TaylorMade Stealth Irons took top spot for the best game-improvement iron in 2022. But why?
There was so much hype surrounding the release of the Stealth line that we couldn’t wait to test them as part of the 2022 MyGolfSpy Most Wanted Game Improvement Iron Test. With TaylorMade having quite a handle on the distance and ball speed game the last few years, we weren’t concerned about yardage and carry on these clubs. What surprised us was the accuracy.
Take a look at why the TaylorMade Stealth irons were named the best game-improvement iron in 2022 and whether you should be giving them a try.
TaylorMade Stealth Iron Details
The TaylorMade Stealth irons are really not as revolutionary as the new release of the TaylorMade Stealth woods. This iron does not feature carbon in the face or anything crazy like that. It’s simply an upgrade from the SIM 2 Max. However, a few things were worth upgrading from the SIM 2 Max. The Stealth iron features a cap-back design with toe-wrap construction. The result is slightly better feel at impact and much more forgiveness. The weight repositioning gives the club a very low center of gravity, higher launch and tons of accuracy—in fact, the best accuracy of all the irons in this category.
TaylorMade isn’t about fixing something that isn’t broken. The Speed Pocket technology made it through another round of R&D and it shows up in the Stealth irons as well. You will find an ECHO Damping System to help take away harsh vibration on missed shots. TaylorMade claims the Stealth irons have a forged-like feel compared to other game-improvement style irons.
TaylorMade Stealth irons are designed for mid to high handicappers seeking higher ball flight, explosive ball speeds and plenty of forgiveness.
Pros
- New cap-back design for increased forgiveness
- Low center of gravity
- Speed Pocket technology for increased face flexibility
- ECHO Damping System
Cons
- Thicker top line
- Not all that workable
- Still not the longest or the most forgiving of the group
How We Test
The TaylorMade Stealth iron was evaluated as part of the 2022 Most Wanted Game-Improvement Iron Test. A total of 11 products were tested over 180 hours. Ten of these products were new releases and the 11th was the 2021 winner of the MyGolfSpy Most Wanted Game-Improvement Iron Test. A total of 10,560 shots were taken by a wide range of golfers under the same conditions. All shots were recorded using the Foresight GC Quad, known for high levels of accuracy. In addition, all players hit a Titleist Pro V1 golf ball to cut back on outliers and variables. When analyzing game-improvement irons, we looked at distance, accuracy, forgiveness and overall performance.
TaylorMade Stealth Iron Review
Our testing indicated the TaylorMade Stealth iron is the best game-improvement iron on the market. It performed well throughout our testing but there are some weaknesses to this club. While you will have a hard time finding a better solution regarding accuracy, you may want to look at the test results for distance and forgiveness and pick something that better suits your game.
Distance
TaylorMade continually creates products with excellent ball speed. However, when the Stealth irons were tested against other game-improvement irons, it scored 88.29/100, good only for fourth place for distance. The overall ball speeds coming off the face were high, the carry distance was far and the launch was high but the total shot was still shorter than the category leaders.
Accuracy
This is the most accurate iron in the category with a total score of 96.78/100. Impressive.
Forgiveness
Forgiveness was the worst result for the TaylorMade Stealth irons. With a seventh-place finish (83.63/100), this club is in the middle of the pack. Typically we see forgiveness and accuracy a little closer aligned than they were in the Stealth irons. Testers found that dispersion rates were really low but the best performance comes when hitting it near the center of the clubface.
Overall
The total score for the TaylorMade Stealth irons was 97.54/100. The second-place finisher was the Proto Concept C07 with a score of 91.06. Testers were impressed with what the TaylorMade Stealth iron, even if it’s not the longest or the most forgiving.
Tester Feedback
Here is some of the most helpful feedback from our testers about the TaylorMade Stealth irons:
- The top-down look was not preferred, Most said it was too bulky and the overall club head felt thick and bulky as well.
- Feel and sound were generally considered positive, especially when struck in the center of the face.
- For golfers who like a softer feel, it’s worth noting that the TaylorMade Stealth irons are a bit harder at impact.
- Low spin can help with accuracy but it won’t help when trying to get a shot to stop on the green.
Bottom Line
The TaylorMade Stealth iron is our Most Wanted Game-Improvement Iron of 2022. If you want accuracy, solid distance and average forgiveness, the TaylorMade Stealth is a good option.
FAQ
Who are TaylorMade Stealth irons for?
The TaylorMade Stealth iron is for any golfer in the 14-30+ handicap range looking for accuracy, solid distance and moderate forgiveness. Golfers below a 14 handicap can also benefit from the TaylorMade Stealth irons. Why? Because it offers consistency and the number one goal for golfers of all skill levels should be consistency.
Are Stealth irons cavity-backs?
The Stealth iron is a modern/redesigned cavity-back with a cap-back design. This design looks like a mix between a cavity-back and a forged iron. TaylorMade says it is a significant step forward from the traditional cavity-back design.
Is the TaylorMade Stealth iron good for beginners?
Beginners can benefit from the technology in the TaylorMade Stealth. The clubs have a low center of gravity, high launch and enough forgiveness to work for someone new to the game.
Are the TaylorMade Stealth irons forgiving?
In the traditional sense, yes. Most game-improvement irons are forgiving across the face. From our standpoint, TaylorMade Stealth irons finished in 7th place for forgiveness, which is middle of the pack. For us, forgiveness is a testament to how consistent a golf club or golf iron is with producing similar outcomes.
