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!
Is this saying SLDR to you?
I have never really worried about what the number on the bottom of the club states for driver. It only matters the numbers it produces. I have zero issues playing a 10.5 head or an 8 degree head if it works. It is interesting a bit though that it is higher than stated . I think that has been a trend for a long time. I think most should "generally" play more driver loft. But ego and all. the OEM know this.
But that statement about CG should dispel some thoughts on the SLDR 2.0.
There is an odd sound of off center strikes. But that should just tell you to hit the center.. lol..
The loft being 2* off really caught my eye, too.
No, but a lot of the feedback I’ve seen with kids hitting it and that I’ve consumed says it may have actually fallen back in some misses from SIM/SIM2. Personally, with it being the first iteration, I anticipated there might be some things we see evolve over time.
This was my thought as well.
My intial swings were with a shaft that I know doesn’t fit me. Why? That’s what he handed me. Finding center was a struggle and the mishit outcomes were crap. Not a positive first impression. I will re-hit with a better fit shaft, but mishit performance is more important to me than ball speed. What makes my brain hurt is all sorts of positive feedback on the forgiveness. I feel like I must be defective if that’s the reality.
I mean, I don’t NOT worry about it. I want the loft I want and tested. I got a Cally one I fought last year that turned out to be higher than stated and was part of my on course issue with it. I don’t know how you can not worry about that unless it’s consistent across all the heads. There’s zero point to getting fit into something if what you get is different.
My ball speed was currently right in that 148-153 last time I hit the Stealth+, and moving the weight all the way to the toe also gave me the best results. I’ve hit only the Kai’li shaft with the head set at 9º and saw a big change after moving the weight from center to toe position. I’m super excited for mine to arrive so I can tweak the shaft and settings.
I dont worry about the number vs. actual. Driver is where a launch monitor really kind of shines. Hit it, see what the numbers are. Adjust. Wash, rinse, repeat. So I care about the output number. Not whatever is painted on the bottom.
I think it depends on your miss. I live toe-side and deifnitely had mixed results. Some misses seemed to fare pretty well, even to the point of staying right of center and having a nice high bomb-y flight. But wander that extra but further out on the toe, or turn the face down just a little, and it wants to fall out of the sky and hook on me.
I need to hit the stealth with a better fit shaft. These weren’t my normal misses. For how I load and leverage/unload the shaft, I can’t time the release and control the face with softer handle shafts. One or two swings, and I know right away. Not for me. I will explore with a better shaft. Just give me a firmer handle, and I can find it. Then I will have a better feel for these heads, for me. But the first impression is still there.
I have three 2017 Epic SZ drivers(one now with a cracked face), and they all play differently even when swapping the heads into the same shaft. I can see difference in the openess of the heads at address with them all set ot the same loft. IMO, you really do need to buy the exact driver you are fit in to.
Right, but unless it’s consistent, you don’t know what you have until you do that. Most don’t have that access to begin with, and adjustments are not singular. 1click affects more than 1 thing. That’s the problem with starting from different points. You can’t adjust your way back to the same one.
But how is that possible to do? One time, I hit a demo head in a store on a launch monitor and something about it worked so well. I begged the store manager to let me buy that exact head. Surely he could make another head the demo club. The answer was, “no.” LOL
That’s fair.
It’s tough as most golf shops are as you describe. There was a shop in Sacramento that would let you demo a few of the same heads and buy the one you want. Normally private clubs will let you do the same. Last year when I bought my Ping G425 it was the demo from my club and they ordered a driver to replace it. I hit the new one when it came in and would up keeping the demo as it had an anti-left tendency that I prefer. Of course my numbers are good with it but its so loud that I can’t take the sound enough to play it.
That’s part of my issue with loft variation and tolerances. I want the adjustability. It’s useful and I do use it, but I want the starting point to be as close to my ideal as possible to begin with. I don’t want to start from an adjustment that limits other adjustments or makes them take me further from my ideal in other ways. A 9 degree head turned to 10.5 is way different than a 10.5 head for me.
And yeah, opening the face can actually make that worse sometimes. Sucks when that happens.
