- TaylorMade has launched Stealth UDI and Stealth DHY utility irons.
- The brand new fashions present further choices to fill gaps on the lengthy finish of your bag.
- Retail worth is $249.
- Pre-sale begins now. Out there July 15.
In the event you have been anticipating TaylorMade could be launching a brand new P-Collection iron proper about now, then, yeah, nicely, me too. However that ain’t gonna occur. To carry you over and hopefully fill a spot in your bag the place choices are plentiful however solutions are generally onerous to come back by, TaylorMade is launching the Stealth UDI and Stealth DHY within the utility/driving iron area.
And whereas there are some purple accents to bolster the Stealth branding, you received’t discover any carbon fiber right here. That solely works with large faces.
Stealth UDI/DHY – The place They Match
Each the Stealth UDI and Stealth DHY present choices to fill what I name the transitional area in your bag. Philosophies and specifics differ however Matt Bovee, TaylorMade’s Director of Product Creation for the iron class, sees it because the hole between the shortest fairway wooden you’re not prepared to half with and the longest iron you’re comfy hitting. Sometimes, that’s the chasm between your 3-wood and a 4- and even 5-iron.
By the way, if the longest iron in your bag isn’t one thing you’re comfy hitting, it’s time for a change. The Stealth UDI or DHY might be simply the factor to make you are feeling comfy within the lengthy recreation.
The bigger level is that you just’ve bought choices. For some, old-school lengthy irons are nonetheless cool. You’ve bought hybrids (ahem, rescues), 7- and 9-woods and, after all, utility irons. That final one is a little bit of a catch-all for something with a little bit of driving-iron DNA in it however the actuality is that there’s an amazing quantity of range throughout the class.
That’s definitely true with regards to TaylorMade’s new Stealth choices however earlier than we talk about the range within the lineup, let’s have a look at what TaylorMade’s latest utilities have in frequent.
What’s (Largely) the Similar
On the threat of stating the apparent, each the TaylorMade Stealth UDI and Stealth DHY reside within the area loosely outlined as utility golf equipment. Neither is a alternative for P790. That’s sticking round. So what we’re speaking about is TaylorMade extending the road to offer higher efficiency and becoming choices throughout the driving-iron area.
As you’d anticipate, there are considerable efficiency variations between the 2 however the building is comparable.
SpeedFoam Air
Each qualify as solid hollow-body designs. And in each instances the hole physique is stuffed with TaylorMade’s proprietary SpeedFoam Air. It’s the identical materials that debuted in last year’s P790 irons. The main level of differentiation from the earlier iteration of SpeedFoam is that the Air selection is 69-percent lighter. Finally that offers TaylorMade the flexibility to retain and even enhance really feel whereas saving weight from the center of clubface the place it doesn’t provide any explicit benefit.
Solid Faces
TaylorMade describes Stealth UDI and Stealth DHY utility irons as providing solid building. As we’ve famous earlier than, golf producers are liable to enjoying quick and unfastened with “solid” however since each the Stealth UDI and Stealth DHY pair a solid 450 stainless physique with a solid 4140 face (one other carryover from P790), we’ll enable it.
Each fashions characteristic a full cut-through pace slot to assist retain ball pace, significantly on low face contact (frequent with irons and iron-like designs).
Lastly, each the Stealth UDI and Stealth DHY characteristic TaylorMade’s signature Inverted Cone Expertise within the face to maximise the dimensions of the candy spot.
With the similarities out of the way in which, let’s have a look at what separates the 2 fashions.
Stealth UDI
Of the 2 TaylorMade Stealth utility choices, the Stealth UDI is a extra conventional driving iron design. It presents a textbook instance of “tour-inspired” form. With that comes a narrower sole, shorter blade size, thinner topline, much less offset … the drill.
I suppose it qualifies because the “higher participant’s” choice.
From a efficiency standpoint, launch and spin are the largest differentiators, although you shouldn’t low cost forgiveness totally.
Relative to the Stealth DHY, the Stealth UDI has a middle of gravity that’s virtually three millimeters increased. It’s a superb little bit of the rationale why the UDI will produce a flatter trajectory with increased spin.
Of observe, whereas the Stealth UDI is the lowest-flying of TaylorMade’s newest providing, the still-current P790 UDI gives the flattest trajectory of a utility providing within the TaylorMade lineup.
Stealth DHY
In the event you’re unfamiliar, DHY is brief for “driving hybrid.” From that, you need to conclude that the Stealth DHY is designed to be a little bit of an amalgamation of a hybrid and a driving iron.
Relative to the Stealth UDI, the Stealth DHY has a bigger general footprint. It’s longer from heel to toe. It has a wider sole, extra offset and a thicker topline. At deal with, it’s considerably bigger than the UDI. Guys, it’s a membership and that’s the purpose.
Name a driving iron (ahem, driving hybrid) for the lots.
In contrast to the sleeker Stealth UDI, most golfers will see the again of the DHY at deal with. That’s going to be a deal breaker for some whereas others (usually golfers transferring right into a DHY from hybrids or tremendous game-improvement irons) will admire the additional little bit of confidence-inspiring bulk.
Whereas the Stealth UDI has a flatter forefront and sole profile, the DHY presents elevated heel-to-toe radius (the only real has some curvature to it). That provides a little bit of added playability to the design, significantly from these lower than ultimate lies, which makes it extra appropriate for less-skilled ball strikers.
No judgment. We’re simply in search of options that work.
Relative to the prior-gen SIM DHY, TaylorMade softened the curvature on the again of the membership. It’s not a game-changer by any means but it surely offers the Stealth DHY a cleaner, extra eye-pleasing have a look at deal with.
As we touched on beforehand, with its decrease middle of gravity and wider sole, the Stealth DHY goes to fly a bit increased and spin a bit lower than the Stealth UDI, although neither qualifies as a high-launch choice. That’s the place rescues/hybrids are available in.
Which is Proper For You?
I’m going degree with you. There’s a superb probability that neither the Stealth UDI nor the Stealth DHY belongs in your bag. For golfers enjoying game-improvement irons (and that’s the bulk), rescues/hybrids are usually higher choices. That’s nice. TaylorMade can be completely satisfied to promote you a kind of.
If you’re comfy filling this explicit hole in your bag with a utility iron, then the choice will doubtless be made based mostly on the variations in launch and spin. It actually boils all the way down to which choice goes to fly by the trajectory window you’re in search of and, extra importantly, which lets you hit your quantity most constantly.
Specs, Pricing and Availability
TaylorMade Stealth UDI is obtainable in 18, 20 and 23 levels. Lefties are restricted to the 18- and 20-degree variations. The inventory shaft is an Aldila Ascent Black in 100X or 90S.
The Stealth DHY is obtainable in 17, 19, 22 and 25 levels. Lefties get the 19- and 22-degree variations. The inventory shaft can also be an Aldila Ascent Black (75S, 65R and 55A).
TaylorMade’s Any Shaft/Any Head guidelines are in play so if the inventory choice doesn’t go well with you, be at liberty to order any shaft in TaylorMade’s no-upcharge matrix. Really, be at liberty to order from up-charge choices as nicely—as long as you’re prepared to pay for it.
The inventory grip for each the Stealth UDI and DHY is a Tremendous Stroke S-Tech.
Retail worth for the TaylorMade Stealth UDI and Stealth DHY is $249 (the identical because the P790 UDI). Pre-orders can be found now with full retail availability starting July 15.
For extra info, go to TaylorMadeGolf.com.
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