50 Words or Less
The TaylorMade Stealth 2 HD Rescue hybrid is easy to launch high. Strong draw bias. Mid spin makes it a great choice for approach shots.
Introduction
The new club releases of 2023 tell me one thing: there’s never been a better time to be a slicer. The HD line from TaylorMade is one of the biggest reasons. From driver to fairway wood to irons [review HERE], you can fill almost your entire bag with clubs designed to turn slices into high draws. In this review, we’ll discuss the TaylorMade Stealth 2 HD Rescue – a club built to conquer long approach shots.
Looks
The TaylorMade Stealth 2 HD Rescue really surprised me with its look at address. I was expecting something very large and heel-heavy, but it’s neither of those things. The overall size is a touch above average, but a lot of that is hidden in the slight pear shape and the two-tone crown. Just like on the Stealth 2 HD driver [review HERE], there’s a strip of matte finish in front of the gloss black crown. The draw bias design of this club reveals itself in the alignment aid sitting slightly toward the heel and the face being a touch closed.
In the bag, the Stealth 2 HD Rescue is a club that Darth Vader would be proud to game. The white and red elements pop off the solid black sole. TaylorMade’s trademark Speed Pocket is the only visible tech, and it’s quite understated.
Sound & Feel
The feel of the TaylorMade Stealth 2 HD Rescue is incredibly solid. It feels more like an old persimmon wood than the modern hybrid that it is. Perfectly pure strikes have a slight snap to the feel, but that’s the only indication that you aren’t hitting the ball with a solid piece of metal.
Your focus on the burly feel is enhanced by the fact that the impact sound is so quiet. It’s loudest and most lively on center, but even that is mid volume at most. Off center it barely makes a peep. In both feel and sound, you get a little extra feedback reward for pure strikes, but no punishment for misses.
Performance
Just like the Stealth 2 HD fairway wood [review HERE], the TaylorMade Stealth 2 HD Rescue does exactly what it claims. It launches the ball high and does a lot to promote a draw. With my normal swing, the ball had a pronounced right-to-left curve. If I struck the heel – even the deep heel – the ball went laser straight. But given any opportunity – a slightly closed face or a toe strike – this club will send the ball sailing left. This makes it an excellent choice for the slicer, but players who want to hit it both way should opt for the standard Stealth 2 Rescue [review HERE].
While the draw bias is not a fit for me, I did love how this club launched the ball effortlessly. This is one of the higher launching hybrids I’ve hit this year, and it gets the high launch almost regardless of strike quality. You need to hit it extremely thin to produce a boring shot. Paired with mid spin, the high launch makes the Stealth 2 HD Rescue an ideal choice for approach shots, even into firm greens.
When it comes to ball speed and forgiveness, the TaylorMade Stealth 2 HD Rescue is good but a touch short of elite. My smash factors were routinely in the mid 1.4s but didn’t quite get to the driver-like numbers. Similarly, my results on mishits weren’t quite as good as they were with the most forgiving hybrids of this year. All that said, I want to be clear that I am splitting hairs. I don’t think any golfer would be upset about the results they get from toe or heel shots with this club, assuming it fits their game.
Conclusion
For the players looking to get more aggressive with their long approach shots, the TaylorMade Stealth 2 HD Rescue is a great choice. This club is long and forgiving with high launch and a strong draw bias. Put this in your bag and forget about laying up on par 5s.
Visit TaylorMade HERE
TaylorMade Stealth 2 HD Rescue Price & Specs
He founded Plugged In Golf in 2013 with the goal of helping all golfers play better and enjoy the game more.
Matt lives in the northwest suburbs of Chicago with his wife and two daughters.
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3 Comments
Nice review Matt. I recently got the stealth 2 three wood. I am doing miraculous things with that club. I am hoping the stealth 2 or stealth 2 hd hybrid would also produce spectacular results. What other hybrids are more forgiving?
Joshua,
There are a lot of excellent hybrids this year. Check out our reviews on the latest from Callaway, PXG, and PING.
Best,
Matt
I just turned 70 and do have some issues but love golf to the max. Anyway just bought Taylor made 6 7 8 9 PW and A wedge with 3 4 5 rescue HD. I couldn’t golf as well as I wanted and these clubs are beyond good. Rescue clubs give me 15 to 20 more easy. Same as irons and wedges.
Try them you won’t be disappointed . Thank you Taylor made