Taylormade Stealth Vs. Taylormade M2 Irons Comparison Overview
How much has changed for Taylormade in 3 years? That is what we sought to figure out when we tested the 2019 Taylormade M2 irons against the Taylormade Stealth irons which launched in 2022. Right off the bat, you should know that both of these iron sets were designed for forgiveness.
So if you are a low handicap player, it’s safe to say you won’t get much use out of either of these sets. However, if you are floundering in the mid/high handicap range, pay close attention to the following comparison overview.
Taylormade M2 Irons Overview
The Taylormade M2 irons are loaded with classic Taylormade forgiveness features.
First of all you have the Speed Pocket which is a face undercut that allows it to hinge more at point of impact. You will also notice that the M2 irons have a beefy profile at point of address – at least, beefier than the Taylormade Stealth irons.
In a practical sense, this does help the player with launch. We can attest to the easy launch and added forgiveness of the larger head and sole of the M2 irons. On the other hand, these same features make these irons a bit heavy and unworkable.
And while it may be easier to find the sweet spot on these irons, they won’t help much if you’re still mis-hitting around the toe.
Taylormade Stealth Irons Overview
Overall, we would say that the Taylormade Stealth irons were the more forgiving clubs in this comparison.
Having a larger head does make it easier to nail the sweet spot. But there are some irons that help even if you do strike the toe. The Taylormade Stealth irons are one such set. The Inverted Cone sweet spot helps preserve more swing energy for shots hit out near the toe.
While the head profiles of the Taylormade Stealth irons are smaller than the M2’s, you will get more help on mis-hits. Launch angle was almost dead equal between these 2 sets as well. Both provide great drop and stop capability around the pin.
However, it should be noted that the lower handicap testers in our group were getting an average of 8 extra yards out of the M2 irons.
It would appear that the M2 irons are the longer clubs in this comparison. However, if your iron game needs more forgiveness, try the Taylormade Stealth irons.
Taylormade M2 Irons
Category – Game Improvement/ Distance Irons
Taylormade Stealth Irons
Category: Game Improvement Irons
Taylormade M2 – First Impressions
The M2 have been extremely popular since their release in 2017 and set the blueprint for the modern Sim 2 Irons that we see on the market today.
The heads on the M2 clubs are smaller and more compact than traditional Game Improvement Irons and they are built for distance more than forgiveness.
The incorporate technology like a face slot for forgiveness on off center hits and a speed pocket to maximize ball speed.
Tungsten weighting lowers the COG of the irons making it easy to get an effective launch angle.
These Irons are perfect for improving players to get maximum distance while also having tremendous feel for high to mid handicappers.
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.
M2 Irons – Selling Points
- Compact Heads
- Tungsten Weighting
- Defined Leading Edge For Workability
- Face Slots For Forgiveness
- Speed Pocket For Ball Speed
- Competitive Price ($500 For The Set)
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 M2 Irons For?
The M2 are going to be perfect for Mid Handicappers that are looking to pick up a bargain.
The irons are primarily built for distance but they also have forgiveness and easy launching built in.
The well defined leading edge, ensures quality turf interaction given these irons the feel need for better players.
Overall, if you’re looking to improve your game and get straight distance, the M2’s are going to be a great option
The Family Of Irons
The M2 started the M series which is the backbone for the irons we see today. The M4 and M6 offered significant new features like the speed bridge and added more forgiveness but the M2’s still easily hold their own.
Distance: 95/100
Accuracy: 93/100
Forgiveness: 92/100
Feel And Control: 92/100
Overall Score: 93/100
Check Out More Reviews Here:
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
Check Out More Reviews Here:
