Carbon. Fiber. Face.
Yes, the worst kept secret in golf equipment the past month or so is real, and yes, it is coming.
A company never afraid of putting itself out there by doing something different, be it paint or tech, TaylorMade golf is introducing the new STEALTH lineup of drivers and their 60X Carbon Twist Face is no doubt going to be the talk of the town for some time. While carbon has been done before, TaylorMade is adamant it has never been done like this.
2022 TaylorMade STEALTH Drivers
Gone is the SIM and SIM2, and in comes a new naming convention, and one heck of a directional change materials wise as well. Although the overall shape of the three new drivers from TaylorMade look super similar to the aforementioned predecessors with the “Asymmetric Inertia Generator” which many compared to a fin on the sole of the clubhead, there is quite the new story going on as well.
First and foremost, all three drivers are much darker and sleek in terms of showing off the carbon crown and overall club frame, you see, by murdering everything but the face out, there is absolutely no avoiding the main thing when it comes to the STEALTH. Just prepare yourselves as well, because it might be the easiest to spot driver on television since the company went white paint back many years ago.
While there is a new and more flexible Thru-Slot Speed Pocket which has been proven in previous models in each of the three new drivers, as well as a sliding forward weight in one, the clear story here is the face.
According to the company this has been 20 years in development, and they are claiming they will never make another titanium driver face again, which is bold from the company that has almost constantly held the title of #1 Driver in Golf. The face is bright red with black accents that make it pop against the almost entirely black body of the head. From a design aspect, the 60X carbon face is 44% lighter than titanium of the same size and shape, this weight savings also lead TaylorMade to make the face 11% bigger than SIM2 and 20% from SIM. The 60X name comes from the SIXTY layers of carbon used to create the face.
While TaylorMade is touting optimal speed and distance, the bolder design claim is to creating faster ball speeds over a much larger face area than in the past. Not only that, but they have used a “nanotexture cover” which is a polyurethane cover with nanotexture to fine tune the launch and spin to help create more consistent total distance regardless of what the conditions might be on the course.
As mentioned, there are three driver models in the STEALTH lineup:
TaylorMade STEALTH
The “standard” model in the three driver lineup, this is the one that will appeal to the biggest segment of golfers with its mid-high launch and mid-low spin profile. The STEALTH is a 460cc design that, with the new 60X Carbon Twist Face, has more weight shifted low and back in the head than the company has been able to in the past, thus adding 15% to the overall MOI compared to the STEALTH PLUS+.
Base lofts for the STEALTH are 9.0° (RH/LH), 10.5° (RH/LH), and 12° (RH). Stock options are the Fujikura Ventus Red 5 and Aldila Ascent Red 60.
TaylorMade STEALTH PLUS+ Driver
This is the mid-launching and lowest spinning of the three driver heads and will have the most “Tour” preferred shapes and neutral to fade biased angle to it. The PLUS+ also uses a 10g sliding weight just behind the Speed Pocket pushing weight and draw/fade adjustability low and forward in the design.
The PLUS+ will be available in 8.0° (RH), 9.0° (RH/LH), and 10.5° (RH/H) lofts at 460cc. Stock options will be a Project X HZRDUS Smoke Red RDX and Mitsubishi Kai’li White 60.
TaylorMade STEALTH HD Driver
As the name might indicate, HD has to do with the “high draw” bias built into this one. The head remains 460cc like its counterparts and features all the same tech, but TaylorMade is adamant that by using the weight they have saved from the face and shifting the location of the Inertia Generator closer to the heel they have kept draw bias while making this the highest MOI of the three STEALTH drivers. The HD is considered high launch with mid overall spin.
The STEALTH HD has the same 9.0° (RH/LH), 10.5° (RH/LH), and 12.0° (RH) loft options as the standard STEALTH. It is offering the Fujikura Air Speeder and Aldila Ascent Ladies 45 as its standard options.
The Details
TaylorMade’s newest drivers will be hitting retail very soon and carry the price point of $599 if you want the moveable weight track or $579 without it.
There is certain to be no shortage of discussion when it comes to this one, so be sure to join in on the THP Community as thoughts and feedback are soon to come!
Haha. Sounds risky. I better hang onto it in case my recovery goes better than expected.
It took about 5 minutes to find a trackman I can rent. It’s an hour drive. But, worth it to get some numbers for the driver as well as the rest of my bag. I’ll try to source some of those new prov1x’s so the spin numbers are more accurate too.
I’m guessing the hot look for next season will be the Stealth driver with the new Rogue fairways.
I priced out a 12-18-21-24 set with Ventus Reds and wrap grips.
$2401.96 sound right?
And only ten more clubs to buy.
Not good for ours kids’ inheritance is my first take.
I guess the Stealth will take away the clang. Ping fans especially may not like that.
It turns out that there’s a Club Champion right in Needham. Who knew? But God forbid, what if I tried them and hit them pretty well?
I’m willing to bet that Club Champion is owned by divorce lawyers. That way they can get you coming and going.
I already bought irons this past season.
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Looks like a few swings were taken with the plastic still on
It’s a low spin monster with the plastic on.
I guess if golf was my only hobby, I’d say "what the heck". Problem is musky fishing, bow hunting and bowling are all expensive when you want the newest or best of something, so I have to allocate discretionary $$$ across them all.
They are not a game changer. FWIW I think Cally drivers are always a little easier to hit and go a lot straighter without the fade bias. Even Tiger’s at the PNC had weight all the way in draw setting which is typical. They cover up hook swings pretty well but on the whole they’re quite fade bias and it looks like the plus is no exception. Nothing that blows drivers from the last couple of years out of the water and I’d argue that in a raw long dog contest the Mavrik Sub Zero might beat the plus. That thing is still an absolute cannon.
