TaylorMade has been one of the most consistent iron manufacturers for the last two decades. That's good news for Kiwi golfers shopping secondhand, because it means there's a huge pool of quality used sets floating around — and most of them hold up extremely well. The challenge isn't finding a TaylorMade iron. It's knowing which ones are actually worth your money and which are just cheap for a reason.
This guide covers the models we'd genuinely recommend, what you should expect to pay in NZD, and how to match the right set to your game. No brand cheerleading, just straight advice.
Why TaylorMade Irons Hold Up Well Secondhand
TaylorMade builds irons that are consistently well-engineered. They've refined their cavity-back and game-improvement designs across many generations, which means even a set that's five or six years old is still a genuinely capable club. The materials and construction quality are solid enough that a well-maintained set won't feel like a compromise.
The other big advantage is volume. TaylorMade has sold enormous numbers of irons in New Zealand, so secondhand supply is strong. More supply means more competition among sellers, which keeps prices reasonable. You're not hunting for a rare set — you've got options.
One thing to be aware of: TaylorMade releases new models frequently. That can make it confusing to know what you're looking at, but it also means perfectly good sets get traded in simply because someone wanted the newest version. That's a win for buyers.
Before the Recommendations: What to Avoid
Not every secondhand TaylorMade iron is worth picking up. Some older models, particularly anything from the early-to-mid 2000s, used designs and materials that haven't aged well. The faces can lose their responsiveness over time, and the shafts in budget-tier sets from that era were often low quality to begin with.
Also skip anything with significant face damage, deep groove wear on every iron in the set, or shafts that show rust or pitting inside the tip section. A bit of cosmetic wear on the head is fine and expected. Structural issues are a different story.
If you're unsure whether a set is worth buying, check out our guide on best used golf clubs for beginners in NZ for tips on inspecting secondhand clubs before you commit.
TaylorMade M Series (M1, M2, M4, M6): The Sweet Spot for Value
The M series ran from roughly 2016 to 2019 and produced some of the best value game-improvement irons TaylorMade has ever made. These are the sets you see most often in the secondhand market, and for good reason.
TaylorMade M2 irons are probably the pick of the range for mid-handicappers. They're forgiving, they launch the ball well, and they feel solid without being dead. A set in good condition will run you roughly $400–$650 NZD depending on the shaft and condition. For that money, you're getting a club that was retailing for well over $1,500 new when released.
TaylorMade M4 and M6 irons are slightly more forgiving versions, designed for golfers who want maximum help on off-centre strikes. The M6 in particular uses a hollow construction with a flexible face insert, which means more distance even on mishits. If you're a higher handicapper or just getting consistent with your ball-striking, these are worth considering seriously.
The M1 was aimed at better players and is a bit less forgiving, so it's not the right choice if you're still working on consistency. Stick to M2, M4, or M6 unless your handicap is genuinely below 10.
Tip: The M2 and M4 are very similar in feel and performance. If you find a clean set of M4s for less than M2s, don't overthink it. Buy the M4s.
TaylorMade SIM and SIM2 Irons: More Recent, Still Great Value
The SIM (Shape in Motion) irons came out in 2020, with SIM2 following in 2021. These are newer designs that introduced some meaningful engineering updates, particularly around weight distribution and face speed.
The SIM2 Max irons are the standout secondhand buy from this generation. They're forgiving across the whole set, the distance is consistent, and they look good at address — which matters more than people admit. Expect to pay $700–$1,100 NZD for a set in good condition. That's more than the M series, but you're getting a more recent design with better tech.
The regular SIM irons (non-Max) are built for better ball-strikers and are less forgiving. For golfers in the 10–25 handicap range, the Max versions are the right choice.
One thing worth knowing: the SIM2 sets were sold in both steel and graphite shaft options. Graphite shafts suit golfers with slower swing speeds. If you're swinging under about 130 km/h with your irons, graphite is worth seeking out. Our shaft flex guide goes into more detail on this if you want to dig deeper.
TaylorMade Stealth Irons: Worth It Secondhand?
The Stealth range launched in 2022 and brought TaylorMade's cap-back construction to irons. These are among the most forgiving irons TaylorMade has made, and they're starting to appear in the secondhand market as golfers upgrade to newer models.
Secondhand Stealth HD irons are excellent for higher handicappers who want distance and forgiveness without sacrificing too much feedback. Pricing in the NZ used market currently sits around $900–$1,400 NZD for a set, which is still a solid saving over new.
