TaylorMade Stealth UDI and Stealth DHY Utility Irons

TaylorMade has launched Stealth UDI and Stealth DHY utility irons. The new models provide additional options to fill gaps at the long end of your bag. Retail price is $249. Pre-sale starts now. Available July 15.

If you were expecting TaylorMade would be launching a new P-Series iron right about now, then, yeah, well, me too. But that ain’t gonna happen. To hold you over and hopefully fill a spot in your bag where options are plentiful but answers are sometimes hard to come by, TaylorMade is launching the Stealth UDI and Stealth DHY in the utility/driving iron space.

And while there are some red accents to reinforce the Stealth branding, you won’t find any carbon fiber here. That only works with big faces.

Stealth UDI/DHY – Where They Fit

Both the Stealth UDI and Stealth DHY provide options to fill what I call the transitional space in your bag. Philosophies and specifics vary but Matt Bovee, TaylorMade’s Director of Product Creation for the iron category, sees it as the gap between the shortest fairway wood you’re not willing to part with and the longest iron you’re comfortable hitting. Typically, that’s the chasm between your 3-wood and a 4- or even 5-iron.

Incidentally, if the longest iron in your bag isn’t something you’re comfortable hitting, it’s time for a change. The Stealth UDI or DHY could be just the thing to make you feel comfortable in the long game.

The larger point is that you’ve got options. For some, old-school long irons are still cool. You’ve got hybrids (ahem, rescues), 7- and 9-woods and, of course, utility irons. That last one is a bit of a catch-all for anything with a bit of driving-iron DNA in it but the reality is that there’s a tremendous amount of diversity within the category.

That’s certainly true when it comes to TaylorMade’s new Stealth offerings but before we discuss the variety in the lineup, let’s look at what TaylorMade’s newest utilities have in common.

What’s (Mostly) the Same

 

At the risk of stating the obvious, both the TaylorMade Stealth UDI and Stealth DHY live in the space loosely defined as utility clubs. Neither is a replacement for P790. That’s sticking around. So what we’re talking about is TaylorMade extending the line to provide greater performance and fitting options within the driving-iron space.

As you’d expect, there are appreciable performance differences between the two but the construction is similar.

SpeedFoam Air

Both qualify as forged hollow-body designs. And in both cases the hollow body is filled with TaylorMade’s proprietary SpeedFoam Air. It’s the same material that debuted in last year’s P790 irons. The major point of differentiation from the previous iteration of SpeedFoam is that the Air variety is 69-percent lighter. Ultimately that gives TaylorMade the ability to retain and even improve feel while saving weight from the middle of clubface where it doesn’t offer any particular advantage.

Forged Faces

TaylorMade describes Stealth UDI and Stealth DHY utility irons as offering forged construction. As we’ve noted before, golf manufacturers are prone to playing fast and loose with “forged” but since both the Stealth UDI and Stealth DHY pair a cast 450 stainless body with a forged 4140 face (another carryover from P790), we’ll allow it.

Both models feature a full cut-through speed slot to help retain ball speed, particularly on low face contact (common with irons and iron-like designs).

Finally, both the Stealth UDI and Stealth DHY feature TaylorMade’s signature Inverted Cone Technology in the face to maximize the size of the sweet spot.

With the similarities out of the way, let’s look at what separates the two models.

Stealth UDI

Of the two TaylorMade Stealth utility offerings, the Stealth UDI is a more traditional driving iron design. It offers a textbook example of “tour-inspired” shape. With that comes a narrower sole, shorter blade length, thinner topline, less offset … you know the drill.

I suppose it qualifies as the “better player’s” option.

From a performance standpoint, launch and spin are the biggest differentiators, though you shouldn’t discount forgiveness entirely.

Relative to the Stealth DHY, the Stealth UDI has a center of gravity that’s almost three millimeters higher. It’s a good bit of the reason why the UDI will produce a flatter trajectory with higher spin.

Of note, while the Stealth UDI is the lowest-flying of TaylorMade’s latest offering, the still-current P790 UDI provides the flattest trajectory of a utility offering in the TaylorMade lineup.

Stealth DHY

If you’re unfamiliar, DHY is short for “driving hybrid.” From that, you should conclude that the Stealth DHY is designed to be a bit of an amalgamation of a hybrid and a driving iron.

Relative to the Stealth UDI, the Stealth DHY has a larger overall footprint. It’s longer from heel to toe. It has a wider sole, more offset and a thicker topline. At address, it’s significantly larger than the UDI. Guys, it’s a club and that’s the point.

Call a driving iron (ahem, driving hybrid) for the masses.

Unlike the sleeker Stealth UDI, most golfers will see the back of the DHY at address. That’s going to be a deal breaker for some while others (typically golfers moving into a DHY from hybrids or super game-improvement irons) will appreciate the extra bit of confidence-inspiring bulk.

While the Stealth UDI has a flatter leading edge and sole profile, the DHY offers increased heel-to-toe radius (the sole has some curvature to it). That adds a bit of added playability to the design, particularly from those less than ideal lies, which makes it more suitable for less-skilled ball strikers.

No judgment. We’re just looking for solutions that work.

Relative to the prior-gen SIM DHY, TaylorMade softened the curvature on the back of the club. It’s not a game-changer by any means but it gives the Stealth DHY a cleaner, more eye-pleasing look at address.

As we touched on previously, with its lower center of gravity and wider sole, the Stealth DHY is going to fly a bit higher and spin a bit less than the Stealth UDI, though neither qualifies as a high-launch option. That’s where rescues/hybrids come in.

Which is Right For You?

 

I’m going level with you. There’s a good chance that neither the Stealth UDI nor the Stealth DHY belongs in your bag. For golfers playing game-improvement irons (and that’s the majority), rescues/hybrids are typically better options. That’s fine. TaylorMade will be happy to sell you one of those.

If you are comfortable filling this particular gap in your bag with a utility iron, then the decision will likely be made based on the differences in launch and spin. It really boils down to which option is going to fly through the trajectory window you’re looking for and, more importantly, which allows you to hit your number most consistently.

Specs, Pricing and Availability

TaylorMade Stealth UDI is available in 18, 20 and 23 degrees. Lefties are limited to the 18- and 20-degree versions. The stock shaft is an Aldila Ascent Black in 100X or 90S.

The Stealth DHY is available in 17, 19, 22 and 25 degrees. Lefties get the 19- and 22-degree versions. The stock shaft is also an Aldila Ascent Black (75S, 65R and 55A).

TaylorMade’s Any Shaft/Any Head rules are in play so if the stock option doesn’t suit you, feel free to order any shaft in TaylorMade’s no-upcharge matrix. Actually, feel free to order from up-charge options as well—so long as you’re willing to pay for it.

The stock grip for both the Stealth UDI and DHY is a Super Stroke S-Tech.

Retail price for the TaylorMade Stealth UDI and Stealth DHY is $249 (the same as the P790 UDI). Pre-orders are available now with full retail availability beginning July 15.

For more information, visit TaylorMadeGolf.com.

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