TaylorMade SIM 2 MAX Iron Set Review: Is It Still Worth Buying?

The SIM2 Max is a 2021 iron set, and it's still one of the easiest ways to get real TaylorMade forgiveness without paying current-model money. Bought new or used, I think it's a smart buy for the right golfer, as long as you understand where that distance comes from.

So here's the deal. TaylorMade launched the SIM2 Max irons in 2021, and they launched higher than they sell for now. On October 12, 2026, Amazon had the TaylorMade SIM 2 MAX Iron Set new at $649.95 from third-party seller Pro Am Golf USA, and Amazon.com itself sold it new for about the same. That's a lot less than you'll pay for a current game-improvement set.

This review is about the standard SIM2 Max irons. Not the SIM2 Max OS irons, and not the SIM2 Max driver. Those are different clubs. I'll walk you through what's in the set, why they go so far, who they fit, and what I'd check before buying a set new or used.

• Forgiving game-improvement irons: a Cap Back design and a Thru-Slot Speed Pocket help thin and low-face strikes stay playable.
• Strong lofts: the 7-iron is 28.5 degrees and the 4-iron is 19 degrees. That's a big reason these irons are long.
• Standard set is 4-PW: that's seven clubs, with an AW, SW, and LW available on their own.
• New price: the TaylorMade SIM 2 MAX Iron Set was $649.95 on Amazon on October 12, 2026. A new TaylorMade Qi Max set was $1,099.99 at PGA TOUR Superstore that day.
• Used price: 2nd Swing had used SIM2 Max sets from $389.99 to $719.99 on October 12, 2026, depending on condition, shafts, and how many clubs are in the set.

This is TaylorMade's 2021 game-improvement set: a 28.5-degree 7-iron, steel or graphite stock shafts, and 4-PW as standard.

Prices checked October 12, 2026.

This video isn't a SIM2 Max test. It's my look at Callaway's newer Quantum irons, the kind of current game-improvement set the SIM2 Max is up against on price.

This is the biggest reason to buy these irons today. The price.

On October 12, 2026, the TaylorMade SIM 2 MAX Iron Set was $649.95 new on Amazon. TaylorMade's current Qi Max irons were $1,099.99 at PGA TOUR Superstore that day. Callaway's Quantum Max irons were also $1,099.99. So going with the older set keeps real money in your pocket. That's a couple of lessons and a whole lot of range balls.

Now, is a 2021 iron worse than a 2026 iron? It's older technology, no question. But game-improvement irons don't reinvent themselves every year. The job is still the same. Help you launch it, help your mishits hold on to speed, and keep the ball going straight. The SIM2 Max was built to do all three.

If you want something current without paying Qi Max or Quantum Max money, Wilson's DYNAPWR Max steel set was $799.99 on sale on October 12, 2026. That's more than the SIM2 Max, but a lot less than the Qi Max or the Quantum Max. For me, that's the real decision. Pay a little more for a current model, or take the SIM2 Max and keep the cash.

And one thing I like about buying these new: you still get TaylorMade's two-year warranty with your receipt. That doesn't always follow a used set.

If you want to see how the newer Callaway sets break down, I went through all three Quantum iron models in my Callaway Quantum video, and my full Callaway Quantum irons review has the details.

Here's the thing about most amateur iron shots. We don't miss them in the middle. We miss them thin, low on the face, or out toward the toe. That's exactly where the SIM2 Max is trying to help.

The Cap Back is the big idea. Instead of making the whole back of the head out of heavy metal, TaylorMade put a lightweight polymer cap across the top of the cavity. That frees up weight to go low and around the edges of the head, and it lets more of the face flex.

Then there's the Thru-Slot Speed Pocket in the sole. That's there for the low-face strike, the thin one, the shot where you catch the bottom grooves. The pocket lets the lower part of the face keep flexing, so that shot doesn't die the way it would with an old-school cavity back.

TaylorMade also changes the face design through the set. The long irons, the scoring irons, and the wedges don't all get the same face. That makes sense to me, because you don't miss a 5-iron the same way you miss a 9-iron.

