Stealth carbon face durability?? (Post PGA show pics from Reddit)

[TBS 691]

Just now, RickyBobby_PR said:

I can tell you that after spending time with Bridgestone and Cobra in 2015 that they are constantly working on things and that they are typically 3-5 years away from release. So no nothing is rushed to market and yes it’s feasible that TM has spent 20 years working on this especially as they state manufacturing process and capabilities have changed and improved over the years. So you can be a skeptic what you shared here isn’t true. 

Absolutely fair. I'm excited to see MGS in depth review.

[chisag 18,566]

1 hour ago, TBS said:

So, I’m equally skeptical about the 20+ yrs of R&D statements. Products are constantly rushed to market without full testing or with potential defects.

 

... Not as cut and dried as the above. I did a review of a Tour Edge fairway wood and since I lived in Chicago I was invited to their plant for an interview. I was given a fascinating tour of the operation and one of the things I was shown was the pipeline for their fairway woods. It was a 5 year plan with new fairway woods every year. The next year was a "tweak" but the following year was a new technology followed by 2 more years of "tweaks" and the 5th year was another new technology they were excited about. They wanted to get everything perfect before any release. 

... I also talked to two Engineers at Cleveland when they released the brand new Hi Bore driver. It was 90% where they wanted it but one spot high on the face produced excessive spin and potential ballooning. They wanted 2 more years to fix the problem but the VP of Sales over rode their concerns and wanted it released because according to him "a very small number of golfers would find a problem". It was a new VP of Sales and the engineers said they had never rushed a product to market before. They released another version the following year that was better but still had some spin problems. By the 3rd year they got the Hi Bore perfect but the damage was done as golf forums had discovered the spin problems and word of mouth killed the project. I do think this is very rare. 

... I have a very hard time believing a company like TM, a leader in the driver category would risk releasing a new driver that had any problems, let alone defective faces. If a small company like Tour Edge does extensive testing of their faces (along with everything else) you have to think the testing done on a new material is well beyond extensive with a company the size of TM. I am not saying the technology is any better or worse as far as performance for the average golfer but the technology has to be solid or they would not risk losing their position as a leader in driver sales when they could have just released a Sim3. 

[Golfspy_CG2 32,645]

7 hours ago, McGolf said:

Only two shaft companies there, Graphite Design and Nippon. Both were slammed at the show being the only game in town. 

May have been the smartest move for both companies 

if interested in a recap here ya go

 

Nice Job Jim!   Thanks for the recap and posting!   Maybe I'll see you down there next year!

[bens197 12,377]

11 hours ago, chisag said:

... I have a very hard time believing a company like TM, a leader in the driver category would risk releasing a new driver that had any problems, let alone defective faces. If a small company like Tour Edge does extensive testing of their faces (along with everything else) you have to think the testing done on a new material is well beyond extensive with a company the size of TM. I am not saying the technology is any better or worse as far as performance for the average golfer but the technology has to be solid or they would not risk losing their position as a leader in driver sales when they could have just released a Sim3. 

100%

The next cutting edge material and technology are being developed and tested now for a driver that won’t be released for 5 years.  

[SMUGamer 22]

On 1/31/2022 at 12:46 PM, Manavs said:

I was with the person who took these photos, and have done extensive testing of gears with the stealth.  The face does not pass the fingernail test as defined by the usga.  Tees leave a mark as does your finger.  I have no idea how tm got away with this.  

Side note. Carbon doesn't spin, so the "jelly" face is adding spin to make the carbon usable as a face material.

Face durability was one of my BIG concerns AFTER determining that the carbon face did NOT produce higher ball speeds and increased distance. Looking very sketchy at this point, for TM. Maybe "Stealth Titanium" will be here before we know it!

