TaylorMade launch Stealth UDI and DHY to solve gapping issues

The new TaylorMade Stealth UDI and DHY driving iron and hybrid.

TaylorMade unveil Stealth UDI and DHY, a driving iron and driving hybrid designed to fill the gap between a player’s shortest fairway wood and longest iron.

Designed to be used to get the ball into play on tight tee shots or help you reach the green in two shots on par 5s, the UDI (Utility Driving Iron) and DHY (Driving Hybrid) replace the SIM UDI and DHY models that were launched in 2020.

Both new models use SpeedFoam Air, which TaylorMade say provides optimal launch, distance, and playability. The UDI targets better players who want a combination of control and versatility, with the more hybrid-like DHY aimed at players seeking power and forgiveness.

TaylorMade have taken a host of proven technologies from the SIM and GAPR models and combined them with some big technological advancements to create the new Stealth models.

The forged 4140 steel L-Face with inverted cone technology, combined with a Thru-Slot Speed Pocket, is designed to provide distance, forgiveness, and workability. The new SpeedFoam Air, which provides great sound and feel, is 69 percent less dense than previous versions, helping engineers optimise the centre of gravity without sacrificing damping.

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At first glance the Stealth UDI and DHY look very similar to the SIM models that launched back in 2020, but closer inspection reveals multiple significant changes, including the shaping and a stunning mirror polish black chrome on the toe. The monochromatic theme remains, but there’s a hint of red to tie the clubs into the rest of the revolutionary Stealth family.

It’s no surprise that TaylorMade have waited until links season to unveil the new models, having done the same with both SIM and GAPR, and we expect to see plenty of the Stealth UDI models in play at the Scottish Open at Renaissance Club this week and at the 150th Open Championship at St Andrews next week. Rory McIlroy has already been pictured testing one on the range and both Tiger Woods and Dustin Johnson regularly switch into driving irons for links events.

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But how do the new models differ from each other and their predecessors and which should you be putting in the bag? Let’s take a closer look at the UDI and DHY.

TaylorMade Stealth UDI

RRP: £219 | On sale: July 15, 2022
Lofts: Right-handed – 18°, 20° and 23º; Left-handed – 18° and 20° | Shafts: Aldila ASCENT Black 100X, 90S | Grip: Super Stroke S-Tech (50g)

Designed to provide the perfect blend of control and versatility, Stealth UDI delivers power from the tee or fairway. It has a low launch with mid-to-low spin and is built for forgiving long iron shots and stingers alike. 

Stealth UDI offers a traditional look at address with Tour-inspired shaping, a narrower sole width (compared to DHY) and less offset than its predecessors. It’s built to suit the eye of better ball strikers, but offers an enhanced level of forgiveness compared to standard long irons.

The weight placement is right behind impact, thus the Stealth UDI’s centre of gravity (CG) has been positioned for a lower ball flight, while creating the spin required to shape shots. The CG of Stealth UDI is comparable to that of P790, but Stealth UDI has a wider sole for better playability. 

RELATED: Stealth irons reviewed and tested

TaylorMade Stealth DHY

RRP: £219 | On sale: July 15, 2022
Lofts: Right-handed – 17°, 19°, 22º and 25º; Left-handed – 19° and 22° | Shafts: Aldila ASCENT Black 75S, 65R, 55A | Grip: Super Stroke S-Tech (50g)

Designed for power and forgiveness, Stealth DHY delivers a mid-to-low ball flight with distance properties that rival traditional hybrids in an iron-like profile.

It looks inviting at address with a longer blade length and wide sole that create a large strike zone that inspires confidence. The rounded heel/toe enhances playability and turf interaction. 

Stealth DHY has weight positioned in the sole of the club to create a lower CG, which makes it more playable and easier to launch than a traditional iron. That lower CG creates a higher launch than Stealth UDI.

RELATED: Best Hybrids 2022

What TaylorMade say about Stealth UDI and DHY

“With Stealth UDI and DHY, we designed two different, yet similar options to provide versatility and forgiveness that can be a massive advantage for golfers in between their fairway woods and longest irons,” said Matt Bovee, TaylorMade’s Director of Product Creation for Irons.

“By incorporating SpeedFoam Air from our P·790 irons and re-imagining the shaping of both UDI and DHY, we created the opportunity for the everyday golfer to be able to rely on two different options at the top of the bag: Stealth UDI with a lower trajectory and more penetrating ball flight and Stealth DHY that flies a little higher and lands softer.

“With these products, golfers will be able to take flight in the ways that best suits their game and properly gap the top of their bags.”

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