Equipment
New 2020 Wilson Staff D7 Forged irons: Forged for all
In 2019, Wilson Staff irons were in the bag of a major winner again, thanks to Gary Woodland winning the U.S. Open with the Wilson Staff Model Forged Blades. From a brand perspective, this was a huge win for Wilson, but one quick look into the bag from a consumer relatability side of things would show that few golfers can gain a benefit from hitting a forged blade ala Mr. Woodland. Wilson is proving forged can be for everyone with the introduction of the Wilson D7 Forged Irons for 2020. They’re forged and fast!
Just because an iron is forged doesn’t mean golfers of a particular handicap should shy away from it—forging is merely a process used to create end products, not a measure of a club’s forgiveness or ball speed potential. With the new Wilson D7 Forged irons, every golfer can appreciate the feeling of a well-struck shot with a forged club without the fear of a tiny miss coming up 10 yards short, since they are also packed with key Wilson golf innovations.
Wilson Staff D (for distance) Series is better known for larger cast clubs built for longer, higher-flying shots, but the engineers at Wilson wanted to change that perception by bringing D Series technology into a club that would appeal to more traditional golfers still looking for a ball speed boost. By working with their tour staff from the PGA Tour down to PGA staff professionals, they have created a club with tour-preferred styling; one packed with distance and launch improving technology.
2020 Wilson Staff D7 Forged irons: The technology
Urethane Power Chamber and Power Holes: Like with the previous (non-forged) D7 irons, the new forged model has a unique set of holes on the sole positioned to allow for greater flexing of the face for more ball speed, especially on shots hit lower on the face, a popular spot for recreational players.
By combining these slots with a urethane-filled cavity behind a soft 8630 forged carbon steel face (the Power Chamber) you get greater rebound potential paired with a very pleasing soft feel. Placing a vibration dampening insert or softer material behind a thin face to tune acoustics is not a new idea, and each OEM has a different take on what the best way to achieve the final result is, but Wilson is the only player using both a filled cavity and sole slots to do it, making the D7 forged a stand out in the crowd.
The looks
The D7 Forged irons are designed to appeal to what Wilson calls the “traditional golfer” with minimal offset similar to the C and Tour series irons and a thinned out topline and thinner sole for improved ground interaction. It’s one thing to have a technology-filled club, but if a golfer doesn’t feel comfortable standing over a shot, it’s never going to end up in the bag.
Wilson designers looked at every detail to bring the D7 Forged iron in line with the wants and needs of aspiring players.
“Combining the distance technologies from the original D7 line with the aesthetics of Wilson Staff’s players irons, the D7 Forged Irons provide an ideal blend of maximum distance and ultimate feel for golfers looking for effortless distance and ultimate control,” said Jon Pergande, Manager of Golf Club Innovation. “
“Through the optimized sole and face thickness, urethane-filled Power Chamber and centered power holes, the new D7 Forged Irons give golfers remarkable ball speeds, shot-making ability, and a soft forged feel across the entire club face.”
When talking further about the new D7 Forged with Jon, one of the reoccurring themes of our conversation was choices. A golfer needs confidence standing over a longer iron, knowing that a miss—over a hazard for example—still has the opportunity to make it, even if contact isn’t perfect. That same golfer also needs to know when hitting a short iron, precision will be rewarded with consistent downrange dispersion—something that more traditional game improvement clubs can struggle with based on spin rates.
The D7 Forged balances the best of both worlds very well!
Shafts, pricing, and availability
The D7 Forged irons stock shafts are
- Steel: KBS $-Taper Lite’s
- Graphite: Project X Catalyst Black 80g
The D7 Forged irons start at $899.99 in steel and are $999.99 with graphite, in a seven-piece configuration.
The D7 Forged will be available for pre-order at retail and on Wilson.com, starting January 14, 2020. You will see them arrive on golf retailers shelves January 21, 2020.
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- Kris Kim what’s in the bag accurate as of the CJ Cup Byron Nelson. More photos from the event here.
Driver: TaylorMade Qi10 (9 degrees @7)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Tensei 1K White 60 TX
3-wood: TaylorMade Qi10 Tour (15 degrees @13.5)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Diamana WB 73 TX
Irons: TaylorMade P770 (2, 4), TaylorMade P7MB (5-PW)
Shafts: Mitsubishi Tensei 1K White 80 TX (2), Nippon N.S. Pro Modus3 Tour 120 X
Wedges: TaylorMade MG4 (50-09SB, 56-12SB, 60-11TW)
Shafts: Nippon N.S. Pro Modus3 WV 125
Putter: TaylorMade Spider Tour
Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet Cord
Check out more in-hand photos of Kris Kim’s equipment here.
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TaylorMade is continuing its UDI/DHY series with the successor to the Stealth UDI and DHY utility irons: PUDI and PDHY (which the company styles as P·UDI and P·DHY). TaylorMade is folding the designs in with its P Series of irons.
TaylorMade outlined the process of developing its new utilities this way. The company started with the data on utility iron usage. Not surprisingly, better players — i.e. those who generate more clubhead speed and strike the ball more precisely — were found to gravitate toward the UDI model. DHY usage, however, covered a wider swath than the company might have expected with six-to-18 handicappers found to be bagging the club.
TaylorMade also found that the majority of golfers playing UDI or DHY utilities were playing P Series irons at the top of their iron configurations.
Can you see where this is going?
Matt Bovee, Director of Product Creation, Iron and Wedge at TaylorMade: “As we look to the future, beyond the tech and the design language, we are excited about repositioning our utility irons into the P·Series family. P·UDI is an easy pair for players that currently play P·Series product and P·DHY is an extremely forgiving option for players of all skill levels. It is a natural fit to give these players the performance in this category that they are looking for.”
