Gear: TaylorMade SIM Max, SIM Max OS irons
Price: $899.99 SIM Max (4-AW), with KBS Max 85 shafts and Lamkin Crossline 360 grips; $999.99 with Fujikura Ventus Blue graphite shafts; $899.99 SIM Max OS (4-AW) on steel, $999.99 on graphite
Specs: Cast 450 stainless steel and 431 stainless steel heads with polymer vibration dampener
Available: Feb. 7

The goal for every game-improvement and maximum game-improvement iron is to deliver more distance and forgiveness to players who tend to struggle with consistency. Golfers who rarely break 90 don’t think about controlling little draws and fades too much, but they do think about hitting the ball farther and getting it higher into the air.

SIM = Shape in Motion. Cavity back irons with Speed Bridge reaching across the cavity to support the topline. Inside cavity: SIM towards toe and MAX OS towards toe. SIM Max.OS delivers the most distance of any iron in our 2020 lineup. Longest claim based on SIM Max OS vs. SIM Max, P790, and P790 Ti 7-iron at better player swing speed.

Last season, TaylorMade’s M5 and M6 irons featured Speed Bridge technology, a bar designed into the back of the club to provide more distance and better feel. For 2020, TaylorMade is using that technology again as the foundation of the new SIM Max and SIM Max OS irons.

Sim Max Os Irons Specs

The Speed Bridge bar connects the lower portion of the head to the topline, stiffening both of those areas, and that allowed TaylorMade’s engineers to make the face thinner (1.5 millimeters) and faster. It also allowed them to add a slot in the sole, which TaylorMade calls a Speed Pocket, and it goes all the way into the club in long and mid-irons (4-8). The company said the combination of a thinner face and the Speed Pocket allows the hitting area to flex more efficiently at impact, especially on low-struck shots, to give players more distance.

From a looks perspective, the SIM Max has the same blade length and offset as the M6, which it replaces, but a slightly thinner topline. However, to enhance the feel at impact, TaylorMade replaced the polymer block that was inside the M6 iron with a piece that runs the length of the blade. The company calls it an Echo Damping System, and it rests directly behind the face, visible from the outside.

The Echo Damping System’s ribbed design makes contact in more places to soak up more vibrations, but it does not inhibit the face from flexing at impact, so it will not cause a reduction in distance.

An added benefit of connecting the sole to the topline and then positioning a polymer piece in the cavity is it pulls more mass down and away from the face. This lowers the center of gravity and encourages higher shots.

For golfers looking for even more stability and ball speed, TaylorMade is offering the SIM Max OS. It has the Speed Bridge and Echo Damping System found in the SIM Max, but the blade length is slightly longer and the heads are larger. The oversized clubs also have a wider sole to make them more forgiving on fat shots.

Just got back from demoing both models of TaylorMade SIM irons – the Max, and the Max OS (oversized). Don’t get me wrong… the irons performed incredibly well. Super long, decent feel, and plenty forgiving. What more could you want? Well, how about a reasonable price for new irons?

If you’ve been to the site before, you know we NEVER encourage buying new irons. We love getting the best bang for our buck, but not as much as we like hearing about our readers saving money!

As a result, we always recommend that golfers buy irons that were made at LEAST 2 years ago. By now, the price is more affordable and the performance is practically the same. A good alternative to the TaylorMade SIM irons is the Rocketbladez 2.0 iron set – very similar design. Main difference? The paint job.

TaylorMade SIM Max Irons Review

The TaylorMade SIM Max irons is a great set for golfers that want more distance and forgiveness with their iron game. As a result, this set will appeal to a wide array of golfers and handicaps. For a game improvement iron, it actually looked pretty thin at address, which is a huge plus in my book.

Let’s talk about distance for a second, especially when it comes to irons. The main way that golf manufacturers increase iron distance is just by writing “6” on the bottom of your 5 iron. But the thin club face, the speed pocket, and the speed bridge on the SIM Max irons practically max out balls speed while staying in regulation with the USGA. More than likely, you’d be more comfortable hitting a 7 iron into a green than a 6 iron, so it could have a phsychological benefit if nothing else. Personally, I was hitting the SIM Max irons just a couple of yards longer than my current gamers (with the same lofts). I’d stick with the feel of my gamers versus the extra couple of yards of the SIMS, personally.

When it comes to feel, this set doesn’t blow it out of the water. Thankfully, it wasn’t expected to. For a cast iron set, the sound and vibrations through your hands are relatively quiet. However, it simply doesn’t compare to a forged iron set that delivers the feel that many golfers fall in love with.

Sim Max Os Irons Reddit

Pros: great combination of distance and forgiveness that appeals to a greater number of golfers

Cons: Not the best feel; super expensive for the next couple of years

TaylorMade SIM Max OS Irons Review

If you consider yourself a below-average ballstriker, you might want to consider the TaylorMade SIM Max OS irons. I’d recommend at least demoing them if you get a chance at a local demo day or a sporting goods store. You might find that the extra forgiveness helps you hit more greens in regulation.

A quick note for those that aren’t as familiar with irons: try out both graphite and steel shafts if you aren’t sure which is best for you. Typically, graphite shafts are lighter to allow you to generate more club head speed. Just for fun, I got to try out both graphite and steel shafts with the SIM Max OS club heads. It’s all about finding what is best with YOUR swing, though.

Sim Max Os Irons Lofts

Although the Max OS iron heads were way too bulky for my liking, they truly didn’t feel bad at impact for a super game improvement iron. Very small amount of vibrations and a decent sound when hit in the sweet spot.

Compared to the SIM Max, the SIM Max OS irons are one millimeter (mm) taller in the toe and heel. The overall width is 3mm wider, leading to a larger sweet spot for slightly off center strikes. The TaylorMade Max iron also have 1mm more offset compared to SIM Max.

Taylormade Sim Vs Sim Max

That extra bit of offset, although small, can help you get your hands a tad bit more ahead of the ball at impact. Better golfers typically aren’t a fan of offset, but low to mid handicap golfers can usually benefit from some offset.

Pros: one of, if the the MOST, forgiving set of irons on the market for 2020

Cons: A little too bulky for some; crazy expensive

Sim Max Os Irons

Quick Comparison & Recap