Titanium has been the cornerstone of driver technology for the last 20 years, but even at the beginning of the Titanium driver era, TaylorMade engineers knew that every material had its limit. The future of driver performance begins with the one-of-one 60X Carbon Twist Face – comprised of 60 layers of carbon sheets strategically arranged to optimize energy transfer.

Over two decades of research and development, TaylorMade pushed the boundaries and now created a new era of driver technology with 60X Carbon Twist Face drivers. Welcome to the Carbonwood age.

“In the mid-2000's, our Research team developed an understanding that the weight of the face can affect impact efficiency, more specifically, the lighter the face, the more efficient the impact and the better the ball speed,” TaylorMade Vic President of Product Creation Brain Bazzel said. “We realised Titanium faces could only take us so far and carbon would be the face material of the future. This breakthrough design of a lightweight carbon face in Stealth, has created a whole new starting line, a new era of drivers, a new threshold of performance and a new platform for more innovation.”

Why carbon?

The goal of any new technology is to create a measurable performance improvement for TaylorMade customers. The 60 layers of carbon fibre 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.

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 20-year journey to today is a reflection of the engineering and R&D teams at TaylorMade that never gave up on the idea of a carbon face driver.”  - Todd Beach. 

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.

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 optimise 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 technological innovation of our nanotexture technology brings the entire face together and was a key to making this driver a reality. Without this revolutionary cover design, we could not have achieved the launch and spin performance required to extract the optimal performance in dry as well as wet conditions. Once we added the nanotexture technology to the grooves, we were able to unlock the full performance of a carbon face,” TaylorMade Senior Director Product Creation Carbonwood Drivers Tomo Bystedt said.

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.

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 of a lightweight carbon face in Stealth, has created a whole new starting line, a new era of drivers, a new threshold of performance and a new platform for more innovation.” - Brian Bazzel.

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

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.

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.

“Through two decades of work our team was able to solve various hurdles and create numerous technological innovations in order to bring today’s most advanced and precise driver to market.” - Todd Beach.

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

“The 20-year journey to today is a reflection of the engineering and R&D teams at TaylorMade that never gave up on the idea of a carbon face driver,” TaylorMade Senior Vice President R&D and Engineering Todd Beach said. “The technical challenges in creating a driver face with a new material are vast. How do we take a ‘space age’ material known for its high strength & lightweight properties, but not inherently designed for impact applications, and make it into a driver face that delivers revolutionary ball speed?

“Through two decades of work our team was able to solve various hurdles and create numerous technological innovations in order to bring today’s most advanced and precise driver to market.”

Because of weight savings from the 60X Carbon Twist Face, engineers were able to incorporate the use of a 10g sliding weight track designed to help golfers control shot shape by shifting mass on the sole to create desired ball flight. Stealth Plus is designed to be the lowest spinning driver in the family.

Stealth benefits from the weight savings of the 60x Carbon Twist Face by more weight to be positioned low and deep in the head. This adds 15 percent more MOI when compared to Stealth Plus and is designed to provide 200-300 rpms more spin.

Often, standard draw bias designs promote a right-to-left ball flight at the expense of forgiveness. By utilising the weight savings from the 60X Carbon Twist Face and shifting the Inertia Generator closer to the heel, we’re able to maintain draw-bias while creating the highest MOI in the Stealth family of drivers. While providing additional draw-bias, the Stealth HD will have similar back-spin performance to Stealth.

The Stealth Women’s driver combines the technology of Stealth HD in a slightly lighter head weight and with a unique colorway and aesthetic. It maintains the high MOI head design for easy, high-launch with a touch of draw.

Carbon is the prevalent design thread across the entire Stealth product line – from drivers to fairways and hybrids. That shared DNA makes this an unmistakable family, linked by the usage of advanced multi-material construction in pursuit of faster ball speeds, high MOI performance and precision playability.

The Stealth Plus fairway relies on the proven strength of ZATECH titanium, which is made in small batches using a unique process that allows engineers to improve the strength of the face and still maintain a high level of ductility. The ultra-thin construction promotes fast ball speeds and allows TaylorMade to push the limits of face flexibility.

An all-new infinity edge carbon crown creates a 12 percent larger carbon surface area compared to the SIM2 Titanium fairways, which allows the redistribution of more weight lower in the clubhead. Mass from the heavy 80g V Steel sole has been re-engineered for forgiveness while maintaining its core purpose of improving turf interaction and versatility.

The MOI on Stealth Plus is 12 percent higher than SIM2 Titanium and 18 percent higher than the original SIM titanium fairway. Overall, the design changes resulted in a club with the lowest CG ever in an adjustable TaylorMade fairway.

With a refined 175cc profile, the Stealth Plus fairway delivers the ideal blend of playability, shot making and distance. While the address area of Stealth Plus is only 2 percent larger than SIM2 to maintain versatility, the face area is 12 percent larger to provide improved performance on off-centre hits.

In the Stealth model, the all-new 3D carbon crown allowed engineers to shift weight lower and deeper in the clubhead. With a larger profile compared to Stealth Plus (190cc vs. 175cc) and a refined V Steel sole, this fairway is the ultimate combination of distance and forgiveness. Stealth fairways feature C300 Twist Face, which delivers top of the line 3-wood speed and the V Steel Sole promotes versatility and reduced turf drag.

In both models, the trusted colour contrast crown that has been a TaylorMade staple for nearly a decade has been replaced by an advanced laser alignment aid that stretches across the top of the face.

The laser-etched pattern delivers a subtle, yet powerful alignment tool. It was designed using optical engineering and player testing to deliver visual cues that influence alignment at address and how the club is delivered at impact. Furthermore, moving the alignment aid onto the face of the club allowed for a clean and minimalistic aesthetic on the crown.

