About this time last season, reinventing the driving iron was all the rage among the equipment companies. By the time we decided to put them to the test, Adams, Titleist, Callaway (who would probably like you to know they were first), Mizuno, and even Fourteen Golf offered retail availability of some form of iron designed to be hit primarily off the tee.
One year later it appears TaylorMade has decided to get in on the action. Whether their new “UDI” is fashionably late, or simply late to the party is certainly a matter of perspective.
Designed for Jason Day?
While I’d be hard-pressed to heap praise on any driving iron (not like they’re huge needle movers in the marketplace), I can’t exactly fault TaylorMade for finally conjuring up what is a realistically a specialty club likely designed for Jason Day’s upcoming vacation to Royal Liverpool.
As you may recall, Day put a 1-iron in his bag in advance of the Open Championship last year and went so far as to use only irons during a practice round at Murifield last season, so it’s far from unreasonable to think that while the Ultimate Driving Iron will be available to any TaylorMade staffer who wants ones, it’s likely Day who’ll have the pick of the litter.
While there are some obvious inferences to be made about the new club…it’s for better players seeking control, and likely lots of roll off the tee, few specifics of consequence are available.
I can’t tell you:
- If/when it will be available at retail
- Retail price (if ever available at retail1)
- Available lofts
- Stock shaft
1 – It’s TaylorMade…it’s gonna be available at retail
The one we have pics of is is 18°, and it’s obviously designed as an extension of the Tour Preferred iron family (CB/MC), but otherwise details are few and far between.
We’ll have more information as soon as TaylorMade decides to share, or a credible source leaks additional details.
Have Your Say?
Would you consider putting the Ultimate Driving Iron in your bag?
Jeff Trigger
10 years ago
I would venture to say that the UDI is only marginally more forgiving than the Tour Preferred MC irons, hence not that forgiving. I play CB 4-PW. I demoed both the CB and the MC, the irons don’t look that different, but the performance difference is night and day. You can mis hit the CB and get good distance. MC, well, you might as well be MB in the ways of forgiveness. My guess, this iron flies a little higher than the MC with a little less spin. Mis hit it, and it goes nowhere. Joe Hack, and even us lower handicappers need to leave this club to the guys on TV.