Wilson D9 driver review: How does it perform?
Is the Wilson D9 worth considering when you next look for a new driver? Find out in our Wilson D9 driver review.
NCG SUMMARY
Wilson have built something really good in the D9. Its great ball speeds are very competitive in today’s market, it feels solid on miss strikes, and is significantly cheaper than the high-performing ‘premium drivers’.
PROS
- Very forgiving
- Reasonably priced
- Competitive ball speeds compared to the more expensive ‘premium’ drivers
CONS
- No adjustability
Wilson D9 driver review: First Impressions
This is a classy-looking driver. Wilson haven’t added any brash colours, or odd-looking designs to catch the eye of onlookers, but rather created a simple-looking head with the glossy black finish we all know and love. When I put the Wilson D9 behind the ball I loved the shape and how it sat behind the ball, I just hoped it had the performance to match its appearance.
Wilson D9 driver review: NCG Verdict
As the price of new drivers continues to rise, I am always interested and hopeful that a brand can bring out a driver at a lower price point that performs somewhere close to one of the big names. We all love an underdog story and with the Wilson D9 retailing at more than £150 cheaper than the goliaths it is compared against, I really want it to work.
This driver feels a lot different from other drivers I have tested recently. Wilson have added Kevlar into the crown of the driver which makes it extremely light, and it feels like you can swing it really fast. Although this didn’t necessarily translate to more swing speed, the feelings it produced through the swing were different and I like it.
Wilson have added new tech into this driver, using computer modelling software to design a solution that produces maximum forgiveness and ball speed.
I was really impressed with how easy to hit the D9 felt, and how solid strikes were from non-centre contact locations. Realistically we all miss-hit shots, so it’s no good having a driver that goes miles on a centre hit, but is terrible on miss-hits. The first thing to note about my shot pattern is how the distance between my best and my worst is only 8 yards. For me this is unbelievable and a huge win, as I know I can make a good or bad swing and the ball is still going to travel a good distance down the hole.
The big win for the Wilson D9 is the ball speed, which is just as good as any of the more expensive drivers I have tested recently. The ball seems to just shoot off the face really well and a 157.5mph ball speed from a 106.4mph club head speed is really good. My longest carry at 274 yards is as long as I can hit any driver at the moment.
I enjoyed hitting the Wilson D9 so much that I took it straight out onto the course to play 9 holes with, and the results out there were great too. I was regularly further down the fairway than my current gamer and the sound is great when hitting a tee shot in a tree surrounded area, which could be down to the carbon/kevlar layer composite crown.
The only downside to this driver is the lack of adjustability and custom options. The Wilson D9 comes in 3 different lofts, and the Mitsibushi Tensei Blue stock shaft, but your only options are regular, lite and stiff. It is unusual for a driver to have no adjustability at all, but this for a high-performance driver to cost radically less than the most expensive, there must be a cut back somewhere.
This is perfect for golfers who are looking for the best performance out of the club whilst not breaking the bank. This driver is designed for golfers who want the classic-looking driver but with all the latest tech built in for more distance.
Overall, this is a great option for all golfers, suggest that anyone looking at a new driver should consider the Wilson D9. It’s long, really forgiving and is a great price!
Wilson D9 driver review: The Details
Available: Now
RRP: £299
Lofts: 9 degrees, 10.5 degrees, 12 degrees
Shafts:
Mitsubishi Tensei AV Blue 65 Graphite: Lite, Regular, Stiff
More information: Wilson Website
You’ve probably spent a small fortune to get the set up that’s right for your game, so don’t forget to get specialist insurance from Golf Care to protect your clubs from theft, loss, and accidental damage. Plus, they even cover GPS watches, trolleys, and other golf equipment. With 30% off annual insurance starting from just £26.59, and a free golf gift bundle worth up to £365 including 12 free Srixon balls, it’s a no brainer. CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP.
Jack Backhouse
Jack is a PGA Golf Professional who specialises in coaching, teaching golf to beginners and top-level amateurs for 10+ years. He also loves his golf equipment and analysing the data of the latest clubs on the market using launch monitors, specialising in blade irons and low-spinning drivers despite having a chronically low ball flight.
Although Jack has no formal journalism training, He has been reading What's In The Bag articles since he started playing at 12 and studying golf swings since his dad first filmed his swing to reveal one of the worst over-the-top slice swings he reckons has ever been recorded, which set him off on the path to be a coach. His favourite club ever owned was a Ping G10 driver bought from a local top amateur with the hope that some of the quality golf shots would come with it (they didn't), and worst was a Nike SQ driver he only bought because Tiger was using it.
Jack is a member of Sand Moor Golf Club and regularly gets out on the golf course to prepare for tournaments. Jack uses a TaylorMade BRNR Mini driver, a half set of TaylorMade P7MB irons, MG4 wedges and a TaylorMade TP Reserve putter.
