About this Review: This review is my honest opinion of the driver, which I bought with my own money in February 2022.

My take

The new Stealth driver was one of the best golf drivers in 2022. The 2022 TaylorMade Stealth Plus+ Driver offers impressive new technology with the 60-layer carbon fiber face and performs very well in terms of spin control and ball speed. The Stealth Plus is best suited for the above average golfer looking to decrease their launch angle and lower spin, and also for those who can “middle” the clubface on a consistent basis.

About the club I own

• Model: 2022 TaylorMade Stealth+ Driver
• Loft setting: 8º head played at 6.5º
• Shaft type: Tensei 1K 50TX and HZRDUS Smoke Green RDX 65TX
• Shaft flex: Tour Extra Stiff (TX)

About me

• Average score: Low/Mid 70s
• Handicap: +0.8
• Experience: 11
• Right/Left-Handed: Right
• Typical ball flight: High fade
• Golf ball used: TaylorMade TP5
• Club swing speed: 117-120

Test conditions

• When I bought the club: February 2022
• Days tested: 4
• Where I’ve used it: 2 days on course; 2 days in a simulator
• Weather and wind conditions: 70ºF and sunny playing conditions, with winds up to 15mph

How it performs

What I was looking for

I was looking for a driver to help bring my launch and spin down on my tee shots. I typically have a ball flight with a high trajectory, so it’s always a chore finding the best drivers and graphite shafts to combine for my “ideal” launch/spin window.

Why I chose this club

I purchased the 2022 TaylorMade Stealth Plus+ because I’ve played many TaylorMade drivers in the past with good success. I loved the original SIM driver. The Stealth Plus model is the lowest spin version from this year’s line (the other options are the Stealth and the Stealth HD) and I LOVE the fact that TaylorMade brought back the sliding weight track! If you're debating between getting the Stealth Plus or the Stealth, check out this comparison video!

I have already purchased the Cobra LTDx LS for 2022 to test as well. These two drivers will continue to be tested head-to-head with my 2021 driver, the Titleist TSi3 8º.

What I love about it

• Forgiveness: I absolutely love the forgiveness of this driver. Given what it is meant to do (reduce spin), it remains incredibly stable in my testing. While there is certainly forgiveness in terms of how straight the ball flies, the biggest improvement I noticed over other drivers was the ball speed consistency on off-center hits: my miss is a low heel strike and this driver kept the ball speed within ~2mph on these mis-hits. That’s something I’ve never encountered before. After years of development, TaylorMade boasts their Carbonwood Age technology in their Stealth drivers as the latest upgrade over Titanium face drivers. Basically, the Stealth Plus driver utilizes 60 layers of carbon fiber in the face, called the 60x Carbon Twist Face, for better energy transfer over a larger area of the face. This additional forgiveness for off-center hits, including low face strikes and toe hits, is why I’m a firm believer that Carbonwood Age technology will be a big part of the future of golf clubs and marks the end of the titanium era.
• Feel: The feel of this driver is incredible. In my opinion, TaylorMade drivers always feel great. Through this TaylorMade Stealth Plus driver review, I learned about the nanotexture technology on the face of the club, which produces the ideal amount of friction at impact and definitely contributes to the feel. The Stealth Plus is softer off the face than many other drivers I have tested. I’m not sure if the nanotexture cover feels as soft as my TSI3, but that could be because I’m so used to my Titleist after playing it for over a year. Nonetheless, I have zero complaints about the feel of the new Stealth Plus.
• Sound: I’d describe the sound of the Stealth Plus as “expected” and just to be clear, I mean this in a good way. TaylorMade drivers typically give you that lower pitch “thwack” sound that I just LOVE to hear on the golf course. The Stealth Plus is no different. I was curious how this driver would sound with the new carbon face...and TaylorMade delivered. They did a fantastic job of keeping the acoustics in line with people's expectations from this brand.
• Workability: In my testing, this is absolutely a workable driver. I’m not someone who chooses to hit big draws or big fades, but I will occasionally try to (slightly) work the ball in both directions. I found the Stealth Plus to be as workable as my TSI3 and more workable than the Cobra LTDx LS.
• Adjustability: I’m so happy TaylorMade brought back the weight track! I love having the ability to move the COG right to left to optimize for my ball flight. I typically lean a little towards the draw setting on most drivers, as my natural flight is a slight fade.
• Shaft Feel: Instead of using the stock shaft, I tested two shafts with this driver. I loved the feel of the feel of the Tensei 1K 50TX shaft and this is the shaft I will keep playing. I also tried the RDX Green shaft, and while I achieved lower spin with this shaft, it did not feel as stable or smooth for my swing compared to the Tensei shaft.
• Shaft Performance: Both shafts perform wonderfully from a numbers perspective. My average ball speed with both shafts was just above 173 mph. Spin numbers were similar with the RDX averaging around 100 rpm lower at 2538 rpm. Spin numbers were gathered using my Foresight Sports GC2.
• Grip Feel: I tested a Pure grip and a Lamkin Crossline grip and I preferred the Crossline. It felt more similar to the Golf Pride Tour Velvet, which is what I’m accustomed to.
• Launch Angle: I averaged 12.1º launch, which is the optimal launch for me in a driver. I have a higher launch, typically averaging 14-15º, so I have been searching for a driver that can help bring that down a degree or two. I tested this driver at 6.5º loft and with the launch at 12.1º, I will most likely continue to test with slightly more loft.
• Spin: Spin numbers are slightly higher than I would consider “ideal” but knowing my typical numbers I would still say I’m very happy with how low spin this driver is. The average spin was 2538, but this included more than a few swings that were less than ideal. Well struck, this driver has the capability to produce the 1900-2000 low spin bomb drive! Part of the low spin effect is achieved by having a higher center of gravity (cg) than more forgiving drivers, which have more weight towards the sole of the club to help increase spin and create more elevation on each drive.

