The USGA and R&A have added the TaylorMade Stealth and Stealth Plus+ drivers to its Conforming Driver lists, making them allowed to play in official competitions three weeks before the inaugural PGA Tour event of 2022.
Both clubs have yet to be officially announced by TaylorMade, but if history is any indicator, we can expect them to debut in early January as the game’s finest players return to action in Hawaii after the holidays.
Only a few visual characteristics about the clubs are provided by the USGA Conforming Driver list, but they are noteworthy.
First, both the Stealth and Stealth Plus have the name “Carbonwood” printed on the sole. TaylorMade, like many other companies, has referred to drivers, fairway woods, and hybrids as “metalwoods” for years. For years, TaylorMade has employed carbon fiber in the crown and pieces of the sole of their drivers, so the addition of carbonwood implies that this driver is unique in TaylorMade’s viewpoint.
The words “60X Carbon Twist Face” have been added to the face of the clubs, according to the USGA description. The 60X carbon isn’t obvious, but Twist Face is a TaylorMade technology that debuted in the 2018 M3 and M4 drivers. It bends back the high-toe and low-heel areas of the hitting area to encourage more straight-flying mis-hits.
The Stealth and Stealth Plus+ drivers feature a similar general form to the SIM and SIM2 drivers we’ve seen over the last two years, with what looks to be a set weight in the back of an asymmetrical sole piece. The contour of the sole is intended to be more aerodynamic, and the greater weight in the SIM and SIM2 drivers helped elevate the moment of inertia for improved stability.
Both drivers contain a hosel mechanism that may be adjusted and a Speed Pocket slot behind the leading edge. Speed Pockets have previously been employed by TaylorMade to reduce spin and protect ball speed on low-struck shots. In a channel behind the Speed Pocket, the Stealth Plus+ includes a 10-gram movable weight. We’ve seen adjustable weight designs like this from TaylorMade in the past, but the SIM2 drivers from last season didn’t have one. Its return should allow golfers and fitters to increase the club’s draw or fade bias.
The Stealth is offered in 8, 9, 10.5 and 12-degree varieties, according to the USGA, while the Stealth Plus+ was tested in 8, 9 and 10.5-degree versions.
