FIRST LOOK: Wilson’s D7 Forged iron delivers distance, feel in one package

For years, there was a tradeoff that had to be made for those who wanted to play clubs designed for a better player or a high handicapper. Compact irons offered less forgiveness and ball speed but ample workability and control — attributes a single-digit handicapper, who consistently found the center of the face, could appreciate. Game-improvement irons presented the exact opposite package, beefing up ball speed, distance and forgiveness to mitigate the usual misses that tend to occur with higher handicaps.

Then along came player-distance irons to completely alter the perception of what an iron should look like. It’s safe to say Wilson’s D7 Forged falls into this category. With subtle curves and a relatively svelte profile, Wilson’s D7 Forged looks like something you’d find out on Tour. (And it’ll surface at some point this season.)

Flip it over and you’ll notice the sole is packed with a sweet spot and power typically reserved for something with more beef. The D7 Forged is Wilson’s answer in the player-distance category — an iron that has a foot firmly planted in two categories, and builds upon the success of the original D7 launched in 2018.

“Combining the distance technologies from the original D7 line with the aesthetics of Wilson Staff’s players irons, the D7 Forged Irons provide an ideal blend of maximum distance and ultimate feel for golfers looking for effortless distance and ultimate control,” said Jon Pergande, Wilson Golf’s manager of golf club innovation.

The tour appeal and forged feel comes from a soft 8620 carbon steel face, thinner topline, minimal offset, and a blade length and face height more in line with what you’d find from a smaller cavity-back iron. Underneath the hood is a combination of power and speed that allows D7 Forged to go head-to-head with other player-distance irons in the category.

A urethane-filled Power Chamber and new Power Hole structure in the variable thickness sole works with the 8620 carbon steel face to produce more ball and spin with a higher launch angle.

During GOLF’s 2020 ClubTest, D7 Forged recorded one of the highest spin rates during robot testing, something players who need help keeping the ball in the air will appreciate. The holes serve another purpose as well, tuning the overall sound and feel of each head at impact.

Wilson’s D7 Forged irons will be available Jan. 21 (pre-order Jan. 14) and retail for $1,000 with KBS’s $-Taper Lite steel shaft.

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