The Wilson Staff name is certainly making a comeback; no longer is it thought of as a brand that you can pick up at Kmart or Sam’s Club. Their stable of young PGA Tour professionals has grown over the last couple of years as they realize the quality of this once fabled brand. Having a hit show on The Golf Channel in 2016 where companies competed to create a new driver for Wilson didn’t hurt either.
Like all golf equipment companies, Wilson continues to pour out new equipment, or at least upgrade current models. If you have been following Wilson Staff over the last few years, then you are aware of how they “classify” their irons: F-C-D. Feel, Control and Distance. Every year, one of them gets a facelift and this year it’s D’s turn.
Their newest offering in the distance category is the D300 iron. This super game improvement stick has a certain eye appeal. The more lofted the club, the less metal is visible behind the clubface; wedges are hardly noticeable. As you work your way up to the 4-iron, the appearance of the club’s backside becomes more predominant. For golfers who fit the super game improvement category, this is a good thing. The mass in the back of the clubs leaves no doubt that you will be able to get the ball up in the air quickly. And, with the 60 grams of weight that have been moved to the perimeter of the clubhead, you’ll find that your miss hits aren’t as bad as they used to be. When you add in features like FLX Face technology which increases ball speed off the clubface, you’ll find a little added distance.
Wilson Staff introduced FLX Face technology in the C200 irons and it has proven to be a worthwhile distance gaining feature. It allows for over 75% of the clubface to be unattached to the rest of the clubhead, creating a greater trampoline effect in the clubface. The “Power Holes” around the face are filled with TE031 Urethane and allow this flexing to take place. Throw in the heel and toe weight pods on the perimeter of the club head and you’ve got increase forgiveness.
The sweet spot on the D300s is about the size of a silver dollar and shots hit in the center of the clubface feel sweet and effortless. Because of the TE031 Urethane in the Power Holes, miss hits sound somewhat muted and distance is barely sacrificed. Although the topline and sole on the D300 are thick, and the Power Holes are clearly visible at address, the results this club produces will have you forgetting all about them.
The sole of the new D300 is relatively the same size as the previous model and the polished chrome area in the center of the sole is raised a bit. This helps the club glide effortlessly through the turf and allows you to make better contact with the ball, even in rough and uneven lies.
The back side of the club head is decked out in red and black, and, when combined with the polished chrome finish, inspires confidence. If you’re looking for straight – as most high handicappers are – then the D300 irons are for you.
Last Word: Although Wilson Staff has strengthened the lofts and added a ¼” to the shafts, the engineering of the new D300 has a lot to do with the increase in distance you will see. Wilson uses the new KBS Tour 80 as their stock steel shaft. It’s a lighter weight version of the KBS Tour, and offers a high launch, and higher spin rate and is designed specifically for players who needs help getting the ball up in the air for more carry. Graphite shafts are also available. The WS Tour Traction grips are comfortable and fit nicely into your hands.
With the D300 irons, you’ll find that even if you don’t hit the center of the clubface every time, your distance isn’t going to suffer; these irons are super forgiving. Good thing to know when you go for that pin tucked behind a bunker. If you’re a high handicapper looking for a new set of super game improvement irons then you owe it to your game to consider the new Wilson Staff D300s. Check them out online at www.wilson.com.
