New technology is plentiful in the golf industry. But it’s not often you get an entire game changers. For 2022, TaylorMade are delivering an industry-first in the driver category, a carbonwood.
Titanium has been the main material used in drivers for the last 20-plus years, but TaylorMade knew they needed to change that if they wanted to make further advancements.
It has taken the California brand more than two decades of research to develop the first carbonwood. In fact, they made their first prototype back in 2003.
Since then they have researched polymer face coverings, developed new manufacturing techniques, and built new production facilities to create state of the art composite parts.
I don’t know about you, but this is the most excited I’ve been about a product launch in a long, long time. So what’s new?
TaylorMade Stealth Drivers: First Impressions
Wow! These drivers look SO good. From a visual perspective the SIM2 was my favourite driver of 2021, but the Stealth takes it up another level.
The default colour scheme of black and red looks fantastic, and the simplified matt black crown is going to appeal to a much wider audience. But don’t worry if red isn’t your thing – Everton Football Club fanatic and TaylorMade staffer Tommy Fleetwood certainly had some choice words – because custom options will be available through MyStealth.
TaylorMade Stealth Drivers: The Line-up
TaylorMade Stealth
Due to having more weight low and back this model is 15% more forgiving than the Stealth Plus. It will also generate 200-300rpms more spin.
TaylorMade Stealth Plus
Thanks to weight savings from the new carbon head, TaylorMade have been able to add a 10-gram sliding weight track to help golfers control shot shape. This is the lowest spinning model in the family.
TaylorMade Stealth HD
This is a draw bias design that doesn’t compromise on forgiveness. This has the highest MOI in the range while retaining a similar spin profile to the Stealth.
TaylorMade Stealth Women’s
The women’s offering delivers the technology of Stealth HD in a slightly lighter head weight and with a unique colourway. It is high MOI and draw bias.
TaylorMade Stealth Drivers: The Technology
The club face is made up of a frankly ludicrous 60 layers of overlapping carbon. The red carbon face provides more speed, delivers a higher COR, and more precise face geometry.
Not only that, as carbon is so much lighter than titanium the face could be made larger.
The larger club face does not impact clubhead speed. We still see the asymmetric inertia generator on the sole that debuted in the SIM line. This creates advanced aerodynamics in the downswing and into impact.
The interesting face pattern is down to the face technology. This is a nanotexture cover made from a thin polyurethane layer that creates a strong yet flexible striking surface to optimise distance by improving the launch in both dry and wet conditions.
It does this by creating the ideal amount of friction between the face and the ball at impact to reduce spin in dry conditions. It also has full-face shorelines to improve spin performance in wet weather.
TaylorMade were also careful to fine-tune the acoustics to make sure the sound and feel of Stealth was bright and powerful.
TaylorMade Stealth Drivers: The Details
Available: February 4
RRP: £499
Stock shafts: Fujikura Ventus Red 5 (Stealth); Project X Hzrdus Smoke RDX Red 60, Mitsubishi Kai’li White 60 (Stealth Plus); Fujikura Air Speeder 45 (Stealth HD); Aldila Ascent Ladies 45 (Women’s)
Numerous custom shafts are available at no additional cost.
Driver lofts:
9°, 10.5°, 12° (Stealth, Stealth HD); 8°, 9°, 10.5° (Stealth Plus)
Grip: Lamkin Crossline Black/Red
TaylorMade Stealth Drivers: MyStealth Options
RRP: £579
Face colour: Red, Green, Yellow, Blue, Orange, Grey
Body colour: Black, Chalk
Crown finish: Gloss, Matte
Sole decal colour: Blue, Black, Red, Orange, Green, Gold, Pale Blue, Volt
Headcovers: Mono, Colour
More info: TaylorMade website
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Hannah Holden
