REVIEW: Wilson Staff Cortex Driver
The new Wilson Staff Cortex driver seeks to make a name for itself among the big names in golf equipment. Can the Driver vs Driver winner hold its own?
With the conclusion of the second season of Driver vs Driver, the world was introduced to the Wilson Staff Cortex driver. Having attended the Wilson Launch Party last week at Cantigny Golf in Wheaton, I had the opportunity to try the Cortex along with others in the industry who were chomping at the bit.
Needless to say, my first impression was very, very positive.
Amid hearing rumblings from friends in the industry that the Cortex was selling very well, I knew that I needed a second look, this time with a launch monitor. Despite not being fit for the demo I tested, I went with my best guess on what would fit me best and went for it.
But first, a note about brand perception
Immediate reaction to the Wilson Staff Cortex was mixed, to say the least. Early impressions about the driver’s performance were extremely positive (more on that in a minute), but the $499 price point was met with raised eyebrows, sneers, and outright disdain.
Wilson was called everything from “crazy” to “stupid” on social media, primarily from people who hadn’t even touched the Cortex let alone hit it. Their rationale centered around the brand perception of Wilson, suggesting the company is second-tier and has no business pricing a driver alongside the likes of Titleist, Callaway, Taylormade, and PING.
One Twitter follower went so far as to say Wilson is viewed as a “cheap” brand. Nothing could be further from the truth.
To suggest that a brand as well-established, longstanding and respected as Wilson Golf is somehow lesser than any of the largest OEMs is downright laughable. While their play on Tour is lower than others, the craftsmanship, R&D and attention to detail in their products is just as impressive as any brand you can name. Any thought, opinion, or stance that Wilson somehow cuts corners or falls short in terms of technology is ludacris if not flat out stupid.
One need not look farther than the Cortex for proof of their innovation and development capabilities, especially since they filmed a damn reality show explaining how their engineers evolved the final design.
Speaking of the final product, you’ll be pleased to hear that not only does the Cortex live up to its higher-end price tag, it also hangs with the “best” drivers on the market.
Feel and Appearance
The Wilson Staff Cortex driver is a bit muted in terms of its original prototype, which featured two adjustable weight tracks at the time. Wilson’s engineers fine-tuned the design to redistribute weight more efficiently in the club’s sole, eliminating the need for one of the weight tracks around the back perimeter of the head.
The track that remains — which allows you to adjust launch from “high” to “low” settings — looks like a feature that belongs on a modern-day driver. The slide track can also be fine-tuned to adjust spin rate and decent angle. Two stationary weights of 8g and 2g brace the sole and can be interchanged to favor a draw or neutral shot bias. Wilson’s familiar red coloring is pleasing to the eye and adds to the high-quality appearance of the club’s tech.
The crown of the Cortex is also impressive as the design features a carbon fiber composite material many brands are using. A minimal alignment aid is helpful with squaring the driver to the ball at address, and the overall head shape appears deep and confidence-boosting.
In terms of feel, the Cortex is one of the best feeling drivers I’ve ever hit. The sound is crisp yet solid at impact, which I absolutely love. The white Atmos stock shaft looks fantastic against the darker clubhead, and overall weight of the club feels light without feeling flimsy. The Cortex is a driver that feels like you can rip the hell out of your drive.
Performance
The Cortex surprised me in terms of distance and control. I’ll be honest: I have never hit Wilson Staff drivers all that well, especially when compared to my gamer. The Cortex was not only easy to control in terms of accuracy, but distance, launch and spin numbers were also impressive.
While my demo club featured the Atmos Red shaft (high launch, high spin), which is likely not ideal for my swing tendencies, ball launch monitor data was still solid. Ball speed averaged 150 mph in my test session, which is slightly lower than my gamer but still playable. Launch was a bit higher than I needed thanks to the aforementioned shaft (19 degrees on average), spin hovered around 2700 rpm in my sample that controlled any ballooning.
I averaged roughly 265 yards on the launch monitor with the Cortex, which is slightly shorter than my gamer, but not by much. At the end of the day, I could easily game the Cortex and not miss a beat with my play tendencies.
Final Impression
There is no doubt in my mind that the Wilson Staff Cortex is the best driver the brand has made in a long, long time… possibly ever. There’s also no question the tech and design warrants the $499 price tag, especially since the Cortex holds its own against competitors in its class.
For me, if I were looking to switch to the Cortex full-time, I would base that decision on its incredible feel, sound, and accuracy. If you’re gaming a driver that’s a few years old and are willing to give Wilson a chance, rest assured you’ll experience the same benefits of modern tech in the Cortex as you would with any other brand. With a proper fitting, I’d wager the Cortex could outperform many of its competitors.
PREVIEW: Wilson Staff C300 Irons
The new Wilson Staff C300 iron series offers an innovative solution to golfers who struggle with distance without sacrificing accuracy.
