TaylorMade Stealth HD Driver Review | Is the High Draw for you?

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Key Takeaways

• Stealth HD (High Draw) is coined for higher handicap players
• Designed with capabilities to fight the slice and launch the ball high
• Higher MOI compared to other draw bias drivers
• Super HOT 60x Carbon Fiber face
• Say goodbye to the right side rough and trees!
• Slight offset hidden by sleek design

Love ball speed? Love Distance? Need to play a draw or fight a slice? TM has you covered with the TaylorMade Stealth HD Driver (High Draw).

We’ve also got the Stealth 2 HD review here if you’re looking for the latest model.

Lofts Available

9⁰, 10.5⁰, 12⁰ (RH only)

Handicap Range

15+. You’re hitting a draw and you don’t have another option!

Technical Review

Enter the draw phase of this review.

Many draw-bias drivers tend to have lower MOI than their “max” counterparts. Here, TM’s design remains consistent across the board and retains the highest MOI that makes the Stealth so forgiving.

Otherwise, the head remains a sturdy 460ccs and the face remains HOT albeit with some additional shaping.

Shaft Options

The pure stock option currently includes a Fujikura Air Speeder 45 shaft, but other options are available for customization including choices from Aldila, Fujikura, Graphite Design, KBS, LAGP, Mitsubishi, Project X, and UST.

Many of these choices are at zero upcharge with most premium options adding an extra $250.

Performance

The TaylorMade Stealth HD driver properly belongs in the family with the Stealth and Stealth+ with consistent and great ball speeds off the face.

I would put the HD version on par if not slightly “slower” than the Stealth by an average of about 3mph. Furthermore, The caveat is that for the average player that hits a draw, to begin with, you’ll be slinging the ball around dog legs as if you’re Bubba Watson himself.

I tend to find TM drivers to have draw bias, to begin with, and have to consciously work in a fade. Combined with the low-spin tendencies I found in the Stealth and Stealth +, I was surprised at how effective the HD is in producing a high draw…well… more like a hook.

The technology in this head simply works and took the right side of the fairway out of play in my hands.

I had the chance to test a friend’s HD driver out on the course and while the shaft wasn’t a total match, I was slinging shots from out of bounds back onto the fairway with very little adjustment to my swing.

In the hands of one of our playing partners who hits a *gentle* slice, the results were immediate — he was hitting the ball very straight even if the shot shape was a push.

To pick up a club and see that change, one that’s easily playable with a small aim adjustment was incredible.

Looks

The Stealth HD is a veritable clone of the Stealth and I had to read the badging to tell the difference. This is especially nice for players who may be self-conscious about playing a draw-biased driver since it’s so hard to differentiate. (Callaway’s Big Bertha ’21 comes to mind — very obvious).

If one is nitpicking, you may notice a slightly stronger offset with the Stealth HD driver, but otherwise, it still sports the beautiful black and red coloring, pear shape, and 460cc head like the rest of the Stealth family.

Sound and Feel

TM, I’m impressed. All of your Stealth drivers have an excellent firm feel to them and sound fantastic. The Stealth HD is no exception and is on par with the Stealth standard driver in terms of feel and sound.

If I had to pick one particular thing (and it’s very small), off-center hits with the HD deflect a bit more than the Stealth and are more noticeable in the feedback coming to the hands.

Overall, TaylorMade did an excellent job in streamlining its offerings this year to give users the most consistent product lineup with different purposes.

Pros

• Ball speed and forgiveness stay up at the top in this model (not always the case for a draw bias option)
• Consistent aesthetics, sound, and feel as the Stealth
• The right side of the fairway is out of play

Cons

• Price is still up there even for the stock driver
• Draws can easily turn into hooks if you’re not careful
• Tuning launch and spin will be a priority

The Bottom Line

If you need to take the right side of the fairway out of the equation, the TaylorMade Stealth HD driver is a stellar option.

Ball speed and spin are very nicely controlled by the 60x Carbon Twist Face and textured polyurethane cover without sacrificing many of the features prominent in the Stealth.

Pick one up and see just how far you can bend that ball!

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Other Drivers in the TaylorMade Stealth Family

There are 2 more drivers in the Stealth family. If you’re looking to play a fade and/or work the ball in both directions, check out our review of the new TaylorMade Stealth Driver.

And if you’re a more advanced player, a big swinger (with control), or you just think you’re ready for a more “pro” level club, check out our review of the TaylorMade Stealth Plus Driver.

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Alternate Choices to the TaylorMade Stealth HD Driver

Ping G425 SFT

I do like the Ping G425 lineup. The SFT (straight flight technology) is going to be their draw-bias option. Read our full review of the Ping G425 SFT here.

TaylorMade SIM2 Max D

However, If you want to stick with the TaylorMade family, the SIM2 line may be a bit cheaper than the Stealth lineup. The Max D is the draw version and is comparable to the Stealth HD driver in my opinion. Read our full SIM2 Max D Driver review.

List of All the TaylorMade Drivers by Year

Don’t see what you’re looking for here? We’ve compiled a list of all the TaylorMade drivers by year if you want to check that out.

Best Drivers for a Slice

We’ve also compiled our list of the top 5 best drivers for a slice for those of you who can’t seem to get rid of your tee shot slice, or for those who simply love to draw it off the tee.

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FAQ

Note – Some of these FAQs were covered throughout the article, but I still get these questions a lot… so here are the “short and sweet” answers to the most common questions:

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