An Honest TaylorMade Stealth Driver Review [2023 Edition]

TaylorMade released the Stealth driver range in 2023, kicking off the “Carbonwood Age” and moving away from the standard titanium clubface.

This article will review the TaylorMade Stealth driver and discuss the benefits and downsides of this large, forgiving big stick.

You’ll notice that the Stealth is built for mid-handicappers seeking optimal leniency and a mid-to-high launch with a neutral ball flight.

If you are a high handicapper you might prefer the Stealth HD driver’s draw bias profile. The mid-launching Stealth Plus is for low handicappers.

 

Quick Overview of the TaylorMade Stealth Driver

Features

60X Carbon Twist Facial

The 60X carbon twist face is what makes TaylorMade Stealth drivers so different from other products. You’ll see that the engineers applied 60 carbon fiber layers to the clubface to enhance your feel and acoustics at impact.

Additionally, the Carbon fiber face helped me create enough friction to get my ball flying. However, the ball didn’t stay on my clubface for too long. It generated plenty of ball speed due to its flexible face and the flexibility of its active zone.

The twist face construction also resists turning during your swing, ensuring that you hit the target squarely at impact. You’ll find that it promotes straighter shots for improved accuracy.

Nanotexture Cover

I noticed that the Stealth was equipped with a protective layer made of polyurethane. TaylorMade calls this Nanotexture technology. It helps maintain ball speed and spin on all strikes. It also eliminated vibrations that are often experienced on off-center strikes, which I found to be very useful.

Asymmetric Inertia Generator

Next, you’ll find that the Stealth packs an inertia-generating clubhead, which means it carries superior aerodynamics. I felt the driver glided smoothly through the air without a hitch on my downswing. This helped me to achieve a powerful strike with my clubhead speed.

Furthermore, the asymmetric inertia generator allowed the engineers to place a weight on the rear of the driver’s clubhead. You’ll find that this increases the offset of the driver and its moment of inertia (MOI) to encourage straighter shots.

While I have no gripe with the generator’s effectiveness, this technology is not new to the Stealth big stick. It is available in the SIM range, which predates the Stealth series.

Thru Slot Speed Pocket

During testing, I noticed that the Thru-Slot Speed Pocket helped me on two occasions. Previous TaylorMade drivers carried this technology, and the brand obviously adopted the approach of “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.”

The speed pocket improves clubface flex and provides increased spring for mishits that are low off the face. Typically, hitting the golf ball in this area results in a drop in ball speed or spin. This can cause you to hit a short and low-spinning drive. You’ll see that you end up producing consistent yardage.

4 Degree Adjustable Loft Sleeve

The new Stealth driver has an adjustable loft sleeve, as you would expect from a premium, modern design.

You’ll notice that you can strengthen or weaken your standard loft by 2 degrees in either direction. If you have a loft that is 10.5 degrees, you can lower it to an 8.5-degrees. However, you can lower the clubface loft to 12.5 degrees.

You should avoid tinkering too much with the loft. It can affect your face angle, launch, and trajectory, as well as your length. If you’re trying to find the perfect profile for your swing, however, it can be very useful.

Lofts

Loft	9°	10.5°	12°
Swing Speed	Fast	Moderate	Slow

You’ll notice that stock TaylorMade Stealth drivers are constructed in 3 loft profiles to suit faster, moderate, and slower swing speeds. A Stealth 9-degree design is the lowest lofted and best suited for those with higher swing speeds.

A 10.5-degree profile is designed for moderate swing speeds and seeks a mid-to high launch off the tee box. Finally, you’ll find that the 12-degree design is ideal for slower swingers looking for a higher launching ball for farther carry yardage.

Shafts

TaylorMade offers four stock shafts for golfers to match a variety swing speeds. However, I feel that most options are better suited to slower swingers who have moderate or high swing speeds.

You’ll find that if you fit into the category of a moderate swinger, there are only two options with regular flexes. Ventus Red 5 or the Aldila Ascent Red is the best choice. This shaft is also the only stock shaft that has a senior bend, making it ideal for slow swing speeds.

For super fast swing speeds, you have the option of choosing the Aldila Tour AD 12, the Mitsubishi Diamana ZF60, or the Aldila. These shafts have stiffer and extra stiffer flex for straight ball flight, which allows for optimal roll, control, distance, and speed.

