Taylormade Stealth 2 drivers
From £499
GM verdict
Taylormade says more carbon fibre equals more performance, a theory we were keen to put to the test. Visually, the three new Stealth 2 drivers haven’t evolved considerably. The striking red face continues – it’s a little brighter this time around, which makes the loft clearer to see, and the crowns adopt more of a gloss finish. This is a trend we’re seeing from multiple brands in 2023 and we think it makes drivers look more generous at address.
The Stealth 2 has the red ring round the back of the head, which highlights the Carbon Reinforced Composite Ring technology. We think this looks really smart and adds something different to the driver without making it look fussy. You won’t see this on the Stealth 2 Plus, which is a shame, but better players may prefer the cleaner look.
We hit the new Stealth 2 drivers up against last year’s versions in the same loft and shaft on a Gcquad launch monitor. All three drivers performed well – the new Stealth 2 was the fastest for us, both in terms of clubhead speed and ball speed, and it also offered the most carry distance. The Stealth 2 spun a little more than the original, as did the Stealth 2 Plus, although it wasn’t a drastic increase to be concerned about.
One thing that came across clearly during our testing was the consistency of the ball flight we gained from the Stealth 2. Our flight was very repeatable throughout testing on the golf course. Looking at the data, the spin rates for all the shots only fluctuated in the Stealth 2 by about 700rpm – with the Stealth there was a higher difference of 1,000rpm. The Stealth 2 Plus wasn’t any longer for me than last year’s Stealth Plus, but we felt it was noticeably more playable on the course, despite being the low-spin offering in the range. This is helped by the moveable weight, which we used to encourage a slight fade and made the shot pattern more predictable. We also thought it felt a lot more powerful.
The Stealth 2 HD is perhaps the surprise package of the three drivers. It certainly promotes a draw and provides a consistently higher flight than the other Stealth 2 models. Depending on your current shot preference, it will straighten a fade or put a slight draw of five to ten yards on if you hit it straight. The rounded head is arguably the best looking of the three and it will appeal to a lot more players than the previous model, including those who could also play the standard Stealth 2 driver.
Overall, the new Stealth 2 driver range is more evolutionary than revolutionary. The distance was more than competitive, but it was the added consistency in testing that impressed us most. It’s a driver range that builds on what worked before and will cater for every handicap level.
Key technology
“THESE DRIVERS ARE LONG, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY MAINTAIN A LEVEL OF CONTROL THAT KEEPS THE BALL IN PLAY AT THE SAME TIME”
Neil Tappin, GM digital editor
1 The new 60X Carbon Twist Face is 2g lighter than the original Stealth and has been redesigned to expand the sweetspot, making it faster from a larger area.
2 At least double the amount of carbon fibre used creates more discretionary mass, which has been relocated for a higher MOI and optimal CG location.
3 The lower-spinning Stealth 2 Plus driver benefits from a 15g sliding weight track designed to help golfers dial in shot shape.