Stealth is back and it’s Stealthier than ever! We know what you’re thinking: What’s new in the Stealth 2 range? And how have TaylorMade boosted the Carbonwood performance? Let’s find out…
The TaylorMade Stealth line-up returns for a second year with a number of upgrades on the original game-changing range. So what’s new? Hannah Holden has all the details and more
Stealth is back and it’s Stealthier than ever! We know what you’re thinking: What’s new in the Stealth 2 range? And how have TaylorMade boosted the Carbonwood performance? Let’s find out…
The Stealth 2 models aim to combine the speed of Stealth, but with added forgiveness, there are a number of existing and new technologies that have allowed TaylorMade to do this.
First up, the 60-layer carbon face is back for 2023, but this year features Advanced Inverted Cone Technology.
This means the face is thinner on the edges and thicker in the centre, creating more speed around the perimeter. In layman’s terms, higher ball speeds on those all-too-familiar off-centre strikes.
The face is also 2 grams lighter than the original Stealth, and has an expanded COR area for a larger sweet spot and faster speeds across the face.
Elsewhere, this second generation of Carbonwood features even more carbon. There is a 75% increase from the Stealth Plus to the Stealth 2 Plus, and a 50% rise in the Stealth 2 and Stealth 2 HD compared to their predecessors. It means Stealth 2 is the first driver in TaylorMade’s history to feature more carbon than any other material!
Carbon is perfect for drivers as it’s strong but also super lightweight. This means you can move more weight out of areas where it isn’t optimal for the clubhead to be too heavy.
An example is the crown. Having too much weight high in the clubhead can increase spin, which isn’t ideal, but having a lighter crown moves the CG lower to minimise spin and increase launch.
The crown, the composite ring, the sole, and the face are all made from or feature some carbon. The only parts of Stealth 2 made of metal are the titanium collar on the front of the club that holds the hosel in place and frames the face, and the front and rear weights that vary by model.
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The added Carbon Reinforced Ring – that’s the bright red bit – provides constructional strength, durability, and mass savings that allowed engineers to form a more complex and functional shape.
Due to weight savings from high carbon usage, the slighting weight track is back. This allows players to dial in their ball flight as they can control shot shape by moving this weight towards either the toe or the heel.
The Stealth 2 Plus is the lowest spinning model in the range and is really aimed at faster swinging players and better ball strikers.
The main Stealth 2 model is designed to deliver a higher MOI performance thanks to a heavy 25-gram tungsten weight in the back of the clubhead.
The HD stands for high draw. This is designed to be the most forgiving and stable model in the Stealth 2 driver line-up and also to be draw bias.
This is done by having a 30-gram weight at the back of the head but also positioning this closer to the heel to help move you ball flight to the left.
For the first time, TaylorMade are releasing three fairway woods and three hybrids that match the main driver models. The big story with these metalwoods is more moveable weight technologies and more versatile designs.
The most notable use of this is in the Stealth 2 Plus fairway wood, which features a 50-gram sliding weight on the sole.
Moving this weight into different positions allows you to create the performance of three different fairway woods. Shifting the weight forward reduces spin and creates a lower, more penetrating trajectory.
Conversely, if you move the weight to the back of the club head you should see an increase in spin, launch and MOI.
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This should allow players to increase or decrease the spin by around 550rpm. You can also add to this by using the adjustable hosel to change the loft.
This features a slightly lower profile than the Plus offering. This pushes the CG down to help this launch easier and make it more forgiving.
The sole features V-steel sole technology, which is multi-purpose. Firstly it helps to drive weight lower for a deeper centre of gravity. It also improves turf interaction and makes the club more versatile from various lies.
The HD model is a new addition to the fairway woods line. It aims to be the most forgiving model and be really easy to hit.
It has an oversized 200cc head with a large low profile at address which really drives up MOI. Internal weighting encourages a draw bias flight.
The Plus hybrid model has a compact tour-inspired shaping. It is designed for better players who want something that is more workable but still has the forgiveness of a hybrid.
Compared to its predecessor, the Stealth 2 hybrid has a lower CG for more optimal launch and spin.
There is a new mass pad at the back of the club head which increases MOI for more forgiveness and playability.
The HD model has a larger but lower profile as well as internal draw bias to create high-flying shots. This club is designed to be really easy to hit and help players with slower club head speeds get the ball airborne.
Last year’s Stealth irons have stayed in TaylorMade’s lineup for 2023, but they have been joined by a brand new model – HD.
These are TaylorMade’s first ever super game improvement irons, and are designed to give a hybrid-like performance from an iron.
The head has an ultra-low profile in the long irons where lots of players really need help to get the ball launching higher and make these clubs easy to hit.
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The irons use progressive head sizes so each club is uniquely shaped to optimise its performance. The 5-iron is the largest and they get smaller as you move down to the pitching wedge. The sole also features a step-down design.
An asymmetric draw-bias face was incorporated from player feedback.
These irons also have weaker lofts due to findings from simulation tools. That showed these lofts optimised carry distance, launch angle and spin at slow to moderate swing speeds.
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