Equipment
New ultra-lightweight Wilson D7 driver features 192-gram clubhead, RE-AKT Technology
Wilson Golf has unveiled its latest driver, the Wilson D7, which with its superlight design, aims to provide golfers with a driver that produces greater clubhead speed with added forgiveness.
The Wilson D7 driver contains a clubhead which weighs just 192 grams and features RE-AKT Technology plus a combination of superlight design and reactive face technology, the combination of which aims to deliver faster clubhead speeds and ball speeds for added distance.
The new Wilson D7 driver features a (K)omposite lightweight crown design, which has helped the company to lower the CG position of the driver. The composite crown is made with a layer of Kevlar sandwiched between layers of carbon fiber, which aims to offer improved sound off the clubface while dampening any unwanted vibration.
This 2019 Wilson driver contains a fixed hosel and weighs in at just 280-grams total weight. The idea behind the lightness of the driver is to offer slower-swing speed golfers the chance to increase their club speed significantly.
Speaking on the new release from Wilson, Jon Pergande, Global Innovation Manager at Wilson Golf stated
“The process of creating the D7 driver started with designing the head shape and then stripping out all available weight, almost 25 grams. This weight was strategically returned to the head with the goal of improving the sound of the driver and optimizing ball flight with Dynamic Launch Control.”
In the Wilson D7 driver, golfers will have the opportunity of choosing between three different lofts (9, 10.5, 13 degrees).
The 9-degree driver is targeted for players with a faster swing speed, with internal weights moved forward in the aim of reducing spin and offering a lower launch. The 10.5-degree option is designed for golfers with a moderate-to-fast swing with weighting towards the middle to provide for more spin and a higher launch, while the 13-degree option is aimed at those with a slow-to-moderate swing speed with weighting further back for a high launching and spinning driver.
The Wilson D7 driver contains the new UST-Mamiya Helium Series shaft, which is available in A-flex (45 grams), R-flex (46 grams) and S-flex (57 grams). The new release also contains Wilson’s Staff MicroLite Lamkin grip, which weighs just 28 grams.
The driver will hit retail stores on January 21 and will cost $299.99.
- LIKE86
- LEGIT11
- WOW6
- LOL2
- IDHT1
- FLOP12
- OB0
- SHANK7
- Patrick Reed what’s in the bag accurate as of the PGA Championship. More photos from the event here.
Driver: Ping G400 (8.5 degrees)
Shaft: Aldila Rogue Silver 125 MSI 70 Tour X
3-wood: Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Triple Diamond (15 degrees)
Shaft: Aldila Rogue Silver 125MSI 80 Tour X
Hybrid: Callaway Apex Pro (18 degrees)
Shaft: Aldila RIP Phenom Hybrid 100 TX
Irons: Titleist 716 TMB (2), Grindworks PR-202 (4), Grindworks PR-101A (5-PW)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100
Wedges: Cleveland RTX ZipCore (50-10 Mid), Titleist Vokey Design SM9 (56-08M @55), SM10 (60-04T)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400
Putter: Odyssey White Hot RX Pt Customs No. 2
Ball: Titleist Pro V1
Grips: Golf Pride MCC
More photos of Patrick Reed’s WITB in the forums.
- LIKE0
- LEGIT0
- WOW0
- LOL0
- IDHT0
- FLOP0
- OB0
- SHANK0
Welcome to the 2024 PGA Championship at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Kentucky.
In the last two PGA Championships held at Valhalla, Tiger Woods won in 2000 – when he famously pointed his golf ball into the hole during the historic duel with Bob May – and Rory McIlroy won the 2014 event, basically in the dark on the final hole.
The point is, history shows that Valhalla tends to produce top-tier champions and plenty of drama.
This week at the 2024 PGA Championship, GolfWRX got its first up-close look at what some of the LIV Tour players have in their bags in 2024. We also caught back up with a few PGA Championship legends, such as Rich Beem and John Daly, and we dove into the bags of PGA Sectional qualifiers, too.
