TaylorMade has added the Stealth HD irons to its line-up for 2023, promising an unconventional approach to helping developing golfers find success.
The original Stealth iron will continue as the brand’s marquee game improvement option. The addition of Stealth HD offers an further choice, which is more forgiving and easy-to-launch.
Development of the Stealth HD iron (RRP £129 per iron) started from the ground up, as the TaylorMade team set out to create an iron unlike any other in the brand’s history.
Taking design inspiration from data gathered from golfers in the game improvement category, Stealth HD was engineered to deliver performance where this player needs it most.
An ultra-low profile head shape in the long irons drives CG lower to help get the ball airborne with ease. Progressive head sizes – each club is uniquely shaped and gets incrementally larger from 5-iron through pitching wedge – help optimise performance further.
An increased sole radius and innovative step down design – which reduces the amount of surface area that contacts the turf – complete the shape. Testing confirmed that increasing the sole arc from heel to toe led to more shots high on the face, which translates to higher launch and further helps get the ball airborne. High COR and fast ball speeds are an added benefit of the new face construction.
An asymmetric draw-bias face was incorporated in direct response to golfer interviews. In addition, the irons feature increased lofts throughout to work better for golfers with slow to moderate swing speeds.
“In working with players in this category, we exhausted all optimisation tools to determine the ideal loft for each iron in the set. Incorporating higher lofts was done purposefully and with intent. Our goal was to provide as much launch and spin as possible without sacrificing distance, and what we found was this design strategy often led to increased carry distance for the developing golfer when compared to traditional super game improvement irons with stronger lofts. By combining this totally unique construction with our existing technologies, we created a high launching, easy-to-hit iron with surprisingly exceptional feel,” said Matt Bovee, TaylorMade’s director, product creation irons.
While the head was made for slow to moderate swing speeds, performance effects are seen at every level. The Stealth HD proved a strong option for any player who struggles to launch the ball consistently.
As well as their unique elements, the Stealth HD irons incorporate proven TaylorMade technologies such as Cap Back Design, a Thru Slot Speed Pocket and the ECHO Damping System – a trio that creates a flexible and responsive face with exceptional feel.
