Suppose a listing gives you only a 28.5° 7-iron loft. That number matches the published 7-iron loft in both the 2019 M6 and the 2021 SIM2 Max charts. It cannot tell you which head is in the bag. The 2022 Stealth chart is only half a degree away at 28°. To see where those lofts sit against older sets and the irons on sale now, read our 7-iron loft study.
The shared 7-iron number hides different rows
TaylorMade's M6 sheet and SIM2 Max booklet both print 28.5° loft and 63° lie for the standard 7-iron. The Stealth booklet prints 28° loft and the same 63° lie. Compare the 8-iron and 9-iron before assuming the entire loft pattern stayed fixed: SIM2 Max moves the 8-iron half a degree from M6, while Stealth changes the 9-iron as well. Going the other way, the M6 prints the same lofts and lies as the 2018 M4, which our M4 irons specs article compares club by club.
These are published standard figures for three distinct heads. Loft alone cannot predict carry distance, launch, feel or fit. The model name and head design need to match the source before any table is useful for a specific set.
Selected factory lofts, side by side
This selection uses the US manufacturer documents linked below. Figures are degrees of loft, and each column describes its named generation. For the complete published rows, open the individual model records or use our iron comparison tool.
| Club | M6 (2019) | SIM2 Max (2021) | Stealth (2022) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4-iron | 19° | 19° | 18.5° |
| 7-iron | 28.5° | 28.5° | 28° |
| 8-iron | 33° | 32.5° | 32° |
| 9-iron | 38° | 38° | 37° |
| Pitching wedge | 43.5° | 43.5° | 43° |
| Approach wedge | 49° | 49° | 49° |
The approach wedge is 49° in all three documents. That agreement tells you nothing about whether a used set includes one. Inventory the actual club labels before comparing wedge coverage. Our iron set makeup guideexplains the difference between an available club range and the set in a bag.
Why the printed 7-iron length needs context
The M6 sheet lists a 37.50-inch 7-iron. SIM2 Max and Stealth list 37.25 inches. A quarter-inch difference on paper looks simple, but TaylorMade's custom booklets discuss a change in how iron length was measured and presented. The 2021 booklet says an older game improvement iron can appear longer in a specification table even when its physical length is very similar to a later model.
So these printed values are useful for locating the right factory row, not proof that an individual M6 is physically a quarter inch longer than an individual SIM2 Max. Custom orders, shaft replacements and later alterations add more uncertainty. If length matters, use one repeatable method on the clubs themselves; our length guideexplains what to record.
Use the chart to ask better questions about a used set
- Match the markings and cavity to M6, SIM2 Max or Stealth before choosing a chart. SIM2 Max OS and Stealth HD are separate variants.
- Write down the irons and wedges actually included. A published AW or LW row is not a promise that one is in the listing.
- Ask whether the heads were bent or the shafts and playing lengths changed. Keep any measured current values separate from factory figures.
- Use the comparison tool for any two complete source records, then have the actual clubs measured if a small difference affects your decision.
The same approach works with other older sets: identify the exact generation, compare like-for-like stock rows, and treat the chart as a reference for the original build. Our photo checklisthelps with the first step.
Sources and limits
Checked September 30, 2026 against TaylorMade's 2019 M6 iron sheet, 2021 custom component booklet and 2022 Stealth custom component booklet. The selected table above transcribes factual values into this comparison; it does not reproduce the manufacturer charts. The booklets also explain TaylorMade's progressive-length system and length measurement context. None of these documents measures a used club in its present condition or establishes a golfer's fit or carry distance.