Callaway Paradym Vs Taylormade Stealth Irons Comparison Overview

A lot of people would compare the Callaway Paradym irons to the Stealth irons because they are some of the latest iron offerings from their respective manufacturers.

However, this would be folly.

We actually tested these two iron sets side-by-side and there were more differences than similarities. Furthermore, these two iron sets are for very different types of players. Which would be best for you? Let’s find out.

Callaway Paradym Irons Overview

“The Callaway Paradym irons feature a forged hollow-body design.”

The result is an incredibly resilient set of irons that yields great distance. How much you ask? Our testers were averaging 155.1 yards with the 7-iron in this set. The initial ball speeds were incredible; but we did notice that they slowed down in the shorter irons.

These are also very strong-lofted irons with the 9-iron checking in at 37°. The offset is also minimal so these are really good-looking irons – if you’re a low handicapper. The topline is thin and the blades are compact.

The faces are made of forged 455 steel which is incredibly strong. The hollow body design allows the longer irons to flex for more distance. The “speed frame” which stiffens the toe and heel area keeps everything in check so consistency is well-maintained. Overall, these irons yield great distance and consistency for better players.

Taylormade Stealth Irons Overview

“The Taylormade Stealth irons feature a cap back design which takes mass from the toe and positions it in the sole right behind the sweet spot.”

So these irons are made to launch high and put more power behind your swings. And while this is a good thing for high handicappers, the Stealth irons are not forged – they’re cast. This will be a bit of a downer if you’re a better player looking for a softer feel and more control around the pin.

The Stealth irons do have a pretty low launch overall though. These would be a good choice for mid to high handicappers looking for more forgiveness and distance from their long irons.

“You can’t beat the feel and spin consistency you get from the Callaway Paradym irons. The forged design and compact profile make them incredibly workable as well. The Taylormade Stealth irons are more for high handicap players who can stand to skip a soft feel in favor of more forgiveness and some distance gains.”

Callaway Paradym Irons First Impressions

The first thing to notice about the Paradym irons is the attractive design which looks great in the bag and will have plenty of shelf appeal in 2023.

They have a player’s profile at address and are built to get the maximum distance possible.

The stronger lofts add about 5 to 10 yards to each and the feel explosive on impact.

The price point is quite high but the premium forged steel face does make up for this to a certain extent.

The irons come in 2 flavors:

Callaway Paradym Irons:

For low to mid-handicappers looking for distance, easy launch, stopping power, and workability.

Paradym X Irons – Perfect for Mid Handicappers looking for distance, easy launch, and forgiveness.

The irons have a rounded shape that we expect from Callaway and the paradigm shift occurs within the clubs and not on the outside.

The 455 premium steel face was reserved for only hybrids, woods and drivers up to now. With the advances in A.i design, they are now available in the irons.

The Paradym irons will be for consistent strikers even though they are forgiving on mishits. This is down to the compact blade which had us missing left and right a bit too often.

We found the Paradym X to be better suited to our game and they are quite long, adding 5 to 10 extra yards from what we would expect.

They get progressively more workable as you get to the shorter irons and the pre-worn leading edge allows the ball to get good air time more easily.

With the premium price point, we wouldn’t be rushing out to get these irons unless you are due an upgrade and they are the best clubs for you after fitting.

The hollow body players distance iron market is quite competitive.

Taylormade Stealth First Impressions

The Taylormade Stealth irons have a striking design that we didn’t really know what to make of at first.

These are some of the most uniquely designed game improvement irons we ever tested. The cap back system that wraps around the rear toe area looks striking but it didn’t make sense to us at first.

Then we started playing with this set. One of the first things we noticed was that even with the 4 iron, it was very easy to find the sweet spot. The offset helps yes, but more than anything, that extra mass in the sole beneath the sweet spot helps to square up.

It’s like a giant target for your alignment. And since the face was designed to flex to a ridiculous degree, you don’t need a fast swing speed to get decent distance out of these irons.

With the 5 iron in the Taylormade Stealth set, our testers were able to establish an average distance of 161 yards. Of course, as game improvement irons, they suffer from the typical short-game pitfalls.

With the shorter irons, spin is very hard to control. Roll distance was a problem on short approaches and if you are playing a particularly fast green, you will need to rely on your wedges for longer shots.

Callaway Paradym Iron Selling Points

455 Steel Forged Face Cup
Hollow Bodied With Plenty Of Tungsten Weighting
Pre Worn Leading Edge
X Version for more forgiveness
Attractive design
Urethane Microspheres to absorb impact
Powerful sound and feel

Taylormade Stealth Selling Points

They have an innovative cap back design
They do work to soften harsh vibration to a moderate degree
Reduced toe mass
Increased sole mass under the center of the face
They feature Taylormade’s inverted Cone Technology (ICT)
450 stainless steel face

Who Are The Callaway Paradym Irons For?

These are perfect for golfers looking for distance and workability who are due an upgrade, have a decent budget and are suited to the clubs through a fitting.

The Paradym irons are not the most forgiving due to the compact blade but they are long, get the ball in the air and have decent stopping power for relatively low spin rates.

The X version will suit higher handicap players who want distance and forgiveness with some ball flight control thrown in.

They are a premium set of irons and have a premium price point.

The powerful will be great for a golfer with a higher swing speed who wants to work the ball with a draw or a fade.

The looks and the power feel were the most impressive for us and they do add distance, but again, this is more down to the stronger lofts and they dont add much from the Rogue St series.

For us, they are mainly for Callaway Affectionados who don’t mind spending more for premium quality.

Distance: 96/100

Forgiveness: 92/100

Accuracy: 94/100

Feel & Control: 95/100

Overall Score: 94/100

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Who are the Taylormade Stealth Irons for?

The Taylormade Stealth irons would primarily benefit high handicap players who are struggling chiefly with distance.

While they offer a moderate degree of forgiveness, it’s clear after testing these irons that most of the R&D went into improving ball speed and distance for players with slower swing speeds.

Most of the testers in our party with swing speeds under 90MPH were keeping up remarkably well with testers with faster swing speeds. Just don’t expect impeccable feel from these irons.

While Taylormade claims that the polymer cap back material gives these irons a “forged feel” we would classify this as a dubious claim at best. At the end of the day, there is simply no mistaking a forged iron and these are not forged irons.

The Taylormade Iron Family

While the Stealth irons are a stand-alone class, Taylormade makes a ton of iron sets. One of the most notable for beginners and high handicappers is the SIM2 Max irons that sport an oversized face profile so that it’s much easier to nail the sweet spot.

The SIM2 Max irons also feature the predecessor to the cap back system, the Speed Bridge. The Speed Bridge is a rear brace that connects the crown and sole, allowing the face to be disconnected from the body just like the Taylormade Stealth irons.

The result is the same: higher degree of flex and ball speed. However, the SIM2 Max irons will do more for you if you are struggling with iron accuracy. They offer comparable distance to the Taylormade Stealth irons; but with a higher emphasis on forgiveness.