TaylorMade SIM2 Max and SIM2 Max OS irons Review

The TaylorMade SIM2 Max and Max OS irons offer cavity-back forgiveness to distance orientated mid and high handicap golfers.

While TaylorMade’s P-Series irons have you covered if you’re a ‘better player’, the majority of golfers don’t fall into that category. Most of us need more forgiveness and more distance from our irons – and that’s where SIM 2 comes in.

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Irons for golf

Building on the success of last year’s SIM Max and Max OS models, the SIM 2 share the same DNA; ultra-thin faces, Speed Slots, a fluted hosel to save weight… But there’s one major difference.

Last year’s SIM irons (and the M5 and M6 before them) used a ‘Speed Bridge’ that connected the sole to the topline. It improved feel and sound, but also stiffened the club’s perimeter to deliver more ball speed.

It led TaylorMade’s R&D team to ask: “What would happen if we supported the entire topline from heel to toe?” The result is the ‘Cap Back Design’ in SIM 2. 

The Cap Back is a strong, lightweight polymer material that spans the entire cavity, helping secure the topline to provide extra rigidity in the upper part of the face. 

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It works with the speed pocket to create a larger unsupported area of the face, which translates to more flexibility for increased ball speeds and that larger, more intelligent sweetspot. 

The idea also produces a higher MOI with more stability at impact, which lets the user enjoy solid strikes more often. When paired with the ‘ECHO Damping System’ from the original SIM, this construction cuts unwanted vibrations that create the harsh feel associated with traditional distance irons.

“To create Cap Back Design, we utilised multi-material advancements learned from our metalwoods to unlock forgiveness and distance with forged iron-like feel,” says designer Matt Bovee. “We leveraged a completely new construction to achieve the performance that golfers in this category need and want.”

TaylorMade SIM2 Max Iron review

RRP: £899 (s), £1,049 (g)

Availability: 4 – PW, AW, SW, LW

Stock shaft: KBS Max MT (s) Fujikura Ventus (g)

Stock grip: Lamkin Crossline 360

7-iron loft: 28.5°

Forgiveness category: 3.5 (Mid-Handicap / Game Improver Iron)

RELATED: Which TaylorMade SIM2 fairway is right for you?

Key tech: TaylorMade SIM2 Max Iron

Cap Back Design

TaylorMade’s all-new multi-material Cap Back Design utilises high-strength stainless steel and ultralight weight polymers. Designed to maximise distance, forgiveness and feel with an extremely low centre of gravity.

Fast Forgiving Face

TaylorMade plotted thousands of shots from players of every skill level to identify the most tightly-clustered impact areas among solid strikes. Using that data, engineers set out to expand the SIM2 Max sweetspot to capture more of those shots, effectively pinpointing the performance where golfers need it the most.

New Echo damping system

A super-flexible insert stretches from heel to toe, completely encased in the head. Multiple contact points across the face channel away vibrations, adding to the forged-like feel while still promoting maximum face flex.

Thru-Slot Speed Pocket

Patented TaylorMade technology engineered to maximise face flexibility for increased ball speed and forgiveness for mishits low on the face.

Progressive Inverted Cone Technology

Thanks to a progressive inverted cone behind the face, the sweetspot shifts closer to the toe in the long irons to promote a neutral ball flight while also delivering corrective performance on the common right miss.

WATCH: Best 2021 Mid-Handicap Iron video

Verdict: TaylorMade SIM2 Max Iron

Cap Back’ isn’t a term that’s been used for irons before, but that’s how TaylorMade describe the SIM 2’s new construction. Essentially, the Max is a hollow-head design, but rather than the head being entirely made from steel (like a traditional hollow-body iron), there’s a polymer ‘cap’ covering the back.

The idea helps secure the topline and increases rigidity for maximum ball speed. It’s also a really attractive iron for the category. The head looks great behind the ball, and while our test pro didn’t feel they sounded or felt quite as good as the very best forged irons, they were still very impressive.

