Equipment
TaylorMade releases Tour Preferred UDI (Ultimate Driving iron)
TaylorMade’s new Tour Preferred UDI (Ultimate Driving Irons) are low-lofted, hollow-bodied long irons designed to launch the ball higher and with more ball speed than traditional long irons.
“We designed the Tour Preferred UDI for players seeking a club that delivers incredible distance off the tee and a high-performance alternative from the fairway,” said Tomo Bystedt, TaylorMade’s Director of Iron Creation. “The clean, traditional look at address inspires confidence and the SpeedPocket technology provides amazing distance and consistency.”
TaylorMade achieved this performance by moving weight lower and more forward in the club head, which produces a higher launch angle with lower spin. The driving iron’s hollow body is made from 450 stainless steel, while its clubface is made from stronger, thinner 455 Carpenter Steel that helps the club produce faster ball speeds.
TaylorMade’s Speed Pocket, a 3-millimeter slot in the sole of the iron, is said to allow the face to flex more efficiently for distance and consistency and further encourage high launch characteristics in the UDI. It’s the same pocket that’s used in the company’s SpeedBlade irons, which are some of the longest-flying irons in golf.
Although the UDI’s look similar to TaylorMade’s Tour Preferred MC irons, they have thicker toplines and lower face profiles that better suit the design of driving irons.
The UDI’s are available in three models: a 1 iron (16 degrees), 2 iron (19 degrees) and 3 iron (20 degrees), and will carry an MSRP of $199. A KBS C-Taper Lite shaft comes stock in the driving irons, which the company says also promotes a mid-to-high trajectory and controlled spin.
TaylorMade staffer Justin Rose had a UDI 3 iron (20 degrees) in his bag during his wins at both the Quicken Loans National and the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open last week.
See the rest of Rose’s Winning WITB here.
Rose is expected to have a UDI in play this week at Royal Liverpool Golf Club in Hoylake, England for the Open Championship, and TaylorMade expects other golfers to put the club in play as well.
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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.
…The Jailbird craze hasn’t really slowed down in 2024, either. According to Odyssey rep Joe Toulon, there are about 18-20 Jailbird putter users on the PGA TOUR.
Most recently, Akshay Bhatia won the 2024 Valero Texas Open using a broomstick-style Odyssey Jailbird 380 putter and Webb Simpson is switching into a replica of that putter at the 2024 Wells Fargo Championship.
Now, Fowler, who essentially started the whole Jailbird craze, is making a significant change to his putter setup.
Fowler, who has had a couple weeks off since the 2024 RBC Heritage, started experimenting with a new, custom-orange Jailbird 380 head that’s equipped with a standard 35-inch putter build, rather than his previous 38-inch counter-balanced setup.
According to Fowler, while he still likes the look and forgiveness of his Jailbird putter head, he’s looking to re-incorporate more feel into his hands during the putting stroke.
He told GolfWRX.com on Tuesday at the Wells Fargo Championship that the 38-inch counterbalanced setup “served its purpose” by helping him to neutralize his hands during the stroke, but now it’s time to try the standard-length putter with a standard-size SuperStroke Pistol Tour grip to help with his feel and speed control.
Although Fowler was also spotted testing standard-length mallets from L.A.B. Golf and Axis1 on Tuesday, he confirmed that the custom Odyssey Jailbird 380 is the putter he’ll use this week at the 2024 Wells Fargo Championship.
Head over to PGATour.com for the full article.
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- Akshay Bhatia what’s in the bag accurate as of the Wells Fargo Championship. Bhatia is deciding between drivers. More photos from the event here.