In total, we captured 47 different photo galleries this week, including 32 individual What’s In The Bag (WITB) forum threads. Click here to see all of our photos from the event, or continue reading to see my 10 equipment highlights from Valhalla.
1) Brooks Koepka’s new putter
Koepka was previously using a Scotty Cameron T5.5 putter with a slant neck, which he used to win at the beginning of the month in Singapore on the LIV tour. This week, however, he tried a T5.5 with a plumbers neck instead of the slant neck, and it’s immediately going in the bag. According to Scotty Cameron Tour rep Drew Page, Koepka already loved the head, and now finds the plumbers neck a bit more familiar to the blade-style putters he’s used throughout most of his career.
2) The lead tape king returns, with putting goggles
Phil Mickelson has always been one of the GOATs when it comes to lead tape usage, so it was no surprise to see his 64-degree custom Callaway wedge slathered with slabs of lead tape on the back.
The big surprise was that lefty was spotted using ProAim putting training goggles on Wednesday during his warm-up session.
The ProAim goggles are helpful to find center lines and ensure proper alignment to the target.
See Phil Mickelson’s full WITB from the 2024 PGA Championship
3) Dobyns’ old-school gamer setup
Speaking of lead tape, check out Matt Dobyn’s old Titleist 718 T-MB irons, which are so loaded with lead tape that the club is nearly unrecognizable.
Respect.
The head professional at Meadow Brook Club is making his sixth start in a PGA Championship, and he’s using a throwback Callaway GBB Epic driver with MOI-boosting lead tape and adjustable weight placements.
As GolfWRX Forum user “InTheBag” pointed out in our Matt Dobyns’ WITB thread, he has the type of setup that makes you want to hide your wallet: “I don’t know Mr. Dobyns, but one look at that bag tells me he can take your money,” writes InTheBag.
Spot on.
4) John Daly’s custom Sub70 irons and wedges
We first saw John Daly using $750 direct-to-consumer Sub70 659-CB irons and TAIII wedges at the 2023 PNC Championship, and he still has them in the bag, but he’s since stepped up the customization on the Sub70 clubs.
Does Daly ever NOT keep things entertaining?
View this post on Instagram
A true showman.
5) DJ’s custom putter
Dustin Johnson has always been one to test multiple putters week-to-week, and he has a keen eye for different alignment lines and crowns. This week, he’s opting for a completely gray TaylorMade Spider Tour “T3.0” prototype with a short slant neck.
See the rest of DJ’s WITB from the week here
6) Patrick Reed still rocking GrindWorks irons
Patrick Reed knows his stuff when it comes to equipment, and he’s a prolific tester. Still, however, the GrindWorks PR-101A irons are squarely in the bag after his departure to the LIV tour.
The most notable new addition to Reed’s bag is this Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Triple Diamond 3-wood.
Click here to see Reed’s full WITB from this week
7) Beem’s Scratch set
Rich Beem, who won the 2002 PGA Championship at Hazeltine National, came to the 2024 PGA Championship at Valhalla with a bag full of Scratch Golf irons, which are loaded with lead tape and equipped with some of the coolest custom ferrules in professional golf.
See Rich Beem’s full WITB here
8) Jon Rahm’s 10-iron
Before going to LIV, Rahm was using a Callaway Apex TCB pitching wedge.
Now, he’s using a Callaway Apex TCB “10 iron.”
He’s also since upgraded to three Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke metalwoods, and fresh stampings on his Jaws Raw wedges. Click here to see Rahm’s full WITB from the 2024 PGA Championship.
9) “Why so serious?”
Tyrrell Hatton, another LIV player in the 2024 PGA Championship field, channels his inner Joker to ask everyone, “Why so serious?”
10) Block’s “Proto” iron, from address
As you probably know by now, Block switched out of his old TaylorMade Tour Preferred MC 2014 irons, and into a full set of TaylorMade’s new “Proto” irons. We’ve already seen the Proto 4-iron in the bags of Rory McIlroy and Collin Morikawa, but this is our first look at the higher-lofted irons in the set.
