2022 TaylorMade Stealth Driver Line Official Launch

[BNewton51 545]

I know I may be in the minority here... But I have grown beyond tired of Taylormade and Callaways constant retread of ideas.  Yes, this thing has the carbonface mumbo jump thing to it, but really how's it any different?  We've reached a point where the distance "marketing" talk has become moot.  Forgiveness, sure that can be improved upon.  But it's literally the same look of everything they've put out for years..... Literally took the SIM3 and ripped the face out for a new one.  

Trying not to be so cynical but the constant money grab that these bigger OEM's do just drives me nuts.  

[Golfspy_CG2 32,612]

11 minutes ago, BNewton51 said:

I know I may be in the minority here... But I have grown beyond tired of Taylormade and Callaways constant retread of ideas.  Yes, this thing has the carbonface mumbo jump thing to it, but really how's it any different?  We've reached a point where the distance "marketing" talk has become moot.  Forgiveness, sure that can be improved upon.  But it's literally the same look of everything they've put out for years..... Literally took the SIM3 and ripped the face out for a new one.  

Trying not to be so cynical but the constant money grab that these bigger OEM's do just drives me nuts.  

I don't disagree with your main point at all about retreads.

But it's your last point dismissing it as as "money grab" that makes me ask.  So what's a company to do, not come out with a new product each year,  kind of hard to keep the ligjhts one with sales not increasing,  And if you just throw out more SIM 2's saying,  well this is the same old driver from last year and the year before, but go ahead and buy it.   No company in no industry really does that.   

Maybe because I'm in sales and invovled with marketing I'm a bit sensitive to it,   But I don't think it's fair to just call it a money grab. 

 

[RickyBobby_PR 9,566]

28 minutes ago, BNewton51 said:

Yes, this thing has the carbonface mumbo jump thing to it, but really how's it any different?

Did you read the taylomade information about carbon face. The go into lots of details of what it allows them to do.

 

[Thin2win 3,810]

Tied to what the MGS blog has said about the staff all seeing their highest ball speeds ever with the Stealth. I'm curious if they got that off an increase in swing speed. I mean, I know(or kinda know) that the two tests for face deflection and rebound haven't change, the limits are still the limits and everyone has been making clubs to those limits for as long as they have been. I think the OEM's have gotten much better at offering heads that help different needs get the most out of them. Low spin/draw/max etc options I think are where people can see large distance gains in getting fit into a proper spin window. 

I know Cobra/Callaway have their fancy AI faces, if TM has found that they can do something similar with carbon for a better result, that could also increase average ball speed counting in mishits. 

As for the sound, I'm sure that it will get better... go hit an original Great Big Bertha circa 1999. Titanium drivers were not pleasant to listen too. Stealth might not be the best driver this year, but with a couple years under their belts it will be interesting to see how this has developed and if it does force the other OEMs to follow suit like the GBB did. 

 

[BNewton51 545]

2 hours ago, RickyBobby_PR said:

Did you read the taylomade information about carbon face. The go into lots of details of what it allows them to do.

 

I did, and I can understand like everything you have to keep moving the technology forward... I guess you can chalk me up as one that hears the words Taylor Made and start to roll my eyes more often than not.   

That said, I had the same type of thoughts when they came out with SIM2.  All those pieces of the head latched together with a couple bolts and carbon all over.  I had told a few friends I wouldn't be surprised if it doesnt fail or break a heck of a lot easier.  Ended up being right. 

I'm all for moving tech forward in the clubs.  It helps a lot of people.  BUT, where my ire gets up is the whole Marketing nonsense they force feed the public.  That's always just a bridge too far for me.. In my humble opinion, of course. 

[BNewton51 545]

3 hours ago, Golfspy_CG2 said:

I don't disagree with your main point at all about retreads.

But it's your last point dismissing it as as "money grab" that makes me ask.  So what's a company to do, not come out with a new product each year,  kind of hard to keep the ligjhts one with sales not increasing,  And if you just throw out more SIM 2's saying,  well this is the same old driver from last year and the year before, but go ahead and buy it.   No company in no industry really does that.   

Maybe because I'm in sales and invovled with marketing I'm a bit sensitive to it,   But I don't think it's fair to just call it a money grab. 

 

Great point and I guess it's like everything... People have differing opinions.  

