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From the GolfWRX archives: 2022 Stealth driver – TaylorMade’s big bet on a carbon fiber driver face

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Editor’s note: Looking ahead to where we take our golf equipment coverage in the future, we want to look behind us more frequently. What does that mean, exactly? We want to both place new releases in their historical context and highlight past coverage, as we have done from time to time, by opening the GolfWRX archives.

For this installment, we’re returning to 2022 and the beginning of TaylorMade’s “Carbonwood Era,” which persists through this year’s Qi35 drivers. In debuting its Stealth family of drivers, the Carlsbad-based company made a major pivot from traditional titanium faces, opting instead for a layered carbon design. 

We pick up the piece with an overview of the original Carbonwood design. 


The new TaylorMade Stealth driver began as a code-named project, the origins of which go back 20 years. The successor to the SIM line, TaylorMade’s family of Carbonwood drivers includes the Stealth, Stealth Plus, and Stealth HD.

The show-stopping feature of the new 2022 TaylorMade Stealth driver is its centerpiece technology, and it’s likely one you’ve already seen in our in-hand shots of Tiger Woods’ Stealth Plus: a carbon fiber face. For TaylorMade engineers, the conversion to carbon was aimed at one thing: more ball speed.

A close-up look at the new 60X Carbon Fiber Twist Face

A close-up look at the new 60X Carbon Fiber Twist Face

The why and how of TaylorMade’s “60X Carbon Twist Face”

In a surprising departure from industry-standard titanium, TaylorMade engineers turned to another material to construct the face of the Stealth for better energy transfer: carbon. More specifically, 60 layers of strategically arranged carbon fiber sheets.

Interestingly, what TaylorMade is calling the “Carbonwood Age” began decades ago.

“In the mid-2000’s, our research team developed an understanding that the weight of the face can affect impact efficiency, more specifically, the lighter the face, the more efficient the impact and the better the ball speed,” says Brian Bazzel, TaylorMade’s Vice President Product Creation.

“We realized titanium faces could only take us so far and carbon would be the face material of the future. This breakthrough design of a lightweight carbon face in Stealth, has created a whole new starting line, a new era of drivers, a new threshold of performance and a new platform for more innovation.”

With the 60 layers of carbon, TaylorMade touts a thinner, lighter, larger face that features a higher COR (coefficient of restitution) and improved face geometry.

As a result of using a lighter material (carbon), the Stealth’s face is, not surprisingly, substantially lighter than the SIM2. 40 percent lighter than a titanium face of the same size, the carbon face is just 26 grams.

TaylorMade Stealth: A 20-year project

TaylorMade engineers first developed a prototype titanium-covered carbon face in 2003. R&D efforts go back as far as 2000 (TaylorMade 360 days). Engineers then turned their attention to a polymer cover for the carbon fiber — which eventually became the Stealth’s nanotexture face.

In 2012, for the production of the Japan-only Gloire Reserve driver, TaylorMade developed a small-scale composite face production facility.

Following years of continued prototyping, in 2016 TaylorMade engineers developed new manufacturing techniques, which resulted in the first 60-layer carbon face and the beginning of the Stealth project (2018).

Innovation and new manufacturing processes are one thing, but mass production is quite another. And while this is a launch story about a family of products, the process of developing multiple plants for high-volume composite part production is another significant element of the Stealth saga.

Editor’s note: We had to include this video featuring 2022 BK!

Ben Alberstadt is the Editor-in-Chief at GolfWRX, where he’s led editorial direction and gear coverage since 2018. He first joined the site as a freelance writer in 2012 after years spent working in pro shops and bag rooms at both public and private golf courses, experiences that laid the foundation for his deep knowledge of equipment and all facets of this maddening game. Based in Philadelphia, Ben’s byline has also appeared on PGATour.com, Bleacher Report...and across numerous PGA DFS and fantasy golf platforms. Off the course, Ben is a committed cat rescuer and, of course, a passionate Philadelphia sports fan. Follow him on Instagram @benalberstadt.

1 Comment

1 Comment

  1. Noonan

    Feb 20, 2026 at 11:06 pm

    Love the Qi10 core version the best for carbon face tech feel, look, sound and spin. Tried the LS model but way too unforgiving and Max version too high spin. Never had an issue with face peeling nor cracking.

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Equipment

Tour Edge unveils all-new Exotics mini driver

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Tour Edge Golf has today introduced the all-new Exotics mini driver, engineered to deliver a powerful combination of speed, control, and versatility in the long game. 

The Exotics Mini combines a titanium face with a stainless-steel body in design to balance ball speed with stability and control, creating a versatile option at the top end of the bag. 