Edited February 2 by SMUGamer

[Retnuh76 4]

I know club was at the Show and was hit a bunch in a short time, but whomever it was that was claiming that over the course of a lifetime the average golfer would only hit their driver several hundred times, you are way off.  Most golfers I know, including myself, hit their driver 10 - 12 times per round (possibly more if you throw in mulligans). Playing twice a week, hitting your driver 12-13 times a round, equals 100 or so hits per month just from playing golf.  Throw in range sessions and you could easily approach 1000 hits a season. This face wear is enough to veer me away from the Stealth for now. I don't want to get half-way through the season and have my new driver face looking all beat up. I've ordered an LTDx and will be gaming that this year.  While the Stealth technology is exciting, the face wear is a major concern in my book.

[Manavs 18]

13 minutes ago, SMUGamer said:

This was one of my BIG concerns AFTER determining that the carbon face did NOT produce higher ball speeds and increased distance. Looking very sketchy at this point, for TM. Maybe "Stealth Titanium" will be here before we know it!

I'm old enough to remember When the bubble shaft came out, some players did not want to play the club, but TM mandated they all play a copper painted head.  I've asked industry engineers if we could see a red faced SIM2 down the road, and they flat out told me you can't pvd red onto a titanium face - so that's out.  

[warbirdlover 43]

Can you imagine the number of "hackers" that have hit that face?  After my Stealth comes I'll let you know.

[RickyBobby_PR 9,606]

1 hour ago, SMUGamer said:

Face durability was one of my BIG concerns AFTER determining that the carbon face did NOT produce higher ball speeds and increased distance. Looking very sketchy at this point, for TM. Maybe "Stealth Titanium" will be here before we know it!

Sketchy based on 1 head from a demo day where who know how May swings were taking with and tossed around as it went in and out of golfers hands. That’s been a little dramatic. Especially after it’s been posted that the heads at mgs hq aren’t showing then same marks on the face. 
 

People really will find anything they can to knock products especially ones they haven’t even hit themselves to see if any of the marketing is true or not. 

[KC Golf 293]

Demo'ed a Stealth plus with Ventus shaft.  It was basically new out of the plastic.

Hit it with around a 95-98 mph club head speed on a GC Quad.  Sounds great.  It sounds different compared to my TSi3, but it still sounds good.  Could find no scratches or marks from the ball or the tee.

Will be interested to hear if this damage is a real problem.

[fixyurdivot 17,423]

This will sort itself out soon enough .

[SMUGamer 22]

5 hours ago, RickyBobby_PR said:

Sketchy based on 1 head from a demo day where who know how May swings were taking with and tossed around as it went in and out of golfers hands. That’s been a little dramatic. Especially after it’s been posted that the heads at mgs hq aren’t showing then same marks on the face. 
 

People really will find anything they can to knock products especially ones they haven’t even hit themselves to see if any of the marketing is true or not. 

Come on now, Bobby Sue!

Do others NOT find it very odd that many folks that already have their Stealths have NOT jumped into this discussion telling us how they tried to scratch the face of the Stealths yet they were impenetrable? With their nails, fingernail clippers, etc, but still clean as a whistle?!?!? Hmmmmmm......

Matter of fact, if I had one now, I'd purposely see if I could scratch the face with my nail so that I could immediately take it back within my 90 day free return/trade period versus being left holding the bag after my 90 days expired. Just like mentioned above, I'll just sit back and watch how this unfolds with others. 

Edited February 3 by SMUGamer

[RickyBobby_PR 9,606]

7 hours ago, SMUGamer said:

Come on now, Bobby Sue!

Do others NOT find it very odd that many folks that already have their Stealths have NOT jumped into this discussion telling us how they tried to scratch the face of the Stealths yet they were impenetrable? With their nails, fingernail clippers, etc, but still clean as a whistle?!?!? Hmmmmmm......

Matter of fact, if I had one now, I'd purposely see if I could scratch the face with my nail so that I could immediately take it back within my 90 day free return/trade period versus being left holding the bag after my 90 days expired. Just like mentioned above, I'll just sit back and watch how this unfolds with others. 

First despite you using an emoji you don’t know me and you haven’t been around here long enough to call me anything other than my listed name. So this will be the one and only time I address this.

