Anyone Have An Idea of What TM’s Driver Plans Are for 2022?

[A.Princey]

Because of the dozens of Stealth threads that get created, all the while these new posters get berated for not posting here first. Gee, I wonder why...

[Nihonsei75]

Oh, as usual, I am unaware. I guess this one is what it is to this backed up delivery point and would gain more insight, feedback, and opinions with a title easier to identify by seekers and owners alike.

  Let's agree to blame the mods!!! Do we have mods here?

[getitdaily]

53 minutes ago, Nihonsei75 said:

Oh, as usual, I am unaware. I guess this one is what it is to this backed up delivery point and would gain more insight, feedback, and opinions with a title easier to identify by seekers and owners alike.

  Let's agree to blame the mods!!! Do we have mods here?

Oh they're around. Busy linking giveaways to the top of all pages so it looks like you have a warning from them every time you move around the forums.

[BallerNate]

1 hour ago, Nihonsei75 said:

Why change it? This thread has evolved from what, when to why, how, wow and drop date. It's perfect just being a record of speculation, anticipation, and acceptance or dissolution. Maybe it was an inside job but who cares? There are some still waiting in anticipation of delivery and like me still taking notes based on this thread's WRXer feedback.

  Even all member testing and results should stay here. We're 210 pgs in and we owe it to eachother to keep it moving on out right here, in this space and with every other model, loft, shaft, and setting we've (y'all) tried. It has slowed down a bit though, so if you do start a new thread just drop "official" since it is now "officiallly" known to be the new World's #1 driver of choice..."TaylorMade Stealth Plus (8 degrees) Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 7 X".

  And also post a link to this thread on top, just out of respect for the time and effort these guys have put in to make this one of the few things worth looking forward to, yeah!?

I agree 100%, this has been my favourite thread ever on WRX!

 

From the rumours, to the leaked pics, to the launch info, to the in-hand testing, this has been an incredible ride to be a part of!!

 

Can’t wait to actually get this Red-faced beauty on an actual course…it’s been a long a** winter!! 🔥🔥

[ZA206]

I've got an OG SIM 9 deg and play it with a Ventus Blue Velocore 6X, great driver, but I'm very curious to try the Stealth + and see how it stacks up. I'm not planning on trading in my SIM, but will hang onto it as a keeper. I'm also debating trying the Kali' white in 60 STIFF and dropping down to the 8 degree Stealth + head. I typically get a higher launch with stiff shafts and I think it would be interesting to try the new driver with that sort of shaft to see what the net effect would be on launch conditions. Currently have the SIM turned down one notch to 8.25 loft (I think) and get a mid trajectory flight with mid/low spin. I'd like to see the launch go up a hair and the spin down..... any gains in ball speed or forgiveness would be gravy!

 

I need to go try them out.

 

-ZA

 

 

[PowerPlayer]

I don't see 60 layers. Also, Ugh!! Hope it's not taking forever to get a replacement. My favorite driver ever. 

 

 

 

[Nihonsei75]

10 minutes ago, PowerPlayer said:

I don't see 60 layers. Also, Ugh!! Hope it's not taking forever to get a replacement. My favorite driver ever. 

 

 

 

2 words............No words.....

 

Edit: Okay, Your driver said somethin' 'bout Jada's hair huh? It got busted up quick!

Edited April 1, 2022 by Nihonsei75

[ZA206]

16 minutes ago, PowerPlayer said:

I don't see 60 layers. Also, Ugh!! Hope it's not taking forever to get a replacement. My favorite driver ever. 

 

 

 

 

Details? Come on man!

[Sean124]

4 minutes ago, ZA206 said:

 

Details? Come on man!

The front fell off

[Valtiel]

41 minutes ago, Sean124 said:

The front fell off

[grm24]

1 hour ago, PowerPlayer said:

I don't see 60 layers.

Not surprising considering how thin individual stands/layers of carbon fiber can be made.

Edited April 1, 2022 by grm24

[Nihonsei75]

21 minutes ago, grm24 said:

Not surprising considering how thin individual stands/layers of carbon fiber can be made.

And also with their resin advancements.

 Even moreso when the next gens will be of pure graphene. My chemist nephew was invited into a post-graduate program at (not named school) during the time Wilson did the driver thing on tv with MGS. I tried to convince him into looking at this as a golf application but he declined the research offer and went on into a teaching position. "Nano" descriptions are being over or inaccurately used right now but when graphene aligns itself (pun intended) with more public use industries, everything will become lighter, faster, stronger.

  It's still technically carbon so I think TM is only laying the foundation with Stealth for more to come within the "Carbonwood Age".

[BallerNate]

9 hours ago, PowerPlayer said:

I don't see 60 layers. Also, Ugh!! Hope it's not taking forever to get a replacement. My favorite driver ever. 

 

 

 

Oh no, sorry to hear this.

 

Was just a matter of time before we saw a defective one though with how many they have to produce.

