Used TaylorMade Fairway Woods: M2 to Stealth 2 - Which Generation to Buy (2026)
TaylorMade fairway woods hold their performance for years, which makes the used market a goldmine — if you know what changed between generations.
Here's a quiet truth of golf equipment: fairway woods improve more slowly than drivers. A great fairway wood from five or eight years ago is still a great fairway wood — and TaylorMade has made more great ones than anyone. From the legendary M2 to the Stealth 2 Plus, here's the honest generation guide for used buyers.
The Generations Compared
| Generation | Character | Used-market verdict |
|---|---|---|
| M2 (2016/17) | Arguably the most loved fairway wood of the era — shallow face, easy launch, deadly off the deck | The budget legend; the 7W in particular still has a cult following |
| M5 / M6 (2019) | M5 added movable weighting and Twist Face; the Titanium and Rocket variants pushed size and speed for tee use | The adjustable value pick — tour-level options at mid-tier used prices |
| SIM / SIM2 (2020/21) | V Steel sole returned — noticeably better turf interaction from tight and imperfect lies | The sweet spot for golfers who hit fairways off the deck |
| Stealth / Stealth 2 (2022/23) | Carbon crowns, hotter faces; the Plus models add adjustability and titanium builds for near-driver speed | Closest to current performance; Stealth 2 Plus is the pick for strong players |
How to Choose
- Off the deck first? Prioritise SIM/SIM2 or the classic M2 — sole design and shallow faces matter more from the turf than raw face speed.
- Mostly off the tee? The bigger Titanium/Rocket/Plus heads (M5 Titanium, Stealth 2 Plus) behave like mini drivers and reward that job.
- Want adjustability? M5 and the Plus models carry sliding or loft-sleeve adjustability; standard M2/SIM heads are mostly fixed (loft sleeve only on some).
- Don't ignore the 5W and 7W: higher-lofted fairway woods are the most forgiving long clubs in golf, and used prices on them are consistently softer than 3-woods. Our 7 wood and 9 wood guide covers why.
- Check the classic wear points: sky marks on the crown, sole scratching (cosmetic) vs face wear in the hitting zone (performance), and the exact shaft model — used TM fairways carry everything from stock Fubuki/Tensei to premium Ventus and Tour AD shafts.
💡 Value tip: fairway woods are where "two generations old" costs you almost nothing in performance and saves you the most money per club. If your budget forces a choice, buy the newer driver and the older fairway wood — never the reverse.
Why Buy From Us
We hold one of the deeper used TaylorMade fairway wood benches in Australia — M2 through Stealth 2 Plus, right and left hand — sourced directly from Japan and often carrying premium JDM shafts. Every club is inspected and graded under our published grading system.
Shop Used Fairway Woods — Australia-Wide Shipping
Professionally graded. $30 flat rate shipping. Free over $600.
Can't Find What You're After?
Chasing a specific model, loft or shaft — or a left-handed head? Use our Club Sourcing Request page and we'll look for it on the next buying trip.
The Bottom Line
Match the head to the job — turf-friendly generations for the deck, big titanium heads for the tee — and buy a generation or two back without guilt. In fairway woods, the used market isn't a compromise; it's the smart play.
Honest prices, quality gear. Simple.