About this Review: This review is my honest opinion of the iron set, which I tested for two days in April of 2023.

My take

The TaylorMade Stealth HD is one of the best iron sets on the market. These clubs are crazy consistent and fly off the face in a hurry. I highly recommend these to a beginner or someone competing at a high level.

About the club I tested

• Model: 2023 Taylormade Stealth HD Iron Set
• Loft setting: 7 iron - 30° Offset 4.2mm
• Shaft type: Irons - Steel KBS MAX 85 MT
• Shaft flex: Regular

About me

• Average score: 79
• Handicap: 7
• Experience: 22 years of golf
• Right/Left-Handed: Left-Handed
• Typical ball flight: High
• Golf ball used: ProV1 Practice Ball
• Club swing speed: 97mph

Test conditions

• When I tested the club: April 2023
• Days tested: 2
• Where I’ve used it: Simulator
• Weather and wind conditions: Inside simulator

How it performs

What I was looking for

My irons are 14 years old. I can’t give them up but recently have been looking to make an upgrade. I heard about TaylorMade’s new Stealth HD set and had to give them a try after hitting the regular 2022 Stealth irons.

Why I chose to test this club

These irons are one of the most consistent, forgiving irons I have swung. I was consistently hitting the ball straighter with a high draw and carrying the ball five yards further than my old set. So even when I would feel the ball come off the toe, it still traveled straight and landed within five yards of my “pure” iron shots. I did not buy these clubs as I cannot get over the short stubby look to them, but I would highly consider their partner iron, the “regular” Stealths.

What I love about it

• Distance: The distance was solid as I obtained about five yards more for each iron I tested than my current irons. My current 7 Iron is dialed in at 170, and I carried the ball consistently at 175-176 with the Stealth HDs.
• Forgiveness: One of the most forgiving iron sets on the market. They advertise a new 3D cap back design that allows forgiveness all along the face, which checks out. Contact in the middle and off the toe had very little disparity.
• Feel: These irons have a tremendous feel to them. They are lightweight, and I can tell when I really connect on a pure shot.
• Sound: The sound has a clear, crisp noise on contact. I loved what I was hearing when I was able to strike the ball pure.
• Workability: I could move the ball from left to right with a high draw pretty consistently, so I was pleased with their workability, especially with the draw bias.
• Adjustability: Straightforward. I don’t need anything fancy. I prefer standard stock items, so I am happy with their performance.
• Shaft Feel: Lightweight and easy to swing for the regular steel flex model.
• Shaft Performance: The shaft performance held its own. I was averaging around 97mph for my swing speed and felt the KBS shaft model was high performing.

Issues I’ve encountered

• Aesthetic Appeal: The look of these irons is awful. The performance is great, but the short, stocky iron head looks like an iron/hybrid head. I can’t stand the aesthetics more than anything.
• Grip Feel: Standard. I like custom grips on my irons, so I would replace them with new Golf Pride grips once purchased.
• Launch Angle: The launch angle was a little higher than normal. I already have a highball flight. This is a concern as I play in a lot of windy conditions, so higher ball flights are not ideal for my game.
• Spin: The spin rate was a little higher than I would have liked. I was hovering around 8,000rpms with a 7 iron but lowered it slightly as I hit more balls.

Best shot with this club

First shot into the simulator, I struck it pure. I was hitting a 7 iron and looking to be around 165-170 carry and, fortunately, was around 175 yards.

Value for the money vs. other options

The HD set runs at around $999 retail. I think this is a good buy if someone is looking to upgrade their irons. Most top-end iron sets are above the $1,000 mark, but when one adds hybrids, the cost starts pushing over $1,500. These stay within a price range that I believe is affordable.

Final verdict

The clubs unlock distance and consistency. However, I cannot get over their short, stocky head and appeal. I think that takes away from their wow factor and would steer people toward the regular TaylorMade Stealths, as I believe they perform very similarly but have a much more sleek look.

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