Where I see the problem, mostly, is there are a few BIG companies that do pump out new clubs or improvements on a 2 year cycle.  Think Ping, Titleist, Mizuno, etc...  Putting a new club out with a new paint job on it every year doesn't win me over.  Now that's not to say my opinion is ANY better than anyone elses.  Nor is it to say I'm right.  BUT, for me I look at TM and Callaway in particular and can't help but think.... You do not have to push out new stuff EVERY year guys... 

The market would fully illustrate that my opinion is bunk in the numbers of people that buy new gear every year from them.  The market bares that there is still an appetite for it out there.  And that's absolutely fine.  I just view it as a "money grab" in a sense because they're REALLY not making wholesale improvements year on year.  Some they do, other years they don't really outside they go from green to brownish or white to red.  

That all said, I don't mean to offend in any way.  I'm just giving my take on it.  

[cnosil 25,177]

14 minutes ago, BNewton51 said:

I did, and I can understand like everything you have to keep moving the technology forward... I guess you can chalk me up as one that hears the words Taylor Made and start to roll my eyes more often than not.   

That said, I had the same type of thoughts when they came out with SIM2.  All those pieces of the head latched together with a couple bolts and carbon all over.  I had told a few friends I wouldn't be surprised if it doesnt fail or break a heck of a lot easier.  Ended up being right. 

I'm all for moving tech forward in the clubs.  It helps a lot of people.  BUT, where my ire gets up is the whole Marketing nonsense they force feed the public.  That's always just a bridge too far for me.. In my humble opinion, of course. 

We all have our biases; yours is anything TM says .  I am personally biased against Cobra, not that they don’t make great clubs; they just don’t work or appeal to  me.   
 

based on that last sentence, you are in the right forum;   We all want to get past the marketing nonsense and see how the clubs performs and holds up. 

[fixyurdivot 17,402]

2 hours ago, Thin2win said:

Tied to what the MGS blog has said about the staff all seeing their highest ball speeds ever with the Stealth. I'm curious if they got that off an increase in swing speed. I mean, I know(or kinda know) that the two tests for face deflection and rebound haven't change, the limits are still the limits and everyone has been making clubs to those limits for as long as they have been. I think the OEM's have gotten much better at offering heads that help different needs get the most out of them. Low spin/draw/max etc options I think are where people can see large distance gains in getting fit into a proper spin window. 

I know Cobra/Callaway have their fancy AI faces, if TM has found that they can do something similar with carbon for a better result, that could also increase average ball speed counting in mishits. 

As for the sound, I'm sure that it will get better... go hit an original Great Big Bertha circa 1999. Titanium drivers were not pleasant to listen too. Stealth might not be the best driver this year, but with a couple years under their belts it will be interesting to see how this has developed and if it does force the other OEMs to follow suit like the GBB did. 

 

Good question on the swing speed - are those the highest too? It would be nice seeing that correlating data. So looking forward to trying your Stealth driver this coming summer . 

 

[jlukes 16,464]

4 hours ago, Golfspy_CG2 said:

I don't disagree with your main point at all about retreads.

But it's your last point dismissing it as as "money grab" that makes me ask.  So what's a company to do, not come out with a new product each year,  kind of hard to keep the ligjhts one with sales not increasing,  And if you just throw out more SIM 2's saying,  well this is the same old driver from last year and the year before, but go ahead and buy it.   No company in no industry really does that.   

Maybe because I'm in sales and invovled with marketing I'm a bit sensitive to it,   But I don't think it's fair to just call it a money grab. 

 

I love how everyone gets SOOOOO bent out of shape about golf equipment release cycles, yet nobody complains about Apple or Ford, Toyota for simply providing "minor updates" every year that offer no real big performance changes over the previous year, yet their commercials make it sound is if the new model year car or next model phone is the best ever.

[RickyBobby_PR 9,566]

1 hour ago, BNewton51 said:

I did, and I can understand like everything you have to keep moving the technology forward... I guess you can chalk me up as one that hears the words Taylor Made and start to roll my eyes more often than not.   

That said, I had the same type of thoughts when they came out with SIM2.  All those pieces of the head latched together with a couple bolts and carbon all over.  I had told a few friends I wouldn't be surprised if it doesnt fail or break a heck of a lot easier.  Ended up being right. 

I'm all for moving tech forward in the clubs.  It helps a lot of people.  BUT, where my ire gets up is the whole Marketing nonsense they force feed the public.  That's always just a bridge too far for me.. In my humble opinion, of course. 

You can apply that to every golf company and every other consumer good on the market.