Here’s a look at the 7-iron from address:
See what GolfWRX members are saying about the Proto irons in our Forums
And, with that, we say goodbye to Louisville, and the second major championship of the 2024 season. We’ll see you next week at the 2024 Charles Schwab Challenge in Fort Worth, Texas after a champion has been crowned.
Until then, don’t forget to check out all of our photos from this week at the 2024 PGA Championship!
- LIKE0
- LEGIT0
- WOW0
- LOL0
- IDHT0
- FLOP0
- OB0
- SHANK0
We will be one quarter of the way through Thursday night men’s league season after this week. BK played much better last week, so he is hoping to continue that success and post another good score.
Here are the 14 clubs that will hopefully win him some skins!
Driver: PXG 0311 Black Ops (9 degrees, neutral setting)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Blue 6 X (2024)
3-wood: Cobra Dark Speed LS Titanium (14.5 degrees, set +1)
Shaft: Graphite Design Tour AD IZ-7x
Fairway: Callaway Apex UW (19 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura ATMOS Tour Spec Blue 8 X
Hybrid: PXG 0311 Black Ops 4h (22 degrees, Flat Setting)
Shaft: KBS Tour Graphite Hybrid Prototype 85 S
Irons: TaylorMade P770 Phantom Black (5-PW)
Shaft: KBS Tour 120 Stiff
Wedge: PXG Sugar Daddy II (50-13 BP)
Shaft: Nippon Modus3 Tour 120 Stiff
Wedge: PXG Sugar Daddy II (56-13 BP)
Shaft: Nippon Modus3 Tour 120 Stiff
Wedge: PXG Sugar Daddy II (60-13 BP)
Shaft: Nippon Modus3 Tour 120 Stiff
Putter: L.A.B. Mezz.1 Max
Shaft: Accra x L.A.B. White
Ball: Titleist ProV1 Enhanced Alignment
- LIKE1
- LEGIT1
- WOW1
- LOL0
- IDHT0
- FLOP0
- OB0
- SHANK0
Dave Portnoy places monstrous outright bet for the 2024 Masters
Justin Thomas on the equipment choice of Scottie Scheffler that he thinks is ‘weird’
Tiger Woods arrives at 2024 Masters equipped with a putter that may surprise you
‘Absolutely crazy’ – Major champ lays into Patrick Cantlay over his decision on final hole of RBC Heritage
Report: Tiger Woods has ‘eliminated sex’ in preparation for the 2024 Masters
Two star names reportedly blanked Jon Rahm all week at the Masters
Report: LIV Golf identifies latest star name they hope to sign to breakaway tour
Neal Shipley presser ends in awkward fashion after reporter claims Tiger handed him note on 8th fairway
What we know about Bryson DeChambeau’s 3D-printed Avoda irons
Brandel Chamblee has ‘no doubt’ who started the McIlroy/LIV rumor and why
Patrick Reed WITB 2024 (May)
Patrick Reed what’s in the bag accurate as of the PGA Championship. More photos from the event here. Driver: Ping...
Club Junkie WITB, league night week 5: Another L.A.B. putter arises
We will be one quarter of the way through Thursday night men’s league season after this week. BK played much...
Jon Rahm WITB 2024 (May)
Jon Rahm what’s in the bag accurate as of the PGA Championship. 15 clubs pictured. More photos from the event...
John Daly WITB 2024 (May)
John Daly WITB accurate as of the PGA Championship. More photos from the event here. Driver: Ping G430 LST (9...
-
19th Hole3 weeks agoLET pro gives detailed financial breakdown of first week on tour…and the net result may shock you
-
19th Hole1 week agoReport: LIV star turns down PGA Championship invite due to ‘personal commitments’
-
19th Hole2 weeks agoGary Player claims this is what ‘completely ruined’ Tiger Woods’ career
-
Equipment1 week agoDetails on Justin Thomas’ driver switch at the Wells Fargo Championship
-
Whats in the Bag2 days agoTiger Woods WITB 2024 (May)
-
19th Hole1 day agoBrandel Chamblee says this is the primary reason why Rory McIlroy hasn’t won a major in 10 years
-
Whats in the Bag3 weeks agoTeam McIlowry (Rory McIlroy, Shane Lowry) winning WITBs: 2024 Zurich Classic
-
Whats in the Bag1 week agoKeegan Bradley WITB 2024 (May)
TLW
Jan 16, 2019 at 7:38 pm
Finally, something to replace the old Cortex!