Stock Shaft Name	Shaft Material	Flex Options
Aldila Ascent Red	Graphite	XS, S and R
Ventus Red 5	Graphite	S, R. A
Tour AD 12	Graphite	XS, S
Mitsubishi Diamana ZF60	Graphite	XS, S

Stock Grip

The Lamkin Crossline 360 grip is the last feature to be discussed. It has a textured feel and features a Lamkin Crossline 360 grip. The small indents around the grip helped me maintain great control of my golf club. The rubber’s standard size may make it difficult for some golfers keep the club on the course.

 

Performance

Fast Speed

I was pleasantly surprised to find that the Stealth driver had ball speed comparable with my average using a GCQuad Launch Monitor. I can achieve a speed of 134 mph with a driver on a good day. The Stealth driver is just below 133 mph. These are the minor differences that had minimal impact on my total yardage.

Spin Rate

My ideal driver spin rate is 3000 revolutions per hour (rpm), while the Stealth is slightly higher. It spun at over 3200 rpm, which generated a slightly higher launch rate than usual. However, this is a good speed for average golfers who require a greater launch to get the best distance.

Launch

The factory settings of the Stealth driver encourage a mid-to-high launch for consistent carry distance. The intensified spin resulted in an increased apex, making it easy to launch.

Superior players may be discouraged by the Stealth’s higher launching speed.

Forgiveness

The Stealth provided plenty of forgiveness in my experience. This included ball speed, accuracy, and distance. The clubface’s high MOI design allows for direct flight and improves accuracy. In addition, an enlarged sweet spot maintains the ball’s pace and lowers spin for increased length.

Accuracy

The combination of the Carbon Twist Face with weight distribution was a good way to increase accuracy. These features kept your face at contact to prevent a slice, and inducing straight accurate drives.

 

What I like about the TaylorMade Stealth

Launch

The TaylorMade Stealth is a great driver that consistently launches high and long. This trait is ideal for casual golfers. You’ll find that the higher launch is generated by the Nanotexture technology, which tweaks spin for optimal lift off the tee.

Accelerated Clubhead speed

My clubhead speed was only 85 mph. The Stealth gave me an extra mile per hr, up to 86 MPH. You’ll notice that the Asymmetric Inertia Generator helps your clubhead glide through the air uninterrupted and accelerate velocity on the downswing.

Design with a high-MOI

The high-MOI design of this driver is perfect for the average golfer who likes to slice the ball. The Stealth reduces the impact of unintentional strikes and lowers the intensity of the slice. A square clubface at impact will increase your chances of finding the fairway.

Feel the difference

The Feel of the Stealth driver has a double-edged sword. It was both a delight and a frustration. It reduced vibrations on off-center shots, and protected my hands. The sensation was muted and felt like I was hitting an aeroball.

Forgiveness

The Stealth was able to encourage accurate tee shots and a consistent high launch, optimal spin, and ball speed. The Stealth’s optimal approach to leniency is for the average golfer who wants to preserve yardage and not go beyond the bounds with each shot.

 

What I dislike about the TaylorMade Stealth

Price

I’m not a fan of this driver’s exorbitant cost. However, I know that a breakthrough product is the result of years of research and development. It is definitely worth the price if you are looking for a long-lasting driver.

No Weight Track with Sliding

The standard edition, unlike the TaylorMade Stealth Plus does not have a sliding weight track. This allows you to adjust your center of gravity (CG) but not the Plus. The Plus edition might be better if you enjoy the freedom to modify your setup.

Similar Features To Previous Models

Despite its carbon wood clubface appearance, the Stealth features many technologies and features that were present in previous TaylorMade driver models. This isn’t a problem. You can still find TaylorMade drivers older than you at a lower cost with many of the same features.

Shaft Options for Slower Swingers

The Stealth’s only drawback is the lack of shaft options for slower swingers. Only the Ventus Red 5 can be ordered in a senior version. The rest of the options are geared towards moderate and high swing speeds.

 

Overall Rating and Thoughts

The Stealth is a result of genius engineering. It was designed to bring drivers into a new age in production. It offers a lot of yardage, consistency, forgiveness, and forgiveness that I love. Its high price will make it expensive for many.

Stealth is a top-quality driver you can invest in long-term. It encourages straighter shots, makes it easy to launch and gives consistent carry yards. I think the TaylorMade Stealth Driver is for serious mid-handicappers that are looking for a big stick that can help them get down to a lower handicapper.

TaylorMade M4 is a timeless masterpiece that will be appreciated by readers who love it.

Overall Rating: 89/100