How To Adjust Taylormade Stealth Driver

Adjusting your Taylormade Stealth driver can significantly impact your performance on the golf course. Understanding and utilizing the adjustable features allows you to fine-tune your club to match your swing and course conditions, potentially leading to longer, straighter drives. This guide outlines how to adjust the Stealth driver's loft and face angle using the adjustable hosel, and how to adjust the weight track (if applicable) for optimal ball flight.

Adjusting Loft and Face Angle with the Adjustable Hosel

The Stealth driver features an adjustable hosel that allows you to change the loft and face angle. This is the primary adjustment you'll likely use.

Understanding the Hosel Settings

The hosel has markings that correspond to different loft and face angle settings. Here's a breakdown:

• Standard Loft: This is the loft printed on the driver head (e.g., 10.5°).
• "+/- Loft" Markings: These indicate how many degrees you can increase or decrease the loft from the standard setting. Typically, you'll see markings like "+2", "+1.5", "+1", "-1", "-1.5", "-2".
• "Upright Lie" Setting: This setting adjusts the lie angle of the club, making it more upright. This can help prevent hitting shots to the right (for right-handed golfers) or left (for left-handed golfers). Note that the upright lie setting also affects the face angle.

Each setting corresponds to a specific combination of loft and face angle adjustment. Refer to the chart, typically found on Taylormade's website or in the driver's manual, to understand the exact changes each setting makes. A common adjustment tool shows letters and numbers, for example: STD LOFT, +2 LOFT, -2 LOFT, UPRIGHT LIE ANGLE, etc.

Making the Adjustments

1. Locate the Adjustment Wrench: This is a small, torque wrench that came with your driver.
2. Loosen the Hosel Screw: Insert the wrench into the screw on the hosel (where the shaft connects to the clubhead) and turn it counterclockwise until it clicks, indicating that the screw is loose. Do not completely remove the screw.
3. Select the Desired Setting: Rotate the shaft until the desired setting on the hosel lines up with the alignment mark on the clubhead.
4. Tighten the Hosel Screw: Insert the wrench back into the screw and turn it clockwise until you hear a distinct "click" sound. This indicates that the screw is properly tightened. Do not overtighten.
5. Double-Check: Ensure the screw is securely tightened and that the chosen setting is correctly aligned.

Practical Applications

• Higher Launch: If you struggle to get the ball airborne, increasing the loft can help. Set the hosel to a "+1" or "+2" loft setting.
• Lower Launch: If you hit the ball too high, decreasing the loft can help. Set the hosel to a "-1" or "-2" loft setting.
• Correcting a Slice (Right-Handed Golfer): The "Upright Lie" setting can help close the clubface slightly at impact, reducing a slice. You might also try increasing the loft slightly in conjunction with the Upright Lie setting.
• Correcting a Hook (Right-Handed Golfer): Decreasing the loft might help, potentially opening the face slightly. Experiment to see what works best for you.
• Adjusting for Course Conditions: On a windy day, you might want to decrease the loft to hit a lower, more penetrating ball flight.

Experimentation is key. Don't be afraid to try different settings to see what works best for your swing and the course you're playing.

Adjusting the Weight Track (if applicable)

Some Stealth driver models feature a weight track on the sole of the club. This allows you to adjust the center of gravity (CG) to influence ball flight.

Understanding the Weight Track

The weight track typically has a weight that can be moved along a designated track. Moving the weight changes the CG, which affects the ball's spin and launch characteristics.

• Weight Towards the Heel: This promotes a draw (right-to-left ball flight for right-handed golfers). It helps close the clubface slightly at impact.
• Weight Towards the Toe: This promotes a fade (left-to-right ball flight for right-handed golfers). It helps open the clubface slightly at impact.
• Weight Centered: This provides a more neutral ball flight.

Making the Adjustments

1. Locate the Adjustment Wrench: Use the same wrench used for the hosel adjustments.
2. Loosen the Weight Screw: Insert the wrench into the screw holding the weight in place and turn it counterclockwise until loose.
3. Slide the Weight: Move the weight to the desired position along the track.
4. Tighten the Weight Screw: Turn the screw clockwise until snug. Do not overtighten.
5. Double-Check: Ensure the screw is securely tightened and the weight is in the correct position.

Practical Applications

• Reducing a Slice (Right-Handed Golfer): Move the weight towards the heel to encourage a draw.
• Reducing a Hook (Right-Handed Golfer): Move the weight towards the toe to encourage a fade.
• Increasing Stability (MOI): On some models, placing the weight furthest back in the track increases the moment of inertia (MOI), making the driver more forgiving on off-center hits.

Minor adjustments to the weight can have a noticeable impact. Start with small changes and observe the results.

Combining Hosel and Weight Adjustments

The most effective way to optimize your Stealth driver is to experiment with both the hosel and weight track adjustments in combination. For example:

• For a persistent slice: Try the Upright Lie setting on the hosel and move the weight towards the heel.
• For a low, fading ball flight: Increase the loft on the hosel and move the weight towards the heel.

Pay attention to how each adjustment affects your ball flight and make incremental changes to dial in the perfect settings for your game. It may be useful to video record your swing and ball flight before and after each adjustment to accurately assess the effect of the changes.

Consider visiting a qualified club fitter. They can use launch monitor data to precisely determine the optimal settings for your swing. While adjustments at the range are helpful, professional fitting offers data-driven results.

Practice and Note-Taking

The best way to understand how these adjustments affect your game is to practice. Spend time on the driving range experimenting with different settings and noting the results. Keep a record of the settings you've tried and the ball flight you achieved with each. This will help you quickly find the right settings for different courses and conditions.

Adjusting your driver requires consistent practice and diligent note-taking. Without recording your adjustments and ball flight, the exercise becomes guesswork. Document everything!

Stealth Driver Adjustment Checklist/Guideline

Here is a quick checklist to guide your adjustment process:

• Understand the Basics: Familiarize yourself with the different hosel and weight track settings and how they affect ball flight.
• Make One Adjustment at a Time: Avoid making multiple adjustments simultaneously. This will make it difficult to determine which adjustment is having the desired effect.
• Small Increments: Start with small adjustments and observe the results.
• Practice and Record: Spend time on the driving range experimenting with different settings and recording the ball flight.
• Consider a Professional Fitting: A qualified club fitter can provide data-driven insights and help you optimize your driver settings.
• Wrench Safety: Always make sure the wrench clicks when tightening. Never overtighten.

Adjusting your driver is a continuous process. As your swing changes, you may need to revisit your settings to maintain optimal performance.