FIRST LOOK: TaylorMade’s 2022 Stealth UDI and DHY utility irons
TaylorMade's Stealth UDI and DHY utility irons offer different performance characteristics.
Jonathan Wall/GOLF
Where does your iron set end and your fairway woods start? It’s a simple question with a complicated answer, but with the launch of the new Stealth UDI and DHY utility irons, TaylorMade is looking to help make that decision a lot easier.
Over the last couple of years, we have seen a resurgence of high lofted fairway woods in players’ bags, from regular golfers all the way up to the PGA Tour. The big reason for this is their ability to create extra height and angle of descent for players that don’t have enough club head speed or don’t create enough spin.
On the other end of the player spectrum, high lofted fairway woods can wreak havoc for those that need to lower ball flight and create the kind of control that a fairway wood or traditional hybrid can’t — this is where the UDI and DHY come in.
Technology and Design
Unlike a hybrid or fairway wood, the Stealth utilities offer the “best of both worlds” performance, bringing together the ball speed and distance of a hybrid with the control of an iron.
On the outside, the UDI has a thin-cast 450 stainless steel body which helps save mass from around the head to position it where it can be best utilized in each design. From there we have the incorporation of Speedfoam Air and a Forged 4140 face, the same face material (and injected foam) used in the P790 to further increase feel and increase MOI (a measurement of forgiveness).
Speedfoam Air weighs 69 percent less than the previous generation, which saves around 4 grams of weight on the finished product. That might not seem like much, but when every single percentage point of discretionary mass plays an important role, 4 grams is a notable 2 percent dip.
Last but not least, each model has a through-slot sole allowing the face to flex more at impact, especially on shots hit towards the lower part of the face – a common miss for longer clubs as golfers try to “lift” shots into the air. When all of this is put together you have the most refined and versatile utilities TaylorMade has ever released.
Speaking of versatility, the Stealth UDI and DHY skip the adjustable sleeve treatment seen in many other TaylorMade clubs, but they’re still highly customizable. Both the UDI and DHY can be bent plus or minus 2 degrees to dial in lie angle and ball flight — just don’t forget to stop by a custom clubfitter to dial in your best combination.
UDI
In many ways, the new Stealth UDI (Ultimate Driving Iron) looks like a slightly larger version of the P790, and when you consider the popularity of the P790, it’s not hard to see why the engineers at TaylorMade decided to optimize that profile.
The UDI offers a traditional long iron look from the address position with a square topline and leading edge to make it easy to aim and blend into any set. A rear position weight centers and raises mass to offer low launch performance.
DHY
Although the new Stealth DHY (Driving Hybrid) shares a similar look to the UDI, the Stealth is more hybrid than true driving iron. This comes thanks to a rounded sole and lower profile — which pushed the Z-axis (up and down) center of gravity almost 3mm lower in the head than the UDI to increase launch while keeping a lower spin.
To put 3mm into context, a golf ball’s equator sits at 21.34mm, so 3mm is more than 14 percent lower compared to the UDI. That makes it easy to use and still easier to control — a big win-win.
Specs and Availability
Both the new Stealth UDI and the DHY will be available for online preorder through TaylorMade accounts starting July 5, and at retail locations beginning July 15 for $249.
The UDI will come in lofts of 18, 20, and 23 degrees (23-degree right-hand only), with Aldila’s Ascent Black 90/100 in X-Flex and S-Flex as stock options
The DHY will come in lofts 17, 19, 22 and 25 degrees ( 17- and 25-degree right-hand only), with Aldila’s Ascent Black 75 in S-flex, 65 in R-flex, and 55 in R-flex.
Want to overhaul your bag for 2022? Find a fitting location near you at GOLF’s affiliate company True Spec Golf. For more on the latest gear news and information, check out our latest Fully Equipped podcast below.
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