Equipment Review: Wilson Staff 2010
by Jeffrey Reed, Editor, www.LondonOntarioGolf.com

Since 1914, Wilson Staff irons have captured 61 Major championships - more than any other golf club manufacturer in history. London Ontario Golf has also enjoyed a strong relationship since our inception in 2005. My association with Wilson Staff golf clubs and balls goes back to my junior golf days.

For 2010, Wilson Staff has unleashed what I believe to be some of the very best clubs, balls and accessories the company has ever produced. From tee to green - and yes, "Owning the fairway" - Wilson Staff gets top marks this year for its new lineup.

FYbrid HS Fairway Utility Clubs

I'm really excited about Wilson Staff's FYbrid HS, or heavy sole, family of long-distance fairway utility clubs. They build on the FYbrid series introduced in 2008. The FYbrid HS series combines fairway woods and hybrids into one loft-based family to eliminate redundant clubs and support golfers in the long range. The FYbrid family is comprised of seven fairway utility clubs that cover the long-distance needs between the driver and the 6-iron.

This spring, I've tested the FY club, and the 3-hybrid - and I couldn't put them down. Quite simply, the 19.5° FY club - a bridge club between fairway woods and hybrids and with a perfectly-matched 41-in. shaft - is in my bag for the season. Period. A replacement for a 2-iron, 2-hybrid or 7-wood, the FY club is the easiest-to-hit club I have ever used. It's a big improvement over the 2008 FY club. Let's talk about why.

Improvements from the original FYbrid design include a new heavy sole that lowers the center of gravity by 7 percent and moves it 11 percent deeper into the head of the club, resulting in higher launch and stronger ball flight. A new Dual Rail Sole Plate on the sole of the club enables cleaner turf interaction by lowering the leading edge. This promotes cleaner club face contact with the golf ball from a variety of lies.

The FYbrid HS Utility Club System consists of a 3-wood+ (13 degrees), 3- wood (15 degrees), and a 5-wood (18 degrees) as well as the hallmark FYbrid utility club (19.5 degrees). The system also offers a 3-, 4- and 5-hybrid club that are specifically designed to replace hard-to-hit 3-, 4- and 5-irons, respectively. I tested the 21° 3-hybrid, and was pleasantly surprised by its performance. I rank this hybrid as equal to or better than similar top-level hybrids on today's market, and believe me, we test a ton. Wilson Staff's new hybrid club is the best hybrid ever offered by the nearly century-old company. Bravo.

I'm playing the UST Mamiya AXIVCore stiff 65 Series shaft in both my hybrid and FYbrid club. The grips on this year's Wilson Staff offerings are new from Lamkin.

"The FYbrid HS series is such a versatile family of clubs," said Bob Thurman, global director of R&D. "Our research has shown that most golfers do not play the average long irons anymore because golfers struggle to hit them; they are looking for equipment that is playable, fits their game and utilizes the most powerful and innovative technology on the market. The FYbrid HS delivers this in a simplified and concise way."

The FYbrid HS family is now available for women, specifically tailored for a woman's game and preferences according to extensive research. The suggested list price for the Wilson Staff Heavy Sole FYbrids is $169.99 for the 3-wood+, 3-wood and 5-wood clubs and $169.99 for the 3-hybrid, 4-hybrid, 5-hybrid and FYbrid utility club.

Ci9 Irons

The most highly-anticipated club for me this season was the new Wilson Staff Ci9 iron. Here's the skinny. The newly redesigned Ci9 iron, the third generation of the award winning Ci, or control iron, offers maximum playability with classic design and workability. The Ci9 iron features a traditional, midsize head design that appeals to players of varying skill levels with "players club" looks. The confidence-boosting midsize head shape provides the visual queues expected by many Tour players such as a thinner top line and a moderately progressive offset.

Now, when you post a career-low round, you're pretty hesitant to switch irons. So, when I put aside my Ci7 sticks for the Ci9s, I expected a huge learning curve. I was wrong. In fact, I think the Wilson Staff designers have produced an ever better control club this time around. Here's why.

The new Ci9 iron features improved mass distribution by positioning a hidden rear cavity exoskeleton which pushes weight to the heel and toe creating higher MOI (moment of inertia) and more stability. The distribution of weight also maintains the center of gravity directly behind the iron's sweet spot for solid feel and power.

The Ci9 iron is created from soft 431 stainless steel material and features a one-piece Soft Response Insert that extends across the entire iron cavity. The Soft Response insert creates a satisfying sound at impact and a more solid feel, even on off-center hits. The Ci9 irons are available with stock FST Step-Less steel shafts (my choice, stiff) or Aldila VS Proto ByYou graphite shafts. The new FST Step-Less steel shafts are lightweight and designed with a new step-less barrel to deliver more consistent flex and feel with the appearance of a rifle Project X shaft. The Ci9 irons have modified U-grooves that push the maximum limits of the new specifications required by the USGA and R&A. A strategically positioned higher center of gravity delivers a higher spin rate and promotes the ability to work the ball more effectively.

Switching from the True Temper TX 105 lightweight shaft in the Ci7 irons to the new FST Step-Less steel shaft was no big deal. I found control to be slightly more difficult, but as I adjusted it's not an issue. These clubs are extremely long, too - I was bombing the 4-iron just as long as an easier-to-hit 4-hybrid. The ball flight is slightly higher with the Ci9 irons, but it does produce soft-landing shots. Playing these clubs this season is going to be a real treat.

The suggested list price for Wilson Staff Ci9 iron is $549.99 for steel and $649.99 for graphite and includes a 4I,-PW, and GW. And a note: all new Wilson Staff equipment introduced in 2010 will meet with the USGA and R&A's new groove standards which will go into effect Jan. 1, 2010, for Conditions of Competition for Elite (Tour) Play.

