Golfstead is reader-supported. When you buy through links on the site, we may earn an affiliate commission at no extra cost to you. Our affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network and Amazon Associates.
This is a comprehensive review of the TaylorMade Stealth 2 HD driver.
The Stealth 2 HD features the same improved Carbon Twist Face and carbon-focused construction of the standard Stealth 2, but the Inertia Generator and center of gravity are shifted towards the heel, producing a draw bias that will help fight a slice.
The Stealth 2 HD is the highest-launching and most forgiving model in the Stealth 2 line. But how does it actually perform when put to the test? How does it compare with the Stealth 2 and Stealth HD? Is it worth putting in the bag?
Read on to find out what you need to know to make an informed purchase.
Note: Unless otherwise stated, stock shafts and stock grips are used when evaluating this club. In most cases, the golf clubs reviewed on Golfstead are acquired temporarily for testing purposes and are not purchased. The review that follows is based on the personal experience and research of the author. Because everyone’s swing and body are different, results with a particular club may differ from person to person.
What are the reviews like?
The Stealth 2 HD driver has been received very positively by consumers and critics alike.
A gold medal winner on the 2023 Golf Digest Hot List, it currently enjoys a 4.8/5 (93% recommended) average score on the TaylorMade website and a 4.5/5 on PGA TOUR Superstore.
What People Like
- draw bias has a significant effect
- more forgiving than the original Stealth HD
- impact feel is better than ever
- generates a ton of speed and distance
- inspires confidence at address
What People Don’t Like
- adjustment tool not included
- draw bias is too strong for some
The Features
The Stealth 2 HD driver benefits from the same technologies as the Stealth 2, namely:
- New 60X Carbon Twist Face: ball speed and forgiveness on off-center strikes is improved with an enhanced version of Inverted Cone Technology (ICT), and the face is slightly lighter
- Carbon Reinforced Composite Ring: this runs around the head of the driver, allowing for weight savings that are used to shift the CG back for higher MOI
- Internal Stiffening Ribs: used to finely tune acoustics for a lively and powerful sound
- Inertia Generator: seen in previous models including the M6, SIM and SIM2, this unique sole shape increases aerodynamic club head speed and shifts the CG back for increased stability
The main differences with the HD model, beyond the slightly altered look, are:
- it contains a 30g back weight as opposed to 25g, resulting in higher MOI and more forgiveness
- the stock shaft is 0.25 inches shorter in order to promote center contact
- the head shape is slightly deeper and more rounded
- the Inertia Generator is shifted more towards the heel to promote a draw bias
Like the Stealth 2, the Stealth 2 HD has nearly double the amount of carbon in its construction compared to the original Stealth HD.
Stock Info
The Stealth 2 HD driver is available in 9°, 10.5°, and 12° standard lofts at 460CC.
Included is an FCT loft sleeve that allows you to adjust loft, lie and face angle. There are 12 possible sleeve variations that can increase or decrease the loft and lie angle by ±2°, and the face angle by ±4°.
Also available is the Stealth 2 HD Women’s driver. It contains the same head technologies as the men’s version but has a lighter grey colour scheme and its stock shaft, grip, swingweights and lengths are tailored to women to maximize their performance.
The stock shaft is the Fujikura Speeder NX Red. The stock grip is the Golf Pride ZGRIP Plus2.
If you’re interested, full information on the driver, shafts, grips, their specs, and any custom options can be found here.
Below are the specs of the Stealth 2 HD driver. Click or zoom to enlarge.
The Performance
Distance
Going into my test, I was expecting to see more speed in general with the Stealth 2 HD compared to the Stealth HD.
The result was bittersweet. While clubhead speed was higher by a marginal amount of around 1 mph, I did not see any perceptible increase in smash factor when hit in the sweet spot. It’s a little disappointing, but it’s consistent with my results testing the standard Stealth 2.
The Stealth 2 HD clearly does not raise the bar for draw-biased drivers in the distance category, but it’s still very impressive from an absolute standpoint.
Forgiveness
I noted when I reviewed the original Stealth HD how impressive the forgiveness was for a draw driver. The Stealth 2 HD improves even further on this front.
In fact, in terms of ball speed preservation on mis-hits, I’d go so far as to say that the Stealth 2 HD is the most forgiving draw driver I’ve ever played. Dispersions and directional forgiveness are nothing to sneeze at either.
This isn’t particularly surprising because TaylorMade wants the HD model to not only offer a slice-mitigating draw bias, but also offer the most stability and MOI in the Stealth 2 line. This isn’t necessarily easy to pull off but TaylorMade has achieved it beautifully.
Playability/Trajectory
Typical trajectories with the Stealth 2 HD are fairly high. Spin rates are high enough that slower swingers shouldn’t struggle to get the ball up in the air, but at the same time, the flight has decent penetration with good rollout.
I would characterize the draw bias as moderate; it’s not quite as strong as something like the PING G430 SFT but it still makes a significant difference when it comes to straightening out slices off the tee.
There is predictably no sliding weight track on the Stealth 2 HD. And workability is the worst in the Stealth 2 line, making the driver a poor choice for shot shapers.
The Look
The Stealth 2 HD driver shares the same tasteful red-on-black colour scheme with white detailing, glossy black crown, clean look at address, and vivid red carbon face of the standard Stealth 2.
The brilliant red Carbon Composite Ring is readily visible not just on the sole, but on the crown as well. The striking red ring around the crown’s perimeter is a cool addition, and I also don’t find it to be a distraction during the swing which is always a positive.
Compared to the Stealth 2, the Stealth 2 HD’s Inertia Generator is shifted more towards the heel, and the fixed circular weight is positioned closer to the hosel to emphasize that draw bias. The driver also has a slightly more rounded shape.
In spite of it being a draw driver, the Stealth 2 HD actually has quite a square and conventional look at address which I like.
The Sound & Feel
The Stealth 2 HD driver feels very similar to the original Stealth HD; impact produces a responsive, lively, sharp “snap” that is maintained exceptionally well in mis-hit regions.
Sound is where the real difference is. It’s lower-pitched, quieter, and more muted, which some people will like and others won’t. It’s a matter of preference, but I prefer it myself because I like my driver to have a tighter sound more reminiscent of my fairway woods.
Put up against the other models in the Stealth 2 driver family, the HD unsurprisingly has the best mis-hit feel, although the difference is small.
Feedback is more or less on the level of the standard Stealth 2, meaning you can generally discern the location of impact for most strikes but not as easily as with the Stealth 2 Plus.
Where To Buy This Driver Online
You can order a Stealth 2 HD driver with your choice of loft and shaft on TaylorMade’s official store, or you can optionally do full customization through their Custom Shop. The women’s version can be ordered here.
Another option is PGA TOUR Superstore. They offer performance guarantees, club fittings, club trade-ins, and other programs designed to make the buying experience as smooth as possible.
You can also buy the Stealth 2 driver from Amazon but we believe there are better options.
Don’t forget about eBay, where you can often find unbeatable deals on new and used golf equipment.
Conclusion
There’s no doubt that TaylorMade’s Stealth 2 HD is one of the best draw driver offerings for the 2023 season.
It ranks at or near the top in every category and either matches or outclasses the original Stealth HD. It’s long, super forgiving, has fantastic feel, and provides a robust amount of draw bias that can get slicers hitting the fairway consistently.
I will say, though, that when you pay $600 for a driver, the inclusion of an adjustment tool should be automatic. The Stealth 2 HD continues this trend of not including adjustment tools with the purchase, and in my opinion, it needs to go away.
Interested in the Stealth 2 HD driver? Have you played it? What’s your experience? Let us know in the comments below.
