By James Hunt – Feb 27, 2024
(Reviewed by Coach Erik Schjolberg)
Contents
Key Takeaways
- HEAVY draw bias
- Impact sound incredible
- High launch
- Superb forgiveness
I am a passionate golfer with an itch to tinker with my bag setup. Currently a 9.8 handicap fighting to stay in single digits, I am in a constant pursuit for the perfect combination of clubs and golf balls to lower my scores. The best time of year is driver testing time!
I recently had the opportunity to test out the new TaylorMade Stealth 2 HD driver. I had the Stealth 2 HD for nearly two weeks, and I put it through its paces on the range and on the golf course. While at the range, I used my Rapsodo PLM to get an idea of the performance of the Stealth 2 HD.
Summary of the Taylormade Stealth 2 HD Driver
FARgiveness! TaylorMade isn’t just blazing trails in the club making game, they are also making up new words! The all new TaylorMade Stealth 2 HD driver is the most recent offering from the Carlsbad manufacturer that offers high launch and a draw bias.
Slice killing your game? TaylorMade believes that the Stealth 2 HD can help you hit straighter shots on those drives, and maybe even put a draw on it. A big 30-gram weight in the rear to help with launch, and a weight forward at the heel helps close the face and take that dreaded side spin off your tee shots.
Stealth 2 Lineup:
- Stealth 2 HD – Draw bias with high launch
- Stealth 2 – Best mix of forgiveness and carry distance
- Stealth 2 Plus – Sliding weight, pretty low spin, longest distances
TaylorMade Stealth 2 HD Driver Review
Available Lofts: 9°, 10.5°, and 12°
Launch: High
Spin: Mid
Adjustable Hosel: Yes
Pros:
- Perfect sound and solid feel
- Definitely fights the slice
- Nice high launch
- Very forgiving
Cons:
- No adjustable weight
- Distance wasn’t the best
My Full Taylormade Stealth 2 HD Driver Review
Features and Benefits
- Fixed Weight System – Heavy perimeter weighting is used to promote high launch and draw bias
- More Carbon – Full body carbon construction is used, allowing saved weight to be positioned in the right places for optimal launch
- 60x Carbon Twist Face – Redesigned to be more forgiving across the face and enhance ball speed
- Inverted Cone Technology – an expanded Coefficient of Restitution (COR) zone means you get more ball speed and distance on off center hits
- Engineered Sound – Shape and curvature of the club head mixed with a rib structure internally help enhance acoustics, making it one of the best sounding clubs on the market
Testing the Stealth 2 HD Driver
I was able to test out the Stealth 2 HD for nearly two weeks. Swinging it at the range three times, and two rounds to see what this club could do.
My Experience with the Taylormade Stealth 2 HD
Already testing out the Stealth 2 and Stealth 2 Plus, I had a certain level of expectation with the Stealth 2 HD. I was very impressed with the Stealth 2 and even more so with the Plus. Performance wise they have been at the top of the leaderboard.What I really enjoyed most was the sound and feel of those two clubs. I fully expected the Stealth 2 HD to have the same sound and feel, and it did not disappoint. Contact was met with a muted, but not dead at all, crack that is highly unique and only found in the Stealth 2 lineup.
The HD in the name fittingly stands for “High Draw.” I really would have loved this club when I was a newcomer to golf. Like most beginners, I struggled heavily with a slice. I have since fixed my swing to straighten out my drives, but the Stealth 2 HD really showed that it contains some pretty amazing draw bias.
My first few swings on the range produced a duck hook. I said to myself “Okay! Let’s see what you got.” I brought out my old swing. The over the top, outside-in, swing for the fences one. Just to see how this Stealth 2 HD would fare against a slice.
I was highly impressed! These range balls should have been sailing 50+ yards right, but they weren’t! Some had a bit of a fade on them, but most were dead straight. Really cool!
The rub with the Stealth 2 HD is getting the ball in the air and promoting a draw. The tech in the driver is designed around those two aspects. These two characters put a damper on distance. The Stealth 2 HD is certainly not the longest driver on the market like its lineup buddies, but the target market is looking for fairways, not extra yards.
Compared to my gamer, the Stealth 2 HD was averaging about 10 yards less of total distance. However, all the shots taken were on the centerline or left of center. I would certainly say TaylorMade constructed a true driver that launches high and favors left!
My Grading of the Stealth 2 HD Driver
Distance (C)
It won’t be used in a long drive competition, but that’s not the purpose of this driver. Finding fairways is what it’s designed for.