If you're a low- to mid-handicap golfer, then I suggest you try the Ci9 irons.

888 Series Putters

Wilson Golf's new line of five innovatively designed putters, the Wilson Staff 888 series are Wilson's best putters in years. They were inspired by classic Wilson designs but have been updated with precision milling and cutting-edge technology to blend classic shapes with modern performance and feel.

The 888 series putters utilizes VPD, or Visual Plane Differential, alignment technology with multi-surface markings to help players position their eyes directly above the putting target line. The putters all feature dual-milled faces, meaning that the first pass milling operation ensures a flat face for consistency. Then, secondary master grooves are milled directly onto the face of the putter to promote forward spin and reduce skid after impact. The arched shape of these secondary grooves imparts a slight side spin on heel and toe impacts, helping to hit the ball in a straight line.

The 888 series putters consist of 8881 through 8885, each with its own unique features, as follows:

• 8881 - A traditional heel-toe putter that is heel-shafted with a plumber hosel (also available in men's left-handed options)
• 8882 - Heel shafted with an off-set gooseneck hosel
• 8883 - A toe-weighted putter with a semi-mallet
• 8884 - A heel-toe weighted, semi-mallet hybrid
• 8885 - Heel-toe weighted mallet putter with a heel-shafted plumber hosel (also available in men's left-handed options)

All 888 series putters incorporate low durometer and soft polymer VRAD grips by Golf Pride with a step-less barrel shaft for improved feel and feedback on the green.

Being a right-handed golfer who putts left (figure that one out), I put the 8881 model to the test. Not only is this a beautiful putter, but it also performs extremely well thanks to a dual-milled face. No jumping or skipping off this face: the ball rolls true. I like the solid yet soft sound off the face, too. And the grip is outstanding - not to mention stylish.

Wilson Staff is back in the putter game with these beauties. Suggested list price: $139.99.

FG Tour Golf Ball

I've always stated that Wilson Staff's Tour ball is the most underrated ball in its category. The new Wilson Staff FG Tour golf ball is the softest, highest-spinning urethane golf ball ever made by Wilson. It has been designed for the competitive golfer, and joins the forged family of Wilson Staff equipment alongside the FG Tour irons. However, if you're using the Ci9 irons like me and are a low-handicap golfer, too, then the FG Tour golf ball may be for you.

A three-piece, multi-layer ball, the FG Tour ball is a low-compression distance golf ball covered in a thin, soft veneer of urethane to deliver maximum traction control for iron and wedge shots. It has a 75 compression rating and features a 318-dimple pattern on its cast urethane cover. The FG Tour is Wilson's softest, highest-spinning multi-piece urethane ball and was created as a low compression solution for competitive players looking for tour-caliber spin, maximum greenside control and excellent distance. In internal testing, the Wilson Staff FG Tour golf ball has tested with longer and straighter ball flights than other leading premium golf balls.

The holes I've played with the FG Tour ball this season saw some typical spring weather - windy conditions, on the cool side. The ball performed admirably. It did not balloon, was easy to fade or draw, and was amazing around the greens. It is, indeed, a great Tour-quality ball for the low-handicap golfer.

FG Tour Golf Glove

I'm very choosy when it comes to my golf gloves. Wilson Staff's new FG Tour golf glove (wait for it) fits my game like a glove. I have small hands, and wear the men's medium. Cut and sewn to Tour player specifications, the FG Tour glove boasts extra thin premium Abyssinian cabretta leather. Wilson's exclusive Tack Teck tanning process offers superior feel and grip control. 3M Scotchguard leather protection offers softness round after round. Pre-curved fingers give a natural fit the very first time, and less wrinkling for better feel. And a reversed thumb seam adds even more feel and smoothness.

More Wilson Staff 2010

In 2010, Wilson Staff also unveils a number of new products for players of every ability. The new Shockwave driver is lightweight for speed and distance. The FG Tour forged irons for professionals and better amateur players is winning accolades on the PGA Tour, thanks to Padraig Harrington and Ricky Barnes. The new Di9 irons are super game-improvement clubs. And the innovative new D-FY Combo Set combines steel and graphite shafts for low-to-mid swing speeds. Wilson Staff's Tw9 wedges remain a staple. And in the ball department, the C:25 for distance and soft feel is matched with the C-series irons, and the D:25 two-piece ball offers maximum distance and softest feel.

For all the news on Wilson Staff's 2010 lineup, visit www.wilson.com.

And every Monday and Friday, be sure to read Wilson Golf Reed On the Greens, a twice-weekly golf commentary by London Ontario Golf editor Jeffrey Reed. Visit http://www.londonontariogolf.com/inthenews/viewforum.php?f=14.

About Wilson Golf

For nearly a century, Wilson Golf has designed, manufactured and distributed premium and recreational golf equipment throughout the world. Since 1914, Wilson Staff irons have won 61 Major championships, more than any other iron manufacturer in history. Wilson Staff's Zip Ball, Di9 iron and the Wilson Staff Smooth driver were honoured with Golf Digest's Hot List awards in 2009. Wilson Staff, Profile, ProStaff and Hope consumer brands continue that tradition today by delivering the highest quality golf equipment to all golfers to enhance performance on the course and overall enjoyment of the game.

Wilson Golf is a division of Chicago-based Wilson Sporting Goods Co., one of the world's leading manufacturers of sports equipment by Amer Sports. Consumers can log onto www.wilsonstaff.com or call 1-800-622-0444 for more information.