TaylorMade Stealth Plus Driver Review 2022: "Very impressive ball speed data"
Alex from GolfMagic took the brand new TaylorMade Stealth and Stealth Plus drivers to Kings Golf Studio to test their performances.
TaylorMade Stealth Driver - Key Features
- 60X Carbon Twist Face: 44% lighter than a titanium face leads to faster ball speed and straighter shots
- Nanotexture Cover: fine tunes launch and spin to optimise distance performance
- Asymmetric Inertia Generator: designed using advanced geometry and aerodynamic analytics to provide even faster clubhead speed on the downswing
- Thru-Slot Speed Pocket: maximizes forgiveness and provide additional ball speed on miss-hit low strikes off the face.
TaylorMade's new carbonwood era marks a new age in driver production and it has proven to be very popular on the PGA Tour.
The TaylorMade Stealth, Stealth Plus and Stealth HD for 2022 make up the new three-way family and they come with a dark black head and a unique red clubface.
It is fair to say that the TaylorMade Stealth Plus model is the flagship club of this new release, but this doesn't take away anything from the rest of the trio.
The face of the TaylorMade Stealth is made of 60 layers of carbon which is different to any club we have seen. This design has been in the making for 20 years as carbon construction has been a technique toyed with for some time.
GolfMagic Equipment Editor Alex Lodge tested the new TaylorMade driver releases at King's Golf Studio to discover the qualities and differences from previous models.
Player Level
WATCH OUR TAYLORMADE STEALTH AND TAYLORMADE STEALTH PLUS DRIVER REVIEW IN THE VIDEO BELOW:
TaylorMade Stealth Driver - Looks and Feel
The TaylorMade Stealth Drivers have a distinctly different look to any the well-known brand has ever produced.
The face is dark red with the middle of the club face surrounded by black and white highlights. The head is a smart dark black and red with the latter colour being a primary focus of the design.
As Alex shows first with the TaylorMade Stealth Plus Driver (£499) in the video above, the connection feels springy off the clubface, but it also has a metallic feel.
Alex noticed a huge difference in the feel of the TaylorMade Stealth Driver models compared to any driver he has used before. You will almost feel a trampoline effect as you strike the ball.
TaylorMade Stealth Driver - Performance and Forgiveness
The Stealth Plus Driver is low spin and produces great distances off the tee and even better ball speeds. Alex was particularly stunned at the latter.
Alex achieved a ball speed of up to 179.1 mph and a smash factor of 1.48, which is mightily impressive and shows the TaylorMade Stealth Plus will improve your ball-striking all day long.
On the whole, Alex averaged 328 yards, 177.7 mph ball speed, 1.47 in smash factor and 120.8 in clubhead speed.
All very pleasing numbers indeed.
Alex achieved 2-3 mph more ball speed with the TaylorMade Stealth Plus in comparison to the old TaylorMade SIM2 Driver.
Finding the middle of the clubface is extremely important with the Stealth Plus Driver as it isn't as forgiving as the regular Stealth club.
With the same shaft, the TaylorMade Stealth produced a higher launch angle but the ball speeds didn't diminish much compared to the Stealth Plus.
The spin rate was much higher and Alex found less distance with the TaylorMade Stealth. The Stealth Plus produces a lower launch angle which was more penetrating.
Alex found his dispersion and accuracy had improved with the TaylorMade Stealth Driver, but the spin rate and launch angle had also increased, too.
The ball speed remained extremely impressive which signifies this TaylorMade Stealth family has qualities that please golfers of all abilities.
PERFORMANCE | TAYLORMADE STEALTH | TAYLORMADE STEALTH PLUS | TAYLORMADE STEALTH HD |
LAUNCH | MID TO HIGH | MID TO LOW | HIGH |
SPIN | MID | LOW | MID |
FLIGHT BIAS | NEUTRAL | NEUTRAL | DRAW |
FORGIVENESS | HIGH | MID | HIGH |
Should you buy one of the TaylorMade Stealth 2022 Drivers?
The TaylorMade Stealth Driver is certainly aimed at game improvers with its high MOI and high spin rate, while the Stealth Plus Driver produces a lower flight with less spin and increased distance, which is more suited to better players and professional golfers.
Many drivers feel the same when they get released in the new year, but TaylorMade has created something very unique with the new Stealth family for 2022
The Stealth Plus is the more expensive model at £499. This is a £50 increase from last year's SIM2 driver. This is also £30 more than the regular Stealth Driver (£469).
The metallic sound and feel when you connect with your ball is incredible and it offers you a ball-striking experience that you've never had before.
