Taylormade Stealth Vs Taylormade Stealth HD Irons Comparison Overview

Which are the better game improvement irons?

The Taylormade Stealth HD or the standard Stealth irons? It can be very different to choose between irons in the same product line so we want to help anyone who is considering buying these irons.

We went out and tested the Taylormade Stealth HD irons and the standard Taylormade Stealth irons side-by-side. They definitely have differing performance characteristics so read on to find out which set is right for you.

Taylormade Stealth Irons Overview

TaylorMade Stealth Iron

“The standard Taylormade Stealth irons feature an interesting cavity back design.”

In the bag, these irons look really cool and inviting. Behind the ball, they have a moderate profile that will be really enticing if you like a good mix of forgiveness and workability.

The Taylormade Stealth irons also have the Echo dampening system that is supposed to give them a smooth feel. While nowhere close to the feel of a forged irons, our testers said that vibration was kept to a minimum on errant strikes.

The standard Taylormade Stealth irons have a lower launch and slightly less spin than the Taylormade Stealth HD irons as well. So if you have a more aggressive tempo and faster swing speed, you will likely feel more at home with the Taylormade Stealth irons.

Taylormade Stealth HD Irons Overview

“The Taylormade Stealth HD irons are built to launch high and straight.”

You can just see from the profile of these irons that they are going to put snow on your balls. Indeed, the Taylormade Stealth HD irons yield impressive launch angles. They also have internal draw bias weighting so if you are struggling to keep the ball on the fairway, you will do well with these irons.

The side spin was higher with these irons compared to the standard Taylormade Stealth irons so the HD’s are really for your 25+ handicap players scoring above 100. The Taylormade Stealth HD’s have a multi-material badge that also keeps vibration on mis-hits to a minimum. They also feature progressive CG that gets a bit higher in the short irons.

“If your main issue seems to be staying on the fairway, go with the Taylormade Stealth HD irons. The rounded sole and internal draw bias will surely come in handy for you. If you need lower launch and prefer lower spin rates, the Taylormade Stealth irons are a better fit.”

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.

Taylormade Stealth HD Irons – First Impressions

“The first thing that almost all of our testers noticed about these irons was the width of the sole.”

This is what makes these borderline hybrid irons. The sole looks very chunky both in the bag and behind the ball. For high handicappers, this will likely be a welcome sight. You will feel very confident taking a full swing with these irons and likely increase your striking accuracy.

Tayloramde Stealth Iron Family

“For better players looking for a bit more workability, the standard Taylormade Stealth irons would be a solid choice.”

The standard Taylormade Stealth HD irons have a more traditional iron look at address even as they are cavity backs. Mass has been shaved off of the toe area and repositioned in the sole, right under the sweet spot. So you get rewarded more than usual when you pure the ball. The flight is lower compared to the Taylormade Stealth HD irons and so are the spin rates.

The standard Taylormade Stealth irons will definitely feel better for players with faster swing speeds too. They have a neutral flight instead of the internal draw bias of the Taylormade Stealth HD irons. The standard Tayloramde Stealth irons lack the multi-material cavity badge in the back; but they don’t really need it because forgiveness is not the main emphasis of these irons.

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

Taylormade Stealth HD Irons Selling Points

Steep launch angles
Good stopping power
They play well from the rough
They will help you correct your slice
The wide sole looks forgiving behind the ball
Great for high handicap players looking to increase accuracy

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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Who Are the Taylormade Stealth HD Irons for?

“The Taylormade Stealth HD irons will benefit high handicappers and in particular, high handicappers that need to be able to launch the ball high while keeping it on the fairway.”

If accuracy is your main concern, then the Taylormade Stealth HD irons should definitely be on your radar. If distance is your main concern, you may want to look elsewhere. The distance isn’t the main attraction with these irons. Don’t misunderstand, as we have said the distance our testers were yielding with these irons was considerable – just not anything you would write home about.