We particularly like the lightweight feel and flighting of the KBS Max shafts. They’re a key ingredient in how TaylorMade get strong lofted irons to launch, fly, spin and descend onto a green. TaylorMade’s beautiful P irons garner lots of attention, but if you’re anywhere close to a mid-handicap golfer looking for a new set of irons, these should be on your shortlist.

Full specs: TaylorMade SIM2 Max Iron

RELATED: TaylorMade P-Series irons reviewed

TaylorMade SIM2 Max OS Iron review

RRP: £899 (s), £1,049 (g)

Availability: 4-PW, SW, LW

Stock shaft: KBS Max MT (s) Fujikura Ventus Blue (g)

Stock grip: Lamkin Crossline 360

7-iron loft: 26.5°

Forgiveness category: 4 (Super Game Improver Iron)

RELATED: Should you play a TaylorMade SIM2 Rescue?

Key tech: TaylorMade SIM2 Max OS Iron

Cap Back Design

TaylorMade’s all-new multi-material Cap Back Design utilises high-strength stainless steel and ultralight weight polymers. Designed to maximise distance, forgiveness and feel with an extremely low centre of gravity.

Fast Forgiving Face

TaylorMade plotted thousands of shots from players of every skill level to identify the most tightly-clustered impact areas among solid strikes. Using that data, engineers set out to expand the SIM2 Max sweetspot to capture more of those shots, effectively pinpointing the performance where golfers need it the most.

New Echo damping system

A super-flexible insert stretches from heel to toe, completely encased in the head. Multiple contact points across the face channel away vibrations, adding to the forged-like feel while still promoting maximum face flex.

RELATED: Best Ladies’ Irons

Oversized stability

 Equipped with the same tech in SIM2 Max but bundled into a low CG oversized package, SIM2 Max OS is the longest and most stable iron in the current TaylorMade family. It features a wider sole, stronger lofts and more draw bias.

Thru-Slot Speed Pocket

Patented TaylorMade technology engineered to maximise face flexibility for increased ball speed and forgiveness for mishits low on the face.

Progressive Inverted Cone Technology

Thanks to a progressive inverted cone behind the face, the sweetspot shifts closer to the toe in the long irons to promote a neutral ball flight while also delivering corrective performance on the common right miss.

RELATED: Tested – Which TaylorMade irons is right for me?

WATCH: Best 2021 High-Handicap Iron video

Verdict: TaylorMade SIM2 Max OS iron 

The game’s biggest brands understand how the majority of golfers who get fitted on launch monitors find it almost impossible to turn down extra carry distance. If you’re looking for the longest iron in 2021, the TaylorMade SIM2 Max OS is as good as it gets.

Yes, the OS is the second strongest 7-iron (26.5°), on the market, and yes that’s just 0.5° more than TaylorMade’s P7MC 5-iron. But the Cap Back design means that loft is still very playable – our test data shows our pro peaked shots out higher and got them descending towards the green at a steeper angle than the P7MC 7-iron.

So if you’ve heard strong lofts hit low spin bullets that don’t stop on a green, think again.
Yet for all that power and forgiveness, the OS has a really nice-looking head in the category. Our test data has the OS picking up 15 yards (7-iron) over the 2° weaker TaylorMade SIM2 Max iron. Food for thought…

Full specs: TaylorMade SIM2 Max OS Iron

WATCH: The tech behind TaylorMade’s SIM2 Max and SIM2 Max OS irons

Where do the SIM2 Max and SIM2 Max OS sit within TaylorMade’s iron line-up?

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TaylorMade SIM2 Max Iron

RRP: £899 (s), £1,049 (g)

Availability: 4 - PW, AW, SW, LW

Stock shaft: KBS Max MT (s) Fujikura Ventus (g)

Stock grip: Lamkin Crossline 360

7-iron loft: 28.5°

Forgiveness category: 3.5 (Mid-Handicap / Game Improver Iron)

TaylorMade SIM2 Max OS Iron

RRP: £899 (s), £1,049 (g)

Availability: 4 - PW, SW, LW

Stock shaft: KBS Max MT (s) Fujikura Ventus Blue (g)

Stock grip: Lamkin Crossline 360

7-iron loft: 26.5°

Forgiveness category: 4 (Super Game Improver Iron)