2019 Official Forum Member Review-Wilson D7 Challenge

[Tarheelvolvo]

3 hours ago, JohnSmalls said:

Finally got to hit the D7s on flightscope with Srixon range balls today.  I am seeing a touch higher clubspeed now around 88-89mph  with a smash factor in the 1.3's.  Carry around 172 with the ball rolling out to 180.  It looks like peak ball flight being a little bit lower than with the Vapors. So on like for like good strikes I am about a club and a half stronger than my previous 7 iron as expected due to the lofts.  I was a little surprised to see 180 come up on the monitor though. 

I am still struggling with the long irons.  I think it is swing mechanics right now, I will work on that and see if I can get it to work out, but they are just not gelling. But on the other end of the spectrum the 9,P,G are coming alive.  They are absolutely flying and the touch around the greens with the gap wedge has been amazingly accurate as of late,  leaving a lot better looks and first putts dropping. 

What do you guys want to see tested?

Haha, my thoughts as well the the first time I put the clubs on the monitor. I was like "watch out Koepka!" 

 

Second my fellow tester's request, too. What do you guys have questions about? How can we better test these analytically as well as qualitatively? 

[Golfspy_CG2]

25 minutes ago, Tarheelvolvo said:

Haha, my thoughts as well the the first time I put the clubs on the monitor. I was like "watch out Koepka!" 

 

Second my fellow tester's request, too. What do you guys have questions about? How can we better test these analytically as well as qualitatively? 

Honest answer from you all!!  How much of a turnoff/distraction is the size of the irons both from an address standpoint and overall appearance vs your gamer. 

 

[JohnSmalls]

3 minutes ago, Golfspy_CG2 said:

Honest answer from you all!!  How much of a turnoff/distraction is the size of the irons both from an address standpoint and overall appearance vs your gamer. 

 

Disclaimer: I haven't looked at my Nike's since making the switch in the bag because I wanted to focus on the Wilson's.  In fact I put the Nike's where I wouldn't see them just in case the testing started off on a sour note, I didn't want negative thoughts creeping in based solely on an equipment change and there being an easy visual comparison.

At first it was very noticeable (distraction level 10 of 10), and I kept thinking I had to really swing them hard to get the right launch characteristics because they were noticeably larger than my Nike's.  But they are very well designed from an aesthetic perspective and I have gotten used to them so the distraction is largely gone. 

With that said, there is a little reminder that you are swinging SGI clunkers when you pull them from the bag with just how thick the soles are, but weirdly I think the power holes make the soles look a little smaller almost to the effect of camouflage breaking up the straight lines .   At address, they do look a little big with how wide they are heel-toe and how much metal there is on either side of the ball, but the thinner top line does a neat Houdini imitation and makes them look smaller than what they really are so they just blend in and do a good job of looking like a smaller club despite the big footprint looming below the top line.  All in all, they look like a quality iron (distraction level 1.5-4 of 10, from short irons to long irons respectively)

I will try to remember to get a comparison photo towards the end of the test, and take some photos of the D7's at address in the meantime. 

p.s. I am going to touch on the subjective terms of feel later in this review.  It has really helped tone the distraction level down in a good way.

 

[russtopherb]

How is the turf interaction with the soles on the D7s?


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[Golfspy_CG2]

2 hours ago, JohnSmalls said:

Disclaimer: I haven't looked at my Nike's since making the switch in the bag because I wanted to focus on the Wilson's.  In fact I put the Nike's where I wouldn't see them just in case the testing started off on a sour note, I didn't want negative thoughts creeping in based solely on an equipment change and there being an easy visual comparison.

At first it was very noticeable (distraction level 10 of 10), and I kept thinking I had to really swing them hard to get the right launch characteristics because they were noticeably larger than my Nike's.  But they are very well designed from an aesthetic perspective and I have gotten used to them so the distraction is largely gone. 

With that said, there is a little reminder that you are swinging SGI clunkers when you pull them from the bag with just how thick the soles are, but weirdly I think the power holes make the soles look a little smaller almost to the effect of camouflage breaking up the straight lines .   At address, they do look a little big with how wide they are heel-toe and how much metal there is on either side of the ball, but the thinner top line does a neat Houdini imitation and makes them look smaller than what they really are so they just blend in and do a good job of looking like a smaller club despite the big footprint looming below the top line.  All in all, they look like a quality iron (distraction level 1.5-4 of 10, from short irons to long irons respectively)

I will try to remember to get a comparison photo towards the end of the test, and take some photos of the D7's at address in the meantime. 

p.s. I am going to touch on the subjective terms of feel later in this review.  It has really helped tone the distraction level down in a good way.

