TaylorMade Golf Stealth Iron Set
Andrew Bettlach, lover of freshly cut fairways
Golf is one of the best ways to get outside, catch some sun rays, exercise a tad, and enjoy some quality time with your buds. That's why I never turn down an offer for 18 holes.
Living in the midwest, I played golf 4 days per week on average. But since my move to Colorado 12 years ago, a whole slew of other outdoor activities has cut into my time on the links. This decline in frequency has taken its toll on my golf game, but it hasn't impacted my absolute love for the game. So to keep my frustration levels in check, I've been trying as many iron sets as possible, trying to find a match for my middle handicap abilities.
I've tried quite a few iron sets over the past few years, and I've come to terms with the fact that I should NOT be playing forged irons made for pros. I don't have the skill to pinpoint the ball within a one-putt distance from 175 yards out. I need irons that are forgiving - irons that will, most importantly, help me miss smaller. I need irons that will minimize my slice when I try to muscle a 4-iron from 200 yards out. I need irons that will keep my off-center par 3 tee shot from interrupting someone's backyard barbecue. What I need is the right set of game-improving irons.
Game-improving irons are made for players who want distance and forgiveness, while player's irons are made for (typically more advanced) golfers who want workability and feel. When I play better, I have more fun, become less frustrated, and am less likely that I will have to explain to my family why I keep going back for more, because of some kind of type A, self-defeating fun that non-golfers will never understand.
TaylorMade has their finger on the pulse, and it's almost like they knew exactly what I - and tons of other average golfers - were looking for. Their new Stealth Irons replaced the Sim2 Max Irons as their only game-improving irons set. They were designed to launch the ball higher, travel further, and be more forgiving. And that is exactly what they do.
This set can be configured in a number of ways, depending on your budget and the clubs you want to choose. The classic offering is a set from 4-iron through PW, but you could skip the 4-iron, or add in an AW and/or SW. The club heads are made from a 450 stainless steel that plays as good as it feels.
These clubs can be purchased with steel or graphite shafts, depending on your preference. The classic configuration is the KBS Max MT 85 Steel (the option I played with). The steel shaft is the cheaper option, with a classic look and a feel that can only be described as "true." Graphite shafts are available at a premium, for those with slower swing speeds who want a lighter club.
The big tech here is what TaylorMade has coined as their Cap Back Design with toe wrap construction. What this means is they moved mass from the high toe of the club head to the sole, creating a very low center of gravity. In layman's terms, the club is more evenly weighted, which helps players with higher handicaps launch the ball with a higher trajectory and faster speed. And while it may seem confusing, I can vouch for this claim, as I am that higher handicap player, and I was repeatedly amazed at the trajectory my shots took.
We think TaylorMade really nailed it with the look here. When looking down on the club as you address the ball, the blade is still on the thick side, but that's to be expected from a club that is just one big sweet spot. They did manage to slim down the cavity-backed design, making the club face look a bit less clunky and more contemporary. Overall, they look sleek and sexy, whether on the shelves, in your bag, or in your hand.
These clubs are definitely lightweight, which is typical of game-improving irons. This lower weight helps you swing faster, which translates to faster ball speed and most importantly, more distance. They have a rather damp feel - props to the Echo Damping System - which minimizes those stinging, unwanted vibrations on less-than-perfect swings. This made most of my shots feel like I made solid contact, even when I didn't.
Forgiving is an understatement. TaylorMade claims to have "positioned the sweet spot intelligently to span the most common impact points, delivering enhanced forgiveness with explosive ball speeds," and I agree wholeheartedly with this statement. These are definitely some of the more forgiving irons I have played. With less frequent play comes an inconsistent swing, but these irons have a way of correcting errant swings. I haven't carried a 4-iron since hybrids were introduced, but I was pleasantly surprised at how often I chose and effectively swung a 4- and 5-iron from the fairway. Thank you for making me feel like I belong on the course, TaylorMade.
By moving mass from the toe of the club to the sole, weight is much more evenly distributed through the club face, when compared to a player's iron. This helps launch the ball off the club face higher and faster. Again, I can vouch for this - I constantly felt that my shots had more loft, almost like the air was thinner, giving me more distance with every club. I was also able to stop the ball on the green more often with my 8-iron, rather than dropping on the front and rolling 20 feet off the back.
Game-improving irons aren't usually the most accurate clubs, but that's when compared to player's irons. For an average player, these clubs are plenty accurate. I was able to land quite a few greens from the fairway - using my 5-iron, 9-iron, and everything in between - instead of missing just to the right. And overall, I was able to enjoy my round from the first tee shot to the last putt.
After a few rounds on Florida's Gulf Coast with the new Stealth Irons, I'm a big fan. I was able to hit my low irons confidently from 200 yards out and put my high irons within a reasonable putting distance more often than in the past. While I'm no PGA superstar, I had fewer mishits, lost fewer balls, didn't hear any shattering glass in distant driveways, and had an overall better time.
With a price tag that starts at $1,000, these aren't the most affordable set in the pro shop, but they are a surefire way to turn most of us slicers into respectable players - and, best of all, have more fun.