Equipment Review:
Wilson Staff Spine Driver
by Jeffrey Reed, Editor, LondonOntarioGolf.com

Last year, Wilson Staff released what we believe to have been their best 460cc driver to-date: the Dd6+, used by Irishman Padraig Harrington en route to claiming the Claret Jug at the Open Championship.

This season, Wilson Staff has done it again, developing a driver unlike any other – a big dog that delivers better than any other driver we’ve tested: the unique Spine driver.

If you visit the Wilson web site, you’ll watch a short video of Harrington hitting bullets with the Spine driver, asking, “Can you miss a fairway with it, or is that just built into it?” The Irishman then proclaims, “I’m going to stand here all day until I miss a fairway with it.”

I know what you’re thinking: another manufacturer’s sales pitch. Wrong. In fact, if you can’t hit a ball straighter off the tee with this driver than any other you’ve tried, then you had better summon Butch Harmon to the practice tee.

There are a number of features which make the Spine a striking, high-performance driver, and we’ll get to those. But here is what I think is the real key to the Spine’s performance: perimeter weighting. Perimeter weighted irons have been around for years, offering game improvement to every level of golfer, in particular the high-handicapper.

The Wilson Staff Spine driver is the first perimeter-weighted driver. This is accomplished by designing the club’s spine – a prominent ridge line on the top of the clubhead that resembles a spine. This line reinforces the face behind the impact area, offering blistering ball speed at impact. And with the weight scooped out of the crown, and repositioned further down the club’s perimeter, the Centre of Gravity (CG) is repositioned low and deep. This means increased stability throughout the swing plane, lower ball spin and a higher launch angle – in short, explosive distance with a greater trajectory.

As soon as I gripped the Spine driver, it felt as if I had been using this club for years – it felt that good. The clubface squares at impact with ease – one of the best clubs at address that I have ever tested. The innovative crown and exclusive weighting technology deliver the maximum Moment of Inertia (MOI) permitted in golf – that means less twisting at impact, greater distance and outstanding accuracy. 

Harrington is right: this club is a keeper. And you would never guess that the shaft is almost a full inch longer (46.5 in.) than a typical shaft. Again, because of the club’s technology, Wilson can get away with a longer standard shaft: the UST V2 HMOI graphite shaft, with attractive and confidence-inspiring white bottom section. The Tour-proven Proforce tip technology offers stability and accuracy, while the HMOI technology reduces shaft lag and droop. Weighing in at 62 g, the lightweight shaft I tested is the perfect match for the Spine driver head, as it offers greater clubhead speed. Translated: more distance. Plus, the responsive tip promotes a higher ball flight which, combined with the clubhead design, dials long distance thanks to lower spin.

I tested the 9-degree Spine driver with stiff shaft. What a perfect combo for my game. It’s also available in 10.5- and 12.5-degree models, and a left-handed 10.5-degree model.

Here’s another great thing about the Spine driver from Wilson Staff: it outperforms every driver we’ve tested, yet it retails in the range of only $300.

Finally, a driver from Wilson Staff that suits my low-handicap game perfectly, yet still provides plenty of game-forgiving features. I encourage you to test the Spine driver. It may find a permanent place in your bag. For more information, visit www.wilsonstaff.com.