TaylorMade Stealth Driver Review
I’m beginning to doubt whether the club designers at TaylorMade ever sleep. It seems like every time I turn around, they’re coming out with a new club or product. And despite such frequent release dates, this company never churns out a bad club. They’re back at it again in 2022 and the latest release is the new Stealth driver. Even though it’s still early in the year, this club appears to be a hot one. We’re talking about explosive distance and all sorts of new technological and design features, aimed at helping you find more fairways and gain more distance.
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Description
I’m beginning to doubt whether the club designers at TaylorMade ever sleep. It seems like every time I turn around, they’re coming out with a new club or product. And despite such frequent release dates, this company never churns out a bad club.
They’re back at it again in 2022 and the latest release is the new Stealth driver. Even though it’s still early in the year, this club appears to be a hot one. We’re talking about explosive distance and all sorts of new technological and design features, aimed at helping you find more fairways and gain more distance.
Key Features
- Three different head designs allow for easy customization to your swing.
- Lightweight Carbon Twist Face allows COG to be moved lower in the clubhead for maximum forgiveness. #carbonwood
- Asymmetric Inertia Generator Design allows golfers to increase swing speed for increased COR and more distance.
Who Should Buy the TaylorMade Stealth Driver?
Even though the jury is still out, all accounts we’ve come across point to the case that one of the three Stealth drivers could be beneficial for golfers of any playing ability.
The Stealth Plus head is the premier club in the family. This is the lowest spinning driver of the lot. As such, better players, and those with swing speeds north of 100mph should notice a difference in ability to control ball flight and keep it in play in windy conditions.
The Stealth head is geared more toward the average weekend warrior (that’d be me). This driver launches higher than the Stealth Plus and spins a little more. It also affords more forgiveness.
Lastly, the “HD” in Stealth HD stands for high draw. This driver is designed for beginning golfers and those that battle the dreaded slice. The Stealth HD has the highest MOI out of the three heads and therefore offers the most forgiveness on off-center strikes.
TaylorMade Stealth Driver Detailed Review
Design and Technology
TaylorMade isn’t the first company to introduce a driver head made of carbon fiber, but it seems to be the first one to do so successfully (Callaway and a few other companies have tried, but to no avail). The company believes so fervently in this material that they’ve marketed the Stealth drivers as the new age of “Carbonwood” instead of “Metal Wood.” Internal job titles for club techs that previously had the latter in their name have been replaced by the former. They’re all-in.
It’s no secret that carbon fiber is a lot lighter than titanium or steel. It’s also faster and stronger.
The faces of all three stealth drivers are comprised of 60 layers of carbon fiber. In both robotic and on-course testing, the face design increased COR and reduced spin compared to titanium equivalents. What does that spell for golfers? More ball speed, straighter ball flight, and increased distance. If that isn’t a recipe for success, I don’t know what is.
In previous drivers, TaylorMade touted their Twist Face and Inverted Cone Technologies. By most accounts, both these design concepts (which are incorporated in the layered face construction of the Stealth drivers) limit the variations between clubs during the manufacturing process. They also increase stability where it matters most – at impact.
We aren’t done talking about the Stealth’s face just yet. It’s also worth noting that it’s encased with a polyurethane cover that features nanotexture technology. This revolutionary cover helps in fine tuning launch and spin conditions.
Because carbon fiber is so light, weight in the face has been reduced. Accordingly, it’s been moved farther back and lower in the head to increase MOI. More forgiveness for you and I.
The Stealth’s heads are all aerodynamically ahead of the curve too. That’s thanks to Asymmetric Inertia Generator Design that aids in clubhead speed through the downswing, specifically at impact. Again, more speed equals more distance.
Additionally, the Thru-Slot Speed Pocket is engineered to produce maximum speed on low face strikes. So goes the saying, “thin to win.”
It’s always been about speed with TaylorMade, and the Stealth family of drivers are just the latest chapter in an ongoing story.
Specs
As with most modern drivers, all three of the Stealth heads are adjustable. With that said, let’s take a closer look at the specs for each head.
The Stealth driver comes in standard lofts of 9, 10.5, and 12 degrees. Stock shafts include the Fujikara Ventus Red, Aldila Ascent Red, and GraphiteDesign Tour AD IZ 6. Shaft flexes include senior, regular, stiff and extra-stiff.
The Stealth Plus is the player’s club of the three. As such, its specs are a little different. This club comes in standard lofts of 8, 9, and 10.5 degrees. Stock shafts are the Mitsubishi Kai’li White 60, GraphiteDesign Tour AD IZ 6, and PrjoectX HZRDUS Smoke Red RDX 60. Flexes are regular, stiff, and extra-stiff.
The Stealth HD is meant for higher handicaps and slicers. Loft options are 9, 10.5, and 12 degrees. The stock shaft is the Fujikara Air Speeder 45. Flexes are senior, regular, and stiff.
Our Experience
I had the chance to hit the Stealth driver not that long ago on the range. While the club is a sexy one when you first pick it up, it’s matte black finish seemed a little compact when I put it down behind the ball. But after a few swings, I was more than comfortable.
The sound of this club was solid to say the least. Whereas other titanium drivers I’ve hit can sound a little “tinny,” this club sounds solid when you nut it. It feels that way too.
While I didn’t immediately notice gargantuan gains in distance, it was clear that the ball came off the face faster, and with less spin than other TaylorMade drivers I’ve hit. It was also evident that my shot dispersion was significantly tighter too.
One of our writers had the chance to hit the Stealth Plus and had similar thoughts. He especially noted the low-spin properties of the club. He plays in the wind a lot and saw this club’s boring ball flight as a distinct advantage in tough conditions.
Even though TaylorMade is the first to admit that there’s a lot more to learn about carbon fiber designs, the Stealth family of drivers seem to indicate that they’re already off to a hot start.
Conclusion
TaylorMade has never been shy about pushing the boundaries or what’s considered normal when it comes to drivers.
The Stealth Family certainly fits that mold and it’s still too early to tell what the final verdict will be on these clubs. Early indications, however, seem to be that the company is really on to something in the carbon fiber space.
It’s tough to argue with the fact that Tiger already has a Stealth driver in his bag. Just check out highlights from the Father-Son PNC tournament where he and Charlie almost won.
If you’re looking for better performance across the board with your driver, and aren’t afraid of straying away from conventional wisdom, give one of the Stealth drivers a try. When you do, report your findings to us in the comments. We’d love to hear from you.
Paul Liberatore
Founder of Golfers Authority
Additional information
Specification: TaylorMade Stealth Driver Review
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