About this Review: This review is my honest opinion of the golf clubs, which I purchased with my own money in October of 2021.

My take

I tested the TaylorMade SIM2 Max Irons for educational and fitting purposes only. These clubs are designed for beginner golfers and are categorized as “game improvement” irons. I later purchased these clubs for my younger brother, who does not play golf regularly, though he loves to play a quick nine holes or go out to the range for pure enjoyment. We found it to be a perfect set that is super easy to hit and feels smooth/crisp.

About the clubs I own

• Model: 2021 TaylorMade SIM2 Max Irons
• Loft setting: STD
• Shaft type: KBS GRAPHITE 80G
• Shaft flex: REG

About me

• Average score: 85
• Handicap: 14.3
• Experience: 10 years of golfing
• Right/Left-Handed: Right-Handed
• Typical ball flight: Straight or slight push to the right, draw ball flight on occasion (preferred, of course).
• Golf ball used: Pro V1x
• Club swing speed: 78 to 84

Test conditions

• When I bought the clubs: October 2021
• Days tested: Between May to July 2021
• Where I’ve used it: Indoor golfing facility using Foresight Sports
• Weather and wind conditions: An indoor facility was the only place that I tested these clubs (“PERFECT” conditions).

How it performs

What I was looking for

I was on a search for a set of irons perfect for my brother, who is a non-avid beginner golfer. He doesn’t play often and is not the best golfer by any means, but he really loves playing. We were looking for a club that was easy to hit. Before, my family and I borrowed a hand-me-down Mizuno blade set. So putting the SIM2 Maxs into the bag was a game changer. It made it so much easier to hit the mishits and thin, toe, heal, or topped shots. We all get those every now and then—nothing to be ashamed of.

Why I chose this club

I chose this club over other comparable options due to the feel of this set of clubs. When I would miss, which is typically on the toe for me, the ball flight was still fairly straight. The wider clubface profile and enclosed cavity back helped dampen the bad vibrations I get on a mishit. I could hit it so far off the toe, and it feels like I flushed it (a bit of an exaggeration, but one gets the idea). My brother's confidence level immediately changed. He loves hitting these clubs. He feels more comfortable over the ball: “I feel more competent to handle myself on the course now. These clubs really are awesome. I can’t wait to go to the course again.”

I also considered purchasing the T400s or the Mizuno HMB irons. I like the traditional look of the Mizuno HMBs. It would have been nice to stick within the Mizuno family. Unfortunately, it wasn’t as consistent regarding ball speed. The ball speed wasn’t reading higher than the SIM2 Maxs. As for the Titleist T400 Irons, the sound/feel was too hollow and felt too light.

What I love about it

• Distance: Very far. These are absolute rocket launchers. On average, we saw a 25-yard total distance game. These irons would not be suitable for someone who really wants control of their irons in terms of controlling and working the ball, especially a mid-low handicap golfer who wants to control the ball flight in either direction (left, right, higher, lower, etc.) These irons are for someone looking for as much help as possible or a higher handicapper who wants an easy club to hit. If a golfer is looking for a “general/typical/straighter” ball flight, then the distance in these clubs is perfectly designed for those requests/needs.
• Forgiveness: The SIM2 Max irons are very forgiving on mishit shots. When hit in the center, I see a performance improvement. The centered strike hits experience all the technology and raw materials going into play here. “Behind the scenes,” the clubs are designed with forward and low tungsten weighting for higher launch and more distance, a structured face to help maintain as much energy from a swing to the ball for better energy (compression) transfer = more potential distance.
• Shaft Feel: Fluid, not too whippy, and not too heavy/stiff. Depending on what I’m hitting, the KBS shaft I use is a regular stock shaft that works well for me, especially in maintaining spin rates, which a launch monitor or technology of the like can only confirm. Shafts as a whole (generally speaking) can be steel or graphite and have a range of weight variability (heavy or light). Shafts can also range from a senior flex, women’s flex, junior flex, regular, stiff, or extra stiff. Please remember that shaft and shaft feel are NOT one-in-the-same for any golfer.
• Aesthetic Appeal: These irons have much offset with a chunky look at address and sleek views from the back side and the hosel flutes as well. The cuts/flutes on the hosel allow for better performing aerodynamics, allowing for less drag through impact, meaning MORE BALL SPEED into every golf shot.
• Grip Feel: My favorite grip at the moment is the Lamkin TS1. It has a softer feel and is great for vibration dampening when I miss a shot that is mainly hit from the club's heel.
• Launch Angle: Higher. It's great for a player like myself who struggles to keep the ball in the air and is looking for a club with more carry yardage.
• Spin: Higher spin rates were something I saw during testing. Since the weighting in these clubs is positioned differently (lower CG [center of gravity]), it helps golfers spin the ball more for those who, like myself, can keep the ball in the air more.

