Updated May 29, 2023. This article was thoroughly audited by multiple golf experts and coaches for its accuracy. You can read more about our rigorous testing protocol here.
When it comes to oversized irons, not all clubs are made with the same technologies. Luckily for the high handicapper, TaylorMade has produced one of the best oversized iron sets of all time with the Sim2 Max OS irons.
Offering a wider sole that produces outstanding turf interaction plus very strong lofts that generate the distance needed to shorten the course, this game-improvement iron set delivers outlandishly good performance for most golfers needing to get more from their intermediate game.
In this review of the Sim2 Max OS irons, I’ll take a deeper look at what makes this forgiving iron set so remarkably efficient on the course.
TaylorMade Sim 2 Max OS Irons Review
Best Oversized Iron Set for Beginners and High Handicappers
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Specs (4-PW)
- Loft: 18°-42°
- Lie: 61.5°-64.5°
- Shaft Length: 35.75″-39.125″
- Swing Weight: D1 (steel), D0 (graphite)
Pros
- Cap Back Design stiffens the deeper cavity for more power
- Far-reaching distance with steep landing angle
- More forgiveness on off center strikes
- Ultra thin face produces high shot speeds
- Better performance over last year’s Sim irons
Cons
- Minimal workability at all as irons primarily produce high, straight shots
- Large club head prevents top-tier feel and responsiveness
Stock Information
There are several different sets available with the TaylorMade Sim2 Max OS irons starting with a 4-iron or 5-iron through a pitching wedge. You can add a sand wedge and gap wedge to the base to the seven-club set.
The Sim2 Max OS Irons are available in senior flex, regular flex, and stiff flex shafts in steel and graphite. The two models of shafts are the KBS Max MT 85 steel shaft with Fujikura Ventus Blue graphite shafts.
The stock grip for the Sim2 Max OS irons are the standard Lamkin Crossline 360 grips. With 52-gram weight and textured feel, the Crossline 360 comes in black.
Taylormade Sim 2 Max OS Irons Features
Cap Back Design
The Cap Back Design offers support behind the face to stiffen the club head providing more power to the sweet spot. The feature also supports the upper part of the face for more stability as the club head passes through the impact zone.
The multi-material construction also enhances forgiveness, creates maximum distance, and helps provide a more neutral ball flight with the short irons to increase accuracy.
ECHO Damping System
The Damping System improves feel and minimizes vibration at impact. Even on thin strikes or impact toward the toe, the System significantly reduces the ill-effects of vibration to help maintain feel and responsiveness.
The System, stretching from heel to toe and along the topline, also improves your short game experience when it comes to using wedges in the new Sim Max version.
Forgiving Face with Progressive ICT
With game-improvement irons such as the Sim2 Max OS set, you can expect a forgiving face, but TaylorMade ups the game with the inclusion of the Progressive ICT. The Inverted Cone Technology optimizes the production of the entire hitting area by making the face more flexible and forgiving.
The forgiving hitting area also works well with the strong lofts to deliver more distance without worrying about side spin killing your production.
Thru-Slot Speed Pocket
The Thru-Slot Speed Pocket, a patented and proven TaylorMade technology, is strategically engineered to enhance face flexibility. With more face flex, golfers receive increased shot speed and forgiveness, even on strikes low on the face.
Similar to Wilson’s Power Holes that reside behind the face, the Speed Pocket, present in all Sim Max irons, delivers more consistency with a dramatic improvement in shot speed.
Lower, Deeper CG Improves Ball Speed
Along with the fluted hosel, 360° undercut, and an ultra-thin face all work together, much like one-piece forged iron construction, to produce a low CG that also resides deeper in the face to boost launch and improve carry.
Speed Bridge
The Speed Bridge connects the sole and top line to further strengthen the club head on the Sim2 Max OS irons for improved feel and sound. TaylorMade utilizes the Bridge on other iron models, but the Max OS irons offer the best opportunity to put the full connecting bar to use to provide more power to the face.
Taylormade Sim 2 Max OS Irons In-Depth Review
Looks
The TaylorMade Sim2 Max OS irons carry an appearance larger than most irons. The oversized shape features a larger hitting area as well that looks inviting as the club sits behind golf balls.
Along the back of the iron’s club head, you’ll see the bar that connects the topline and sole with some color and logos. There’s not much appeal about the design of this area, and frankly it looks disjointed, but there’s a method to the madness of TaylorMade designers.
At address, the Max OS iron does look larger than most game improvement irons, but the added bulk in the back helps with launch, so that extra muscle is well worth it. The thicker topline by TaylorMade doesn’t have the curb appeal of forged irons, but they do instill confidence in producing power at impact.