Nothing wrong with having biases but discrediting designs and the technology based on marketing makes no sense. And imo especially when it’s something that isn’t some overnight thing. 
 

Everyone was hyped and raved about jailbreak and then ai with Callaway. With or without that the drivers from Callaway work for some people and not for others. Just like sim and sim2

One of the best drivers in the last 7 years was the 2016 m1 and m2. 

[Golfspy_CG2 32,612]

1 hour ago, BNewton51 said:

Great point and I guess it's like everything... People have differing opinions.  

Where I see the problem, mostly, is there are a few BIG companies that do pump out new clubs or improvements on a 2 year cycle.  Think Ping, Titleist, Mizuno, etc...  Putting a new club out with a new paint job on it every year doesn't win me over.  Now that's not to say my opinion is ANY better than anyone elses.  Nor is it to say I'm right.  BUT, for me I look at TM and Callaway in particular and can't help but think.... You do not have to push out new stuff EVERY year guys... 

The market would fully illustrate that my opinion is bunk in the numbers of people that buy new gear every year from them.  The market bares that there is still an appetite for it out there.  And that's absolutely fine.  I just view it as a "money grab" in a sense because they're REALLY not making wholesale improvements year on year.  Some they do, other years they don't really outside they go from green to brownish or white to red.  

That all said, I don't mean to offend in any way.  I'm just giving my take on it.  

Certainly not offended, ast least I'm not.  It's a good discussion, and trust me you are not alone in your thoughts.  

And actually the way you feel about gofl clubs is the way I feel about the Iphone, as I mentioned earlier.  To me there really wasn't a valid reason to buy the 8,9,10,X,XR,11 or 12 (did I miss one ) until I finally relented and just bought a 13.  I mean my calls didn't get connected quicker, that tech is maxed out      J/K.   But yet I buy a driver (and yes we will for the sake of fun say A driver) each year, one because I love trying new shiny things, and two I love providing feedback to others about them.---so yeah I do it for the people 

So I totally get it when I hear thoughts such as yours, I think the companies on the two year cycle that  you mentiooned have done a great job of establishing that cycle pretty much sticking to it and staggering their products in althernating years, althought to be fair this is the 3rd year in a row that Mizuno has released multiple drivers.   

But I think TaylorMade doesn't get enough creidt for reigning in it's release cycle.  The internet is still littered with peole joking that they will wait 6 months and get the stelath when steath 2 comes out in July.  That hasn't been the case for at lest  5 years possibly 6 or 7.  

As we all know it comes down to individual choices, as you said, TM has found there is obviously enough of a demand out there to release every year.  It's up toeach individual golfer to determine if it's within their means to afford it and will they get enough enjoyment out of it.   Maybe they only gain 2 yards, maybe they don't gain any, but maybe they get to show it off at the course or club and be proud of it.   That may be hard for many to understand, but it's probably no different than many other consumer items. 

Good talk, thanks for chiming in on it.

 

[jlukes 16,464]

2 hours ago, Golfspy_CG2 said:

Certainly not offended, ast least I'm not.  It's a good discussion, and trust me you are not alone in your thoughts.  

And actually the way you feel about gofl clubs is the way I feel about the Iphone, as I mentioned earlier.  To me there really wasn't a valid reason to buy the 8,9,10,X,XR,11 or 12 (did I miss one ) until I finally relented and just bought a 13.  I mean my calls didn't get connected quicker, that tech is maxed out      J/K.   But yet I buy a driver (and yes we will for the sake of fun say A driver) each year, one because I love trying new shiny things, and two I love providing feedback to others about them.---so yeah I do it for the people 

So I totally get it when I hear thoughts such as yours, I think the companies on the two year cycle that  you mentiooned have done a great job of establishing that cycle pretty much sticking to it and staggering their products in althernating years, althought to be fair this is the 3rd year in a row that Mizuno has released multiple drivers.   

But I think TaylorMade doesn't get enough creidt for reigning in it's release cycle.  The internet is still littered with peole joking that they will wait 6 months and get the stelath when steath 2 comes out in July.  That hasn't been the case for at lest  5 years possibly 6 or 7.  

As we all know it comes down to individual choices, as you said, TM has found there is obviously enough of a demand out there to release every year.  It's up toeach individual golfer to determine if it's within their means to afford it and will they get enough enjoyment out of it.   Maybe they only gain 2 yards, maybe they don't gain any, but maybe they get to show it off at the course or club and be proud of it.   That may be hard for many to understand, but it's probably no different than many other consumer items. 

