A set of forged irons for under £800. Sounds too good to be true? Well thanks to Wilson Staff, it's not. The brand has won more major golf championships than any other manufacturer and it has been making golf equipment since 1914.
Wilson's D9 irons were released in 2021 as a hot distance iron (the D stands for distance), and this year sees the introduction of a forged version which provides more feel with slightly weaker lofts for a more traditional setup.
It's designed to be a more accurate and workable compact distance iron which is aimed at slightly better players.
I'd never hit a Wilson iron before, so I went into this review with an open mind...
The Tech
If you've tried or owned Wilson irons in the past then you may be familiar with their Power Hole Technology which feature on the sole of their long irons.
In the D9 Forged these are included in the 7 iron and upwards, and are also designed asymmetrically with more weight on the heel side to keep the face more open at impact, increasing contact time on the face.
The holes are created using Wilson's generative computer design process, which is similar to Callaway's AI super computer, which simulates a number of different club head and data variations to produce the most effective design.
A lower centre of gravity also steepens launch and landing angle to maximise carry with greater stopping power into the greens.
The irons are forged from a two-piece 8620 Carbon Steel which contributes to a softer, better feeling in strike than the D9 irons, and the head shape has also been made thinner in the topline with less offset for a look that will suit better players.
You can watch my full review via the Golfalot YouTube channel here:
If you like what you see, please make sure you SUBSCRIBE to our YouTube channel to see all Golfalot video reviews and features first.
Wilson D9 Forged Irons Review
Looks and Feel
The irons have a chrome-finish head which looks very similar to a Mizuno JPX iron, a positive look in my opinion. It features the D9 logo and the Wilson Staff logo on the back of the head.
There is a thicker top line and sole than the TaylorMade P790, so the target market may be slightly wider with these irons, more like a Callaway Rogue ST Pro or the aforementioned Mizuno JPX921.
The loft of the pitching wedge is 44 degrees, with a Rogue ST Pro at 42 and I actually think this gives the Wilson set the edge over the Callaway as it makes it more versatile. If you're really after more distance then you can always try the standard D9 irons, as they are 3 degrees stronger per iron.
The D9 Forged feel soft and quiet off the face, but they still seem to zoom off high into the air with relative ease. I was incredibly consistent with these clubs, both inside and out, and they felt easy to hit from the PW all the way to the 4 iron - shout out to Wilson for sending me the entire set!
I really enjoyed hitting these clubs, I wasn't surprised with the performance but I was surprised by just how good they felt and sounded, they were beautiful.
I don't want to get carried away and say that they are like a blade as they are not, but for a player's distance iron they are certainly up there.
The forged head is a welcome addition to the players distance market in my opinion, as feel and sound shouldn't be just for the better golfers.
The Data
Wow, I was like a robot with the 6 iron during my testing on Trackman! The consistency was insane in every category and that obviously equalled great shots.
My shots landed within 4 yards of each other in terms of carry distance, and they were good with direction too. If anything they tended to be missing a little right, so perhaps that was the power holes coming into play and opening the face a little?
The numbers were very similar to the P790 besides the fact that they launched one degree higher, although there is a one degree difference in loft between the two 6 irons which probably explains that.
On-Course Performance
I tested out the D9 Forged irons by heading out to Reddish Vale GC to play the back nine, and I played great in shooting level par.
I really liked these irons, I had the course to myself and they felt fantastic with a really quiet sound when hitting off proper turf.
Once again the stability of the heads were exceptional, the ball flew straight and at the height I'd expect from the iron I chose to play. There were no low bullets, and the ball stopped on the green at an appropriate distance.
The shorter irons and the wedge felt great on the shots into the greens, even when hitting pitches and chips, with a clear control of the ball flight and the face.
In contrast, the 4 iron felt hot with a high ball flight and plenty of distance. A perfect combination.
Wilson D9 Forged Irons Verdict
These are great irons full stop, before you even consider the price. They tick all the boxes you'd want for a forged iron but with the added bonus of no scary price tag.
For £792 you can get these irons in 5-PW, and this is incredible value for money, although I don't really like using that phrase as I fear it makes them sound cheap.
They feel like great quality irons and from a brand which I would compare with someone like Cobra, in the fact that they perform at a par with the Big Four without costing quite so much.
I have been asked to try Wilson irons by plenty of viewers of our YouTube channel, and I'm so glad that I finally have.
These are the most underrated irons I have ever tested.
My brand barriers are being broken down thanks to working with Golfalot and trying new products. I'd encourage you to be openminded too and give these a try.
Who Are They Aimed At?
Anyone who is in single figures up to mid handicappers could use these irons. If you aren't a brand snob and just want good quality, solid performing forged irons, these are for you. They are in the same category of players distance irons as the P790, Ping i525 and Callaway Apex Irons.
Would I Use Them?
Absolutely. They are great irons.
If you enjoyed this, you may also like:
TaylorMade P790 2021 Irons Review
Callaway Apex & Apex DCB Irons Review