Equipment Review: Wilson Staff 2007
by Jeffrey Reed, Editor, LondonOntarioGolf.com
Copyright 2007 London Ontario Golf

It’s no secret, LondonOntarioGolf.com is a member of the Wilson Staff family. The Wilson Staff name is one of golf’s most respected monikers, thanks to a storied history, Tour-proven performance and outstanding aesthetics. It’s why I have relied on Wilson Staff irons for many years. This year, Wilson Staff has released a number of new product offerings for everyone from the low-handicap ace to the weekend warrior. And why not? Everyone deserves to play with the best equipment, no matter what their handicap index.

Dd6+ Driver

The Dd6+ driver from Wilson Staff is a big improvement upon the Dd6 driver. Both of them have been built for distance and forgiveness. Wilson says its new offering “has been engineered for players seeking the optimum combination of distance and forgiveness with a higher ball flight.”

The Dd6+ club is a 460cc driver – and more. It features a low, deep profile with long face. Although I carry a low single-digit handicap, I tested a 10.5-degree Dd6+ driver, but with a stiff shaft from UST Proforce VT. For me, this is the perfect combination. The relatively high lofted club boasts a CG which is very low and pushed to the rear. These aforementioned features help me launch the ball with ease and proper (decreased) spin for increased accuracy, while the shaft choice offers a medium ball flight – my preference – for a flatter, penetrating flight and more roll. This is a deadly combination which I hope will see my golf partners buckle at the knees when I’m on the tee. OK, so they won’t fear me, but one can only hope. Having this club in my bag will increase my chances.

The deep sole of the Dd6+ will immediately grab your attention. It’s today’s choice in 460cc drivers offering distance and forgiveness. Hats off to the Wilson Golf engineers for designing this club in such a way that it doesn’t overwhelm you with its brawn. Wilson’s ETF technology deserves some praise, too. Offering outstanding distance, ETF re-directs energy back to the clubface at the point of impact for greater MOI, and double the maximum COR hot zone. As well, L-Pod weighting low and back of the clubhead redistributes the CG for higher launch angle – which combined with the low spin character means more distance.

Despite its massive size, and unlike some of the other big dogs on the market, the Wilson Staff Dd6+ 460cc driver manages to capture a classic look for which Wilson Staff has been known for almost 100 years – that’s right, almost a century of top-quality golf gear.

The Dd6+ driver is also available in lofts of 13 degrees, and a 12 degree offset version. With a MSRP of $299, I suggest you test drive this club before purchasing your new big dog.

Ci6 Irons

What more can I say about Wilson Staff’s Ci6 irons that hasn’t already been trumpeted by the golf industry? After all, when Golf Magazine names you its Tester’s Top Pick, enough said. In fact, as Golf Magazine has stated, this truly is an iron with a “player’s club look but game improvement performance.”

During a chat with Wilson Staff advisory staff member, PGA Tour star Padraig Harrington, he offered some great insight as to why the world’s best golfers hold Wilson Staff irons in high regard.

“Everybody agrees that the Wilson irons look great. That's the great thing about them. They have a traditional look of an iron. So it looks good and feels good in your hands. And they make it very playable. They use the technology but they really keep a good look. They haven't gone really down the road of sacrificing the aesthetics. But they don't need to sacrifice because they have the technology in there,” said Harrington.

Currently, the Ci6 irons are perhaps Wilson Staff’s best-known sticks, and for good reasons. Targeted directly at the mid-handicapper, they’re commonly found in a low-handicapper’s hands, too. Listen, Wilson Staff’s Pi5 and now its new Pi7 performance clubs, used by Harrington, as well as their Fi5 forged blades were instant classics, but not for everyone. Even a number of touring pros are now using mid-handicap clubs – and why not? They look like Tour-type irons, but offer forgiveness. 

