In 2021, Dustin Johnson didn’t have the easiest time switching into TaylorMade’s SIM2 driver family. While he played most of the year with a new SIM2 Max 3-wood, he mostly stayed with his familiar 2020 SIM driver. For whatever reason, the man who historically switches into new drivers fairly easily struggled to find comfort with the SIM2’s driver performance.

This year’s new TaylorMade Stealth driver family, however, appears to be a different story.

When Johnson showed up on Monday to the 2022 Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines, he had two drivers in the bag that he was testing. Both were 10.5-degree TaylorMade Stealth Plus drivers equipped with LA Golf DJ-Series prototype shafts.

Dustin Johnson’s LA Golf DJ-Series prototype shaft

On Tuesday ahead of the event, GolfWRX caught up with Johnson to see what’s in the bag for 2022, and to get his thoughts on the new red-faced Stealth Plus “Carbonwood” driver.

Most notably, Johnson spoke on the increase in forgiveness and ball speed numbers on mishits.

“Speed-wise, it’s similar [to my previous driver], Johnson told GolfWRX. “I’ve seen my spin rates are more consistent, and I’m getting consistently faster numbers. For me, the mishits have been much better. I love the new driver. It’s great.”

When I asked about the all-new carbon face – which uses 60 layers of carbon in place of titanium – Johnson spoke highly of the sound and feel.

“The feel is great,” Johnson said. “It doesn’t feel like it’s – it still feels like it’s titanium. Feel is funny, because feel is all sound, so as long as the sound is good, it’s gonna feel right. They did a really good job with the sound, and I think it sounds really good. It sounds solid when you hit in the middle. Obviously, I can feel if I hit it off the heel or the toe, so I’m getting really good feedback from it, so I really like that. Then, like I said, the numbers have been really good, consistent, and that’s all I’m looking for.”

In 2021, Johnson ranked 18th on the PGA Tour in ball speed, averaging 179.36 mph. Being that he’s picking up more speed on mishits with the Stealth Plus, it seems likely that Johnson will eclipse 180 mph for 2022. It’s the accuracy stat that could use the biggest boost, though, since he ranked 136th in driving accuracy in 2021, hitting just 57.87 percent of fairways.

Fairway wood switch, too?

Based on our photos of his bag on Tuesday at Torrey Pines, it seems Johnson is switching out more than the driver. He had a new Stealth 3HL 16.5-degree 3-wood, a 21-degree Stealth 7-wood, and a Stealth 22-degree Rescue in the bag, as well as a Spider GT Rollback putter that he tested out on Tuesday.

Knowing Johnson, his bag setup could look different as the event progresses, but for now it seems DJ has made big equipment changes for 2022.

Click here for more photos of Dustin Johnson’s 2022 WITB at Torrey Pines.