Equipment
Spotted: TaylorMade UDI (Ultimate Driving Iron)
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.
RT @GolfWRX TaylorMade’s new prototype Tour Preferred UDI (Ultimate Driving Iron) http://t.co/Mo0jk4i0N6 >I have the 20deg 3i going in play
— Justin Rose (@JustinRose99) June 25, 2014
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.
Click here to see what GolfWRX Members are saying about the UDI in our forum.
Neal Shipley was the first to admit that he enjoyed his food while in college. But since his days at Ohio State, he’s slimmed down and earned a PGA Tour Card.
That hasn’t stopped him from having fun with his wedge stampings, though it’s led to some misunderstandings.
On the 54 (degree), we have ‘Big Fudge,'” Shipley told GolfWRX. “It was supposed to be ‘Big Fridge,’ so this happened a little while ago. ‘Big Fridge’ was a nickname between my college teammates and I, with ‘fridge’ meaning stomach, a big stomach.
“We told the Ping guys to put … ‘Big Fridge’ on it, and I think maybe some bad cell service or something, and they thought I said ‘fudge,’ so they put fudge on it.”
On Shipley’s 50-degree he also continues the food theme, this time with his go-to order at the “Golden Arches,” and his stamping “DONS 7.”
“The number 7 meal, the two cheeseburger meal, that was my McDonald’s order, back when I would have McDonald’s frequently,” Shipley shared.
At GolfWRX, we are a community of like-minded individuals who 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, @raw10628 has a L.A.B. DF3 putter and Masters putter cover up for grabs.
From the listing: “Some great items here today, time to thin out and make room for next set of gear. All prices include shipping.
LAB DF3 Purple 33.5” 68° lie with TPT – $725. LAB Masters release DF3 cover – $150.”
To check out the full listing in our BST forum, head through the link. If you are curious about the rules to participate in the BST Forum, you can learn more here: GolfWRX BST Rules
Driver: Ping G440 LST (9 degrees)
Shaft: Accra TourZ Green 5-M4
3-wood: Ping G440 Max (15 degrees)
Shaft: Accra TourZ Green 6-M4
5-wood: Ping G440 Max (19 degrees @18)
Shaft: Accra TourZ Green 6-M4
Hybrid: Ping G440 (23 degrees)
Shaft: Oban Isawa Red Hybrid Shaft 04 Flex 70 Gms
Irons: Srixon ZXi7 (5-P)
Shafts: Aerotech SteelFiber Private Reserve i80
Wedges: Cleveland RTZ (50-MID, 54-FULL, 58-MID)
Shafts: Aerotech SteelFiber Private Reserve i105
Putter: L.A.B. Golf OZ.1i
Shaft: ACCRA Putter Shaft
Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet
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Photos from the ShopRite LPGA
Maria Torres WITB 2026 (June)
Driver: Ping G440 LST (9 degrees) Shaft: Accra TourZ Green 5-M4 3-wood: Ping G440 Max (15 degrees) Shaft: Accra TourZ Green 6-M4 5-wood: Ping G440...
Eric Cole WITB 2026 (June)
Driver: PXG Lightning Tour Max (9 degrees) Shaft: Project X Titan Yellow 70 TX 3-wood: TaylorMade Qi4D (15 degrees) Shaft:...
Si Woo Kim WITB 2026 (May)
Driver: Callaway Quantum Triple Diamond (8.5 degrees) Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 6 X Mini driver: Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Mini...
Wyndham Clark’s winning WITB: 2026 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
Driver: TaylorMade Qi4D (10.5 degrees) Shaft: Project X Titan Yellow 60 TX 3-wood: TaylorMade Qi4D Tour (15 degrees) Shaft: Project...
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?
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.
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DJ
Jun 30, 2014 at 11:27 pm
Consider the Cleveland MT 3 iron (standard 19*). Great off the tee.
thefullsp
Jun 28, 2014 at 11:33 pm
If it’s half as good as my X Utility then it’s worth a shot…
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!
Pingback: Spotted: TaylorMade UDI (Ultimate Driving Iron) | Spacetimeandi.com
Sean
Jun 26, 2014 at 6:41 pm
Very nice looking iron.
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.
Billy baroo
Jun 26, 2014 at 1:09 pm
Sounds like a birth control options name not an irons lol