D-100 irons

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Golf Monthly Senior Staff Writer Paul O'Hagan tests the Wilson Staff D-100 irons

Wilson Staff D-100 irons
Golf Monthly Verdict

PGA pro verdict: Very easy to use and powerful in flight. On test, I noticed added yardage without a loss of accuracy – a real bonus. Wilson has added a lightweight steel shaft that makes the overall unit feel lighter, thus adding speed without extra effort. These will help golfers looking for consistency and yardage - by Top 25 Coach John Jacobs Test team rating: Performance: 4/5 Visual appeal: 3.5/5 Innovation: 4/5 Value: 4.5/5 Overall: 4/5

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Aesthetics:

1) Address view: a rounded toe and relatively thick top line give these irons a user-friendly appearance, without the need to make the clubs oversized or the soles too wide.

2) Shelf appeal: the overall look and combination of silver, black and red will be familiar to those who have played Wilson irons in the past, but with an attractive modern touch.

Components:

3) Stock shafts: the lightweight True Temper SL-85 is designed to suit players looking to produce a higher flight, as well as seeking added distance. This fits in with Wilson's Right Light weighting technology.

4) Grip: to help square the face at impact for better accuracy, the stock grip has been made slightly thicker than most. If you have small hands, you might want to opt for something thinner.

Technology:

5) Construction: the head proportions through the set are different to produce ideal launch angles, ball speeds and spin rates for each loft. The face is seven per cent thinner than previous versions for faster ball speeds.

6) Weighting: an exoskeleton design is combined with an undercut cavity. This allows 35 per cent more mass to be moved to the sole, heel and toe areas to improve the forgiveness on offer.

Performance:

7) Feel: compared to the Di11, little has changed here. It's an iron designed to feel solid across the entire face, and it achieves just that. Unspectacular but solid, particularly in this price category.

8) Flight: noticeably higher compared to the Di11, and more reminiscent of a set with larger heads. This is a good combination for the improving golfer who no longer wants an oversized design, but still needs help to flight the ball.

9) Distance control: Golfers upgrading from sets that are a few years old will find extra yards through the set. This might mean reconsidering either hybrid or wedge options for better gapping.

10) Forgiveness: while extra distance is a bonus, it's still forgiveness that's key for those in the market for this type of set. Impressively, Wilson hasn't sacrificed any forgiveness, but has made the set longer.

Paul joined Golf Monthly in 2006 in a junior role and has since worked as senior staff writer and now as technical editor. He writes equipment and instruction content and tests the vast majority of golf clubs that are introduced every year.