My best comb was the Stealth HD 9* with Ventus Red 5-R, R-flex. Nice penetrating draws. I liked the feel of the head.
When they wrote up the quote in the shop, it looks like they included the Ventus for the regular retail price which could be adjusted with a 10% discount.
Almost worth it just for the shaft?
Oh, oh… Here we go again (not directed at you, directed at Fuji for the confusion it has created with the various shafts named “Ventus”). If you look at the drop down menu for shaft selection when customizing a club, you will see that the no-upcharge Ventus Red shaft is not the “Ventus,” it is the “Fentus,” as the term was coined in another thread. In other words, it is not the real Ventus, with VeloCore. The real Ventus is a $250 upgrade, so I am not sure it is worth it “just for the shaft.”
I believe you are correct. The shaft seemed to work for me though.
So, I should just pencil in “w/ Velocore” on the order sheet? ?
There is nothing wrong with the shaft, per se. It might even fit some better than the version with VeloCore. If you liked it, I would go with it, as a non-upcharge option.
View attachment 9062807
Which head? What shaft?
the standard model. It was an RDX stiff. It was a red color but not sure if it was the red or blue.
Should be the RDX Red then. How was the feel of it? I am contemplating finding a 70 gram version.
im guessing it was the red too. Felt easier to load to me than the blue I hit in the Apex UW
Did not expect to hear that. Could tell it wasn’t worth follow up questions
Lol, a little Bryson in him haha. Weird that he hasn’t seen any buzz. I was talking with our local guy and he said they’ve had a ton of interest already. In MN in the middle of January no less.
They were/are always super busy. Guess he just isn’t a fan of the driver
the guy at the store I was at today said the complete opposite for what it’s worth. Said it has been crushing in fittings and pre sales
Yea that’s why I wasn’t expecting what he said. I’ve seen more good about it than not.
edit – and B.T.W.
View attachment 9062924
That’s great to hear. Keep us updated. It really was amazing how much that toe weight helped. It makes me want to revisit Sim as a more budget option.
I couldn’t open it.
From phone or computer? Try Google stealth driver review…….golf.com
iPad. I will give it a shot.
When you make a good ball strike with both, how would the Stealth Plus compare to you TSi3 with respect to launch, spin and ball speed?
That’s pretty cool. And the minimal speed loss on lateral misses sounds pretty great for the stealth model.
Unrelated: watched a video from them comparing the SM8 to the SM9. They talked about how it spun way more. Funny, they hadn’t cleaned the face/grooves of the SM8 and they were shocked at getting 4000’ish spin. First swing with the clean SM9? Double the spin. No kidding…
I watched what I thought was the video you’re talking about, but remember it a little differently. I thought pretty much all the ones that guy was hitting were spinning low and it seemed like a quad issue to me.
Regardless, a wedge demo doesn’t change that I’ve seen exactly what they said they saw on the center high strikes with this.
On the little 70yd shot was one part. The next was full swing and he was hitting 105ish carry with the 8 and I saw the 4k spin and thought that had to be wrong. Then they referenced it in the SM9 full swing.
Yeah none of those numbers seemed right to me.
Right? 56 degree and you’re getting 8k spin? That.. well, okay. At least you saw an improvement?
I’ll answer that better when mine gets here and I can just swap my main shaft back and forth. Set them up a little more similarly. My TSi3 setup with my Ventus is tipped and slightly countered with extra weight at the back of the head. It’s its own thing in a way and delivers a little differently.
Part of the reason I’m open to changing drivers this year though is that I have seen good speeds with it, spin hasn’t been too low, and results with my miss on the face have been good. My instinct is that my beloved TSi3 might get beat just a bit this year, along with my ball, but time will tell. No, actually, I can pretty pretty much say already that my ball is on its way out. Need a couple weeks with the driver on course to get a feel for true playing potential though.
And my ? is buying it for me, so I will make every effort to dial it in. I’ll still be honest about how it compares though. To YOU guys. Lol
No no no stay strong!!! What setup did you order?
I did stock setup on MyStealth and its showing Feb8th still. The hybrid and 3w are already packaged waiting to go
traded in my other driver so havent had one in 2 weeks.