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TaylorMade PUDI
TaylorMade PUDI technology cutaway (via TaylorMade)
Crafted with tour player input, TaylorMade sought to develop a confidence-inspiring utility iron that blends with the rest of the P Series irons. Also of note: Interestingly, the PUDI has a more compact head than the P790.
In comparison to past UDI products, the PUDI has a more traditional iron shape, slimmer toplines, and less offset with a little of the backbar visible at address.
TaylorMade PDHY
TaylorMade PDHY tech cutaway (via TaylorMade).
Larger in profile than the PUDI, the PDHY seeks to position center of gravity (CG) lower in the club for ease of launch. The toe height is larger and the profile is larger at address — roughly five millimeters longer than PUDI — the sole of the club is wider for improved forgiveness.
Club Junkie’s take
Golfers who feel like they are missing something at the top of the bag could find the PUDI or PDHY a great option. The look of the PUDI should fit the most discerning eye with a more compact look, less offset, and a thinner topline. If you want a little more confidence looking down the P-DHY will be slightly larger while still being a good-looking utility iron.
For being small packages both models pack a pretty good punch with fast ball speeds, even off-center. The feel is soft and you get a solid feel of the ball compressing off the face when you strike it well. Your ears are greeted with a nice heavy thud as the ball and club come together. The PDHY will launch a little higher for players who need it while the PUDI offers a more penetrating ball flight. Both utility irons could be the cure for an open spot in the top end of the bag.
PUDI, PDHY, or Rescue?
TaylorMade offers the following notes to assist golfers in filling out their bags:
- PUDI has mid-CG right behind the center face to create a more penetrating mid-to-low ball flight
- PDHY has a lower center of gravity to produce an easier-to-launch mid-to-high ball flight.
- Both PUDI and PDHY are lower-flying than the company’s hybrid/Rescue clubs.
- PUDI is more forgiving than P790.
- PDHY is the most forgiving iron in the entire TaylorMade iron family
Pricing, specs, and availability
Price: $249.99
At retail: Now
Stock shafts: UST Mamiya’s Recoil DART (105 X, 90 S and 75 R – only in PDHY)
Stock grip: Golf Pride’s ZGrip (black/grey)
PUDI lofts: 2-17°, 3-20°, 4-22° in both left and right-handed
PDHY lofts: 2-18°, 3-20° and 4-22° in both left and right-handed
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Equipment
Coolest thing for sale in the GolfWRX Classifieds (5/3/24): Scotty Cameron Champions Choice 2.5+ putter
At GolfWRX, we are a community of like-minded individuals that all experience and express our enjoyment of the game in many ways.
It’s that sense of community that drives day-to-day interactions in the forums on topics that range from best driver to what marker you use to mark your ball. It even allows us to share another thing we all love – buying and selling equipment.
Currently, in our GolfWRX buy/sell/trade (BST) forum, there is a listing for a Scotty Cameron Champions Choice 2.5+ putter
From the seller: (@wwcl): “Has been gamed as pics show. 33.5 includes original h/c and grip. $575 includes shipping and PP fees.”
To check out the full listing in our BST forum, head through the link: Scotty Cameron Champions Choice 2.5+ putter
This is the most impressive current listing from the GolfWRX BST, and if you are curious about the rules to participate in the BST Forum you can check them out here: GolfWRX BST Rules
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Pelling
Jan 8, 2020 at 2:38 pm
Junk, for hackers.
Kurt
Jan 7, 2020 at 11:52 pm
Got fitted for 5-PW yesterday. Great distance and feel. Ultimately preferred them over the T200, particularly for the prices here locally (NZ). Should be here early next week.
James
Jan 7, 2020 at 3:15 pm
Priced $1000 for 7 irons. BAD MOVE! The Wilson brand is not THAT good. Yet. Hit 2 home runs first.
Greg
Jan 9, 2020 at 12:55 am
I see your point, but just wondering–would the V6’s and the Staff Model Blades be considered home runs?
Patrick J McLeod
Jan 10, 2020 at 10:45 am
$1000 for a 7 piece forged set with graphite is priced below just about every other club in the category.
Jim
Jan 7, 2020 at 12:25 pm
The iron could potentially be a big step for Wilson as it’s a pretty good looking iron that allows for most players to play forged irons. It’s a little big/ thick for my taste for a nice overall appearance. But the multiple sole slots is where they lose me. I couldn’t look at these in my bag every round, it’s just goofy looking and not in keeping with what you would expect from a better iron. Wilson needs to lose the slots and then they would have a solid iron in my opinion.
Martin Brown
Jan 7, 2020 at 11:14 am
The article says this is the only iron to have sole slots and urethane filling. However the TaylorMade P790 has had exactly that since its introduction in 2017.
Thomas A
Jan 7, 2020 at 12:08 pm
I think they meant that they are one piece. In the P790’s the urethane insert is not connected to the urethane slot filling.
Milo
Jan 7, 2020 at 11:11 am
So thick and shiny
Peter
Jan 7, 2020 at 9:39 am
Is just the face insert forged? If so, the term forged iron is very misleading compared to a true forged head from a single billet.
Thomas A
Jan 7, 2020 at 12:09 pm
Yes, only the face is forged. Which is fine with me because I only hit the ball with the face of the iron. 😉
Charlie Waffles
Jan 7, 2020 at 12:54 pm
I’m getting a different take on these, thinking that they are forged and not just the face. I could be wrong tough.