Issues I’ve encountered

• Sound: Crisp even on mishits. For a mid-handicap player like myself, I struggle with this because it is difficult to tinker with a good and a bad shot. When every shot is crisp, it gives me the wrong impression of the ball. If a golfer needs a confidence boost, DON’T KNOCK IT. ROLL WITH IT.
• Feel: Generally, these irons have a softer feel considering they are cast irons. The cap back enclosed type cavity back technology and echo dampening technology “softens the blow” on mishits. This is important to note as I am a very feel type player. Exclusively on the golf course, noticing softer hits on a shot that is not hit in the middle of the face is refreshing. On the other hand, I am indifferent to practice sessions. It is nice not to have immediate feedback (vibrations) that I hit the club poorly. It was a bit of a confidence booster to hit a shot on the toe, and it felt like I hit it square. Since these irons are more forgiving, my toe shots were not as bad as if I was hitting a blade iron.
• Workability: These clubs are not designed for workability or shot shaping. This affects my game mainly because I can work the ball left and right, and it can be difficult to dial in the specific yardage (left or right) one may need in any given shot type.
• Shaft Performance: Great. For me, in particular, a shaft with conditions to aid higher launch and more spin is something I was testing and something I look for in my game when fitting. After many golf balls hit and club fittings conducted, there is not enough evidence to back up how one shaft may feel from one golfer to another. Every shaft is different for each and every golfer. There is no such thing as the same feel or performance.

Best shot with this club

My best shot with the SIMs did not come naturally; however, I managed to hit one remarkable shot. Specifically, I was on a launch monitor, hitting into the 17th hole at TPC Sawgrass. To help imagine, the launch monitor had a back left pin placement. I hit my fair share of bad shots and decent shots on that hole. But, boy, was that tee shot tough. With the greens rolling fast and everything moving front-to-back, it was difficult for the ball to stay on the green. Let alone hit the green at the most precise yardage. At any rate, the best shot I hit on a launch monitor was a baby fade to the center of the green with about 10-12 feet to the pin. Not super remarkable like the tour pros, but I did manage to get the ball within 15 feet, and I was more than happy with that.

Value for the money vs. other options

The TaylorMade SIM2 Max Irons are a great value compared to other OEM comparable options. I tested these on a Foresight Launch Monitor to provide a true fitting experience. SIM Max, Mizuno HMB, and Titleist T400 irons are the clubs I tested side-by-side. The price point on the Titleist clubs was the highest out of the bunch. TaylorMade won the battle in price and performance out of all three iron head options.

Final Verdict

If one is looking for a set of clubs that are easy to hit, easy to launch, very forgiving, and have lots of distance, these clubs would be best for them. Overall, this iron set is great for beginners looking for a nice upgraded “game improvement” iron. This lightweight clubhead option allows for a higher launch and more carry, complementing more distance. The view of a larger clubface at address can be a confidence booster for higher handicap golfers.

These clubs are featured in the Best TaylorMade Irons. Check it out for more recommendations and reviews.