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Spotted: TaylorMade UDI (Ultimate Driving Iron)

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TaylorMade has released more new club models in 2014 than any year in recent memory, but it has been noticeably absent in the driving iron category.

That changed this week when we spotted players testing TaylorMade’s new UDI, or “Ultimate Driving Iron” at the Quicken Loans National.

According to a TaylorMade official, the UDI is a product for better golfers who are looking for a little more precision than a fairway wood or hybrid can provide, as well as a little more distance than a typical long iron. He didn’t say more than that, but the photos indicate that the UDI has a larger chassis than other Tour Preferred irons (see the photos below).

Its graphics hint that it might also have the “Cut-Thru” slot TaylorMade used on its new SLDR irons to give the club more ball speed and a higher launch than, say, the TaylorMade Tour Preferred MC 2 iron that Martin Kaymer used to win the U.S. Open at Pinehurst No. 2.

Justin Rose, being the gentleman that he is, confirmed to us through his twitter account that he planned to put the 20-degree 3 iron in play for the Quicken Loans Invitational.

Jason Day was also said to have tested the UDI as part of his preparation for The Open Championship at Royal Liverpool Golf Club in Hoylake, England, in three weeks.

Thanks to our photos and Rose’s tweet, we can confirm that 2-iron and 3-iron models exist, and I think it’s a safe bet that we’ll see a 4-iron model on a PGA Tour range sometime soon. Expect more TaylorMade staffers to spend time with the UDI as we inch closer to Open Championship time and for the club to come to stores near you in the (very) near future.

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Click here to see what GolfWRX Members are saying about the UDI in our forum.

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12 Comments

12 Comments

  1. Nate

    Jul 5, 2014 at 6:38 pm

    Does it play like a normal 3 iron off the deck? I love my Rocketbladez Tour 3i, but if it gives me more feel and forgiveness with distance, what’s not to like?

  2. Rich P

    Jul 3, 2014 at 1:56 pm

    I hit the 18 deg UDI yesterday. I have trouble with my 3 and 5 woods and I can’t stand the sight of a rescue club. The one I hit had a steel shaft and I hit it very well. For me the solid/heavy feel at contact is something I can’t get in a fairway wood. The price isn’t even available to the Taylor Made Performance Lab yet but I put in an order for one with them. With Taylor Made on hiatus, I won’t get it for 3-4 weeks probably.

  3. Pingback: Develop A New Hobby By Playing Golf | Golf Mind To Win

  4. DJ

    Jun 30, 2014 at 11:27 pm

    Consider the Cleveland MT 3 iron (standard 19*). Great off the tee.

  5. thefullsp

    Jun 28, 2014 at 11:33 pm

    If it’s half as good as my X Utility then it’s worth a shot…

  6. nikkyd

    Jun 26, 2014 at 10:59 pm

    Graphite shafts eh? Nice. Why not offer in a 1 iron loft ?

    • Jeff

      Jun 28, 2014 at 11:59 am

      Bend it strong.

    • TheFightingEdFioris

      Jul 16, 2014 at 3:45 pm

      As I’m sure you have seen by now, it will be offered in a 1, 2, and 3 iron loft. Cannot wait to try it out!

  7. Pingback: Spotted: TaylorMade UDI (Ultimate Driving Iron) | Spacetimeandi.com

  8. Sean

    Jun 26, 2014 at 6:41 pm

    Very nice looking iron.

  9. Hater

    Jun 26, 2014 at 3:46 pm

    Ohhhhhh…All the hacks are gonna put this in their bags as soon as it hits the shelves, then its on to the BST.

  10. Billy baroo

    Jun 26, 2014 at 1:09 pm

    Sounds like a birth control options name not an irons lol

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Whats in the Bag

Kris Kim WITB 2024 (May)

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Driver: TaylorMade Qi10 (9 degrees @7)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Tensei 1K White 60 TX

3-wood: TaylorMade Qi10 Tour (15 degrees @13.5)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Diamana WB 73 TX

Irons: TaylorMade P770 (2, 4), TaylorMade P7MB (5-PW)
Shafts: Mitsubishi Tensei 1K White 80 TX (2), Nippon N.S. Pro Modus3 Tour 120 X

Wedges: TaylorMade MG4 (50-09SB, 56-12SB, 60-11TW)
Shafts: Nippon N.S. Pro Modus3 WV 125

Putter: TaylorMade Spider Tour

Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet Cord

Check out more in-hand photos of Kris Kim’s equipment here.

