Equipment: Wilson D300 review - Driver, irons, hybrids and fairways
In our Wilson D300 review we look at the entire range which includes a brand new driver, fairway woods, hybrids and irons.
The Wilson D300 range was tested at the Golf Shack in Leeds using Trackman 4 and under the watchful eye of our resident pro James Whitaker.
Wilson D300 review – First impressions
Wilson have had their F,C,D system in place for a few years now so simply by the letter D we know that this is their super game-improvement range.
D is for distance, C used to be for control but now stands for crossover, F stands for feel.
The Wilson D300 range falls into a friendly-ish price point with the driver available at £279.
It’s still expensive but with many bringing out drivers £400+ it represents decent value.
The Wilson D300 driver replaces the D200 which was one of the lightest around – ideal for slow swingers but quite hard to control for those with fast swing speeds.
There’s some very interesting patterns on the crown of the D300 woods which certainly catch the eye while the irons are fairly large with plenty of off-set.
Our sample set had very lightweight, regular-flex shafts so all very much suited to the higher handicap golfer.
Wilson D300 review – The technology
The driver once again uses Wilson’s SuperLight technology making it one of the lightest adjustable drivers on the market.
The markings on the crown are what Wilson are calling Micro Vortex Generators and are aimed at making the driver more aerodynamic and faster through the air.
A six-way adjustable hosel (including three draw options) allows loft to be moved from 8˚-14˚.
The head can be adjusted quickly without removing it from the hosel.
Three adjustable sole weights allow players to attain their ideal launch angle, ball speed and spin rate.
The D300 irons bears similar technology to the popular C200 irons with Wilson’s FLX FACE Technology.
This minimises contact points between the face and clubhead for faster ball speeds.
It is made possible by the fact 74% of the face perimeter is taken up by what Wilson call Power Holes.
These extend through and around the face to provide a distinctive feel and sound.
There’s also heel and toe weight pods which increase Moment of Inertia (MOI) and lower the club’s centre of gravity.
The fairways and hybrids also benefit from the Micro Vortex technology on the crowns, are oversized and promise fast ball speeds and forgiveness.
Wilson D300 review – The results
Starting off with the irons, I found the D300 not unpleasant to look at although they are a bit chunkier than what I’d normal opt for.
However, I’m the sort of golfer happy to put ego to one side and simply play whatever works best.
And the D300 irons were working nicely for me.
The D300 hybrid worked really nicely for me. Before hitting a shot with the 22˚ 4 hybrid I was hoping for a total distance of around 180 yards and that’s exactly what I got.
It has a large, quite rounded head and despite not having any alignment aid on the crown, it was easy to hit.
Driver as you know, isn’t my strong suit so I was quite pleased to get my first effort with the D300 out to 230 yards.
But I did struggle to keep the spin and launch down which cost me a fair bit of distance overall.
My technique and strike are bigger factors here than the how the driver was performing.
The sound and feel off the face are both really good and it is incredibly easy to swing.
With a proper fitting and the right shaft, I’m sure I could get it working well for me.
Wilson D300 review – NCG verdict
The Wilson D300 range is impressive as they have taken much of the technology which has worked well in previous models and incorporated it here.
There’s no denying the innovation and work which has gone into this range yet the prices remain reasonable.
For anyone who is a 20+ handicapper I’d think twice about spending over £300 on a brand new driver.
At least explore the performance of those at a lower price, like the D300 point first.
The driver is going to be great for those players who want to gain a bit of swing speed and maybe struggle to get much air-time.
I think the irons and the hybrids will suit a wide variety of players.
Fitting is key but the heads were doing a really good job for me.
It’s hard to say whether the Micro Vortex Generators (go faster humps) on the crown were improving the performance for me.
And the look of them may put some people off from the outset. They are a bit unusual.
Have a hit with your current driver on a launch monitor, make a note of the clubhead speed then give the D300 a go and compare.
If you’re looking to make the game a bit easier for yourself then definitely give the Wilson D300 range a try.
Details
Driver – £279
Fairway – £155
Hybrid – £139
Irons (5-SW) – steel £579, graphite £659
In store: February 10
For more visit the Wilson website HERE
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