On 2003-06-30, Toadally Texan rated this Wilson Deep Red w/ Fluid Feel Steel Shaft a 5...(1665)
Purchase: I'm 57, and a mid/high handicapper: Swing speed is 95 mph. I'd played Big Bertha style irons with Dynamic Gold shafts for eight years, I wanted some new technology along with narrower soled irons that hit better off thin lies. Distance wasn't as much of a concern as getting the ball to stop on the greens. So,I sought a higher ball flight.. I'd focused on the RAC Oversized and Adams' GT Ultimate sets. I'd demo-ed a 5-iron at Golfsmith and liked the GTs. which were now discounted. At the local Golf Outlet store in the mega-mall, I asked about their GTs. The salesman (a 7-handicap) touted a set he'd bought that week -- The Deep Reds. I was surprised: wasn't the target buyer the 10-20 shooter? I swung the GT and then the Wilsons. The way the Deep Red seemed to just fall into the swing path was a joy. The balance was super. I hit a 7-iron, then dickered with the store who wanted $469 (MSRP was $699, but Golfsmith and TGW both had them listed at $499). I eventually got them for $429 with a dozen Pro V-1 Titleists thrown in, to offset the sales tax.
Pros: On the range, I had to weaken my grip some, but I was able to hit a consistently high and straight ball. The Deep Reds were very understanding of thinly hit shots. They responded to various swing speeds, yielding the desired changes in distance. I even had a modest string of four straight pars to my hacker's credit the second time I played with these clubs. They hit solidly, and the low weighting got me my desired elevation on the ball which sits down on the greens well. Even the dreaded 3 and 4 irons went airborne and on target. Wilson claims these irons have the highest C.O.R. of any iron in their class, but they are far from harsh. I like to play without a glove much of the time, and the Golfpride Velvet grip allowed this with moderate softness and good traction. Chipping feel around the greens is also a big plus.
Cons: I did not get as much distance as my former irons. (I think the difference was the former's stronger lofts and the low trajectory of their Dynamic Gold shafts.)
Some may find the fat shaft's non-traditional look and the lowest hosel in all of golf, minor negatives. Function over form means that there is more weight for the sole, and the club doesn't twist around the bigger shaft so easily. (I know torque is a bigger issue with graphite and drivers, but I'll take any help I can get.)
Quality: The graphics on these silver and gray irons are tasefully understated, and there is a sculpted twist at the bottom of the cavity that is very modern looking despite the traditional overall profile. Wilson put an interlocked, hard/soft urethane insert in the low part of the cavity along with a shaft insert to dampen shocks. At my age, I appreciate no stingers. The metal trim around the cavity insert looks classy to boot. It all works for me, both visually and functionally. The only cosmetic flaw I noticed was how easily the treatment on the face (that serves instead of sand blasting) was scuffed by the balls' impact. There is nothing else even remotely unattractive about this club. Fit and finish are premium quality.
Review Summary: Overall, the Deep Red is a classy, well performing, addition to Wilson's line-up of premium clubs. I went back and bought the matching Sand Wedge for $59 and a free set of Maxfli Noodles. I would have thought the forgiveness of these irons would mean the better golfer would not be attracted to them... workability being the usual tradeoff for so much game improvement. Evidently this isn't the universal case. Wilson says these are for "all handicaps"... until now I would not believe this of any club. Hit a Deep Red the first chance you can, and you may just agree. You won't care about the girth of the shaft; instead, you'll feel more confident with this type of club in your hands. Smack a 3-iron just for the experience of consistently getting one, not just airborne, but up and out of there. to sum up:
Swings sweet, goes high and straight. Good feel thanks to urethane inserts in shaft and head. Great value for a 2003 premium iron. Try it!
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