TaylorMade

What it does: TaylorMade’s large carbon crown spills over the edges of the perimeter to yield as much as a 78 percent weight savings compared to the steel it replaces. This results in additional stability (especially on the Stealth 2 HD) and lowers the centre of gravity (more so on the Stealth 2 Plus). The three models use the saved weight of a carbon-composite crown differently to optimise performance for specific player types. The Stealth 2 Plus offers subtle game enhancement for elite players. The Stealth 2 pumps up the distance and launch angle for average players. The new Stealth 2 HD is the company’s first extreme game-improvement hybrid.

Why we like it: TaylorMade’s engineers long have been pushing the boundaries of flexible faces and the complex use of carbon composites. But what also makes these hybrids special is their simple solutions. Take their size, for example. These heads might get progressively larger in the three models, but the faces stay shallow to keep the CGs low. A flatter sole (lower to the ground at the heel and toe) further drops the CG to improve launch in the iron-like Stealth 2 Plus as much as it does for the all-purpose Stealth 2.

Lofts 19, 22, 25, 28, 31 (Stealth 2); 19, 22, 25, 28 (HD); 17, 19.5, 22 (plus