Forgiveness (A+)
Playability (C)
Looks (A+)
Sound and Feel (A+)
Customer Reviews
Customers have nothing but nice things to say about this driver. Most mention the forgiveness, and also the huge help it is to their slice. It also seems to be popular in the senior golfer community because of the high launch.
The average Taylormade Stealth 2 HD driver review gets 4.8 stars, so this club is very well received. Before you make a decision, I would highly recommend the Global Golf UTry program. It allows you to try before you buy, and it’s a no-risk trial of the club.
Bottom Line – Why Consider the Stealth 2 HD
Having a hard time getting the ball in the air off the tee? Losing your drives to the trees on the right? Maybe both? Then the Stealth 2 HD is worth a look.
Premium, lightweight shaft options coupled with high launch and draw bias weighting, the Stealth 2 HD driver is one of the best options to fix one (or both) of those issues.
Available Lofts: 9°, 10.5°, and 12°
Launch: High
Spin: Mid
Adjustable Hosel: Yes
Pros:
- Perfect sound and solid feel
- Definitely fights the slice
- Nice high launch
- Very forgiving
Cons:
- No adjustable weight
- Distance wasn’t the best
Who is the Stealth 2 HD Driver For?
Low Handicap (No)
Achieving a low handicap comes with pretty consistent performance off the tee. A lower handicap golfer wouldn’t get much benefit from the HD.
Mid Handicap (Maybe)
Some mid-handicappers can benefit from this style of driver, but most will likely find the regular Stealth 2 to be a better fit.
High Handicap (YES)
The Stealth 2 HD would be one of my first recommendations for a higher handicap player. The easy launch and draw bias will do wonders for a higher handicapper, and it also ranked very high in my best drivers for a slice testing.
Alternate Choices
Cobra Aerojet Max – The high launch and draw bias characteristics of the Stealth 2 HD are comparable to the Aerojet Max
Ping G430 SFT – The SFT (straight flight technology) is set up for high launch and draw, just like the HD (high draw)
Callaway Paradym X – Although it doesn’t have an inertia generator built in, the Paradym X is very forgiving, high launch, and has an adjustable hosel that includes a draw bias
Taylormade Stealth HD Review – Taylormade’s original version of their draw biased drivers. If you’re looking to snag a similar club a little bit cheaper, add this one to your short list.
My Final Verdict
The TaylorMade Stealth 2 HD really delivers on its claim to be high launch AND promote a draw. I was very impressed with what I saw from this golf club. Forgiveness is off the charts, easy high launch, and the most draw bias I’ve seen on a club to date.
It is personally not something I would have as a gamer, but it was certainly fun to test out, and there is definitely a large sector of the golf world that could benefit from this club. Kill that slice, and get the ball in the air with ease!
I would suggest the UTry Program with Globalgolf.com. Being able to get real-world testing done on clubs before investing in one is invaluable. Give it a try. See if it fits in your bag!
FAQ
What is the difference between Stealth 2 and Stealth 2 HD?
What does HD mean?
Is the TaylorMade Stealth 2 HD driver forgiving?
Is the Stealth 2 HD driver adjustable?
About the Author
By James Hunt – Last Updated on Feb 27, 2024
Expertise:
James is an avid golfer and equipment tester here at Swing Yard. He’s currently living in the golf mecca of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. He first started playing golf at age of 11 with his Dad on the weekends. Just last spring, James was finally able to take his dad on a bucket list trip to The Masters! At a current handicap of 9, and consistently breaking 80, James is working hard to get closer and closer to breaking Par. Give James’s full bio a read for more info.
Reviewed By:
By Coach Erik Schjolberg – Last Reviewed on Feb 27, 2024
Expertise:
Coach Erik actively coaches several PGA Tour Professionals. He’s the head golf instructor and writer here at Swing Yard, was voted the “#1 Golf Coach in Scottsdale, Arizona”, and has been coaching for over 20+ years. Erik also owns and operates his own online golf school, EJS Golf Academy. His other credentials include: Active PGA Coaches Membership, Titleist TPI Level 1 and 2, Trackman Certified Level 1, Dr. Kwon’s Biomechanics Level I and II, Scott Cowx Certified Level I Advanced, BodiTrack and V1 Sports Pressure Mat Certified, Titleist Club Fitting and Ball Fitting Certified, PGA Hope, and Sportsbox AI. Check out Erik’s full bio and certifications for more info.
