Navigating the world of iron purchases can be a perplexing task for golfers. The complexity of this decision is magnified, particularly for those who are new to the sport.
As a beginner, there’s often a tug of war between the desire for sleek, eye-catching blades and the practical recognition that forgiveness should take precedence.
At The Golf Bandit, we advocate setting aside any ego-driven impulses and prioritizing forgiveness. This is precisely why we’ve thoroughly evaluated one of the most forgiving iron sets available on the market – the TaylorMade Stealth HD irons.
The TaylorMade Stealth HD irons are for the player that is looking for maximum forgiveness, distance, and launch. They are for a higher handicap looking for top level game improvement.
In this article, we’ll take an in-depth look at the Stealth HD Irons. Our team has thoroughly tested them, and we’ll break down different aspects like how they sound, their appearance, how they feel when you hold them, their forgiveness, and how far they can make your shots go.
Additionally, we’ll discuss the different stock shaft options available, highlight what’s good about them, and point out any downsides, all leading to our final recommendation.
Quick Specifications – TaylorMade Stealth HD Irons
| Model | TaylorMade Stealth HD Irons |
|---|---|
| Release Year | 2022 |
| Hand Orientation | Left and Right-Handed |
| Set Makeup | 5-PW, AW |
| Stock Swing Weight | D3 (Lob Wedge) to D1 (Five Iron) |
| Loft Angle (5 Iron) | Stronger than typical; 5 iron is 23.5 degrees |
| Key Features | Thru-Slot Speed Pocket, Sole-Slots, Advanced Dampening System, Back Cap Design |
| Recommended For | Golfers seeking maximum forgiveness and game improvement |
| Notable Characteristics | High launch, high spin, ultra-forgiving |
| Distance Performance | Satisfactory, but not the longest in the super game improvement category |
| Recommended Players | Beginners, higher handicap players |
| Alternative Options | Consider standard Stealth head for higher clubhead speeds, explore other distance-focused irons like Callaway Big Bertha |
| Pros | Ultra forgiving, high launch, high spin, advanced technology, good sound |
| Cons | Not the longest, less responsive feel, |
| Overall Rating | Highly recommended for forgiveness and consistency |
TaylorMade Stealth HD Irons Review
In 2022, TaylorMade introduced the Stealth HD irons, marking a significant addition to the Stealth product lineup.
Drawing parallels with the woods within the Stealth family, the Stealth HD irons share the same impressive traits—a notably low center of gravity (CG) and high moment of inertia (MOI).
These design features are aimed at assisting golfers in achieving higher ball flights and more consistent, improved shots. When compared to other irons in TaylorMade’s range, the Stealth HD irons stand out as the most forgiving and user-friendly option.
This iron set caters to both left and right-handed players and includes options from a sand wedge through to a five iron. Right-handed players have the added benefit of choosing a lob wedge as an option.
The stock swing weight varies across the set, ranging from D3 with the lob wedge to D1 with the five iron. Notably, these clubs feature relatively strong loft angles, with a five iron registering at 23.5 degrees, in contrast to the more conventional 27-degree loft found in a typical player’s five irons.
Moreover, TaylorMade offers a standard Stealth version for golfers seeking game improvement but not as much forgiveness as the HD model provides.
For players desiring a balance between forgiveness and playability, TaylorMade offers a variety of irons in different models, including the P790 head, P770, P7MC, P7MB, and P7TW—each progressively offering less forgiveness, allowing golfers to fine-tune their game to their preference.
Sound, Look, and Feel
The Stealth HD irons feature an interesting look when comparing them to other irons out there, even within the super game improvement category.
The first thing you will notice when putting the club behind the ball is the very shallow face and super wide sole; it is like nothing you have ever seen. This was tolerable with our team but it was not our favorite looking iron head.
Equipped with a dampening system, our team found that these irons deliver exceptional sounds upon impact. Good and bad shots also differed on the sound they made which is also a key feature we look for as well.
When it comes to feel, however, our team was pretty indifferent on the way these clubs performed.
They, by no means, felt dead, but since they are so forgiving, a lot of our testers noted that they didn’t receive a lot of feedback on good versus bad strikes.
Forgiveness
As a super game improvement iron, the Stealth HD clubs truly excel in the forgiveness department.