 

Good luck for a quick replacement!! 🤞🏽🤞🏽

[QuickFeet]

14 minutes ago, BallerNate said:

Oh no, sorry to hear this.

 

Was just a matter of time before we saw a defective one though with how many they have to produce.

 

Good luck for a quick replacement!! 🤞🏽🤞🏽

I agree; bonding dissimilar materials together is a challenge.  If I remember correctly, NIKE has some problems when it came to the Vapor Flex driver; the RZN shell would separate from the frame as the adhesive would sometimes fail.

[BallerNate]

1 hour ago, QuickFeet said:

I agree; bonding dissimilar materials together is a challenge.  If I remember correctly, NIKE has some problems when it came to the Vapor Flex driver; the RZN shell would separate from the frame as the adhesive would sometimes fail.

Absolutely. Plus the massive volume that I'm sure they're pumping out currently...bound to be a few that slip through the cracks.

[MysteryV]

9 hours ago, Nihonsei75 said:

And also with their resin advancements.

 Even moreso when the next gens will be of pure graphene. My chemist nephew was invited into a post-graduate program at (not named school) during the time Wilson did the driver thing on tv with MGS. I tried to convince him into looking at this as a golf application but he declined the research offer and went on into a teaching position. "Nano" descriptions are being over or inaccurately used right now but when graphene aligns itself (pun intended) with more public use industries, everything will become lighter, faster, stronger.

  It's still technically carbon so I think TM is only laying the foundation with Stealth for more to come within the "Carbonwood Age".

 

I feel like we've been hearing about graphene, buckyballs, buckytubes, and crazy materials advances since the promise of hoverboards and flying cars in the '80s.  Are we really much closer to consumer applications beyond Callaway's ridiculous graphene impregnated ball?  

[taylorx300]

On 11/3/2021 at 9:39 PM, taylorx300 said:

The last two years, ALL the big driver companies have talked about one thing - aerodynamics. Why? Because with the COR and CT rule in place since 2009, they have been battling the launch and spin numbers while chasing the unicorn 5900 MOI number. We have seen a lot of stuff change since ‘09, shapes, moving weights, materials, etc. Study most of the drivers built in the last 4 years and you will notice some kind of mass (weight) place all the way back from the face and in the lowest point on the driver. They know that works. Get the club to go through the are faster and you might change ball speed by club speed x smash.

My prediction is what I’ve heard previously is new materials. Graphene. Lighter and stronger than both titanium and carbon fiber by a lot. But cost will be an issue. 
Let’s all wait and see who brings it out first

I posted this on page 13 of this topic.

[this_is_golf]

What are peoples thoughts on the HD model? In your opinion, is it BS, a bandaid or a decent option for the weekend warrior looking for some help? 

[t4t3r]

Took me a second to figure out what the heck I was looking at up there. Mega failure. 
 

I know they have done an enormous amount of testing but I still wonder if we’ll see any change to the durability rates with the carbon face. 

[getitdaily]

1 hour ago, this_is_golf said:

What are peoples thoughts on the HD model? In your opinion, is it BS, a bandaid or a decent option for the weekend warrior looking for some help? 

If you slice it often then it is a good driver for you. If you don't consistently slice it then the regular stealth may be better.

[zap311]

Cool video from Fast Company about the development of Stealth. We already knew some of this, but I found the part about the wet golf ball and the millions of test shots interesting!

 

https://www.fastcompany.com/video/tiger-woods-secret-weapon-how-taylormades-new-stealth-drivers-were-made/YcR2UEUy

[gsrjc]

5 hours ago, this_is_golf said:

What are peoples thoughts on the HD model? In your opinion, is it BS, a bandaid or a decent option for the weekend warrior looking for some help? 

That’s the version I play. I think to me it’s sets up the best to the ball. I get good spin and doesn’t draw to me. 

[Nihonsei75]

4 hours ago, zap311 said:

Cool video from Fast Company about the development of Stealth. We already knew some of this, but I found the part about the wet golf ball and the millions of test shots interesting!

 

https://www.fastcompany.com/video/tiger-woods-secret-weapon-how-taylormades-new-stealth-drivers-were-made/YcR2UEUy

Interesting to see Iron Byron was swingin' a Graphite Design. With the white handle and Baby Blue rings and mid to lower it looks to be an AD-GP. Unrelated, I would like to see robot results from many shafts on each head in every release cycle. Just in case I wake up as a robot with a credit card one day. My bosses already know I'm a machine! Thanks for sharing!

[Valtiel]

3 hours ago, Nihonsei75 said:

Interesting to see Iron Byron was swingin' a Graphite Design. With the white handle and Baby Blue rings and mid to lower it looks to be an AD-GP. Unrelated, I would like to see robot results from many shafts on each head in every release cycle. Just in case I wake up as a robot with a credit card one day. My bosses already know I'm a machine! Thanks for sharing!

