50 Words or Less
The TaylorMade Stealth 2 fairway wood delivers impressive ball speeds with ample forgiveness. Moderate size, solid sound and feel.
Introduction
With this review of the standard TaylorMade Stealth 2 fairway wood, we complete our coverage of the trilogy of TaylorMade 2023 models. The standard Stealth 2 fairway falls between the adjustable, player-centric Plus model [full review HERE] and the ultra forgiving, strong draw bias HD [full review HERE].
Looks
Protected in the bag, the TaylorMade Stealth 2 fairway wood is a standout thanks to its distinctive red, white, and black headcover. The crisp white stitching is well executed and the materials have a premium feel. Slipping the cover off, the good looks continue on the club’s sole. Branding is modestly sized and the angular insets are intriguing.
At address, the Stealth 2 fairway sits slightly closed and the position of the “T” alignment logo spotlights the toe-centric shaping. The roundness of the head is very akin to the driver [full Stealth 2 driver review HERE]. I’m impressed with how well the framework at both the face and trailing edge blend with the gloss black crown. True to its name, it’s easy to miss the “STEALTH” embossed on the edge of the crown.
The face is a moderate height that looks tee friendly. TaylorMade incorporated a laser etched stripe at the top edge to aid alignment. If you’re like me, the thin silver line it creates at address may not register directly, but I don’t doubt I processed it subconsciously.
Sound & Feel
One word perfectly described both the sound and the feel of the Stealth 2 fairway: solid. Sound wise, strikes had the percussive characteristics of contact with thicker metal – more “tank” than the more common “tink.” To my hands, the strikes had a solid feeling. Feedback was tangible and clearly communicated. Nothing harsh, just easily discernible.
Performance
If you’re quick at math, the ball speed will jump off the page like it did for me. Averaging 1.49 smash is an impressive feat for a fairway wood. To be fair, I threw out some extremely poor swings, but that seemed apropos for a club most of us rarely reach for in the bag. The Stealth 2 fairway may have me rethinking that.
Spin fell in the mid-low window TaylorMade billed, but my launch was a tad under the mid-high designation. The combination limited my carry, but made the roll-out great. With distance as my main objective with the fairway wood, that works for me. The Fujikura Ventus TR Red is a great shaft, but it is the only stock option. And it should be noted that he Stealth 2 fairway does not have the adjustable hosel that the Plus model has.
To give designers more leeway on weight distribution, TaylorMade utilized a lightweight carbon crown. This allowed an internal weight to be positioned in the rear of the head, creating a low CoG for optimized launch and added forgiveness. For keeping the club head moving smoothly on the fairway and swiftly through light rough, TaylorMade incorporated their V Steel Sole. While it’s great off the deck, I also discovered the Stealth 2 fairway is outstanding teed up.
Conclusion
I’m all for good looks, but there’s nothing better than adding on a few extra yards with no extra effort – which is exactly what the TaylorMade Stealth 2 fairway wood did. And with ample forgiveness, the Stealth 2 fairway makes a strong argument that you need to get out and try one. And while you’re at it, make sure to try the other two TaylorMade models – you never know which fairway may actually be best for you.
Visit TaylorMade HERE
TaylorMade Stealth 2 Fairway Wood Price & Specs
Matt Meeker
Latest posts by Matt Meeker (see all)
- Puma ALPHACAT NITRO Golf Shoe Review - September 21, 2023
- Flag & Anthem Apparel Review - September 8, 2023
- PAYNTR X 005 F Golf Shoe Review - August 25, 2023
Does this new FWW hàve a carbon face like the St and St2 drivers? The St FW did not I understand. Thanks, Chris.
And, which good performing FW is quietist, to protect my buzzing ears? Matt did a review stating that one was most quiet by fr I think, but I can’t find it . Thx again!
This fw does not have a carbon face. I can’t speak to which is quietest, but this one is certainly fair to the ears.
– Meeks