 

Very well described.   Thanks! 

[JohnSmalls]

3 hours ago, Golfspy_CG2 said:

Very well described.   Thanks! 

You got it. Sorry for the run on sentences and any repetition. I was typing that in a hurry today

[Tarheelvolvo]

19 hours ago, Golfspy_CG2 said:

Honest answer from you all!!  How much of a turnoff/distraction is the size of the irons both from an address standpoint and overall appearance vs your gamer. 

 

Great question and one that initially turned me off with the D7's given how clunky they "appear" to be. I mention appearance in quotes because I believe Wilson has done a great job in "hiding" the thicker sole and ReAkt technology quite well. Compared to my DCI Clones the topline is thicker, sure, but not so much that it is a distraction when addressing the ball. 

Additionally, it's only the higher lofted irons where I start to see a small peak of the sole/weighting poking out from the topline. Combine that with what @JohnSmallssaid about the power holes actually tricking the eye into seeing a thinner sole in the bag, and it's really a non-issue for me.

Here's a comparison pic of DCI's to the D7's in a 4i and 7i . You can tell that the DCI 4i is much more like a blade compared to the D7, and at address you have a tiny bit of the sole poking out, but when you get to a 7i and on up, the differences are smaller

Besides, as a wise man once told me, "Function IS Fashion"  If I can hit it straighter and farther than you can, then my irons MUST be fashionable 

[Tarheelvolvo]

18 hours ago, russtopherb said:

How is the turf interaction with the soles on the D7s?


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Hey @russtopherb, great question! Compared to my current irons, i'm taking a little less divot with each stroke, so I would think the wider sole is helping to keep the iron "floating" up a bit more so I hit the ball in the sweet spot more often. I haven't noticed the turf grabbing my clubs as much as current irons, either. Even with the wedges around the green, i'm getting good swings, moderate to shallow divots, and solid spin to stop the balls on the greens better. I have not hit any wedge shots "thin," which has been a big plus too!

Looking back at my rounds, i'm certainly hitting the ball straighter and longer and taking less strokes, so it's a win for me!

 

 

[artful_golfer]

Honest answer from you all!!  How much of a turnoff/distraction is the size of the irons both from an address standpoint and overall appearance vs your gamer. 
 

0 distraction/turnoff. These are actually thinner than my Ping Serene clubs and look a little more elegant. I was more concerned about the glare off the high polished finish being distracting but that has been ok. I posted a photo comparison in my D7 challenge review if you want to find it, otherwise I’ll repost it here late next week when return home.

Something I haven’t mentioned yet is design on the grips. They are helping me hold the club correctly. They have curves and ovals to help me place my hands.


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[GeekingGolf]

So in my round yesterday I found I am taking very shallow divots but the width of them is big so I think the interaction is good they dont dig and I think that has to do with the sole being so wide

How is the turf interaction with the soles on the D7s?


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[artful_golfer]

How is the turf interaction with the soles on the D7s?


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For the first time I’m actually taking a few divots. I don’t know what the difference is to make that happen. I always tried to avoid that in the past because it seems to take much of the energy out of my shots but I’m surprised to look down now and see a divot after a good hit.


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[GeekingGolf]

So I got the D7s out on the course on Friday and turned in a pretty good round +6 so not a bad score my iron play wasn't great though. I'm finding the extra thick top line is causing me some difficulty getting used to it. I was seeing an increase of about 10 yards with each club on the range but on the course not so much. I hit 60% of the greens but my distances weren't there. I am hitting the ball really high and that could just be my swing combined with the clubs at this point. I was hoping to use the TopGolf range but the system was down so I will try to get out there this week and see if it is up so I can get some real data. My Arccos tracking distances doesn't look too good with one round in so I don't want to share those hear. Let me know if you have any specific questions.

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[Tarheelvolvo]

Didn't have time for a full round this past week, so I hit the range instead and decided to do some comparisons between the D7's, R11's, and DCI's in my bag - also had a special guest appearance by a last gen D300 from W/S to compare to the newer D7's. For the data analyzers, check the link below.

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1VAmCTdUzoEuKVd5bcShOowHTM_MM7jq0mS7RhtsW6bw/edit?usp=sharing

My notes from the sessions:

- Still hitting the D7 better than the other two, so it's showing how newer tech can really improve your game

- Straighter ball flight, albeit higher than the DCI's, but that's kind of a given

- More consistent ball flight and placement with D7's and really think this has to do with the perimeter weighting of the clubs that improve forgiveness

- Based on the numbers, I'm getting more distance, higher spin, and higher "smash" factor - aka: connecting with the ball better than my old gamers. Bit of an interesting observation.

