TaylorMade Golf has launched the all-new range of Stealth Carbonwood drivers which will be available for pre-order today [January 4] and at retail from February 4.
Offered in four models – Stealth, Stealth Plus, Stealth HD and Stealth Women’s – among the leading new innovations featured is an eye-catching new red-coloured Twist Face which is made from 60 layers of carbon sheets strategically arranged to optimise energy transfer. The face delivers a higher COR and more precise face geometry through a lighter, but larger profile.
TaylorMade engineers took advantage of the lightweight carbon material by creating a 26g face, which is 40% lighter than a titanium face of equivalent size. Because of that weight savings, the face size of Stealth is 11% larger than SIM2 and SIM2 Max drivers and nearly 20% larger than the 2020 SIM driver.
The weight savings and larger face size made possible by the 60X Carbon Twist Face delivered significant ball speed increases during testing of the Stealth Plus and Stealth when compared to the 2021 SIM2 and SIM2 Max drivers by better players, unlocking a whole new level of driver performance for those with faster swing speeds.
Brian Bazzel, TaylorMade’s Vice President of Product Creation, said: “In the mid-2000’s, our research team developed an understanding that the weight of the face can affect impact efficiency, more specifically, the lighter the face, the more efficient the impact and the better the ball speed. We realised Titanium faces could only take us so far and carbon would be the face material of the future. This breakthrough design of a lightweight carbon face in Stealth, has created a whole new starting line, a new era of drivers, a new threshold of performance and a new platform for more innovation.”
NANOTEXTURE FACE TECHNOLOGY
TaylorMade’s 20-year journey to change the face of golf was made possible by an innovative nanotexture cover that sits on top of the 60 layers of carbon. The nanotexture cover is made from a thin polyurethane layer that creates a strong and flexible striking surface which serves to optimise distance based on improving launch conditions in both dry and wet conditions.
This technology creates the face texture needed to produce the ideal amount of friction between the face and the ball at impact to reduce spin at impact in dry conditions. The nanotexture face also features full-face score-lines designed to provide improved spin performance in wet conditions.
Tomo Bystedt, TaylorMade’s Senior Director of Product Creation, commented: “The technological innovation of our nanotexture technology brings the entire face together and was a key to making this driver a reality. Without this revolutionary cover design, we could not have achieved the launch and spin performance required to extract the optimal performance in dry as well as wet conditions. Once we added the nanotexture technology to the grooves, we were able to unlock the full performance of a carbon face.”
The combination of the nanotexture cover, Twist Face and ultra-flexible Thru- Slot Speed Pocket was engineered to produce forgiveness on strikes across the face.
SHAPED FOR SPEED
Despite featuring a larger face, clubhead speed does not decline with Stealth. The asymmetric Inertia Generator creates advanced aerodynamics at the most critical phase of the swing – from the downswing to the moment right before impact. This breakthrough design optimises clubhead speed, while also allowing additional weight to be placed at the rear of the club to encourage higher MOI, high launch and improved forgiveness.
STEALTH PLUS
Because of weight savings from the 60X Carbon Twist Face, engineers were able to incorporate the use of a 10g sliding weight track designed to help golfers control shot shape by shifting mass on the sole to create desired ball flight. Stealth Plus is designed to be the lowest spinning driver in the family.
STEALTH
Stealth benefits from the weight savings of the 60x Carbon Twist Face by more weight to be positioned low and deep in the head. This adds 15% more MOI when compared to Stealth Plus and is designed to provide 200-300 rpms more spin.
STEALTH HD
Often, standard draw bias designs promote a right-to-left ball flight at the expense of forgiveness. By utilising the weight savings from the 60X Carbon Twist Face and shifting the Inertia Generator closer to the heel, we’re able to maintain draw-bias while creating the highest MOI in the Stealth family of drivers. While providing additional draw-bias, the Stealth HD will have similar back-spin performance to Stealth.
STEALTH WOMEN’S
The Stealth Women’s driver combines the technology of Stealth HD in a slightly lighter head weight and with a unique colourway and aesthetic. It maintains the high MOI head design for easy, high-launch with a touch of draw.
SPECIFICATIONS & PRICING
Stealth Plus has an RRP of £499/€649 and will be offered in 8°, 9° and 10.5° lofts.
Shaft offerings include Project X HZRDUS Smoke RDX Red 60 and Mitsubishi’s Kai’li White 60, with custom shaft options available at no additional cost. They come stock with Lamkin’s Crossline Black/Red grip (50g).
Stealth and Stealth HD have an RRP of £469/€629 and will be offered in 9°, 10.5° and 12° lofts. Shaft offerings for the Stealth include Fujikura Ventus Red 5, while Stealth HD stock shaft options include the Fujikura Air Speeder 45. Both models come stock with Lamkin’s Crossline Black/Red grip.