Constructed with a shallow face and a broad sole, these irons boast an impressively low center of gravity, facilitating higher ball launches for players.
Moreover, the flat, wide sole plays a crucial role in preventing the clubhead from digging into the ground upon impact.
In pursuit of even greater forgiveness, TaylorMade has integrated a cap back design and a through-slot speed pocket into these irons.
The cap back design enables the company to redistribute weight to the sole, thereby increasing the moment of inertia (MOI) for added forgiveness.
Simultaneously, the through-slot speed pocket, positioned behind the clubface, ensures that players maintain high ball speeds even when they don’t strike the center of the clubface.
Distance
In the realm of super game improvement irons, one would naturally expect impressive distance capabilities.
However, our team’s extensive testing, as well as industry-wide assessments, revealed that the Stealth HD irons fell somewhat short in terms of distance when compared to other super game improvement options.
Part of the distance challenge stems from the fact that these clubs are specifically designed to launch the ball high into the air with a substantial amount of spin—a combination that doesn’t necessarily maximize distance.
Additionally, while the lofts of the Stealth HD irons are stronger than those found in most player’s clubs, it’s worth noting that the five iron in the Stealth HD set has a loft that is 2 degrees weaker than its regular Stealth counterpart.
In sum, our team found the distance performance of these irons to be satisfactory, but it wasn’t a standout selling point for them.
Key Technologies
To make these irons some of the most forgiving clubs on the market, TaylorMade has incorporated several key features that make them stand out from the pack.
Thru-Slot Speed Pocket
This speed pocket is meant to preserve ball speeds on off-center hits. Just like the Stealth driver this is a small pocket positioned directly behind the face that aids in face flexion.
Sole-Slots
The eight iron through five iron in this set include a sole slot right behind the face that helps increase trampoline effect and ball speed.
Advanced Dampening System
The advanced dampening system that TaylorMade has equipped these irons with makes them perform exceptionally well when it comes to sounds. The small foam positioned in the interior of the club takes away any unwanted vibrations.
Back Cap Design
The Cap Back Design incorporates a new inverted cone shape on the back of the iron head.
Similar to the Stealth woods, this design also enables TaylorMade to take more weight out of the top of the club and position it lower and further back to increase forgiveness.
Stock Shaft Options
Specifications
The Stealth HD irons are equipped with the specs that you would expect to be on a super game improvement iron.
They feature plenty off offset as seen below as well as strong lofts to help players get the most distance they can.
D1 swing weights also are there to help players with slower speeds pick up a bit of distance.
Pros
- Ultra forgiving for players looking to hit better shots more often
- Highest launching
- Highest spinning
- Equipped with several bits of key technology that truly take forgiveness to the limit.
- Great sounds which doesn’t always seem to be the case with super game improvement irons.
Cons
- Not as long as you would expect a super game improvement to be.
- Feel is not as responsive as other clubs we have tested
- The look at address is not bad but is very different compared to most other iron models on the market.
Recommendation
The TaylorMade Stealth HD irons are recommended for golfers, especially beginners or those with higher handicaps, who prioritize forgiveness and game improvement. These irons are designed to help players achieve higher ball flights, more consistent shots, and better stopping power on the greens.
They excel in terms of forgiveness, thanks to features like the shallow face, wide sole, cap back design, and through-slot speed pocket. Additionally, the advanced dampening system enhances sound and feel.
While the irons may not be the longest in the super game improvement category, they provide valuable benefits for golfers looking to improve their game. The high launch and spin characteristics can be particularly useful for those who struggle with ball flight control.
These irons may not be suitable for every golfer, as there is a wide range of excellent choices available in the super game improvement category. If you have a higher clubhead speed, it is recommended to consider the standard Stealth head, as the Stealth HD may produce an excess of launch for your swing.
Furthermore, if your primary goal is to maximize distance, these irons may not be the ideal choice. As mentioned previously, within the super game improvement category, these irons are among the shorter options available. Alternative clubs like the Callaway Big Bertha can offer greater distance without compromising forgiveness significantly.
In summary, our team believes that these clubs excel in their intended purpose: enhancing forgiveness, launch, and assisting higher handicap players in achieving more consistent shots. If this aligns with your requirements, we highly endorse these clubs, as they rank among the top choices in the market.
