Curated Golf Expert Miguel B. got his hands on the TaylorMade Stealth HD irons to test this spring. Check out how it performed, but consider the fact that each and every golfer is different; if you have any questions about the Stealth HD irons or need recommendations on which club would be best for you, reach out to a Golf Expert here on Curated.

Before we get started, it's worth noting that Curated Experts are not sponsored by any brands. All of these reviews are completely unbiased.

Brand Claims

What does TaylorMade claim about this club? TaylorMade believes that they have designed an iron that fits the needs of golfers which weren’t being met before this club. TaylorMade is claiming that this club will launch higher and, due to its weighting and sole design, it could actually slightly draw and keep the ball straight. It's not designed to be longer than anything out there.

What new technology adds to the performance of this club, and what existing features continue to impact its performance? They've continued to use their echo-dampening material, which is inside the head behind the face, to absorb unwanted vibrations and also to help affect the sound. They're continuing to use in this refined version, the cap back, which closes off the cavity. They're also using this multi-tiered sole, which is supposed to glide through the turf and over it, as opposed to digging into it. That trailing edge relief also allows you to get that club upwards and get that higher trajectory.

Overall Impressions

What are the specs of the club you are testing? I'm holding the TaylorMade Stealth HD 7 iron. This is a KBS MAX MT stiff shaft.

What is your overall impression of the club? My first impression of the club is that it's a very handsome-looking club. It has a shallower face and a wide sole, and it's got relief on the trailing edge of this soul, so it’s sort of a stepped sole. After giving it a few shots on the range, I found that the first shots were impressive.

Review

How is it for distance and workability? TaylorMade is not so concerned with making this the longest iron out there. For players who want a little more distance, for players who want to shape their shots, this wider sole might prevent that. It won't mitigate that control.

How is its launch and trajectory? This club is designed with a wider sole and a stepped pattern to promote a higher launch. When I tried it, I saw high ball flight and I thought, okay, I don't know if I necessarily need a higher ball flight, but this was doing it. It’s for players who want to flight their trajectories. This club is designed to get you over obstacles and also get you high enough so that when it hits the green, it holds. It’s designed to be a point-and-shoot, straightforward, get it up, land it down.

How is it in terms of ball speed? The speed slot technology allows the face to flex a bit more, which increases ball speeds, especially on mishits.

What do you find unique about its appearance? The TaylorMade Stealth HD iron does look different compared to other irons. Its face is shallower, and the wider sole looks different than typical irons, especially considering that it's got two levels to it. At address, due to the wider sole, you can see some of the trailing edge from above. You see the top line and a bit of the tail. It’s not wholly distracting, but it’s visible.

What may make a player shy away from it? TaylorMade built this club for people with slower to moderate swing speeds. If you're a player looking for a thicker sole or wanting to shape your shots or wanting more distance, this might not be the club for you.

How would you describe the sound of this club and feel at impact? I was pleasantly surprised to feel an impact due to the face being so shallow. The club felt firm, solid, and powerful at impact. The sound is pretty typical of an iron. You're going to hear the club interact with the grass and the turf and then that click of the ball.

Are there any drawbacks to this club? For the type of golfer this club is designed for, there are no drawbacks. However, one might see the tail end of the wider sole just behind the top line at address. But for players looking for help, I think that they will be able to deal and cope with that. I found this club to actually keep the ball straight, if not at a subtle draw. I think it's very effective at doing that. There are a lot of players who need that kind of help, so I don't think there are any drawbacks to this for them.

Recommendations

Who would you recommend this club to? I would recommend this club to anyone who needs help launching the ball higher. I also would recommend this club to anybody who has a hard-to-right, hard slice, hard fade ball flight. I do believe, based on my testing, that this will help straighten you out. Now, it's not going to take your hard right cut and turn it into a high, sweeping hook, but it is going to mitigate that left-to-right action. I feel it's very effective at that. I also want to recommend this club for people who are swinging at a little less high swing speed. So again, TaylorMade has designed this for a niche market for people who need help with moderate swing speeds to get the ball airborne.

Who should avoid this club, and what type of club would be a better option for that player? Low handicap, very skilled ball strikers who really want to shape their irons should avoid this club. It's not designed for them.

Golf clubs work differently for different types of golfers. If you are wondering whether the Stealth HD Iron is the right club for you, chat with Miguel or any other Golf Experts here on Curated, and they’ll put together free, personalized club recommendations on the best irons for your needs.