Gear: TaylorMade SIM2 Max, SIM2 Max OS irons
Price: $799 (4-PW) with KBS Max MT shafts and Lamkin Crossline 360 grips; $899 with Fujikura Ventus Blue graphite shafts
Specs: Hollow-bodied design with 450 stainless steel face and polymer back piece
Available: Feb. 19

For golfers who struggle to get the ball high in the air and who want more distance with their irons, TaylorMade designed the M5 and M6 irons two years ago with a bar in the back of the head called a Speed Bridge. By connecting the topline to the back of the club behind a massive undercut cavity, designers made the head stiffer while also letting the face flex more for increased ball speed.

Last season’s SIM Max and SIM Max OS irons advanced the technologies for mid- and higher-handicap golfers, and now TaylorMade is releasing the SIM2 Max and SIM2 OS to deliver even better sound and feel without sacrificing ball speed.

Every SIM2 Max iron has a 450 stainless steel face that is thin and flexible and also has a unique inverted cone design. It has a slightly thicker area in the center and gets progressively thinner toward the outside. A slot cut into the sole, which TaylorMade refers to as a Speed Pocket, allows the lower portion of the face to flex more efficiently, especially on low-struck shots.

The Back Cap design stiffens the topline and saves weight. (David Dusek/Golfweek)

Instead of merely having a Speed Bridge on the back of the head to support the topline, the new SIM2 Max irons have a Cap Back design. It’s a multi-material piece that stretches from the heel to the toe, made by layering lightweight polymer over an adhesive layer. It supports the entire topline, unlike the Speed Bridge, which supported it in the center, and helps absorb excessive vibrations to improve sound and feel.

TaylorMade said the critical advantage of its Cap Back design is that unlike vibration-dampening badges that are bonded to the back of the face, where they can reduce face flex, it fits on the seam created by the back cavity and topline. The face is freer to flex in a hollow chamber inside the head.

The SIM2 Max irons have a moderately-thick topline and offset. (David Dusek/Golfweek)

An additional benefit of the Cap Back piece is the polymer used to make it is seven times lighter than steel, which made it easier for designers to keep the center of gravity down for players who want a higher ball flight.

One technology that carries over from last year’s SIM Max irons is the Echo Dampening system. It is an extremely soft polymer that stretches from the heel to the toe inside the head, touching the lower portion of the face inside the head to enhance sound and feel.

Looking down at the SIM2 Max irons, golfers will see a reassuringly thick topline and plenty of offset to help players square the face more easily through impact.

The TaylorMade SIM2 Max OS irons. (David Dusek/Golfweek)

For golfers who want even more forgiveness, TaylorMade is offering the SIM2 Max OS. It has been made using the same technologies, including the progressive Inverted Cone face, Cap Back and Echo Dampening systems and Speed Pocket, but the SIM2 Max OS is larger.