Putters have been described as “emotional” clubs — in that you forge bonds with them — but, in my case, my 3-wood and I have had a special connection.

For the better part of the last five years, I have gamed a TaylorMade SIM Ti Rocket 3-wood that I picked up at the beginning of the 2020 Covid lockdowns and only got to use once for the first two months I owned it.

But it quickly became my favorite club thanks to its forgiving size, V Steel sole and low spin performance. It’s a club that also has been popular on the PGA Tour with Collin Morikawa and Viktor Hovland, among others, still gaming the model.

I’ve been through several full-bag fittings in my role as a gear editor, but the SIM has stayed with me. I even re-shafted it this year with a Fujikura Ventus TR Blue to help time it up better with my swing and saw even better results.

But finally, this spring, my venerable 3-wood met its match when I received the R7 Quad Mini …