What makes a golf club look "good" to you? Do you prefer a thin topline, or something a little meatier? Do you prefer irons that are pure chrome, or do you like a splash of color on the clubhead? Whatever your preference, the new Wilson Staff C300 irons hit to multiple fields in terms of look, tech, and hopefully playability.
What's New in the Wilson Staff C300?
I'm frustrated with new golf equipment. I'll admit it.
The disturbing trend of jacked-up lofts and an over-focus on distance gains has hurt the playability and look of products from many of my favorite brands. Giving the majority of golfers what they want (distance) is different than what they need (accuracy) whether they admit it or not.
Hitting a 7-iron into a green from 180 yards means nothing if you can't hit a damn fairway first.
The new Wilson Staff C300 irons address this concern head-on by offering a product that gives as much weight to accuracy as it does distance.
As their tagline suggests, the C300's want to give you absolute power coupled with absolute playability. One way they hope to accomplish that is by way of something Wilson is calling "Power Holes."
Power Whats?
That's right: Power Holes.
Urethane-filled through holes strategically positioned around the face of the C300 series clubs, which minimize contact between the body and face while providing maximum flex and an expanded sweet spot.
These little suckers provide higher ball speeds across the face, which provides consistent distance output no matter how crappy a golfer you are. That's outstanding!
In addition, the double-layer of Power Holes across the sole and positioned on the club's toe and topline gives the C300 a massive sweet spot with evenly-distributed weight to help you hit the ball longer and straighter.
That sounds great! What's the catch?
You'll need to relearn your distances, bucko.
Straighter shots are often longer shots, and the C300's also jack their lofts up just a bit. The PW, for example, features 44-degrees of loft that is borderline 9-iron territory. That's a full three degrees stronger than my current PW, and only two degrees weaker than my current 9-iron.
Is that such a bad thing? No, I guess not... just as long as my clubs don't look like game improvement clubs.
Wilson thought of that too!
The C300 is an upgrade from last year's C200 series, which looked every bit like a game improvement iron.
While not over-the-top, the C200 irons features red, black, and silver coloring on the clubhead. I'm a big fan of traditional golf club designs: clean lines, minimal offset, and certainly no crazy distracting colors.
The C300 irons are a step in the right direction. All you see is a chrome finish with black lettering, punctuated by Wilson's awesome shield logo. Even with the addition of Power Holes, these irons look like a better player's clubs. This is especially apparent in the C300 Forged series, which are absolutely gorgeous.
We golfers are a fickle bunch, so anything that a company can do to make us feel special and better players than we are is a good move.
The Wilson Staff C300 irons are available in steel ($799) and graphite ($899) and can be pre-ordered here: http://www.wilson.com/en-us/golf/irons/crossover/staff-c300-irons-steel
REVIEW: Wilson Staff D300 Driver
The Wilson Staff D300 driver was built for distance and speed. How will it stand up against my current driver? Read my review here.
The new Wilson Staff D300 driver was built with one prevailing quality in mind: speed. With a combination of lightweight features, aerodynamic clubhead science and ball speed focus, the D300 driver is generating a lot of buzz in the market. I had the chance to test this exciting new driver recently, and here are the results.
Wilson Staff D300 driver features and specs
The "D" in the Wilson Staff D300 driver literally stands for "distance," giving you an immediate clue on what this club emphasizes.
A series of small "bumps" on the club's crown -- deemed Micro Vortex Generators by Wilson -- reduces drag as you swing the club through the air. An extremely lightweight hosel attached to a 44-gram Matrix golf shaft equates to one of the lightest overall drivers in the game. Combined, Wilson defines this as Right Light Technology most useful for players looking for an immediate boost in distance off the tee.
The Wilson Staff D300 driver is 46 inches long and is available in 9.0, 10.5, or 13.0 stock lofts (adjustable). I used the 9.0 version in my test adjusted to 10 degrees.
Overall Impression
The Wilson Staff D300 driver is a great option for players looking to improve their distance off the tee. As you saw in my video above, while I prefer a driver with a little more weight, this should not be seen as a knock on the D300. I still hit some bombs with the club in my test, including the 264-yard carry depicted in the video.
Accuracy was another plus. Perhaps it was due to the lightweight nature of the club, but I felt like I had complete control over the D300. Ball flight was a little lower than I am accustomed too -- a loft adjustment can address this quickly -- but shot dispersion was consistent. I would have no problem keeping this club in the fairway.
While I did not seen a significant difference in distance when compared to my current driver, the D300 performed incredibly similar to the leading drivers on the market. This is true for both distance and ball speeds.
Final Word
For me, purchasing a driver like the Wilson Staff D300 at its $349.99 price point makes more sense than going with a competitor priced any higher. I would not be sacrificing anything in terms of distance, but I would be saving a good chunk of change in comparison. The purchasing decision would boil down to aesthetics. Do you like bumps on your driver or not?
The Wilson Staff D300 driver surprised me. I did not expect it to perform as well as it did, and with all features considered, it is an incredible value for golfers at any level.