TaylorMade Stealth 2, Stealth 2 Plus and Stealth 2 HD Rescue Hybrids Review

Name: TaylorMade Stealth 2, Stealth 2 Plus and Stealth 2 HD Rescue Hybrids Review
Brand: Rescue Clubs
Price: 239 GBP

By Simon Daddow, Today's Golfer Equipment Editor

Published: 10 January 2023 Last updated: 31 October 2023

At a glance
TG Rating 5 out of 5
Owner Rating Not yet rated
Pros
- Three brilliant options, there's a hybrid here to suit all golfers.
- From our experience, through testing, TaylorMade hybrids are always powerful and long.
- Expect a ton of loft options, which means you can replace difficult to hit long and mid-irons, all way down to a 7-iron.
Cons
- Don't be thinking the stock Fujikura Ventus shaft in the Stealth 2 hybrid is the real deal, there's no premium VeloCore technology.
RRP £239.00

What we say...

Improvements on the Stealth hybrids, plus an extra model, make the Stealth 2 Rescue family one of the best hybrid offerings available.

More and more golfers of all abilities are ditching long irons for the best hybrid golf clubs. Perhaps as a result, TaylorMade have expanded their hybrid golf club range for 2023. Where the original Stealth hybrids had two models, the Stealth 2 is a three-model family, so you can find one that really suits your game.

Like the Stealth 2 drivers and fairways, there are three rescue models to ensure a perfect fit for every player.

TaylorMade Stealth 2 Rescue Hybrids: How the models differ

TaylorMade Stealth 2 Plus Rescue Hybrid

RRP: £249

Lofts: 2H – 17° / 3H – 19.5° / 4H – 22°

Stock shafts: Mitsubishi Kail Li Red

Adjustable hosel: Yes +/- 1.5°

The Stealth 2 Plus Rescue Hybrid is a narrow body model that’s typically aimed at above-average swing speed players. The type of golfer who hit down on hybrids, like an iron, and engage the turf. Expect a tour-inspired compact shape, a neutral shot bias, and an adjustable hosel.

Compared to the previous Stealth Plus hybrid, the 2^nd generation has a straighter topline (some golfers use it to help align) and a shorter face length.

The loft options spell out how it’s not for golfers wanting to replace mid-irons with hybrids.

The TaylorMade Stealth 2 hybrid with a Today's Golfer Best of 2023 Hybrid Award

TaylorMade Stealth 2 Rescue Hybrid

RRP: £239

Lofts: 3H – 17° / 4H – 22° / 5H – 25° / 6H – 28° / 7H – 31°

Stock shafts: Fujikura Ventus Red

Adjustable hosel: No

Rory McIlroy and Dustin Johnson have both previously played ‘standard’ TaylorMade hybrid model so don’t be thinking this forgiving hybrid isn’t for you. Because of the success of its predecessor, TaylorMade say the Stealth 2 Rescue has almost exactly the same shape as the previous Stealth.

We’ve seen from our testing over the years that TaylorMade hybrids are fast and long. Now, thanks to a new larger carbon fiber crown, expect this model to be one of the most forgiving hybrids too.

TaylorMade Stealth 2 HD Rescue Hybrid

RRP: £239

Lofts: 3H – 20° / 4H – 23° / 5H – 27° / 6H – 31°

Stock shaft: Fujikura Speeder NX Red

Adjustable hosel: No

It’s taken a while but the new TaylorMade Stealth 2 HD hybrid and matching Stealth HD iron means TaylorMade now have a complete draw-biased offering.

The Stealth 2 HD hybrid has a shallower profile and draw-biased weight set-up. It is specifically designed to allow more moderate-speed golfers to flight longer approaches with more stopping power and forgiveness.

TaylorMade say their research shows 3° loft gaps don’t give enough of a distance gap between clubs for the HD’s target player. Which explains perfectly why there’s 4° between the 4H, 5H and 6H.

If you’re an average-speed player who wants to replace long and mid irons with hybrids, or someone who struggles to fly shots high enough to stop long approaches quickly, the Stealth 2 HD hybrid will be right up your street.

Data comparison: How do the TaylorMade Stealth 2, Stealth 2 Plus and Stealth 2 HD hybrids compare to competitor models?

A chart showing how the three TaylorMade Stealth 2 hybrids compare to competitor models

A data chart to show how the three TaylorMade Stealth 2 hybrids comapre to competitor models

Verdict: TaylorMade Stealth 2, Stealth 2 Plus and Stealth 2 HD Hybrids

We’re not entirely sure how TaylorMade do it but year on year the brands fairway woods and hybrids are well-nigh shoe ins to frequent the top of our carry distance charts. Of-course buying a hybrid should never come down to just looking at the most powerful models. You need to fill yardage gaps, and never want a hybrid flying the same distance as a fairway wood.

But at 232 yards the TaylorMade Stealth 2, by 3 yards, was our longest carrying hybrid of 2023.

As has been the case for several years with TaylorMade hybrids this is a great looking mid-width body model. Thanks to a new carbon fiber crown golfers can expect a fraction more forgiveness than previous models. With three Stealth 2 hybrids available though it’s really important to select the model that best suits your game.

A graphic showing the difference in head shape and size between the three TaylorMade Stealth 2 hybrids

This Stealth 2 is a flat-out distance machine, it’s for golfers who sweep hybrids off the deck like a fairway wood. Where the narrower body TaylorMade Stealth 2 Plus, which produced 2mph faster ball speeds (at 146mph it was our fastest hybrid), is designed to be hit much more like an iron.

The model that should be pinging the radar of lots of club golfers though is the new TaylorMade Stealth 2 HD. Our data shows it launches and flies higher, and spins more (800 RPM more) than both the standard and Plus model, traits that will help average speed golfers keep shots in the air for longer to maximise distance, and help stop shots once they hit the green.

WATCH: Best 2023 Hybrid video

TaylorMade Stealth 2 Rescue Hybrids: The Tech

It’s easy to just focus on the story behind new products but it’s worth remembering TaylorMade hybrids are built on a suite of proven game-enhancing technologies. No matter which Stealth 2 hybrid you own you’re buying into these key technologies.

V-Steel Sole

It’s much less pronounced than the original V-Steel fairway woods but careful sole shaping ensures turf interaction doesn’t result in lost speed, whilst ensuring maximum versatility.

Thru-Slot Speed Pocket

Low face impacts used to cost golfers ball speed. Today Thru-Slot Speed Pockets allow the face to flex and preserve whatever speed you can muster. A feature that can be particularly useful when making crucial carries over hazards.

Advanced laser Alignment

It’s just a laser-etched line along the top of the face but the idea provides visual contrast to help directional aim.

Infinity carbon fiber crown

Carbon crowns are great for removing inefficient weight high up in a head, especially when like the Stealth’s it wraps over on to the skirt as well. They also mute and tune sound to the levels golfers like to hear.

Inverted Cone Tech with TwistFace

Variable thickness on the back of each hybrid face helps position the sweetspot, ensuring the highest portion of each face is at the hottest possible level. By gently changing the roll and bulge radius TwistFace ups consistency on shots hit across the face.

A high-strength C300 face ensures maximum face flex and ball speed.

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