The Ci6 irons 3-PW feature a mid-sized head with thin topline, a slight offset and small undercut cavity – the perfect combo for permitting playability with forgiveness. I’ve played the Di5 irons during the past two seasons, yet the Ci6 iron felt right at home in my hands. And, it allows me even more workability. I have noticed a slight decrease in distance with my long irons, simply because of the slightly smaller heads, but not much. In fact, with more workability now in my hands, I’m going to give the Ci6 irons a shot.

The Ci6 irons feature Wilson’s Elastomeric Dampening Layer, a unique cavity coating which reduces vibration by one-third. I’m a huge proponent of this technology. I also am in love with the Tape Tech steel shafts from True Temper. They’re designed with progressive tip design transitions from high tip flexibility in the long irons for higher launch, to a stiff tip in the mid-to-short irons for a lower launch and maximum control. The Ci6 irons are also available with UST ProForce V2 graphite shafts.

Carrying a $699 MSRP, the Ci6 irons are a steal. Here’s betting they’ll help your game immensely if you’re a low-to-mid handicapper.

Tw7 Wedges

The new Tw7 wedges from Wilson Staff exude confidence-building power, thanks to their modern aesthetics and cutting-edge design. Harrington himself helped design these beauties, which feature Tour Grooves, cut as sharp, deep and wide as is currently allowed by USGA standards. I’ve always contended that Wilson’s Tour wedges have been underestimated. They provide maximum spin and control, and have been my constant companions over the past few seasons in the form of Tw5.

The Tw7 wedges are different in that they feature a sharp-looking gun metal finish. Not only does this inclusion look great, but it also trains the eye on shotmaking and offers even more confidence over the ball. Three clubs – 52-degree gap, 6-degree bounce, 56-degree sand, 10-degree bounce and 60-degree lob, 8-degree bounce – make up this set. If you’re looking for more bounce options, Wilson Staff’s forged wedges offer you this (54-degree sand, 8-degree bounce and 56-degree sand, 10-degree bounce; 58-degree lob, 12-degree bounce plus 60-degree lob with 8 degrees of bounce). Whatever works best for your game – but I prefer the Tour wedges.

The Tw7 wedges have a True Temper Dynamic Gold shaft, and a Golf Pride Decade II stock grip. The MSRP is $99. If you’re looking to improve your short game, then these are the clubs for you.

Fifty Two-Piece Ball

There’s a lot to be said about two-piece, low-compression balls. With the Wilson Staff Fifty, you get the best of both worlds: soft feel, plus distance.

A great follow-up to the Dx2 two-piece ball, the Fifty boasts a super-soft core which pushes USGA limits for initial velocity. A soft cover combines power and feel. It’s made of an equal blend of firm and soft ionomer. Large shallow dimples have been extended to increase trajectory, too. Compression measures an extremely low (you guessed it) 50 points.

I’ve always applauded the Titleist DT SoLo for its soft feel and green-gripping bite and spin, but Titleist’s offering in this department has never been good at penetrating a strong wind. Nike released its soft yet much-longer and wind-penetrating Juice 312 two-piece ball last year. The Fifty from Wilson Staff ranks right up there with the Juice 312, and is much better around the greens. Off mid- and short-irons, the Fifty allows shot creativity, pin-point control, quick-stopping action, soft feel and high greenside spin. It does feel quite soft off the flat stick, but only requires a slight adjustment. Off the tee, it covers an amazing amount of distance for a soft two-piece pill. I was amazed, to be quite honest. It’s no Tx4 tour ball, mind you, but it is a great ball off the tee for those with slower swing speeds.

At just $25 MSRP, the Fifty is a winner.
Speaking of the four-piece Tx4 – and the three-piece Px3 – Wilson has improved both of their premium balls. The Tx4, for my money, is the longest ball on the market. It has been improved with higher spin and greater response, while still offering insane distance. The Px3 is a little softer and shorter than its big brother, but it, too, now has more spin and softer feel, yet maintains long-distant character. My advice: as a general rule, if you’re a low-handicap golfer with faster swing speed, play the Tx4, and the Px3 if you’re a mid-handicapper. Either way, you can’t go wrong on the course nor in the wallet.

For more information on Wilson Staff, visit www.wilson.com.