From the stamp you expect to see on any tennis ball to white, spherical characters in Tom Hanks movies, the name Wilson is synonymous with sporting goods. But, even a giant in the business of recreation needs to hustle to stay competitive and relevant in the 21st century market.
So, Wilson introduced a series of new gear for this summer, and we had a chance to try out a few of them. We’ll start with the only sport that really matters in the summer time and move on from there.
Wilson Staff Triton DVD Custom Driver: If there’s a theme for this year’s award-winning driver from Wilson, it’s customization. A player can adjust the heaviness and positioning of multiple weight points on the club, while also manipulating hosel position and loft. While this reporter had too much golf to play to conduct in-depth scientific research, the Triton would seem to be the first driver ever to offer interchangeable sole plates. Buyers can customize their club via Wilson’s homepage.
Wilson D300 Irons: New for 2017, these D300 Irons are engineered especially for amateur players looking for more forgiveness in their game. Designed with heavier, thicker soles and wider club faces, each iron starts with a blade edge on top and fills out into a bottom that almost resembles a hybrid rescue. The result is an iron that descends into the downswing smoothly and stays in the slot. And, they’re significantly more affordable than their rivals from Ping, Callaway and others.
Wilson Duo Golf Balls: With the driver and irons settled, a player is going to need some pellets. Also new for this year, the Duo series of Wilson golf balls look to combine distance with extra softness for better control. The result might not shoulder the Pro V1 off the top of the mountain, but there’s legitimate research involved in this Duos.
Also: Fitness Gadgets Gift Guide | 13 Ways to Grow Stronger, Healthier
Now that the most civilized readers have their Wilson golf update, we move on to interesting products from elsewhere on the spectrum.
Wilson X Connected Football: Wilson remains the official football of the NFL, and here they’re unpacking something from the “…Why didn’t someone think of this sooner?” file. The X Connected packs sensors that measure everything from distance to speed to rotation — sending everything back to a free app that records, analyses and reports the results. The thrower can track his or her performance and progress with every pass.
Wilson Pro Staff RF 97 Autograph Racket: After football, Wilson is probably most closely associated with tennis. The Pro Staff RF 97 Autograph was co-designed by Roger Federer to fit in with Wilson’s respected racket lineup. But, its matte black velvet finish and chrome touches are what set this weapon apart.
Wilson College Fan Design Football: Behold the obsessed college football fan. If you’re that guy, or you know someone so afflicted, Wilson has an elaborate customization system that’ll create personalized fan-themed footballs for most major NCAA squads. Behind picking the team and color scheme, you can order up your name or stirring slogan to decorate one football you’ll never throw around in the backyard.