If you can find Stealth HD irons in good condition for under $1,000, that's a genuinely good deal. The technology in these clubs is recent enough that you won't feel like you're playing catch-up with your gear anytime soon.
TaylorMade P Series: For the Better Players
TaylorMade's P series (P790, P770, P760, P7MC, P7MB) is aimed at lower handicappers and better ball-strikers. These are still available secondhand and can be fantastic clubs, but they're not the right fit for most golfers in the 15–25 range.
The P790 is the most forgiving of the bunch and has a bit of a cult following. It uses a hollow construction with a speed foam insert that gives it more distance than you'd expect from a players-style iron. A good condition P790 set will cost you $800–$1,300 NZD secondhand. If your handicap is somewhere around 10–15 and you're a decent ball-striker, these are seriously worth considering.
The P770, P7MC, and P7MB are progressively less forgiving and more demanding. They're beautiful clubs, but they'll punish inconsistent striking. Our guide on forgiving irons vs blades covers this territory in more detail if you're weighing up a players iron.
Tip: Don't buy a P7MB because you like how it looks. Buy it because you're already hitting the middle of the face more often than not. Otherwise the M series or SIM2 Max will serve you far better.
What Should You Actually Pay? NZD Price Guide
Here's a rough guide to what you should expect to pay for used TaylorMade irons in New Zealand. These are honest market ranges. If someone is asking significantly more, walk away. If something is priced well below this range, inspect it very carefully before buying.
| Model | Handicap Fit | Used Price Range (NZD) |
|---|---|---|
| TaylorMade M2 | 12–25+ | $400–$650 |
| TaylorMade M4 | 15–25+ | $350–$600 |
| TaylorMade M6 | 18–25+ | $400–$650 |
| TaylorMade SIM2 Max | 12–25+ | $700–$1,100 |
| TaylorMade Stealth HD | 15–25+ | $900–$1,400 |
| TaylorMade P790 | 8–15 | $800–$1,300 |
| TaylorMade P770 | 5–12 | $700–$1,100 |
These prices assume a complete set (typically 4 or 5 iron through pitching wedge) in good condition with original shafts. Sets with aftermarket shafts can vary widely in value depending on what's been fitted.
Matching the Right TaylorMade Iron to Your Game
The biggest mistake golfers make is buying irons that look impressive rather than irons that suit where their game actually is. Be honest with yourself here.
If you're a 20+ handicapper, the M4, M6, or SIM2 Max are your friends. They're designed to help you get the ball airborne consistently, forgive off-centre hits, and give you distance without needing a perfect swing. That's exactly what you need when you're still building consistency.
If you're sitting around 12–18, the M2 or SIM2 Max gives you forgiveness while still rewarding better strikes with better feedback. This is probably the most common range among club golfers, and both of those sets are excellent fits.
If you're a single-figure handicapper, the P790 is worth a look. It gives you a players aesthetic with enough forgiveness that you're not constantly punished for minor misses. Below a 7 handicap and striking it well? The P770 or P7MC will give you the workability and feedback you're after.
Not sure about your distances or how your current clubs compare? Our golf club distances chart can help you benchmark what you should be hitting with each iron and figure out whether a new set would genuinely fill gaps in your bag.
Steel or Graphite Shafts: Which to Look For
Most secondhand TaylorMade irons come with steel shafts, and for most golfers that's perfectly fine. Steel shafts are more durable, give better feedback, and are easier to match consistently across a set.
Graphite shafts in irons are worth seeking out if you're a senior golfer, have a slower swing speed, or deal with any wrist or elbow issues. They absorb more vibration and can help generate clubhead speed with less effort. The trade-off is slightly less feedback and they're more expensive to reshaft if one gets damaged.
If you're buying a set with graphite shafts, check that all shafts in the set are the same model. Mismatched shafts across a set is a red flag and worth negotiating down on price for.
Our Honest Pick
If we had to point most Kiwi club golfers at one used TaylorMade iron set, it would be the SIM2 Max. It's recent enough to have genuinely useful technology, forgiving enough to help the majority of golfers shoot lower scores, and it's starting to hit a price point in the secondhand market that represents real value.
For golfers on a tighter budget, a clean set of M2 or M4 irons is hard to beat at $400–$600. They're not the newest thing on the market, but they're well-made clubs that will do exactly what you need them to do.
You can also browse our full range of used iron sets to see what's currently available, or check the full shop if you're building out a complete bag. And if you're still figuring out the basics of what to look for in a beginner set, our beginners guide to used golf clubs is a good place to start.
Good gear doesn't need to cost a fortune. Buy smart, buy secondhand, and spend the savings on green fees.
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