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On this installment of the Worldwide Golf Shops INSIDER Podcast, we talk the all-new TaylorMade Stealth lineup with Tomo Bystedt, Senior Director of Product Creation of Sales at TaylorMade Golf. Tomo talks about everything that went into creating the new Stealth lineup, the evolution of the carbon face technology, tour feedback, and much more. You won’t want to miss this!

THE 20-YEAR JOURNEY

TaylorMade’s engineering and research and development teams began exploring carbon faces in 2000, with the first prototype created in 2003 featuring a titanium cover. Six years later, research into a polymer cover began in hopes to improve launch conditions. 

Then in 2012, a small-scale composite face production facility was built to support the 2013 launch of the limited-edition Japan-only Gloire Reserve driver. It served as a sign of readiness for this design platform and the progress of TaylorMade engineering.

In 2016, new manufacturing techniques led to the first development of a 60-layer carbon face. Work on these new Stealth models began in earnest in 2018, some 18 years after the process began.

In 2019, a state-of-the-art plant was commissioned and completed in 2021 to set the gold standard for high-volume production of composite parts. Every part of the process has been streamlined to reduce waste and increase efficiency. Simultaneously, additional facilities were constructed to bond the fully finished faces into castings.

We arrive at today, 20 years later. TaylorMade ushers in the Carbonwood age.

WHY CARBON?

The goal of any new technology is to create a measurable performance improvement for TaylorMade customers. The 60 layers of carbon fiber in Stealth help do exactly that by providing more speed. The red carbon face – yes, the face is red – – delivers a higher COR and more precise face geometry through a lighter, but larger face. d

TaylorMade engineers took advantage of the lightweight carbon material by creating a 26g face, which is 40 percent lighter than a titanium face of equivalent size. Because of that weight savings, the face size of Stealth is 11 percent larger than SIM2 and SIM2 Max drivers and nearly 20 percent larger than the 2020 SIM driver. 

The weight savings and larger face size made possible by the 60X Carbon Twist Face delivered a stunning ball speed increase during player testing when comparing Stealth Plus and Stealth to the 2021 SIM2 and SIM2 Max drivers at better player swing speeds, unlocking a whole new level of driver performance.

NANOTEXTURE FACE TECHNOLOGY

TaylorMade’s 20-year journey to change the face of golf was made possible by an innovative nanotexture cover that sits on top of the 60 layers of carbon. The nanotexture cover is made from a thin polyurethane layer that creates a strong and flexible striking surface which serves to optimize distance based on improving launch conditions in both dry and wet conditions. 

This revolutionary technology creates the face texture needed to produce the ideal amount of friction between the face and the ball at impact to reduce spin at impact in dry conditions. The nanotexture face also features full-face scorelines designed to provide improved spin performance in wet conditions. 

The combination of the nanotexture cover, Twist Face® and TaylorMade’s ultra-flexible Thru-Slot Speed Pocket™ was engineered to produce forgiveness on strikes across the face. 

SHAPED FOR SPEED  

Despite a larger face, clubhead speed does not decline with Stealth. The asymmetric Inertia Generator creates advanced aerodynamics at the most critical phase of the swing – from the downswing to the moment right before impact. 

This breakthrough design optimizes clubhead speed, while also allowing additional weight to be placed at the rear of the club to encourage higher MOI, high launch and improved forgiveness.  

HOW DOES IT SOUND?

Based on experience with older carbon headed clubs in the marketplace, it might expect the Stealth family of drivers to suffer from a muted and low-energy sound profile. However, through fine-tuned acoustic precision, engineers have been able to create a bright and powerful sound and feel profile that is true to the high standards of TaylorMade drivers through recent years. 

The sound and feel of Stealth has had an even better average sentiment rating in player testing compared to SIM2 and Tour player feedback has been overwhelmingly positive.https://www.youtube.com/embed/in1N77Q52Bo?feature=oembed

GET FIT TODAY

There is no better time than now to get custom fit for the new TaylorMade Stealth lineup. With fitting days happening across Worldwide Golf Shops locations, click here to find an event near you!