Good talk, thanks for chiming in on it.

 

Callaway releases four new drivers every year 

Cobra releases 2 or 3 new drivers every year 

Titleist releases four new drivers every 2 years

Ping releases 3 three new drivers every 2 years

But for some reason a small segment of internet golfers loves jumping all over taylormade every year.

Its so predictable and sad at this point. But I guess that’s just the world we live in today: nobody wants to use facts to changed pre-determined opinions

 

[Dog Faced Pony Soldier 32]

Allegedly TaylorMade brings a new driver to market too often. Would someone care to explain how having new drivers available in the marketplace is a problem? Seems even less of a issue if I were to buy into the concept that these new drivers don't offer any performance improvement. 

Edited January 21 by Dog Faced Pony Soldier

[RollingGreens 2,344]

Off topic about stealth but follows a bit of a trend of the last few posts. Did anyone notice that taylormade out out an 2021 version of the M4 driver and irons? I came across it yesterday and couldn’t find any info on the why. Maybe I am the minority and this just slipped past me. But why pump out an old product that’s been updated when you have newer models like the sim and stealth unless you have that much over stock of old parts. What’s different??. I could see if it’s to cover the price point but This baffled me a bit. 

[RickyBobby_PR 9,566]

1 hour ago, jlukes said:

Callaway releases four new drivers every year 

Cobra releases 2 or 3 new drivers every year 

Titleist releases four new drivers every 2 years

Ping releases 3 three new drivers every 2 years

But for some reason a small segment of internet golfers loves jumping all over taylormade every year.

Its so predictable and sad at this point. But I guess that’s just the world we live in today: nobody wants to use facts to changed pre-determined opinions

 

And it’s funny that many of those who complain that there’s no improvement in the the new release from the previous ones aren’t the ones buying new anyways and or look for the best deal on older drivers. So why care if there’s new releases and if they perform better than the one they replaced 

[RickyBobby_PR 9,566]

42 minutes ago, RollingGreens said:

Off topic about stealth but follows a bit of a trend of the last few posts. Did anyone notice that taylormade out out an 2021 version of the M4 driver and irons? I came across it yesterday and couldn’t find any info on the why. Maybe I am the minority and this just slipped past me. But why pump out an old product that’s been updated when you have newer models like the sim and stealth unless you have that much over stock of old parts. What’s different??. I could see if it’s to cover the price point but This baffled me a bit. 

Is it a dsg or other company only product? They’ve done that with m2 and the sldr-c

[RollingGreens 2,344]

2 minutes ago, RickyBobby_PR said:

Is it a dsg or other company only product? They’ve done that with m2 and the sldr-c

Looks like TGw and PGA superstore from a short search. Yesterday I definitely saw them on the TM website 

[BNewton51 545]

11 hours ago, Dog Faced Pony Soldier said:

Allegedly TaylorMade brings a new driver to market too often. Would someone care to explain how having new drivers available in the marketplace is a problem? Seems even less of a issue if I were to buy into the concept that these new drivers don't offer any performance improvement. 

As one of the admins posted yesterday, and I think it really cuts to the teeth of the discussion, everyone is okay to spend money on what they want.  If they have the means to do so and it makes them feel good, god bless. 

For me, my opinion in particular on the TM and Callaway's of the world, pretty clear by my previous posts.  Guess I'm just one of the few people on the inner webs as someone else pointed out that likes to not use facts to have an opinion.  

[BNewton51 545]

12 hours ago, RollingGreens said:

Off topic about stealth but follows a bit of a trend of the last few posts. Did anyone notice that taylormade out out an 2021 version of the M4 driver and irons? I came across it yesterday and couldn’t find any info on the why. Maybe I am the minority and this just slipped past me. But why pump out an old product that’s been updated when you have newer models like the sim and stealth unless you have that much over stock of old parts. What’s different??. I could see if it’s to cover the price point but This baffled me a bit. 

sssshhhh we can't talk about that company critically and or why they would bring out older product again.. Might cause a ruckus.  Just kidding.  

I did see it, and I can only assume that it was a popular line that did well with them so they offered them again to satisfy the demand.  That's the only reason I could think of. 

[RickyBobby_PR 9,566]

11 hours ago, RollingGreens said:

Looks like TGw and PGA superstore from a short search. Yesterday I definitely saw them on the TM website 

Hmm. Could be emptying the inventory.