Second the drivers just started arriving thing week and since you aren’t familiar with most of the members here there’s not going to be a lot of them who preordered the driver thus limiting the number of people that would have it to even attempt to jump in with their tests.

Third there’s already been posts from a member who has talked with mgs staff and they aren’t seeing the samething as that photo, and as several have posted the demo heads at the pga show get treated like garbage, not much different than any demo club during the demo day season.

Last there are several on wrx where preording, blind buying and testing is more of a regular occurrence that have posted their pics and what they noticed about the face and none of them are seeing the samething as this one head. Nor has the person who claims to have been there posted the requested video of the fingernail test.

 

[cnosil 25,252]

8 hours ago, SMUGamer said:

Do others NOT find it very odd that many folks that already have their Stealths have NOT jumped into this discussion telling us how they tried to scratch the face of the Stealths yet they were impenetrable? With their nails, fingernail clippers, etc, but still clean as a whistle?!?!? Hmmmmmm......

Not really.  Driver is just being released to the general public.  Most consumers don’t read forums and probably have no idea that people are even discussing this potential issue.  It could also be considered odd that there is only one report that I have seen of people saying that the face can be dented with a fingernail.  Why didn’t any of the other reviewers comment on this occurrence?   Time will tell.

[russtopherb 9,642]

8 hours ago, SMUGamer said:

Come on now, Bobby Sue!

Stay classy.

[THEZIPR23 6,460]

11 hours ago, SMUGamer said:

Come on now, Bobby Sue!

Do others NOT find it very odd that many folks that already have their Stealths have NOT jumped into this discussion telling us how they tried to scratch the face of the Stealths yet they were impenetrable? With their nails, fingernail clippers, etc, but still clean as a whistle?!?!? Hmmmmmm......

Matter of fact, if I had one now, I'd purposely see if I could scratch the face with my nail so that I could immediately take it back within my 90 day free return/trade period versus being left holding the bag after my 90 days expired. Just like mentioned above, I'll just sit back and watch how this unfolds with others. 

I have had mine for a week, probably hit 500 balls with it. And huh can you imagine TM actually tested this and there is not a scratch on it. 

[cnosil 25,252]

Talked to HQ, they aren’t going to do anything to intentionally mark the face until driver testing is complete.   I have been searching across the various forums (boring life and this stuff is interesting to me) and have only found one other comment about damage to the face.   the below picture was a range demo club with about 500 shots and  the person noted that there were some embedded grains of sand in the face. 
 

[Golfspy_CG2 32,645]

15 hours ago, SMUGamer said:

Come on now, Bobby Sue!

Do others NOT find it very odd that many folks that already have their Stealths have NOT jumped into this discussion telling us how they tried to scratch the face of the Stealths yet they were impenetrable? With their nails, fingernail clippers, etc, but still clean as a whistle?!?!? Hmmmmmm......

Matter of fact, if I had one now, I'd purposely see if I could scratch the face with my nail so that I could immediately take it back within my 90 day free return/trade period versus being left holding the bag after my 90 days expired. Just like mentioned above, I'll just sit back and watch how this unfolds with others. 

You've been admonished on antoher forum for your trolling and having nothing postive to add to discussions.

So take those and this as your final warning here, be respectul and stay on topic or you will find yourself with less place to troll. 

 

[Golfspy_CG2 32,645]

For the record,  I tried to scratch the face with my fingernail yesterda with more than enough force than anhyone would find any normal reason to do so, and was unable to make any sort of mark. 

 

[TBS 691]

15 minutes ago, Golfspy_CG2 said:

For the record,  I tried to scratch the face with my fingernail yesterda with more than enough force than anyone find any normal reason to do so, and was unable to make any sort of mark. 

 

This should be pinned. Thank you for your high tech test! (A little tongue in check, but a claim that needed to be addressed!)

Seems like I may have fallen victim to some TM hating trolls. From the sound of it Stealth is holding up as a solid driver that is a potentially big step forward when it comes to new tech.