TaylorMade Stealth 2 Driver Review

It doesn’t matter if you’re a new golfer or an experienced pro – selecting the right driver for your game can make all the difference on the course. When it comes to maximum distance and accuracy, one of the top names in golf technology is TaylorMade and they just released their new Stealth 2 for 2023. 

While this club promises high performance, there’s no substitute for thoroughly testing it out on the course. In this post, we’re going to take an in-depth look at what makes the new TaylorMade Stealth 2 such an impressive piece of engineering, from its sleek design to its advanced technology. 

There are 3 models in the Stealth driver family:

• TaylorMade Stealth 2 Driver
• TaylorMade Stealth 2 Plus Driver
• TaylorMade Stealth 2 HD Driver

We’ll provide an honest review of this driver and discuss whether or not it is worth making a part of your bag.

Features

TaylorMade has pretty short product cycles with the “carbonwood age” only starting in early 2022 with the release of the original Stealth, Stealth Plus and Stealth HD models.

Just 12 months later it’s time for an upgrade so TaylorMade has created the Stealth 2. The driver features an impressive combination of technology, style and performance. 

The carbon composite ring unites the driver head into a single force, freeing up weight which TaylorMade then redistributed to enhance forgiveness. On top of that, TaylorMade also included their popular Speedpocket design, making it easier for golfers to launch the ball with plenty of ball speed and low spin. Finally, this driver comes with a new 60X Carbon Twist Face which is 44% lighter than a titanium one and 2g lighter than the original carbon face in the original Stealth. This allows the club to offer more forgiveness across the face.

The head has an “inertia generator”, which is just a weight positioned to adjust the center of gravity. On the HD version, this is positioned more towards the heel to promote a draw bias to help golfers with a tendency to slice.

Adjustability

As with all premium drivers these days you can adjust the hosel for different loft and lie angle combinations. Players will love how easy it is to set up at address with the Stealth 2. It’s also great for golfers looking for increased forgiveness as it has a neutral ball flight and is very forgiving on off-center strikes. Overall, TaylorMade’s new driver is a great club that offers a lot in performance, technology and style that will help bring your game to the next level no matter what your skill level is! 

The Plus model also has a sliding weight to adjust the CG and tailor your flight. The HD model is draw-biased driver and has additional weight in the heel to help out slicers. 

Sound & Feel

The TaylorMade Stealth 2 Driver offers impressive sound and feel that will delight golfers of all skill levels. The club has a unique carbon fiber face, which creates an explosive sensation at impact that is unlike anything else on the market. This is complemented by a muted staccato impact sound that is consistent across all three models of the driver. Additionally, the carbon face technology produces a firm, solid feeling, providing excellent feedback to players about their swings.

TaylorMade’s engineers have also put a lot of effort into perfecting the acoustic profile of the club. Players can expect to have excellent consistency in terms of both feel and sound when using this driver. Furthermore, thanks to its carbon crown design and adjustable weighting feature (on the Plus model), golfers can easily customize the club to suit their swing and get better results with every shot they take.

Looks

To be honest I found the view at address didn’t quite sit well with me as I have used more traditionally shaped drivers. If you can get used to the red face then the club does look quite powerful.

Performance 

The TaylorMade Stealth 2 driver is a great choice for golfers of all skill levels. It offers an impressive combination of power and forgiveness, making it easy to achieve optimal performance on the course. The clubhead speed and ball speed that comes with this driver are some of the highest on the market, leading to increased distance off the tee. The unique inverted cone technology and ultra-low-CG design also help maximize forgiveness while still providing long distances. Additionally, the Stealth 2 Plus driver includes a 15g sliding weight to adjust ball flights and customize your launch conditions to fit your playing style. 

Like the original Stealth driver TaylorMade has included an updated version of Inverted Cone technology (ICT). This improves the consistency of performance on off-center strikes. Modern drivers are a bit limited in what they can do given the rules and regulations around driver specifications these days.

Finally, the Stealth 2 Driver was designed with maximum MOI in mind for more forgiveness on off-center shots. This paired with its high launch and low spin technology makes it a great choice for longer carry distances as well as a consistent feel from shot to shot. With all these features combined, it’s no wonder why this driver has become so popular amongst professional golfers as well as beginners alike!

Stock Shafts

The Stealth 2 comes with two options the Fujikura Ventus TR and the Mitsubishi Diamana S+ in three different flexes. The Ventus is a lighter shaft that launches the ball slightly higher than the Mitsubishi.

The Stealth 2 Plus comes with either the Mitsubishi Kai’li Red or Project X Hzrdus Black if you want something that launches lower with less spin.

The Stealth 2 HD comes with just the Fujikura Speeder NX Red as standard.

Lofts

The Plus comes in 8°, 9° or 10.5° while the other models are available as 9°, 10.5° or 12°. The FCT sleeve allows you to alter them slightly to optimize your launch conditions.

Testing

Obviously, every golfer is different and you might see big improvements from your current driver to one of the Stealth 2 models. My own findings using my Flightscope Mevo suggested there would be little if any advantage swapping from my current driver much less if I already had the previous Stealth. Launch and spin numbers on my better strikes were pretty similar although my ball speed was up slightly which added a handful of yards.

While it is definitely a very forgiving driver it can still only do so much to help. Changing golf equipment is not necessarily going to improve your scores overnight. Having owned three different TaylorMade drivers down the years I was hoping for great things (Burner Bubble, XR-03 and Burner TP). 

Here’s my review of last year’s model.

Additional Information

As you might expect there is a matching set of fairway woods that have been released to coincide with these new TaylorMade drivers. No doubt they will be just as eye-wateringly expensive as the big dog.

TaylorMade Stealth 2 Driver Review: Summary

Overall, the TaylorMade Stealth 2 Driver is a great golf club for both beginner and advanced golfers. It has plenty of features that make it both a powerful and easy-to-use club. The sound and feel is fantastic, and it looks powerful at address. The driver performs remarkably well, offering plenty of distance and accuracy that can take your game to the next level. I certainly preferred it to the original.

Whether you’re a casual player or looking to get more serious about the sport, this driver is an excellent choice that won’t let you down!

However, as with most modern drivers, the difference between it and its predecessors is quite small. If your driver is less than about 5 years old you may struggle to see significant improvements in your shots. I would also recommend making sure you get a fitting in order to get the best option to match your game.

If you want a new driver then this will certainly attract interest from your buddies and other golfers at your club but whether it’s worth spending $500 is debatable.

Maybe the Ping G430 will be more your cup of tea?