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!
The person I play the most golf with calls yellow balls green. It blows my mind because they are clearly yellow! ?
I got ya, know what ya mean.
This^. All of this, all the time. I’ve been continually shocked how long this club has still been for me as my body has fallen apart and I’ve put less speed into it. And I’ve raved about that heel miss for months and months. It is seriously impressive how good end results are on that.
I see them as bright green as well.
Lips have been a little zipped on that, and they just did the blackout. There’s also been some retail on sale prices advertised this week too though, which usually means new is coming.
Do you think the Graphite Design Tour AD IZ 6 would be a noticeable upgrade over the Hazardous stock shaft? I don’t really mind paying the extra amount if I’m getting more than just a different color option.
I think it depends on you. The IZ is a premium upgrade no doubt. But, I think they’re two completely different profiles.
I’ve also had problems getting my drives high enough, and checked my current shaft and it’s description calls it a low-launch shaft. So that might be part of the reason. The AD is described as a high launch. So I imagine that would help my game tremendously I hope!
I was shaping it and felt just in complete control of the ball. Drove a green from 360 yards out. On the back 9 the wind went from 10mph to a steady 20+. Didn’t seem to matter. Was still hitting my shapes and launch windows. The nice thing about the wind was the last hole had a little bit of help coming from behind and the left. Just had to hit a little draw to get the ball up and riding the breeze. The Stealth Plus ended the season with a bang (the wind gets a little credit on this one haha).
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I am VERY interested in seeing what Taylormade does to follow this club up. I’ve not had a club that seems to just be as optimal for me as this one is.
I’m gaming the 9.0 turned up one notch. The control I have is far better than any other driver I’ve hit. And I had 6 current drivers for extended trials this year.
Stealth always came out on top.
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Big and steady day with this thing. It just keeps performing and refuses to go on the shelf. Think my shortest drive was my first one week I wasn’t even loose. 307, all carry, into the breeze. Best birthday present I’ve maybe ever got.
Love that sound, 307 carry? Yikes!
This is what I wanted to hear! I have a G400 (not max) and I am looking at the 2022 Stealth 10.5 degree with regular flex. May I ask what your Swing Speed is? I am around 93. I finally turned my Ping back up to neutral 10.5 so I am hoping I can get MORE distance. Currently over my last 5 rounds I am average 226 from the tee. What I would do for 235 LOL. First thing to do is turn the dang thing back to 10.5 LOL. Then if that doesn’t help much, Stealth here I come. I already own the 5 wood and love it.
Oh that one ^ was definitely more than that!
My swing speed is 105ish but I like to look at ball speed. My G400max was 148 and the Stealth Plus is 153 and that’s at the same 10.5 degree loft.
The Ping is a great driver but enough time has elapsed that the newer technology makes a difference.
Thanks for the insights. I pulled the trigger and used my family discount to get the Stealth for 45% off. It was really a no-brainer. It’ll be here tomorrow along with my Hi-Toe Raw. Excited!
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Trade in for freakin’ what?
New hotness coming..
Was surprised how much I could get out of it at about 110 mph while I was figuring out how not to hurt myself, and have really come to enjoy the feedback on the face with various strikes. Crazy that it was so foreign to me in the beginning that I found it a little confusing.
My range with the Ping 400 was 185 on mishits and 225 on solid strikes. Stealth, 255 on solid strikes and 238 on mishits. What a wonderful driver. I went with the red ventus shaft it really works well with my SS.
Gets to hole 10, uh oh’s..View attachment 9146871
Looks like he’ll be getting a new stealth 2 for free if he hold off a few weeks before doing a warranty claim anyways haha.
I want to see the carbon face post crime scene.
six pieces
Did they replace the head for free, or the driver? Just curious, I saw a guy have this happen on youtube while doing a review. He never said one way or the other.
What typically happens is you reach out the shop you bought it from and they call TM and they get work to get the green light to give you another one off the rack and they warranty it.
If you bought direct, same thing. They find the order number and all that and say okay, send us back the broken club in the box when you get the replacement. They do a CC hold charge just in case you get sketchy until the damaged club is received.
GULP, I have one in my bag right now, I don’t swing really fast so hopefully the face stays intact! The driver has give me 20 – 30 extra yards, with the correct shaft fitting and the hot face.
Which is awesome. I’m all for people finding clubs that work great for them. Do you have the stealth or the + model?
I have a Stealth Plus and my previous driver was a Ping G400max. That Ping is an awesome driver. But… I do pick up 3-4 mph of ball speed with the Stealth which translates into yards. Accuracy hasn’t suffered with with the Stealth Plus
I don’t think it’s anywhere even remotely close to that. Not even above some other OEM failure rates. That particular failure had a certain impressiveness to it though. Everyone wants to see the inside of their driver, right? ?
I don’t think it’s that high either but based on one retailer report (national chain) it is the largest in the industry for them on a percentage basis. By a pretty good margin too.
Good to know. I’m curious how some of this shakes out over the next couple years as we push technology and material limits. If we’ll see slightly elevated failure rates compared to in the past. Feels like with good customer service and warranty treatment people are tolerant enough to allow a bit of wiggle.
yeah I don’t think it’s that high either. Just curious because there have been issues. The Rogue part is kind of what got my gears going.
I know I have said it before at least a few times in this thread, but it still amazes me how little distance loss is realized with heel strikes off this driver head.