Good catch. Makes me wonder why as I can't imagine they just throw anything in there. I wonder if they find that particular shaft to be "neutral", as they could probably demo hundreds of shafts and establish a range of launch characteristics and then simply pick whichever falls right down the middle. 

[kben1993]

Found some lighter and heavier sliding stealth weights that look stock on the bay. Just FYI

[barony19]

Hey. So I know some folks have been having issues with the Stealth+ and crazy low spin. Here’s what I’ve found FWIW after hitting one extensively on a Mevo+
 

For context, I’m about a 102-105mph swinger, smooth tempo, 0-4 up on the ball depending on ball position and tee height. I do tend to spin the ball a bit with driver as my tendency is low on the face contact. (For reference mine is a 9 degree head using an AD-DI 6s set to standard)

Looking through multiple sessions worth of data on the Stealth+, I’ve noticed a big difference between low face and high face contact. For me, a centered contact is 2,300-2,600 spin, low on the face is about 3,000-3,200, but hit it above center toward the top of the face and spin drops way down to about 1,300rpm, which is deadly. 
 

Overall, this works for me as 99% of the time I live between bottom and center of the face, but anyone with low spin tendencies, and especially anyone who consistently has above center contact with driver might really struggle.
 

I’m not sure it’s massively better than my OG Sim, but it’s definitely more consistent and does seem a little more forgiving and I do love how it looks at address. 
 

I don’t currently have any other drivers to compare, but I suspect most probably don’t have quite such a wide difference in spin between bottom and top of face. 

[Nihonsei75]

Please anybody, thoughts on loft and settings. I just built my 3rd order and definitely am keeping to this purchase. I currently play OG Sim 9° 1 click higher at 9.75 and 1.5° closed. Haven't been on a monitor since R15 TP @ 9.5° so no numbers. My flight is higher with Sim but still a mid flight, no baloons. Can still fade as normal but have an occasional hook when steppin' on it.

 I ordered the Plus at 10.5° with the GD XC (low/mid-low). In my mind I am lofting up to compensate for lower spin. I could use more carry w/out making all the adjustments for a dramatically higher AoA. I'm pretty obsessive with over-analyzing so I'll spare my thoughts to this point. I know it's a bit ridiculous making such an investment without a proper fit. My only reprieve is that it hasn't hurt me yet to buy online and I'm saving a bit so not a big loss if I get it wrong. I went back a bunch of pages and also searched key words but could use some recent revelations if you may have any with more time with the Stealth.

  What are some things you thought about when you consider(ed) lofting up a 9° or lofting down a 10.5°. as well as what Stealth your playing if your coming from Sim or Sim 2 and observations. Thanks for your time and assistance!

  Edit: (tell me if this should be a separate post) I have had great success going from a 62gr to 77gr in my Sim Rocket 14° with lower torque. Could I expect the same improvements if going to 7s in driver? Would only be a 9 gram increase.

 

Edited April 2, 2022 by Nihonsei75

[Valtiel]

2 hours ago, Nihonsei75 said:

I currently play OG Sim 9° 1 click higher at 9.75 and 1.5° closed. My flight is higher with Sim but still a mid flight, no baloons. 

 I ordered the Plus at 10.5° with the GD XC (low/mid-low). In my mind I am lofting up to compensate for lower spin. 

 What are some things you thought about when you consider(ed) lofting up a 9° or lofting down a 10.5°.

 

For me those considerations are purely about face angle and how the club sits behind the ball. I would caution you against lofting up with the Stealth+ for multiple reasons though. One, the OG SIM is a very low spin head and I would not expect you to see a difference between the two spin wise that would warrant an extra degree of loft, ESPECIALLY if you prefer the look of the SIM lofted up to sit slightly closed at address. Two, Taylormade 10.5* heads anecdotally seem to be more often higher lofted than stated, so with a 9* head you might be getting something between 9-10* actual loft whereas we've seen 10.5* heads end up all the way at 12* and more often in the 11* range. This could handcuff you as your Stealth+ 10.5* could very easily be higher lofted than you might want, and your options for dropping that loft will open the face which will create a very different look behind the ball if you prefer the slightly shut SIM head. 

As a fellow over analyzer I would recommend going with a 9* head with the knowledge that you have two options for increasing spin; adding loft and manipulating weight. Adding loft will obviously shut the face slightly, but if you prefer that with the SIM then that feels like a much safer route than trying to crank open a head that is higher loft. You can also drop the weight on the front slider and increase the rear TSS weight. This will increase MOI and thus launch and spin. 

[BottleCap]

20 hours ago, Valtiel said:

Good catch. Makes me wonder why as I can't imagine they just throw anything in there. I wonder if they find that particular shaft to be "neutral", as they could probably demo hundreds of shafts and establish a range of launch characteristics and then simply pick whichever falls right down the middle. 

Now i feel like my TM shaft collection is incomplete, gotta get a GP now

[enickma]

On 3/31/2022 at 9:11 PM, PowerPlayer said:

 

superglue that sucker!