You mean Callaway drivers cover up slice swings? I mean all the pros play the triple Diamond versions with more fade bias. Callaway had to develop a flatter adapter to counteract the hook bias. That being said everyone’s swing is different. It’s good different companies make clubs that will give people options to find a club that will work for them. And I’m not a Callaway hater. I was a huge fan of the Epic Flash triple Diamond. But none of their clubs since have shown much improvement in my view.
Someone got to them ahead of me and took two swings with the plastic on the Plus 9*, and took the plastic off the Plus 8*. I took the plastic off this one plus the regular Stealth 9*, and had some fun.
I hit the Plus pretty well, littering the face on strike location but got a sense for what some of the misses do. Pretty decent overall, my one complain is that my swing (or club?) was not cooperating and never really got in the groove with my draw. Left most out to the right.
Then I hit the regular Stealth in 9*, and probably due to me did not have as good a result. I was leaving them out short right, except for a couple of freaky low spin bombs out off the high toe.
Here are a couple pictures:
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Stealth Plus on the left, Stealth on the Right:
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Great pics! They really look very similar from address. I wonder how much more forgiving the regular Stealth is over the Plus.
Thanks! I honestly don’t know if I could tell them apart looking down at them. I’m sure if I got picky and spent some more time, but first glance, darn close.
I didn’t put enough time in to comment too much on forgiveness. I thought they both were easy enough to hit. I had some bad strikes and nothing really scared me too much as far as what I saw. My swing scared me more ?
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Lol no I’m just saying that TM drivers are inherently fade bias. That’s fine but they’re notoriously harder to turn over. I play a draw. My buddy who is also a +1 who I play matches against all the time and who played college says he’s never had a driver harder to turn over than his Sim. We both hit a consistent 300-320 tee ball. He does fit a push with it though which he’s never had. Thanks for the slice dig though.
Wasn’t a dig on you. Just a counter to the anti hook generalization.
Dude, I love every single thing about this post. It’s like an ogre, it has layers.
I’m guessing you’ll have it before the 4th.
Glad to hear this. Good luck!. The next couple weeks will go by like you never knew it. Stealth-y like.
This sounds like Twist Face doing its thing straightening a toe side strike versus a center strike with a draw face to path relationship.
How many layers? Let me guess. Sixty?
Glad everything went well!!
local shop said next month
You’re going to have yours before they do!
I’m dying to try the Stealth Plus 3 wood. That spot is the last missingpiece of the bag for next year. Someone I know hit it and it sounds like it’s very hot off the face. But, very low spinning too. For me it’s not so much an issue because it’s just basically a tee club.
i’m still trying to decide if i wanna move into the stealth 3W…my SiM2 Max 3HL is one of my confidence clubs (along with the UW)…i mean, i know i will but i ask myself "should i?"?
Haha. No shame in sticking with a fairway that works. That’s a club I try not to shake up unless it’s necessary. My Mavrik sz face caved so I didn’t have a choice. Once I settle this year it’ll be in my bag up until it breaks haha.
I would love to see some numbers comparing the SIM2 titanium and the new Stealth Plus 3 woods. The SIM2 is as long as any 3 wood that I have hit, although it is not the easiest 3 wood that I have hit. If the Stealth Plus increased the forgiveness across the face but retained the same ball speed, it would be an incredible 3 wood.
I had a sim2 5 wood for a hot minute. It launched too low. And off the tee it was as long as my 3 wood. I am historically bad with a fairway off the deck. So the low launch could have 100% been me. I’ve since gone with a 7 wood instead of a 5.
But, the one thing that sticks in my mind is how filthy king that club was. I can’t even imagine what the 3 wood would be like.
You hit that club very well!
If we’re not shut down for weather tomorrow wife and I are going to go hit them and put the order in. I want to spend a little more time with the Kai’li 60X and I figure she can try one there since she’s never going to get her hands on the one she’s buying me.
Haha. Picking up some chatter on the Kai’Li being a touch soft. Don’t be afraid to get that baby tip trimmed a bit. Or, you can pull a real boss move. Fuji is announcing a new product next week that is more than likely a new ventus (when I say more than likely, I mean I saw one in their 2022 catalog).
That’s why I want to spend a little more time with it. That, and I’m probably more than a little stuck with what I order. I don’t think trading in her gift is likely to go over well. Lol
I’m curious about the new Ventus, especially what looks at a glance like a pretty long section of x-stiff tip and a touch more feel in the rest, but will probably wait and swing it a few times before I’d pull the trigger on it.
I like the look of it. Higher cpm and lower torque but the looks a touch softer in places. The tighter handle could be nice. My only fear is the balance point. I always felt that the balance point of the blue seemed a little higher. Was about as high as I care to go. If the handle is going to have more material, could raise it even more.
Only one way to find out though. Buy one and plug it into my stealth plus! If the balance seems too high, I can pick up an extra weight or two for the head once they’re available.
Noticed my home course had a few demos in when I played a few days ago. I actually liked the look and feel of the face but I arrived too close to my tee time to actually hit them. It’s a new driver year for me so I’m sure I’ll start testing these soon enough but we got a pretty decent amount of snow yesterday and short term forecast doesn’t look all that good
What else is on your radar besides the stealth? What version do you think would suit you best just going off if what’s on paper?
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Let’s get stupid!!
Their upcharges are pretty reasonable compared to others. $250 for most vs $350 from others.
They have the RDX red in 6.5? I’m curious how that one holds up. The 6.0 didn’t feel loose to me at all.
That’s all your feedback?
8 degree!! You animal!
It’s definitely a better fit for me. Order coming…
My hands are busy!!
interesting.. wouldn’t have guessed this..