Issues I’ve encountered

• Distance: I certainly won’t say that distance is an “issue” for the new Stealth Plus driver. It’s plenty long, but in my testing, it wasn’t quite as long as the other two drivers I was comparing. The average carry of the Stealth Plus according to my GC2 was 302 yards, only a couple of yards behind the Cobra LTDx LS and TSI3. TaylorMade uses the Asymmetric Inertia Generator to create aerodynamics designed to improve clubhead speed on the downswing and at the point of impact. Despite this improvement to the curvature of the clubhead and aerodynamic properties, I didn't notice a significant improvement in total distance.
• Aesthetic Appeal: If I had one gripe with this driver, it’s that I preferred the looks of the original TaylorMade SIM much more. I loved the white outer ring with the lighter carbon look. The face of the new Stealth Plus driver looks awesome! The shape is classic, pear-shaped, and probably more preferred by the better player, which I certainly enjoy. The shape also allows me to think the driver will be easier to work left and right, which it was when compared to the Cobra. The awesome news with the new TaylorMade Stealth drivers is that if I really wanted to, I could spend an extra $100 and get the exact color combo I want through their MyStealth program. Very, very cool perk!

Best shot with this club

My single best drive with the TaylorMade Stealth Plus was on a long, dog-leg left, Par 4. Tree-lined hole with a relatively tight fairway past the dog-leg. Taller trees lined the left side of the fairway. As I mentioned previously, my typical shot shape is a fade. I decided I wanted to test the workability and try to hit a tight draw around the trees. I was able to do so with perfect accuracy. Honestly, it was probably the best shot I hit all day, regardless of the club. The ball started out dead middle of the fairway and drew 15 or so yards, around the corner, and ended up on the left side of the fairway.

Value for the money vs. other options

I firmly believe value is in the eye of the beholder, and for me, I think this driver lacks value compared to some other options that are available in 2022. At $599, it’s $100 more expensive than the Cobra LTDx LS Driver, and I could argue the Cobra provided better numbers for me, including slightly lower spin and higher ball speed. However, I MUCH prefer the looks of the Stealth Plus compared to the Cobra. For golfers looking to purchase a driver on a Performance per price basis, I believe there are better options, like the Cobra LTDx LS, the PING G425 LST Driver, or Callaway's Rogue ST Max LS Driver. Players with a slower swing speed probably don't need a low spin driver, and may instead consider the TaylorMade Stealth, the Callaway Rogue ST Max, the Epic Max, or the PING G425 Max Driver.

Final verdict

The 2022 TaylorMade Stealth Plus Driver Review: Overall, this is a fantastic option for a mid- to low-handicap golfers who are looking to reduce their launch and spin to achieve their desired ball flight and optimal distance. It is plenty forgiving, though the distinction of the most forgiving driver in the Stealth family would belong the Stealth HD driver, which is great for high handicap golfers and those fighting to correct a slice. But, the Stealth Plus provides fast ball speeds that are VERY consistent. The new face technology certainly seems to be less “gimmicky” than I initially expected as I saw smaller ball speed drop-offs on off-centre hits than any other driver I have played.