And there's ECHO Damping behind the face to take the sting out. Now, I'm not going to tell you it feels like a forged blade. It doesn't. It's a thick game-improvement iron. The goal is a solid feel on a club that's built to be easy to hit, and if sound and feel are a big deal to you, hit them before you buy.

What does that mean for you? Your misses should hold on to more of their distance and stay closer to your line. It won't fix your swing, but it takes some of the punishment out of a bad strike.

These irons are long. But you need to know why.

The SIM2 Max 7-iron is 28.5 degrees. The 4-iron is 19 degrees. The pitching wedge is 43.5. Those are strong lofts. So if your old 7-iron was a few degrees weaker, the SIM2 Max 7 is going to go farther, partly because it's closer to what your old 6-iron was.

And here are the standard men's lofts and lengths, club by club.

That's not a bad thing. It's just something you have to plan around. Here's where it gets you:

1. Wedge gaps. With a 43.5-degree pitching wedge, jumping straight to a 54 or 56-degree sand wedge leaves a big hole. You're going to want the 49-degree AW, or a gap wedge you already own.
2. Stopping power. Strong lofts and mid-low spin mean a thin one can come out low and run. On firm greens, you may not get the stopping power you're used to on those shots.
3. Launch. These are designed to be easy to launch, but with strong lofts, how high you hit them still depends on your swing. If you already hit your irons low, test these before you buy.

Here's how I'd test them. Hit your current 7-iron and the SIM2 Max 7-iron on a launch monitor. Don't just look at the carry. Look at how high the ball goes and how steep it comes down. If it's longer and it still comes down like an iron should, great. If it's longer but low and running, that extra distance isn't really helping you.

If you want help understanding how set makeup and lofts work, my golf irons guide walks you through choosing a set.

A used set can be a great deal. It can also be a mess. On October 12, 2026, 2nd Swing had used SIM2 Max sets from $389.99 all the way up to $719.99, and that spread is all about condition and what's actually in the set.

Here's what I'd run through on a used set before I pay:

1. Count the clubs. A 5-PW set is not the same deal as a 4-PW set with an AW. If you have to go buy a gap wedge anyway, add that to the price.
2. Confirm it's the SIM2 Max, not the Max OS. The Max OS is a bigger head with even stronger lofts. They look close in photos.
3. Check the shafts. Read the shaft label and the flex. Stock was KBS Max MT 85 steel or Fujikura Ventus Blue graphite. If it's something else, ask what it is.
4. Look at the grips. Worn grips on seven or eight clubs is a regrip bill you need to add to the price.
5. Inspect the Speed Pocket and the faces. Look at the slot in the sole, the faces, and the ferrules under a good light.
6. Check the serial numbers and the seller. Counterfeits exist. Buy from somebody with a return policy.

Then do the math. If a clean used set plus grips and a wedge still comes in way under the new price, buy used. If it's close, buy new and get the warranty.

The SIM2 Max is a game-improvement iron, and it looks and plays like one.

You get a thick topline, moderate offset, a wide sole, and a deep cavity. If you like looking down at a thin, compact iron, you're not going to love this. It's made to get the ball airborne, not to shape shots on command. You can still hit a little draw or fade, but if working the ball both ways is how you play, this isn't the set for you.

The loft and spin package is the other catch. The same strong lofts that make these irons long can give you awkward gaps at the bottom of the bag and less stopping power on thin shots. That's not a deal breaker, but it's why I'd never buy these without checking my wedge setup.

And it's a 2021 set. You're not getting TaylorMade's newest technology. You're getting a proven set at a much better price.

Buy it if:

• You're a mid or high handicapper who wants forgiveness and help launching the ball.
• You miss your irons thin or low on the face more than anywhere else.
• You want TaylorMade game-improvement irons without paying current-set money.
• You're willing to check your wedge gaps and add an AW if you need it.

Skip it if:

• You want a thin topline, less offset, and a compact look.
• You already hit your irons low with low spin and need them to stop fast.
• You want to work the ball both ways and feel exactly where you hit it.

If you want forgiving, easy-launching irons and you don't care about having the newest model, the SIM2 Max is a great place to spend your money. Just check your gaps before you pay, and add the AW if your wedges don't line up. If a clean used set comes in way under the new price, even better.