Equipment

2020 TaylorMade SIM UDI, SIM DHY utility irons: Options at the top of your bag

Published

4 years ago

Aug 10, 2020

TaylorMade Golf has today announced the arrival of its all-new for 2020 TaylorMade SIM UDI and SIM DHY utility irons. According to Senior Manager of Product Creation for Irons, Matt Bovee, the SIM UDI and SIM DHY were designed to offer players options between the existing UDI (a lower-launching, lower-spinning utility iron) and the SIM Max Rescue.

Both new additions from TaylorMade feature a rounded camber from heel to toe that bids to improve turf interaction, particularly on uneven lies. This rounded camber is designed to add to the versatility of each club—making them playable off the tee, from the fairway, in the rough and even from the bunker.

Like the company’s SIM Max fairway woods and Rescue, the SIM UDI and SIM DHY driving irons feature a hollow body construction with a forged C300 steel face.

This ultra-strong steel aims to maximize ball speeds while also delivering a forged feel to each product. Additional similarities include SpeedFoam, and the Thru-Slot Speed Pocket, which is designed to aid performance on shots struck low on the face.

More photos and discussion in the forums.

Comparisons of the sole widths of 2020 TaylorMade SIM UDI and DHY utilities.

TaylorMade SIM DHY

The SIM DHY contains a thicker topline, wider sole, and a shallower profile that seeks to provide players with hybrid-like forgiveness. The SIM DHY also features a larger head shape that is designed to deliver confidence-inspiring visual cues while maintaining a sleek aesthetic.

The hollow body construction of the SIM DHY has been designed to allow for a low and deep CG placement, which subsequently aims to offer easy launch with a mid-high trajectory.

Working alongside these low CG characteristics is a newly developed SpeedFoam material which is 35% less dense than the standard urethane foam injection used in other TaylorMade products (P•790, P•770 and P•790 UDI). Per TaylorMade, The lighter material allowed company engineers to position CG lower within the clubhead in a bid to promote a higher launch and trajectory while promoting a soft, solid feel.

More photos and discussion in the forums.

new-taylormade-udi

Adding to the low-CG properties is a port on the sole of the club where the SpeedFoam is injected. The port is filled with a heavy TPS screw-in design to drive CG even lower.

TaylorMade SIM UDI

In contrast, the SIM UDI contains a more traditional players iron profile with a thinner topline and slimmer sole which seeks to offer enhanced workability and shot-making characteristics.

With the new SIM UDI, the TPS port is positioned on the rear of the club. This positioning is designed to raise the CG slightly to promote a lower launch and more penetrating ball flight.

2020-taylormade-sim-udi-face

Along with the C300 face and SpeedFoam, the new addition from TaylorMade also features aggressive scorelines across the face in a bid to provide players with the feel of a fully forged iron while maintaining the performance of a hollow body construction.

2020-taylormade-sim-udi-face

More photos and discussion in the forums.

Specs, Pricing & Availability

Specs:

SIM UDI – Comes equipped with a graphite Mitsubishi DiamanaThumpshaft (X 100g, S 90g) as well as a Lamkin Crossline 360 grip. Available in lofts of 18° and 20° in both RH and LH.
SIM DHY – Comes equipped with a graphite Mitsubishi Diamana Limited shaft (S 75g, R65g, A 55g) as well as a Lamkin Crossline 360 grip. Available lofts of 17°, 19°, 22° and 25° in both RH and LH.

Availability:

Both SIM UDI and SIM DHY will be available for preorder on August 14 and at retail beginning September 4.

Pricing:

SIM UDI – $249
SIM DHY – $249

Comparison photo of the 2020 TaylorMade SIM UDI and the TaylorMade UDI.

More photos and discussion in the forums.

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Equipment

Michael Block spotted with full set of TaylorMade “Proto” irons at Valhalla

Published

6 hours ago

May 14, 2024

GolfWRX Staff

Editor’s note: This is an excerpt from a piece our Andrew Tursky originally wrote for PGATour.com’s Equipment Report. Head over there for the full article.

On Monday at the 2024 PGA Championship at Valhalla Golf Club, Block had a full set of TaylorMade “Proto” irons in the bag.

Block is the first player of many on the PGA TOUR to bag a set of the mysterious “Proto” irons. Rory McIlroy first switched into a “Proto” 4-iron at the Valero Texas Open, and Collin Morikawa followed suit at the 2024 RBC Heritage. Block isn’t using just the 4-iron, though, he’s using a full set to go along with a TaylorMade Stealth UDI driving iron.

Speaking with GolfWRX.com on Monday at the PGA Championship, Block revealed the full backstory.

“I hit a couple super “Proto” irons when I was at the Kingdom (TaylorMade’s fitting facility in Southern California) a couple months ago, and it was a 9-iron that didn’t have any badges or anything on it,” Block said. “I had no idea what it was … It was very similar to what I was using back then, you know, my old MCs, and very similar from the top. I hit it and absolutely loved it. For me to even think about switching irons from the last 11-12 years is crazy.

“I got this set about two weeks ago, and I’m working my way into them. I hit them more solid; it comes off the face more solid. Much higher. I think they’re still slightly too upright for me, so they’re being bent a degree flatter, because they’re going a little too high for me and drawing a little too much. When that starts to happen, I start to drop the club under and compensate too much, so I’m getting them flattened slightly, and I’m going to test them on the range again, and hopefully have them in play on Thursday…

“They go further, and they go higher … that combination is kind of a no-brainer. If I can take a 5-iron from 204 rather than a 4-iron, it’s good on me. It’s going to help me out for sure, especially at a major with the pin locations. Having that height coming in, that descent angle is going to be huge.”

With such new irons in the bag, after using the same irons for over a decade, surely you’d think there will be a bit of a learning curve. Block, however, is finding immediate comfort with the new “Proto” irons.

Head over to PGATour.com for the full article.

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Whats in the Bag

WITB Time Machine: Rory McIlroy’s winning WITB, 2014 PGA Championship

Published

8 hours ago

May 14, 2024

GolfWRX Staff

It’s hard to believe it’s been 10 years since Rory McIlroy outlasted Phil Mickelson at the 2014 PGA Championship. It’s even harder to believe McIlroy hasn’t hoisted a major trophy since his 2014 victory at Valhalla.

After a slow start to his final round, McIlroy tallied an eagle and two birdies on the back nine and his fourth major championship. Take a look at the clubs he played a decade ago in Kentucky.

Driver: Nike VR_S Covert 2.0 Tour (8.5 degrees) Buy here.
Shaft: Mitsubishi Kuro Kage XTS 70X

3-wood: Nike VR_S Covert 2.0 Tour (15 degrees) Buy here.
Shaft: Fujikura Rombax Pro 95 X

5-wood: Nike VR_S Covert 2.0 Tour (19 degrees) Buy here.
Shaft: Fujikura Rombax Pro 95 X

Check out more in-hand photos of Rory McIlroy’s clubs from 2014 here.

Irons: Nike VR Pro Blade (4-9) Buy here.
Shaft: Project X 7.0

Wedges: Nike VR Forged (46, 52, 56, 60 degrees) Buy here.
Shafts: Project X 6.5

Putter: Nike Method 006 Buy here.

Grips: Golf Pride MCC

Ball: Nike RZN Black

Check out more in-hand photos of Rory McIlroy’s clubs from 2014 here.

WITB Time Machine is presented by 2nd Swing Golf. 2nd Swing has more than 100,000 new and pre-swung golf clubs available in six store locations and online. Check them out here.

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