- Spin is looking great for the wedges, but maybe less so for the higher irons when you want a bit more distance. However, given that this club is targeted to players who might have trouble with ball flight, I understand the trade-off and since I have more distance than the other two clubs anyway, I can live with it. 

Hoping to play a round this week sometime to see how the stroke gains have been impacted and if they are staying consistent from last time. Also, the shop at the range was having a bag sale, and since the last time I bought a bag was ~1998, I figured why the heck not. New clubs need a new bag, right? I mean $160 for this beauty...comeon, it's a no brainer! Now to just get a Ping G400 or G410 driver.... anyone want to donate to the cause?

Edited September 15, 2019 by Tarheelvolvo

[JohnSmalls]

On 9/10/2019 at 4:48 PM, russtopherb said:

How is the turf interaction with the soles on the D7s?


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Sorry for being MIA so far on this.  I normally am not a big divot taker, which probably explains why I was able to play the thin soles on my Nike Vapors, so take this post with a grain of salt. 

I was skeptical at first with just how wide the soles of these are.   I thought they would have a tendency to bounce off of the firm turf at my home course because of the dry weather.  These irons just cut right through the turf, skim the dirt and keep moving almost like a players club would.  Wilson has done an impressive job at the beveling/rounding of the metal on these irons to keep all of that excess surface area from catching grass or bouncing off of the dirt at the bottom of the golf swing.

These irons seem to have almost like a V-sole.  I will try to get pictures later to illustrate what I am trying to say but it's like the first bit of the iron (face, beveled leading edge, and first bit of power holes) is a more traditional cavity back, and then the extra metal  on the sole that makes these an super game improvement iron slopes away from the ground (vertically when addressing the ball).  It seems like this was designed so that it doesn't get in the way causing an adverse strike with the ground and then ball. 

Even on soft courses that have been drenched by the recent round of scattered T-storms, they don't seem to bog down because of their large footprint.  They feel like a much smaller club going through the turf and I couldn't be more surprised about it.

[ole gray]

On 8/21/2019 at 10:31 AM, artful_golfer said:

Hi fellow Spies!

A huge thank you again to both MyGolfSpy and Wilson Golf for giving our team of six testers this opportunity. I’m excited and nervous to share my review of the Ladies Wilson D7 irons. Throughout this process, if you have questions or comments, send them over and I’ll be happy to answer as best I can.

This is my newest art collage project:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I started playing golf 5 years ago at 60 years old. I’m not particularly coordinated in sporting endeavors. I have worked hard to improve and my handicap has gradually come down to 24. Putting is the only aspect that ever felt easy and natural to me. I have a theory that putting is easier for visual learners like me.

I’m a happy, patient but determined golfer and enjoy playing with other good vibes golfers. I’m happiest when doing things with my husband (almost 45 years a golfer) and my son - @downlowkey, so I guess golf was eventually in my future. I love to practice, but refer to it as "research" time. I typically play/practice 2-3 times a week but rarely play 18 holes two days in a row.

My Swing. Thank you to Aaron Speaker, the head pro at The Club at Colony Creek, for making these for me today! The thermometer showed 101 degrees for us out there!

I have a neuromuscular disease that affects my muscle stamina, particularly with repeated use of the same muscles. I tire and lose strength quicker than other people. Early on, I decided that although my drives didn’t go as far, I could still reach par 4/5s in regulation. It just meant a longer approach shot – I can handle that. Dispersion on those shots has always been problematic. Wilson claims that these super game improvement irons are longer and more forgiving. Should be precisely perfect for me... right? Well, that’s what I intend to find out.

A couple of years ago, a local pro used a launch monitor to get some of my baseline swing stats. That day, while rested and fresh, my driver swing speed was 95. But I’m told I swing hard early in my rounds and easier as the round progresses. I’ve since learned to conserve energy by using body rotation to hit the ball further instead of only my arms. And also that a slower swing can be a more accurate - but it seems not accurate enough to consistently find the green in regulation.

I normally card something in the mid-to-high 90’s and 92 is my personal best. My mishits are usually a push fade, but being quite inconsistent I'm also able to miss them hard left. My good rounds happen when I am able to limit the blow up holes. As a round progresses and my muscles are taxed, I adjust my club choice for distance. For example - at 140 yards, I use my hybrid or regular 4 iron early but switch to my 5 wood or even 3 wood later in the round. My favorite scoring club, an 8 iron, is good for 90-95 yards. I’ve read that my hybrids are designed to help the ball out of the rough, but that expanded mass going through the grass doesn’t work for me. Instead, I use my favorite long iron, a TaylorMade R7 4 iron. I’m anxious to test the difference between D7 irons and hybrid irons in the tall stuff. But then with the D7s accuracy I shouldn’t be in the tall grass as often, correct?