At the core of the design is Tour Edge’s proprietary Combo Brazing technology, a high-precision thermal bonding process that seamlessly fuses a titanium cup face to a stainless-steel body into a single, continuous structure. By eliminating energy loss found in traditional multi-piece constructions, Combo Brazing is designed to deliver faster face response, more efficient energy transfer, and a uniquely powerful yet controlled feel.

The multi-material construction also allows mass to be positioned lower and deeper in the head in a bid to increase stability, while the thin titanium face is engineered to maintain ball speed across a wider impact area.

“While the initial goal was to enhance control and versatility in the long game, Combo Brazing ultimately drove measurable gains in ball speed and distance within the mini driver category. In robot testing, we’ve documented higher ball speeds, higher launch, reduced spin, and increased carry and total distance compared to leading models.” – Vice President of R&D Matt Neeley

In addition to distance performance, the Exotics mini emphasizes forgiveness through a heavier stainless-steel body that shifts mass toward the perimeter. This configuration increases MOI relative to traditional all-titanium mini drivers, helping preserve ball speed and directional stability on off-center strikes. Paired with Pyramid Face Technology from the Exotics metalwood line, the design is intended to support consistent speed across the face.

To further enhance MOI, a lightweight carbon fiber crown frees additional mass that is strategically repositioned low and deep in the head in design to improve stability and promote optimal launch with controlled spin.

“We designed the Mini to be about five millimeters shallower than other mini drivers on the market. That change improves playability off the deck. From a clean fairway lie, it can function as a strong 3-wood alternative while still providing control off the tee.” – Tour Edge CEO David Glod

An adjustable hosel system allows for loft and lie tuning to dial in trajectory and shot shape, while a fixed 13-gram rear weight helps stabilize the head through impact to improve dispersion consistency. The Exotics Mini Driver is available in 11.5 and 13.5-degree lofts in right-handed models.

Pricing & Availability

The Exotics Mini Driver is available for pre-order beginning today for $399.99 USD at touredge.com, and will be available for purchase at retail outlets worldwide on May 22, 2026. 

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Equipment

Srixon ZXi combo or TaylorMade P7CB/770 combo? – GolfWRXers discuss

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In our forums, our members have been pitting a Srixon ZXi combo against a TaylorMade P7CB/770 combo. WRXer ‘edutch22’ is on the hunt for a new set of irons and kicks off the thread saying:

“Looking at picking up a new set of irons and think I’ve narrowed it down to Srixon ZXi combo or Taylormade P7CB/770 combo. I am currently a 5 cap and allbeit I feel irons are my weakness. My miss is a little to the toe side. I am decently steep at 4-5 down. Always thought I am high spin but recently on trackman my 7 was spinning at 5800 roughly. 

My question or looking for thoughts on which one would benefit me more from a forgiveness standpoint? Or is there another iron is should be looking at entirely? I only get to play about once or twice a week, if I am not playing a 2-3 day event. Thanks in advance.”

And our members have been sharing their thoughts and suggestions in response.

Here are a few posts from the thread, but make sure to check out the entire discussion and have your say at the link below.

  • manima1: “You just can’t go wrong with Srixon ZXi7.”
  • MattM97: “You have to hit them to know, the V-Sole on the Srixon can be make or break for many.”
  • dmeeksDC: “P7CB is more forgiving for me than ZXi7 because my main miss is low middle and the P7CB still flies and spins great on that miss. These are both really nice irons but I like the P7CB more than the Zxi7 and the P770 (or P790) more than the Zxi5. The Srixons are larger so if that gives you confidence that is the way to go. I don’t feel like I get any benefit from the V-sole and the P7CBs live up to their high Maltby forgiveness rating so the TaylorMades have been great for me.”

Entire Thread: “Srixon ZXi combo or TaylorMade P7CB/770 combo? – GolfWRXers discuss”

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Equipment

From the GolfWRX Classifieds: 2024 Wilson Staff CB/Blade combo

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At GolfWRX, we are a community of like-minded individuals who all experience and express our enjoyment of the game in many ways.

It’s that sense of community that drives day-to-day interactions in the forums on topics that range from best driver to what marker you use to mark your ball. It even allows us to share another thing we all love – buying and selling equipment.

Currently, in our GolfWRX buy/sell/trade (BST) forum, @pianoman0123 has a 2024 Wilson Staff CB/Blade combo up for grabs.

From the listing: “2024 Wilson Staff CB/Blade Combo.  4-8 irons are CB’s and the 9,PW are Blades.  5-PW have Project X 6.0 Shafts and the 4 Iron has a Steelfiber CW110 Stiff Shaft.   Standard Length, Lie and Lofts.  These are in very good condition the shafts just don’t work for me.  Like new Lamkin Grips on the 5-PW and a stock Golf Pride on the 4 Iron. $525 OBO.”

To check out the full listing in our BST forum, head through the link. If you are curious about the rules to participate in the BST Forum, you can learn more here: GolfWRX BST Rules

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