Expert Review: TaylorMade Stealth UDI Utility Iron


All photos courtesy of Andrew Abbott
About this Review: This review is my honest opinion of the golf club, which I purchased with my own money in June of 2022.
My take
The TaylorMade Stealth UDI is perfect for low-handicap golfers looking for a versatile long iron. This iron is great for finding fairways and going for the green on a par 5 due to the ability to hit high and low shots.
About the club I own
- Model: 2022 TaylorMade Stealth UDI
- Loft setting: 20°
- Shaft type: Hzrdus Black 6.5
- Shaft flex: X-Stiff
About me
- Average score: 70
- Handicap: +2
- Experience: 5 years of golf
- Right/Left-Handed: Right-Handed
- Typical ball flight: Mid-High
- Golf ball used: TaylorMade TP5x
- Club swing speed: 120mph - driver
Test conditions
- When I bought the club: June 2022
- Days tested: 70+
- Where I’ve used it: Driving ranges, TrackMan and GC4 simulators, and various golf courses.
- Weather and wind conditions: Warm, cold, rain, high wind, low wind, and dry climates.
How it performs
What I was looking for
I was looking for a driving iron to put in my bag to help me find more fairways off the tee. I also wanted a club that could spin and hold a green if needed.
Why I chose this club
I chose the Stealth UDI club over the Titleist U505 and Mizuno Pro Fli-Hi because it was more accurate and had much more distance than the other two options. Additionally, I had better launch numbers than the U505, which gave me the ability to hold a green more often.
What I love about it
- Distance: This is the longest-distance driving iron I have ever tested. I consistently hit this club 10 yards further than the competitor driving irons. This added distance helps a lot because I can hit this club on the tee box of holes with narrow fairways.
- Forgiveness: This club is extremely forgiving, which I need. I have hit shots out of the toe and the heel that still find their way into the fairway. Even when I miss a fairway, I only end up just a few yards into the rough at most, which helps give me more opportunities to hit the green and minimize double bogeys.
- Sound: The Stealth UDI sounds amazing and makes me feel like a professional golfer. A few times, I hit this club on the range, and people look over because the club sounds so fast, and the ball springs off the clubface. I love hitting this iron just because of how good it sounds when I hit it well.
- Workability: I have had no problems with workability for the Stealth UDI. I have been able to hit draws and fades with no problem. Additionally, this club is great when hitting low punch shots below tree branches which is extremely helpful. This club is also great for playing in the wind because I can flight it low with minimal spin to help hit fairways and get a lot of roll.
- Shaft Feel: This shaft feels great when I hit the ball well. The shaft has a strong tip section which helps me feel more in control of the clubface and then helps the ball jump off the face at impact.
- Shaft Performance: The Project X Hzrdus line is one of my favorite shaft brands on the market. There are different options to fit any player's swing speeds and desired ball flight. I have the X stiff 80g Hzrdus Black shaft, a low spin shaft to help maximize my distance and create a lower ball flight.
- Aesthetic Appeal: I personally love the look of the TaylorMade Stealth UDI driving iron. Many driving irons, like the Titleist U505 and Srixon Z U85, do not look appealing to me due to the very large sole and top lines. However, the UDI has the perfect blend of a smaller head shape while providing lots of forgiveness to hit the ball longer and more accurately.
- Grip Feel: The Golf Pride Tour Velvet cord grip is my favorite grip in golf. I have it on all of my clubs due to the cotton cord weaving through the grip to repel moisture. This helps keep the grip dry and tacky throughout the whole round. Additionally, this is a firm grip which I personally love, but it is not the best for players who like a softer grip feel.
- Spin: This driving iron fits the perfect spin numbers for my golf swing. I have just enough low spin ability to help maximize distance and shot shaping off the tee. However, there is enough spin to help hold the green when hitting this club into greens. The only problem is that on a very firm golf course and green, this club does not spin enough to hold the green. Therefore, I often try to land the shot just before the green to help slow down the golf ball.
Issues I’ve encountered
- Feel: This club feels great when I hit it from the center of the clubface. However, mishits generally feel very dull. I have hit this club off the toe, heel, and low off the face, and it does not feel nearly as good as the center of the face. These misses have a very dead and dull feeling, which certainly hurts my hands when in the cold.
- Adjustability: Unfortunately, there are no options for adjustability in the shaft or loft of this club. The only way is to go to a local golf shop and use the loft and lie machine to adjust that or to reshaft the club.
- Launch Angle: I personally have a low spin low launch shaft in this club which creates a lower launch angle. I did this to help hit punch shots and stingers and a penetrating ball flight off the tee to find the fairway quickly and cut through the wind. However, I struggle to try and hit higher trajectory golf shots with this club to hold greens.
Best shot with this club
The best shot I hit with this golf club was on a short 270-yard par 4 at my home course. The greens and fairways were very firm, and I had skipped through on previous holes. As a result, I chose to hit this club, hoping to land short of the green and try to run the ball to the front-hole location. I could do that with this and let the ball run through the fairway about 20 yards back to the hole. I was left with a flat 12-foot putt which I sadly lipped out for eagle and made the short birdie putt.
Value for the money vs. other options
The TaylorMade Stealth UDI costs approximately $249.99. Additionally, Mizuno released a driving iron, the Fli-Hi, which is roughly $225. This club does not go as far as the TaylorMade Stealth UDI but has a much better feel and ball flight. As a result, I recommend looking at the Stealth UDI for distance or the Mizuno Fli-Hi for accuracy, flight, and feel.
Final verdict
The TaylorMade Stealth UDI will help all golfers find more fairways when using this club off the tee. This club also is great for flighting golf shots to punch out from the trees and going for par 5 greens in two shots.