jgpl001
Jan 15, 2019 at 1:28 pm
I don’t know how Wilson are still operating in the golf world, but its time they gave up gracefully and slipped away
From a once great company they now a joke and mixing it with the likes of Dunlop, Spalding, Benross, etc.
Before the bashing starts I learned to play golf with an old set of Staff Blades, now there was a club to mix it with the best
Tim
Jan 15, 2019 at 8:58 am
It seems that evey non-golf related ‘Wilson’ product is a high quality, no nonsense item. From footballs to tennis equipment, everything else is just good product. At one time in history, Wilson was synonymous with sincere quality.
Wilson Staff, on the other hand, churns out gimicky garbage. Watching their show, its clearly just a bunch of old dads trying to come up with the next slick thing that the kids will like. Like the chevy guys trying to peddle thier dorky Camaros to us.
I wonder if Wilson had taken a different rout in the early 90s, they would have been a company similar to Titleist. Perhaps a significant competitor of no bs golf equipment.
coops
Jan 14, 2019 at 7:00 pm
You can open a copy of “Search For the Perfect swing” by Cochran and Stobbs to find out why making a driver head lighter and lighter (from the usual 200gm) does NOT result in greater distances for most people.
This was researched and written in the 1960’s!
This link refers to that section in the book
http://probablegolfinstruction.com/PGI%20Newsletter/news02-12-04.htm
“Ball speed actually peaks when using a clubhead with mass 0.210 kg or 210 g. This result is for a kinetic energy of 227 Joules. Different players with different swings and strengths would all have a slightly different optimum clubhead mass. For most, it is around 200 g, thus most drivers have clubhead masses that correspond to this.”
Tom
Jan 14, 2019 at 6:07 pm
Wow! at 192 gram club head weight, this driver will have little feel and the player won’t get much feedback thru the swing. This has been tried before, without success at the player level. Reminds one of the Dave Pelz feather lite concept which failed miserably in the 80s.
Daryl Verbanic
Jan 15, 2019 at 12:43 am
Seems much to lite seems like an attempt to get the old theory of lighter is faster and longer no sense ..the Cortex driver I bought I have all Wilson drivers over last 6 years have 7 sets of there better player irons great irons only one driver seems to be close to my Epic .Rougue or the other thirty drivers I own I am certiable club addict can shoot even par with any set of clubs I own …seem to hit all the irons the same distances with in a few yards the Wilson Cotex is a great looking driver great shaft BUT BEING THE D 7 IS JUST THE OPPOSITE TO LITE CERSUS TO HEAVY WAKE UP WILSON YOUR ENGINEERS ARE MISSUNG THE BOAT REACH OUT TO ME ILL GET YOUR DRIVERS TO SELLLOWER RETAIL ..GOOD SHADT LESSEN THE CORTEX WEIFHT GET THE LOFTS VORRECT THE CLUBS LOFTS ARE OFF THE CLUB GROUNDED DOES NOT SIT AT ACTUAL LOFT OF CLUB THEY ALL ASD LOFT ??? CHECK THIS OUT WILSON ,one extreme to another sad great irons balls are even good drivers suck as I said I bout the last 6 years of drivers and the F5 olis a great driver to much roll and buldge on their drivers oh well u need good insight
Thomas A
Jan 15, 2019 at 11:04 am
Could you please write this again in English? Thanks.
Bryan from Boston
Jan 15, 2019 at 7:16 pm
Wow, honestly I don’t drive the ball as far as that run on sentence… On a good day… Downhill… With the wind at my back.
TLW
Jan 16, 2019 at 7:41 pm
I couldn’t stop laughing at this comment.
Go home, Daryl! You’re drunk!