The irons also feature a clean wide sole with just a single number stamped for identification.
Feel
When it comes to feel, I first really appreciated how smoothly the face moved through the impact zone. When it comes to striking the ball, the feel is incredibly solid.
With a club head carrying this shape and heft, I expected a heavier feel throughout the swing, but I’m happy to report the hollow body helps lighten the load. So although you know the club head is larger than most, you don’t have to worry about it costing you swing speed or feel.
The TaylorMade Sim2 Max OS irons also offer exceptional responsiveness to help you make quick swing adjustments on the fly to create a more ideal shot height.
With the longer Max OS irons in the set and their right-to-left shot shape does produce that pull feel when hitting the ball. The shaping comes naturally and much later in the shot flight, something I enjoyed when playing with these Max OS irons.
Sound
The TaylorMade Sim2 Max OS irons sound thick and heavy at impact due primarily to their club head size. While blades sound crisp and almost thin when they are hit correctly, these Max OS irons have a denser sound when the ball strikes the face.
And that’s not a bad thing and here’s why; Too often golfers worry about a club sounding different, but what they’re really worrying about is losing confidence. But that won’t happen here with the Sim2 Max OS irons because of the consistent flight and high swing speed.
After spending some time with these irons, I found that I grew to really enjoy the heavier, denser sound produced when making the shot because I knew the goodness coming afterward.
Performance
TaylorMade’s Sim2 Max OS irons are as good as advertised. Explicitly designed for high handicap players and beginners, the irons produce high, straight shots that cover a lot of ground quite easily.
If you were asking me what phrase I would use to describe these irons, I would say “effortless power.” With the deeper cavity offering more CG, the ball jumps off the face and delivers a tall, high arc.
The biggest difference between these clubs and say something like blade irons comes with the flight of the shot. Blade irons can produce a low penetrating flight that offers a steep landing angle, while this game-improvement set offers a more rounded shot flight that results in roll out on the green.
When I got the Sim2 Max OS irons on the Trackman, I was impressed by the results given by the launch monitor. Speeds were in line with my regular velocities and distances, even with the larger hitting area.
Forgiveness on off-centre strikes was plentiful and the minimization of side spin really did help keep the target line for my shots. The feel and distance stayed high on toe strikes with minimal loss of speed on these instances, another benefit to playing these welcoming clubs.
Let’s talk about the flaws with these types of irons for a bit. While great for high handicap players and beginners that need more launch and length, experienced players can struggle to find all they need with a super game-improvement iron.
When it comes to workability, these clubs don’t offer much and that’s to be expected. The point of playing with these clubs is to hit shots higher and straighter. And in that regard, the Sim2 Max OS set is relatively successful.
Overall, I believe these TaylorMade clubs can provide a substantial upgrade for struggling golfers. While it isn’t a set that I believe most players can grow with due to the lack of workability, these irons are well-made and produce solid results.
What do other golfers think?
Golf Digest awarded the TaylorMade Sim2 Max OS irons a prestigious Gold Medal on their 2021 Hot List of the best new golf club releases of the year.
On Amazon, respondents gave the TaylorMade Sim2 Max OS irons a 4.6/5-star rating. A whopping 82% of those 273 reviewers gave the TaylorMade golf clubs a 5-star review.
What Golfers Like
- Long irons offer better draw bias for slice correction
- Stable iron performance with short irons
- Stronger lofts offer upgraded distance
- Stock graphite shaft adds more swing speed
What Golfers Don’t Like
- Lack of workability with longer irons
- Reduced feel on thin shots due to oversized club head
Players just starting their golfing career enjoy TaylorMade’s sophisticated collection of golf equipment with the TaylorMade Sim2 Max OS iron series.
The TaylorMade Sim2 Max OS irons feature an oversized head shape with a wider sole that provides high MOI that delivers forged-like feel from the sweet spot. Players also liked how the shorter irons generated high spin to help hold more greens.
The irons are incapable of producing workability for experienced golfers, especially with the OS long irons as they offer draw-bias shot shaping.
Conclusion
If you are among millions of beginning or high handicap golfers struggling with consistency with their irons, the Sim2 Max OS iron set offers efficient performance that delivers more enjoyment on the links.
With the oversized head and Cap Back Design that encompasses the entire cavity, the Sim2 Max OS irons offer quick launch with extended carry that produces more length from either the tee box or fairway.
I really enjoyed how powerful the iron feels in my hand, and the progressive draw bias throughout the set offers subtle, but present slice correction.
A real winner from the folks at TaylorMade, the Sim2 Max OS irons are hard to beat if you are looking to overhaul your iron game with an emphasis on forgiveness and more draw bias.