To draw a parallel, part of the reason it took TaylorMade two decades to bring a carbon face to market in a mainstream driver had nothing to do with carbon. Engineers continued to explore and develop new forms of titanium that offered commensurate cost and performance. Basically, without advanced versions of titanium, there might be more of an incentive to try and replace it. But, for now, that’s not the case regarding fairways and hybrids. TAYLORMADE STEALTH FAIRWAY WOOD AND STEALTH PLUS You have to think of your set of clubs like a toolbox with a 14-tool capacity. It’s extremely important to make sure each and every tool has a defined role to make navigating around the course as stress-free as possible. Hybrids play an important part in that selection process. Love em’ or hate em’…….you cannot argue with TaylorMade’s main advantage…..their marketing team. These people do outstanding work creating a desire to own their product and they seem to do it year after year. Kudos to them on a job well done. The details: TaylorMade calls it a “rescue,” which is fitting when you consider the Stealth Rescue is here to save you in a pinch. The generous profile is paired with a new carbon crown construction that allowed for 7 grams of discretionary weight to be positioned low in the head to increase launch. A heavy V-Steel sole serves a dual purpose, enhancing launch and turf interaction at the same time. TaylorMade Stealth Plus Rescue

It did feel really easy to launch, and the shots I hit were quite high and not too powerful, which is a problem I see personally with hybrids. The spin was fairly consistent, and I’d be quite happy hitting it at a green knowing it had some stopping power.

I tested the Stealth Hybrid using the Flightscope Mevo+ launch monitor and my usual Titleist Pro V1x golf balls, and it performed well despite the fact that I tested it in near-freezing conditions. On the course, Stealth Plus Rescue was excellent off the tee and it was long, penetrating and workable. Most hybrids are hard to fade and naturally lean towards a draw flight but I felt confident I could cut one into a green or fade it off the tee; which is a real plus for better players. Before we started building the survey, we reached out to our trusted fitters to discuss how they sort through the hybrid club options available to golfers. Forgiveness and versatility were the highest-ranked choices. I have to admit, when I heard that the new TaylorMade Stealth Rescue didn’t have a bright red carbon face, I was a little disappointed. TaylorMade woods are extremely popular both among professionals and amateurs, and it's easy to see why. They are great at marketing, their products look great and they perform very well. Add the Stealth Rescue to that list. Who Is It Aimed At?

The TSi2 is a hybrid designed with the perfect balance between optimizing forgiveness while also offering playability for golfers with a more shallow delivery into the ball. Compared to the TSi3, which is one of the smallest hybrids Titleist has ever produced, and the TSi1 which is the largest, the TSi2 fits comfortably in the middle in terms of size and has low and deeper CG to create higher launch conditions for those who need it.The tech story around the standard Stealth fairway is, by comparison, not quite as exciting. That said, I won’t be surprised if Stealth outsells Stealth Plus at retail. For one, it’s less expensive. More importantly, it’s likely the better fit for most golfers. The design of the sole is able to refine weight distribution to provide plenty of forgiveness, while maintaining optimal launch properties. As you’d expect from the V-Steel it is also there to aid turf interaction and allow you to play shots from a variety of different lies with ease. Providing a contrast between the face and the crown, the laser etched alignment aid is designed to make it easier to line the club up correctly as well as boosting confidence. I usually quite like a small alignment aid on the crown of my woods, but I found the clean look of the Stealth hybrid fantastic.