Wilson Golf’s D-FY-Iron Combo Set - Inspired by…a Baseball Bat?

- Wilson Golf recently announced a new set of irons targeted towards low to mid-swing speed players looking to improve distance while maintaining performance and precision. Called the D-FY, these clubs are a technology-driven iron and hybrid combination that feature a patent-pending shaft -- co-cured half steel and half graphite. Perhaps the most interesting thing about the D-FY is how the idea of using “Half and Half technology” came about. The division of Wilson Sports that makes DeMarini baseball bats was the inspiration.

According to their website, the DeMarini Doublewall, which was released in 1993, was the world's first multi-wall bat. Basically, it had a enormous “sweet spot” which made it a lot like… a modern golf driver or oversized tennis racket. The Doublewall enabled average players to hit like the pros.

In 2000, DeMarini joined forces with Wilson Sporting Goods to develop the next generation of hitting technology. Ray DeMarini, the founder, believed it was a perfect fit, as both companies shared a vision of developing game-enhancing equipment for avid players. They subsequently released the Doublewall F2 in 2002 and Singlewall Vexxum in 2003. What made these bats extra special? It was DeMarini's Half & Half Technology, which was the first system to combine a composite handle with an aluminum alloy barrel. The two-piece system was designed to redistribute weight for optimal balance, allowing players to swing faster with less energy.

It is brilliant to think that someone at Wilson Golf had enough sense to tap the technology that makes a virtually indestructible two-piece bat flex upon impact and recoil with a burst of ball-launching energy. Wilson then applied it to a set of affordable irons (just under $1000 for an 8-piece set) for mid to high-handicappers looking for an edge.

Along with the baseball pedigree, another unique thing about the D-FY is how it represents a sort of marriage between the distance iron technology at the heart of Wilson Staff's iron legacy and Wilson's successful FYbrid technology for precise distance gapping.

The Iron-side Story

Wilson Golf’s Legacy irons are renown. The Wilson Staff Pi7 performance irons have earned their mettle with multiple victories on the worldwide professional tours, according to the website. The Wilson Staff Ci7 “control” irons have earned top honors from GOLF Magazine's prestigious Club Test 2008 winning "Best for Look," "Best for Feel" and a five-star rating. Plus, Padraig Harrington used the Ci7 when he won the 2008 U.S. Open. Wilson definitely has a solid track record on the iron side.

The Wilson Staff FYbrid

The name FYbrid is kind of funny, but full of meaning. The Wilson Staff FYbrid is a fusion of fairway woods and hybrid irons into what the company calls “one easy-to-understand family of fairway utility clubs which eliminates the confusion of overlapping clubs.” The objective was to make club selection simpler with consistent distance gapping while offering easier-to-hit options for long distance shots off the fairway. If you look for FYbrids at Golfsmith or other golf retailers you will find that the family consists of 3 and 5 fairway woods, a 3, 4 and 5-hybrid iron and a transition club called the "FY" to bridge the gap between hybrid irons and fairway woods. The FY club replaces the need for a 2-iron, 2-hybrid and a 7-wood. Also, the FYbrid has a unique sole plate design with a rail system that prevents the club from bouncing into the ball at impact; preventing thin shots and allowing the clubs to be used on side hill lies or with a laid open or closed face. 

An Innovative Solution with a Pedigree

The D-FY iron combo set is a something worth trying out if you are a recreational golfer in the market for new irons. What you get is a fully integrated eight-piece set made up of a 19.5 degree FYbrid utility club and 4 hybrid, 5- and 6- super-wide sole mid irons with hollow core designs to hit the ball higher and longer, and 7i-PW perimeter-weighted cavity-back short irons which allow maximum forgiveness in scoring club range.

Additional Features

>> The proprietary, co-cured Half-and-Half shaft design fuses the exceptionally low torque and response of steel with the lightweight and vibration-dampening effects of graphite weighing in at only 76 grams.

>> The steel tip section provides bending stability and low torque at the hosel to deliver straighter shots on off-center hits. More than 30 grams are removed from the steel shaft and replaced by a high modulus graphite shaft. Plus, a strong and durable joint section also provides maximum vibration dampening at the junction of the two materials.

Conclusion

If you are a high handicap golfer with a slower swing speed you owe it to yourself to check out the D-FY combo set, which delivers the speed and soft feel of graphite with the precision and consistency of steel. These clubs weren’t designed in a vacuum. Rather, they are the result of synergy – drawing from areas that make sense. The baseball connection is absolutely brilliant!

Another reason to check out the D-FY is that you can upgrade your equipment quite affordably. Can’t wait until a ladies version becomes available!

www.wilsonstaff.com