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!
If anyone has a sleeve they’re willing to sell in the name of science, let me know haha.
If I can’t find some, I’ll still put this bad boy through its paces. Who knows. Maybe I’ll have the Ventus TR in it
I found regular Stealth to have less ball speed for me and quite a bit of spin. For whatever reason I consistently made better contact and strike location with Stealth+ than the Stealth
I cant say enough how well the carbon face retains speed and spin vs previous drivers ive played. ive also yet to see a super low spin hook
Revised shipping date: Jan. 20th (!!)
I was hoping to have my Stealth driver before the next AZ THP event in February, but it looks like I’ll have it before my next round on Tuesday!! Woo hoo!!
Well that is a great update!!!!
Pre-ordering through TM, I’ve always gotten the clubs before official release date in store
Excited for you!!! cant wait to get some more real world feedback in here
The question is will it be ready for resale by the next AZ THP event.
I like to use my new equipment for at least a couple of months, or three club tosses, whichever comes first. ?
I like the deep face and large hitting area. I honestly don’t really notice the red nor does it affect me in any real big way. I still don’t like how TM does the titanium/carbon transition on the top line of the crown. The way the white painted driver framed the carbon kind of drives me nuts, and this one still does, but not as aggressively.
If I am being honest, Stealth won fastest ball speed, best dispersion, AND closest to the pin from 300yds out yesterday. That’s hard to not make note of.
Now the dislikes – out of the toe I am seeing some weird things, like toe-hooks that drop spin and hook harder than some others. I’m a little put off by that. I took a couple of pictures that I can edit in later tonight… one was a 1200rpm toe-hook with 1180rpm side spin, hooking about 60 yds left. That one scared me. The other are a couple of bombs including best carry and closest to the pin on the day.
Closest to the Pin – Power Fade
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Best Carry
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Spooky Toe Miss – This one was left going LEFT. 68.7 yds left in fact. Turning left harder than NASCAR at Bristol
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Finally, I hesitate to mention this because I don’t like to amplify rumor. This could be bad luck coincidence, whatever. My LGS has four locations, and two stores each had two broken heads on the first day. They have not had any since. One was a thin strike that sounded like the frame cracked down low, another woman was whaling down on the ball with a lot of shaft lean and smashed it straight on the center of the face/crown/area, and broke one. Then another faster player was "just swigning along" and had one pressure crack in the frame out on the toe seam. I did not get the story on the 4th. But for what it is, apparently, it happened. Take it for whatever, sounds like the cracked crown area one was borderline abuse.
Anyway, those are my Stealth-y thoughts.
great feedback here
and totally agree with the deeper face and really not noticing the red face at address
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My last ball was a little above center face with near optimal results for that 147mph ball speed.
I have no idea if this driver will be a keeper at this early stage but at least I know the sound and looks are pleasing to my eye and the shaft that I already ordered (sight unseen) will at least be worthy of an extended trial.
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and that and you guys feedback is making me twitchy. I want to hit it more and try different balls with it!!
Didn’t need to see this.
This guy’s ^ twitching now too.
What a beauty
We are friends.. we can be honest … it’s probably already happened..
Alas, FedEx might have teased me a little: my club did not ship last night as expected. I remain cautiously optimistic that it will ship out today.
im sure you’ll get it before official release date. in the past ive usually gotten it 3-4 days early
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Holy skymarks!!!!!!!
I probably could have found a better photo… considering I have bid on a few on eBay.
I didn’t figure they where yours but dang that club is beat up.
Itll be mine if my bid gets accepted! I can either pay $25 for this Carbon gem or $579 for the stealth!
The Epic has an Xcaliber HBL 60 TS. Both are 9.0 heads. Weight on both set to just slightly heel side
The Stealth has an Xcaliber T6 TS. an older model that will make a comeback.
After a warm up with irons I gave each club 10 swings. At times I did quick switch outs. At first the consistency of the Epic was far better. Launch was lower about 13° and spin was 2800-3000. Club speed was 106. Ball speed was mid 150s. Steady distance of just under 280. Some snuck above.
