Taylormade M6 Vs. Taylormade Stealth Irons Comparison Overview
Before there was Stealth, there was SIM. But even before there was SIM, there was the M series of irons by Taylormade. The M series of irons paved the way for the newest iron line from Taylormade, the Stealth series.
In many ways, the technology in the Stealth series owes a lot to the M series – some of the M6 features are even present in the Stealth line. Once we got our hands on the Stealth series, we were very curious to see how well they stood up against a much older yet derivative set of irons.
Taylormade M6 Overview
The Taylormade M6 irons have the original Speed Bridge design and was one of the first iron sets to feature the inverted cone technology.
When they came out, they made waves for being incredibly forgiving and long. When we tested the M6’s again, we were still smitten by how well Taylormade predicted the common mis-hits of casual and amateur golfers.
The M6’s still generate a ton of ball speed on shots hit low on the face or out near the toe. They still have a solid feel too, even though the face essentially floats free. However, when tested against the Taylormade Stealth irons, the old M6’s started to show their age.
In the longer irons, the M6’s played an average of 5 yards shorter than the Stealth irons. Apex height was also better with the Taylormade Stealth irons.
Taylormade Stealth Irons Overview
One of the reasons apex height was significantly better in the Stealth irons compared to the M6’s was increased mass around the sole.
The Cap Back design that cuts into toe mass allows for more weight to be distributed in the sole. For us, this produced much stronger apex height. While that didn’t mean a whole lot in the long irons, the short irons benefited greatly.
The Taylormade Stealth short irons are much better scoring irons than the M6’s which is high praise for a set that is still considered game-improvement. The Taylormade Stealth irons also have a more pleasing, streamlined look than the M6’s – they almost look like muscle back irons.
While the new Taylormade Stealth irons owe much to the pioneering M6 irons, the new beats the old – at least in this case. Feel and sound are comparable in both of these sets. But the Taylormade Stealth irons offer more in the areas of distance and short-game performance.
Taylormade M6 Irons
Category – Players Distance Irons
Taylormade Stealth Irons
Category: Game Improvement Irons
Taylormade M6 – First Impressions
The Taylormade M6 irons represented a significant break through in the world of golf with the introduction of the speed bridge which adds stability, ball speed and smooth impacts, even on mishits.
The sweet spot on the M6 is massive, allowing you to hit it straight and far consistently.
While there is excellent forgiveness in the clubs, they are certainly built for ball speed and distance and that is the main reason for the speed bridge and the Speed pocket on the underside of the club and filling in the cavity on the ball.
The face is ‘Speed Injection’ for an amazing connection with the ball and better distance.
A deep undercut and low COG allow an easy launch and the High MOI of the irons maximizes speed and performance.
Still, one of the best iron sets on the market, for sure.
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.
M6 Irons – Selling Points
- Speed Bridge Technology
- Speed Pocket
- Deep undercut
- Massive Sweet Spot
- Competitive Price
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 M6 Irons For
The M6 irons are going to be perfect for anybody who is getting into the game but are also going to provide a ton of performance for golfers of any ability.
Whether you are a high or a mid handicapper, the M6 irons are some of the best irons around for distance and forgiveness and are now available at a more competitive price point.
If you want to get more feel with a players iron as a better player would be one of the only reasons not to use the M6 irons or if you are looking for something specific.
The Family Of Irons
The M6 builds on the success of the M series which has changed the landscape for iron performance for the entire game with Iconic clubs like the M2 and M4 Irons as well.
Distance: 96/100
Accuracy: 95/100
Forgiveness: 94/100
Feel And Control: 90/100
Overall Score: 95/100
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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.
Distance: 94/100
Accuracy: 92/100
Forgiveness: 93/100
Feel & Control: 89/100
Overall Score: 92/100
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