Driver: Callaway Rogue ST Max LS (9 degrees @7.2, 2 grams lead tape heel, 4 grams toe)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 7 X (44 7/8 inches, tipped 1 inch)
Driver: Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Max D (9 degrees @7)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 7 X
3-wood: Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Max (15 degrees @13.9)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 8 X (43 inches, tipped 1.5)
Hybrid: Callaway Apex UW Prototype (19 degrees @17.8)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 10 X
Irons: Callaway X Forged UT (21 degrees) Buy here, Callaway Apex TCB Raw (5-PW)
Shafts: KBS $-Taper 125 S+
Wedges: Callaway Jaws Raw (50-10S @49, 54-10S, 60-08C @61)
Shafts: KBS Hi-Rev 2.0 135 X
Putter: Odyssey Versa Jailbird 380
Grip: SuperStroke Zenergy Split
Grips: Iomic
Ball: Callaway Chrome Tour
More photos of Akshay Bhatia’s WITB in the forums.
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- Emiliano Grillo what’s in the bag accurate as of the Wells Fargo Championship. More photos from the event here.
Driver: Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Triple Diamond (9 degrees @10)
Shaft: Project X Denali Blue 60 TX
3-wood: Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Triple Diamond (15 degrees)
Shaft: Project X HZRDUS Smoke Blue RDX 70 TX
5-wood: Cobra LTDx Prototype (18.5 degrees)
Shaft: Project X HZRDUS Smoke Blue RDX 70 TX
Irons: Callaway Apex TCB (4-9)
Shafts: Project X 6.5
Wedges: Callaway MD3 Milled (46-08S), Callaway Jaws Raw (50-10S, 54-10S, 60-08T)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400
Putter: Odyssey White Hot OG #5
Grip: SuperStroke Zenergy Flatso 1.0
Grips: Golf Pride MCC
Check out more in-hand photos of Emiliano Grillo’s clubs here.
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Akshay Bhatia WITB 2024 (May)
Akshay Bhatia what’s in the bag accurate as of the Wells Fargo Championship. Bhatia is deciding between drivers. More photos...
Emiliano Grillo WITB 2024 (May)
Emiliano Grillo what’s in the bag accurate as of the Wells Fargo Championship. More photos from the event here. Driver: Callaway...
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Webb Simpson what’s in the bag accurate as of the Wells Fargo Championship. More photos from the event here. Driver:...
Keegan Bradley WITB 2024 (May)
Keegan Bradley’s WITB accurate as of the Wells Fargo Championship. >14 clubs pictured. Obviously, Bradley will reduce that number to...
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Bigleftygolfer
May 28, 2015 at 1:21 pm
I can’t hit a hybrid to save my life I am a struggling 5 HC (my low is a +4 when I played competitive as an amateur after a short pro career as a point of reference) and this Udi is the best / most versatile / easy to hit club I have ever owned I have miura lh prototype baby tournament blades and honestly the 2 iron Udi is easier to hit than my six iron! It flies much higher than I expected and I have verified that it can be bent by 2.5 degrees on a Mitchell press even though it is cast. Since I am a stinky lefty with no endorsements anymore I had to “adjust” my 2 iron to replace an old driving iron so for people wondering I was able to re shaft it with a kbs c taper s+ firm tip 41″ and adjust the lie to down -1 also adjusting loft by 2.5 degree strong (which is max) I now have a club that is about 10 yards shorter than a perfectly struck 3 wood with a much better workability and forgiveness factor. I am actually considering pulling my 3 wood and buying another 2 iron (although that may get confusing as I will have two identical looking clubs in the bag after swapping out shafts maybe paintfill or something to represent which one is the one iron lol). This club flies about as high as my 4 iron without ballooning and rolls for days. It has a carry for me with this setup of about 225 with a total distance of around 250 verified on trackman. I wish TM made a club labelled with a 1 and a 3 for the lefty player but once again us lefties get no love! My three wood maxes out from the deck at around 260 on a well struck ball. Hope this information answered any questions about this club oh yeah it is also very easy to flight in the wind which is something hybrids just can not accommodate!
dunn2500
Jul 17, 2014 at 3:12 am
Cmon…. $200 for a thicker mc iron….you can buy single irons for $100….why are these utility irons so much….I’ll stick to my fli hi which started all this buzz anyway
Jake
Jul 16, 2014 at 11:03 am
Just received this information from TM support: “The 2 and 1 UDI are going to be 18 and 16 degree lofts. They are going to have a higher trajectory than the Rocketbladez Tour irons. The UDI will be a longer 2 iron than the Rocketbladez Tour. It is built with driver DNA.”
