver.

The sound on the TaylorMade M4 drivers may sound a bit different as well thanks to the GEOCUSTIC technology; though it changes the sound at impact to sound more powerful, the design is another way to increase forgiveness off the clubface.

The TaylorMade M4 D-Type driver again relies on the appearance of an open clubface at impact and some internal weighting to accomplish the draw bias.

TaylorMade M2 D-Type Driver vs. TaylorMade M2 Driver

The importance of the TaylorMade M2 D-Type driver and M2 driver lies in its construction. TaylorMade Golf implemented a revolutionary design including carbon and titanium that made the M2 drivers lighter and stronger. The M2 line is also where TaylorMade Golf began moving the center of gravity (CG) further back in the club head.

The TaylorMade M2 D-Type driver spurred the idea of a face masking that encourages you to slightly close the clubhead at impact, increase the offset at the heel of the clubhead and actually make the driver a bit more upright at address compared to the TaylorMade M2 driver.

While the newer TaylorMade drivers include the latest proprietary technologies from TaylorMade Golf, any TaylorMade D-Type driver contains enough innovation to counteract your slice. Between the construction, internal weighting, offset and aesthetics, you have plenty of options to hit your draw with more distance and consistency.