50 Words or Less
The towering distance and forgiveness of the new Wilson Staff D7 irons, together with their fresh look, make them a must try in the SGI category.
Introduction
When I first heard about the new D7 irons from Wilson Staff, I wondered why they weren’t called D400s – the natural evolution of the successful D300 irons. But once I saw the D7s I knew immediately why they deserved a fresh name. Confident that the Wilson Staff designers had more in store than just new looks, I was anxious to hit the new irons. Having now seen in person and played the D7 irons, I’m pleased to report these are absolutely worth a try if you are in the market for Super Game Improvement irons.
Looks
Having gamed Wilson Staff C200 and C300 irons the past several years, I’ve grown accustomed to the visible power holes on the topline similar to those on the D300 irons. Knowing that look wasn’t universally admired, I applaud the Wilson Staff design team for eliminating those power holes on the D7s and creating a clean topline highlighted only by the matte finish.
Face on, the D7 irons are similar in size and shape to my gamers, and the modest size should appeal to most golfers. The cavity has been completely updated with clean, simple badging without a hint of W/S red. Gone also are the heel and toe weight pods which contributes to the cleaner, more appealing style.
I’ll discuss the “why” later, but as far as looks, the D7 irons have 3 rows of Power Holes on the 5i-7i, 2 rows on the 8i and 9i, and a single row on the PW and GW. The wide sole is visible at address on the longer irons.
Sound & Feel
Paired with the UST Mamiya Recoil 460, the D7 irons felt lightweight, encouraging good tempo. Impact had a soft feel and produced a crisp ‘snap’ with the longer irons having a tad more resonance. The feel of effortless solid contact was very generous from center, and even more so on long irons.
Performance
That effortless feel resulted in a powerful launch with towering height. I was easily getting 5 additional yards over my gamers. That extra distance is simple to explain with stronger lofts, but the impressive aspect was the trajectory – 6 iron distance with a 7 iron ball flight.
Back to those Power Holes – Wilson Staff looked at what players need and what benefits are most important across a set of irons and decided on a simple premise: “Distance when you need it, precision when you want it.” On the long irons (5, 6, 7) three rows of power holes are paired with a thinner face for maximum distance. As the lofts increase, the focus shifts to distance control by optimizing feel and removing rows of Power Holes.
Wilson Staff calls the combination of Power Holes, face thickness, and weighting RE-AKT Technology, all of which is geared towards powerful distance and ample forgiveness. Both were readily apparent in my testing. Most notable to me were the high trajectories on the long irons – great for clearing hazards and holding greens when distance alone won’t suffice.
Conclusion
If you haven’t already experienced a loss of distance because of age, trust me it will happen. Fortunately, Wilson Staff has made it possible to pull the club that matches up with your memories of your younger self without sacrificing looks. If you are a new golfer, the easy distance and forgiveness of the D7 irons will make the game more enjoyable. And best of all, this performance comes without a wallet-busting price tag.
Wilson Staff D7 Irons Price & Specs
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Love the review. How do these irons compare regarding initial launch angle to the 2019 Callaway Big Bertha?
I see both have UST Recoil shaft models and are close in loft specs. Specifically the five irons. Is one definitively higher launching than the other? Thanks
Thanks for reading. The shafts I tested with weren’t exactly the same, and as you note the lofts aren’t identical, but in general the trajectories are very similar. I didn’t capture any data on the 5 irons, but the BB 6 iron had a very slightly higher launch angle. Best thing is for you to see how both compare side by side for yourself.
Cheers – Meeks
Are there any contests where you can win these irons?
None on the books Danny. Feel free to let Wilson Staff know on social media that you’d like to see us host a contest.
– Meeks
So, if a 7-iron has the trajectory of a 7-iron, it is not the stronger lofts that account for the 6-iron distance. Or am I misunderstanding something?
In the recent past, when manufacturers strengthened the loft, all the club produced was more distance. So in essence what they stamped as a 7 iron was really just a 6 iron. Great if all a golfer desired was more perceived distance, but not great for say holding greens. So you are correct Tom that stronger loft provides added distance, but the club design of the D7 also launches the ball higher.
– Meeks
Are these graphite or steel? What are the rangers e.g. 5-power wedges. I prefer graphite and what is the price ranges.
I tested graphite Mike. Their website has all the info you seek.
– Meeks
Saw their ad claiming MORE distance with the 7 iron….their loft for a 7 iron is 28…my Ping Rapture 7 iron loft is 34….close to a two club spread………I will cut this short as I am in a hurry to go out and buy them before they are all sold out!
Can you compare to Cally Rogue X?
Thanks
It’s been a while since I hit either irons Jack. Performance was very similar for me. I preferred the look and feel of the Rogue X. As always – highly recommend hitting them both side by side and evaluating based on real numbers you generate.
Let us know what you decided.
– Meeks
Hi Meeks.
I’m an older golfer looking to upgrade my Taylormade OS2 irons which I’ve had for quite a time now. I use to hit my 7 iron about 145 yards but I’m now down to around 130. I like the look and value of the D7 irons, would you recommend the forged or reakt model?
Those were great irons from what I’ve been told Bob, but you are definitely worthy of a new set. For me, the slightly more compact head and overall look of the forged D7s is very appealing. And as with most forged clubs, feel is increased. You’ll have a bit more forgiveness with the standard model and many golfers prefer the visual confidence a bigger head provides. If you can, hit them both and see which you like better. Both will be great for your game. Let us know what you decide.
– Meeks
Hi Matt.
Last week I tried the D7’s in the steel and Graphite shafts. I also tried the new Titleist T300 irons. I found that the D7 with the graphite shaft delivered the best distance, feel and consistency. The trajectory was amazing and I was hitting 10-15 yards further than my old irons. I was so impressed I placed an order that day. I’m sure that if a T300 was available for testing it may have been a better fit but at twice the price of the D7 it would be hard to justify the extra costs.
Anyone looking for new game improvement irons check out the D7 ‘s.
cheers
Bob
Great report Bob – thanks for sharing.
– Meeks
Please compare the D7’s to the Launch Pad irons for distance & forgivness.
D7 irons have stronger lofts than the LPs. So comparing distance on a say a 6 iron from each set, the D7 are/should be longer. I hedge on anything definitive since its been a while since I hit them, and I never hit them in the same session.
The Launch Pad irons have the edge on forgiveness.
Hope that helps you some Howard.
– Meeks
These clubs sound like something to try I will let you know what I think about them in the spring as I have already bought them D7 with steel shafts
How do the D7 compare to the D9 ?
Hold tight Ruben – D9 review coming soon.
– Meeks
I’m a lifelong Wilson irons user dating back to W/S fluid feel and pi5’s. I have a set of D7’s on the way(5-Gw) and will use them to accomplish my goal of shooting my age, ASAP with them. I’m 70, with an 11hcp.
I bought the W/S D7 irons in March. After giving them a whole summer of testing I am completely satisfied with them. They are long and forgiving. The Recoil shafts are comfortable. I cannot think of any other club I would play overr these right now. My handicap dropped 2 full points in the last 6 months. I also have a set of Ping G710 irons with the same Recoil shafts that came in 2nd to the D7’s.