Rich
Jul 15, 2014 at 9:41 am
Not to be a nark but I think there’s a typo in the story. The 2 iron is 18 degrees, not 19. It even says so on the hosel in one of the photo’s.
Matt Wiseley
Jul 15, 2014 at 12:30 am
Jake,
Like yourself I am an iron guy to. I say get the 2 iron, if you end up needing more yards, have it bent a degree or so. Since the club is forged, this is an easy fix.
Good luck
Billy
Jul 15, 2014 at 3:51 am
It’s CAST. Not forged.
Jake
Jul 15, 2014 at 10:40 am
Are you able to bend cast, just not as easy as forged?
K
Jul 15, 2014 at 11:53 am
You can bend most cast, just be careful.
Or just put a heavier shaft in it, in my mind its pointless to make a 2 iron with a 110 gram shaft. Toss a S400 in there and let it hit the ground early.
Quintin Carr
Jul 14, 2014 at 10:07 pm
Are these going to be a limited release or a general release. I’d really like to get my hands on the 1 iron.
Billy
Jul 14, 2014 at 11:30 pm
It’a General Release on 8/1/14.
Quintin Carr
Jul 14, 2014 at 11:40 pm
Thanks Billy!
Jason P.
Jul 14, 2014 at 8:00 pm
If you want to buy a driving iron with basically the same technology go to hireko.com and order their new Dynacraft Driving Irons. They have 3 lofts to choose from. I use their 18 degree model and it is flat out hot and straight off the tee for those short par 4’s . Plus it is 3-4 times cheaper and you can have it built with the shaft and grips you want.
Jim
Jul 14, 2014 at 5:51 pm
Still sounds like a form of birth control . The udi
Rich
Jul 15, 2014 at 9:37 am
Good call, LOL!
Pingback: TaylorMade’s Tour Preferred UDI is Open-ready | Spacetimeandi.com
Jake
Jul 14, 2014 at 2:01 pm
I currently play the rocketbladez tour 19* 3-iron. I’m looking for a club to fill between my driver and 3-iron and saw these come in 19* 2 iron and 16* 1-iron. Would it be redundant to get the 2-iron or is this a lower trajectory driving iron?
Curt
Jul 14, 2014 at 3:25 pm
It states both head slot technology and shaft helps to launch the ball high.
MHendon
Jul 14, 2014 at 4:38 pm
How about a 3 wood.
Jake
Jul 14, 2014 at 4:56 pm
Appreciate the snarky comment. Havent used a 3 wood in years. I like the feel of irons. Do you have suggestion of a different (non-driving iron) 2 iron to help fill gap? What is the point of a high trajectory 2 iron?
Cal
Jul 14, 2014 at 5:30 pm
I play a fli hi 3 iron right now but will be getting one of these when they’re released. The purpose, I think, of the high(er) launching 2 iron is to be more versatile from the tee AND the fairway during long approach shots. While this iron is supposed to launch higher than the MC line, I’ve read that it spins less than a normal iron leading me to believe it will still have a piercing flight even if it is high. As for your first question…if it were me, I would get the 2 iron and see what kind of yardage gap I had. Then I would adjust the loft to whatever I needed. The hollow design and new speed pocket may help you eek out a couple more yards and still have a landing angle that could help you hold a green if needed. Good luck!
mhendon
Jul 14, 2014 at 6:44 pm
can’t beat Adams hybrids, got two in my bag. Try one of their tour models in a real strong loft.
Jeff Trigger
Jul 14, 2014 at 6:58 pm
TM’s thing is high launch, low spin. I guess this is the Tour Preferred UDI featuring SLDR technology. I doubt these launch that high, just higher than the low ball hitting TP irons.
Zak Kozuchowski
Jul 14, 2014 at 7:57 pm
Our testing found that the 2014 Tour Preferred CB irons were actually pretty high-launching for their size. I wouldn’t call the Tour Preferred MC irons low-launching, either.