My review blueprint: Utilize a launch monitor to compare the Wilson D7s to my current Pings at the beginning of the review and again at the end. I will also be tracking on-course stats with a ShotScopeV2 to compare the two sets. I plan to practice or play 2-3 times a week and provide progress updates on a weekly basis. So come back and join me each week!

It felt like eternity waiting for our irons to arrive but I am pleased how well they were protected.

Each iron is wrapped in an individual bag with some extra packing material wedged in between clubs and on the ends for a snug safe journey to South Texas.

After peeling off that layer, you'll find each club head cocooned in bubble wrap with another shrink wrapped plastic cover underneath.

I ordered the ladies set of 5-9, PW, GW with UST Mamiya Recoil 450 L Flex shafts. For ladies, fitting choices seem to be limited unless you switch to a men’s shaft. As ordered, these were not custom fit. Because it's my favorite current iron, I would love to have also included a 4-iron and was somewhat disappointed it was not offered in ladies clubs.

The heads have a high polish finish – not sure yet how they will look after earning some playing marks. See those slits in the soles? Wilson claims those are "Power Holes". They compress to result in more distance on longer irons and combine with optimal weighting and extreme feel in the shorter irons for the most precise distance control.

The purplish graphics on the graphite shaft are a little bright for my taste but at least the entire shaft is not that color. The Wilson website states this Mamiya UST 450 Recoil Shaft is a Lightweight Helium Shaft.

My grips are the standard Women's Performance Grip and they feel soft and comfortable.

For my initial launch monitor comparison, I made an appointment at the PGA SuperStore in Austin, TX. And I have to thank them, for a truly incredible experience! Jeff Webb - Fitting Van Specialist, spent 2.5 hours with me!!! We got some good stats on my current Pings followed by the Wilson D7s.

I will make a separate, more detailed post that specifically addresses my fitting experience but the short story is this – my standard D7s were not quite right, so Jeff “fixed” them. It was amazing to watch Jeff tweak the specs on my new clubs and I can now confidently say they are custom fit for me.

Something new worth mentioning I've noticed on the Wilson website is their D7 Demo Program. A limited number of standard sets are available for only $9.99 for a 2-week trial period. You can see if they are a good fit for you before you purchase them. Looks like the men's sets are out of stock already but they still have a few women's set.

Thanks for following along and please post any questions you may have in the official review thread! And come back to visit me!

 

 

WOW Great phase 1 !  You covered all the bases and then some 

[ole gray]

These are good looking irons. I enjoyed your Stage 1 writeups and looking forward to ya stage 2 reviews!

[JohnSmalls]

21 hours ago, ole gray said:

These are good looking irons. I enjoyed your Stage 1 writeups and looking forward to ya stage 2 reviews!

Welcome to the D7 review OG!

[JohnSmalls]

Great golf filled weekend lately--played 36 Saturday on two different courses in the area followed up with 9 Sunday afternoon with some old friends.  Sadly, my driver and 3 wood got me into a lot of trouble all day Saturday.  My first round was in the morning on a rain soaked course I had never seen. I would have easily broken 90 were it not for a nightmare day off of the tee.  Still managed to shoot a 96 (43/53) with a whopping 12 penalty strokes.  The gap wedge was the shining star of the day and counted for 7 holes where many strokes were gained.  2 birdies (3 if it weren't for two snap hooks off the tee) and a couple of pars were bright spots including a chip in.

The second round (101) consisted of a bag full of terrible.

Sunday afternoon's round started of slowly but finished with a bang.  With an unofficial lowest ever 9 hole score of 42* (one mulligan), the D7's had their best showing of the weekend here.

Things aren't all peaches and cream with the D7s, though.  Taking the second round out, my GIR was still an abysmal 15%.  6 pts below my season average and more than 10pts below my trend going into the test.  More testing to come. 

[ole gray]

2 hours ago, JohnSmalls said:

Welcome to the D7 review OG!

Thank you and I'm looking forward to those phase 2 reviews! 

[JohnSmalls]

I normally don’t get along with SGI/GI set wedges and I don’t know what it is about this D7 gap wedge and why it continues to perform so well, but I am liking it more and more. It has given me more looks at birdie this past month than I have had in the past 2 years