50 Words or Less
The TaylorMade Stealth UDI is the most forgiving Ultimate Driving Iron yet. Extremely fun and satisfying to hit. Piercing trajectory. Consistent distance.
Introduction
TaylorMade has made several generations of the UDI – Ultimate Driving Iron. Prior to this fall, the most recent, the P790 UDI [review HERE], stuck to a very similar script. They offered it in one very low loft and aimed it at only the best players.
The TaylorMade Stealth UDI changes things substantially. While this is still a very desirable club, the enhanced forgiveness and expanded loft range make it accessible to a wider range of golfers.
Looks
The TaylorMade Stealth UDI has a stout, game improvement look at address. Its top line is a bit thicker than average and there’s a modest amount of offset. Compared to the P790 UDI, it appears to be a bit larger across the top line with a touch more offset. Also, the toe and heel of the Stealth UDI’s face is a shinier chrome, creating greater contrast to the grooved section and making the face look smaller.
Compared to the Stealth DHY [review HERE], the Stealth UDI is much slimmer. It has a thinner topline, no “extra” flange beyond the topline, and a shorter blade length. The shaping is also more traditional compared to the longer, more oval face of the DHY.
In the bag, the Stealth UDI is a beauty. With only a sliver of black at the toe, it blends in easily with any iron set. The red-ringed weight in the center hints at the technology that it’s packing, but it’s subtle. Finally, the branding is kept low key.
Sound & Feel
Perhaps because both clubs share their SpeedFoam Air filling, the Stealth UDI’s sound and feel is very similar to that of the Stealth DHY. It’s very quiet, producing a low-pitched “thud” even with range balls. The sound actually reminded me a bit of a persimmon wood. As you would expect, mishits sound a bit duller than pure strikes.
The feel of impact is solid and iron-like. You’ll also get a clear picture of where the ball met the face through your hands. Mishits don’t scream out for attention, but you won’t have any confusion about how good your last swing was.
Performance
The biggest difference between the TaylorMade Stealth UDI and all the Ultimate Driving Irons that came before is forgiveness. On TaylorMade’s website, they rate the Stealth UDI as 3/5 in forgiveness compared to 2/5 for the P790 UDI. I think that may undersell the gap a bit. Where the previous UDIs were really meant for the elite ball strikers, the Stealth UDI is playable by a wider range of golfers.
With previous versions of the UDI, it was feast or famine. The best swings produced gorgeous shots, but mishits lost significant distance. The Stealth UDI is rewarding on good swings, but it gives you strong results from mishits, too. Whether you catch the ball a little thin or a bit off-center, you can still expect to send it a long way.
Comparing the Stealth UDI to the Stealth DHY, there are a lot of similarities. They have nearly identical launch angles – though the UDI has one more degree of loft – and both produce great ball speed on center. You will get a bit more forgiveness from the DHY, though it’s not a major gap. Similarly, the UDI creates more spin, but it’s not a night-and-day difference. Where they converge again is on the most important thing: consistent distance. You can pull either club and know that a great swing will get the same result time after time.
What tilted the scales in favor of the UDI for me is the thinner sole, the address look, and the way it encourages shaped shots. On paper, a low-launcher like me should really benefit from the wider sole of the DHY, but I created better contact with the Stealth UDI. Your mileage, of course, may vary. I also loved how the UDI encouraged shotmaking. My favorite was the stinger that launched under six degrees with fairly low spin, carried about 180 yards then ran like crazy. The extra spin of the UDI also helped me bend shots left and right.
Conclusion
If you’ve been clinging to your 3I and 4I, let this be the season that you make the game easier. The TaylorMade Stealth UDI gives you a traditional look and feel, great distance consistency, but more forgiveness than you’re getting from your players irons. Get fit for the right loft and shaft, and you’ll start to see those long par 3s as scoring opportunities.
Buy the TaylorMade Stealth UDI HERE
TaylorMade Stealth UDI Price & Specs
Matt Saternus
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Matt, I believe you also recently reviewed the PXG Gen 5 driving iron, and — among other things — praised its forgiveness, given its relatively thin profile. I know the Stealth UDI looks a bit beefier. How would you compare the forgiveness you saw out of it to the PXG Gen 5?
Eric,
For me, the Stealth UDI was more consistent because it’s easier to launch higher. Thin strikes with the PXG did not have great carry distance. Both are excellent at retaining ball speed.
-Matt
Hey Matt,
How much improvement would you say the Stealth UDI is over the old Sim UDI? I’d like to pull the trigger on one of these, but the Sim is currently easy to find so much cheaper. Is the Stealth way more forgiving, or just marginally more? Thanks
Caleb,
The SIM is from 2020, so we’re relying on my memory, but my sense is that the Stealth is significantly easier to hit.
Best,
Matt
I’m looking for something to fill the gap between my 4i and 3w. I have an old 3i but I hit this new 4i as far the old 3i. I have been looking at a lot of the utility irons. The UDI and DHY seem to have my attention. Which would you recommend?
Greg,
Both are good. I would recommend getting a fitting.
-Matt