 

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Welcome to the family: TaylorMade launches PUDI and PDHY utility irons

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TaylorMade is continuing its UDI/DHY series with the successor to the Stealth UDI and DHY utility irons: PUDI and PDHY (which the company styles as P·UDI and P·DHY). TaylorMade is folding the designs in with its P Series of irons.

TaylorMade outlined the process of developing its new utilities this way. The company started with the data on utility iron usage. Not surprisingly, better players — i.e. those who generate more clubhead speed and strike the ball more precisely — were found to gravitate toward the UDI model. DHY usage, however, covered a wider swath than the company might have expected with six-to-18 handicappers found to be bagging the club.

TaylorMade also found that the majority of golfers playing UDI or DHY utilities were playing P Series irons at the top of their iron configurations.

Can you see where this is going?

Matt Bovee, Director of Product Creation, Iron and Wedge at TaylorMade: “As we look to the future, beyond the tech and the design language, we are excited about repositioning our utility irons into the P·Series family. P·UDI is an easy pair for players that currently play P·Series product and P·DHY is an extremely forgiving option for players of all skill levels. It is a natural fit to give these players the performance in this category that they are looking for.”

 

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TaylorMade PUDI

TaylorMade PUDI technology cutaway (via TaylorMade)

Crafted with tour player input, TaylorMade sought to develop a confidence-inspiring utility iron that blends with the rest of the P Series irons. Also of note: Interestingly, the PUDI has a more compact head than the P790.

In comparison to past UDI products, the PUDI has a more traditional iron shape, slimmer toplines, and less offset with a little of the backbar visible at address.

TaylorMade PDHY

TaylorMade PDHY tech cutaway (via TaylorMade).

Larger in profile than the PUDI, the PDHY seeks to position center of gravity (CG) lower in the club for ease of launch. The toe height is larger and the profile is larger at address — roughly five millimeters longer than PUDI — the sole of the club is wider for improved forgiveness.

Club Junkie’s take

Golfers who feel like they are missing something at the top of the bag could find the PUDI or PDHY a great option. The look of the PUDI should fit the most discerning eye with a more compact look, less offset, and a thinner topline. If you want a little more confidence looking down the P-DHY will be slightly larger while still being a good-looking utility iron.

For being small packages both models pack a pretty good punch with fast ball speeds, even off-center. The feel is soft and you get a solid feel of the ball compressing off the face when you strike it well. Your ears are greeted with a nice heavy thud as the ball and club come together. The PDHY will launch a little higher for players who need it while the PUDI offers a more penetrating ball flight. Both utility irons could be the cure for an open spot in the top end of the bag.

PUDI, PDHY, or Rescue?

TaylorMade offers the following notes to assist golfers in filling out their bags:

  • PUDI has mid-CG right behind the center face to create a more penetrating mid-to-low ball flight
  • PDHY has a lower center of gravity to produce an easier-to-launch mid-to-high ball flight.
  • Both PUDI and PDHY are lower-flying than the company’s hybrid/Rescue clubs.
  • PUDI is more forgiving than P790.
  • PDHY is the most forgiving iron in the entire TaylorMade iron family

Pricing, specs, and availability

Price: $249.99

At retail: Now

Stock shafts: UST Mamiya’s Recoil DART (105 X, 90 S and 75 R – only in PDHY)

Stock grip: Golf Pride’s ZGrip (black/grey)

PUDI lofts: 2-17°, 3-20°, 4-22° in both left and right-handed

PDHY lofts: 2-18°, 3-20° and 4-22° in both left and right-handed

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Equipment

Coolest thing for sale in the GolfWRX Classifieds (5/3/24): Scotty Cameron Champions Choice 2.5+ putter

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At GolfWRX, we are a community of like-minded individuals that all experience and express our enjoyment of the game in many ways.

It’s that sense of community that drives day-to-day interactions in the forums on topics that range from best driver to what marker you use to mark your ball. It even allows us to share another thing we all love – buying and selling equipment.

Currently, in our GolfWRX buy/sell/trade (BST) forum, there is a listing for a Scotty Cameron Champions Choice 2.5+ putter

From the seller: (@wwcl): “Has been gamed as pics show. 33.5 includes original h/c and grip. $575 includes shipping and PP fees.”

To check out the full listing in our BST forum, head through the link: Scotty Cameron Champions Choice 2.5+ putter

This is the most impressive current listing from the GolfWRX BST, and if you are curious about the rules to participate in the BST Forum you can check them out here: GolfWRX BST Rules

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