Thru-Slot Speed Pocket provides increased face flexibility, preservation of ball speed and distance, especially on low-face strikes for both Stealth Plus and Stealth fairways.

Stealth fairways also come with a women’s specific offering featuring a stand-alone bright silver PVD sole and a dark silver crown. The women’s Stealth fairways also feature modified specs in the form of lighter heads and higher lofts in some cases, all designed to promote better performance for slower clubheads speeds.

Unprecedented Tour adoption over the last two seasons sparked an evolution among TaylorMade hybrids. Feedback from the world’s best players fuelled the refinements made to both Stealth Plus Rescue and Stealth Rescue for 2022.

Stealth Plus is a shot maker’s dream. The iron-like high-toe profile and compact overall footprint make it easier to control trajectory and shot shape, while maintaining added forgiveness compared to long irons.

A redesigned V Steel sole positions weight low in the club to encourage optimal launch properties and enhance turf interaction. Stealth Plus also features an adjustable loft sleeve that provides +/- 1.5° loft adjustability to optimise trajectory.

The Stealth Rescue combines Tour-validated designs with a new carbon crown construction. In the world of golf equipment, engineers know the slightest weight shifts can significantly influence performance. The new carbon crown construction allows for the relocation of a massive 7 grams, transferring it lower in the head to better position CG for easy launch, optimal forgiveness, and better stability through impact.

The V Steel sole positions weight low in the club to encourage high launch and enhanced turf interaction, making this club a weapon from any lie.

In both the Stealth Plus Rescue and Stealth Rescue, a high-strength C300 steel face delivers explosive ball speeds. The proven Twist Face design helps golfers overcome inherent mis-hit tendencies for straighter shots. The hyper-flexible Speed Pocket design is engineered to maximise ball speeds and produce additional forgiveness on low-face strikes.

Stealth Rescue hybrids come with the same women’s offering featuring a stand-alone bright silver PVD sole and a dark silver crown, as well as lighter heads and higher lofts for maximised performance.

Building from the revolutionary Cap Back Design in SIM2 Max and SIM2 Max OS irons – which utilised the concept of a multi-material hollow body construction – Stealth irons are engineered to improve face flexibility and deliver fast ball speeds with a confidence-inspiring shape.

With SIM2 Max and SIM2 Max OS, TaylorMade engineers created the multi-material Cap Back Design by utilising the concept of the hollow iron but replacing the steel back with a low density, polymer composite cap. This revolutionary construction improves the face’s ability to flex, delivering ball speed and forgiveness, without compromising the centre of gravity (CG). Cap Back Design supports the entire topline from heel to toe with the strong, lightweight polymer material spanning the entire cavity to provide additional rigidity in the upper part of the face.

"With the addition of toe wrap construction and the ability to move weight lower in the club, Stealth irons provide a perfect harmony of technology and design for the golfer who is looking for a performance advantage on the course.” - Matt Bovee.

Working in unison with the flexible Thru-Slot Speed Pocket, it created a larger unsupported area of the face, translating to a larger and more intelligently positioned sweet spot.

TaylorMade engineers not only wanted to continue the momentum of Cap Back Design, but also accelerate it to continue to push the limits of game improvement irons. When the engineers explored designing more performance into a game improvement iron, one thought was at the forefront of their minds: place iron performance where the game improvement golfer needs it the most – lower.

Enter toe wrap construction. The toe wrap is an advanced engineering feat that shifts substantial mass from the extreme high toe of the head and repositions it in the low in the sole of the iron. This redistribution of mass lowers the centre of gravity by up to 0.8 millimetres. The result is an increased launch angle producing a towering ball flight, long carry distances and heavy stopping power.

“When we were thinking of the next level of Cap Back Design, we cantered our thinking around the fact that the majority of golf shots happen at centre face or lower,” TaylorMade’s Matt Bovee said. “In order to drive performance lower in the club face, we needed to drive the centre of gravity lower in the club face because where CG goes, the sweet spot follows. With the addition of toe wrap construction and the ability to move weight lower in the club, Stealth irons provide a perfect harmony of technology and design for the golfer who is looking for a performance advantage on the course.”

Stealth irons were designed not only to continue pushing the limits of game improvement irons, but also to contemporize what a game improvement iron looks like. The aesthetic of Stealth drew inspiration from TaylorMade’s P·700 series in hopes to provide the golfer an iron that looks visually appealing in their bag and at address.

Stealth irons continue to feature core TaylorMade iron technologies that have been engineered to integrate seamlessly within the new-for-2022 designs.

Hidden inside the Cap Back Design, the ECHO Damping System spans the full face from the heel to the toe and uses multiple contact points on the face to absorb unwanted vibrations, giving the Stealth iron a solid feel as the ball explodes off the club face. Each damper has been uniquely designed for each individual iron, as ribbed structures align with the contact area and Inverted Cone Technology surface featured in each club.

Progressive Inverted Cone Technology is located heel-to-toe in the 4-PW of Stealth irons. The 450 stainless steel face has an intelligently positioned sweet spot that spans the most common impact points, delivering explosive ball speeds and consistency in all the right places. The long irons are designed with slightly more draw-bias than the mid-irons, which in turn have slightly more draw-bias than the short irons. This design element is intended to provide the most accurate ball flight for all levels of golfers.

360 Undercut Technology with stiffening topline ribs in the 4-7 irons promotes face flexibility and ball speed in these core lofts while maintaining desirable sound and feel. Additionally, a fluted hosel design promotes lower and deeper CG placement for improved launch characteristics while providing a clean, confident look at address. Hosel bending notch technology is again incorporated to allow for easier lie and loft fitting, allowing every golfer to easily achieve their ideal custom set-up.