The Stealth launches far higher at 18°. Spin is down to 2400-2500. Club speed was 109. Ball speed was also higher in the high 150s. Distance wise I was steady past 280 and a high of 291. As the session went on I made a slight grip adjustment and was striping the Stealth. Straight to baby fade.
Feel wise I easily give the nod to the Stealth. But its not like the Epic has a bad feel, quite the opposite. Stealth just has a softer feel off the face. Even when I didn’t find the center which you can tell by feel and sound, I lost little Distance. Quite frankly the forgiveness surprised me.
Once I got the consistency with the Stealth down, I couldn’t stop hitting it. The feel and sound are about as addictive as can be.
I did swap in the10.5 Stealth plus head and other than launching just a tad higher there was little performance difference.
For me I could care less what color the face is. You can’t see it at address. Over all it may be the best driver I’ve ever hit.
The same sentiment the Pro has who owns the shop. The best driver he has hit.
Make fun of the face all you want but do NOT over look this driver when shopping this year. View attachment 9061693
Sent from my SM-G998U using Tapatalk
Sounds like it should be about 7g for the + model. There is a Trottie video on IG where he is adding hot melt and the weight he is using (being mindful of course he has access to whatever weights he wants) what looks to be 9.Xg.
Looks right. Thanks.
I have a buddy working today. Think I’m going to drop wife off at the crystal/stone/oil/witchcraft store and go take all his heads apart and weigh stuff. Need to have what I need on DAY 1.
From a Plus 9 fitting head
They def just drive home the idea of getting fit…
For fun I went to the + model and it was basically the same. The weight was initially set one notch heel side of center. I was about to chalk it up to a really nice head that’s just too low spin for me. For grins I moved the weight full toe side and it’s like I unlocked a cheat code. BS instantly jumped 2-3 and netted my highest of the day even compared to Rogue. Best off all it completely regulated spin toe side. Like a comical amount, to where I felt like I couldn’t hit a bad shot. If this weren’t $600 and I didn’t have a unicorn driver to still hit, it would be in the bag.
This wasn’t my best, but was a good representative shot.
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Seriously. Some pretty wild differences across reviewers.
Some interesting stuff.
I had never heard of him, but just added a follow on IG. Thanks! ?
Former industrial design lead at TaylorMade with John Hoeflich.
And he nailed the CT "issues".
Does a variance in CT like that suggest that the club will be inconsistent in ball speed or that it is simply difficult to measure with the graphite face? I have no idea. Thanks.
Honestly, Im not the person to answer that. For this release I have spoken to a lot of both club head and composite material experts. There are a number of them that say yes or just a tad slower in nature due to long term use and what will happen. TaylorMade R&D says no. I have spent all of about 50 swings total with it and honestly don’t have an opinion other than the factual thought that carbon fiber isn’t faster by design than titanium or steel. I think it looks great. I think it sounds great. It performed rather well for me. It wasn’t the longest on my miss, but I think TM fans are going to love it.
Was with Macgregor for a long time as well. Designed some pretty interesting things over the years. The giant ugly response putter that Jack used to win his last masters for example.
I was curious about the CT reading as well. So does the face have a low CT reading? Or does it mask a CT reading that is actually really high?
???price?
??????expected ship?
WWWWW TTTTTTT FFFFFFF
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Man, what shaft is in that thing? Trono?
I’ll find out…….hold please lol
Diamana DF 60…..apparently added $300
That’s the price of an iron set ?
did get to hit this briefly the other day. ponder quickly ended.
didn’t find the sound pleasing and off center hits were not good.
The off center story is becoming a very interesting one to follow. It’s why there’s been such a discrepancy of success across vloggers, on the button it’s typical TM goodness, off the button though, it’s been wild to see the data and feedback.
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This part speaks to me.
I don’t see any issue with with the CT pendulum results unless you’re the guy in charge of checking. Lol The stated vs. actual loft on the other hand is further off than I’d hope. Going to get pretty different results with an 11* degree head.