Wilson golf wants to be #1 in irons again

[Joshnoble01]

Good luck. But it would be weird if they didn’t want this. That would be like announcing we’re shuttering our golf division.

 

[OldandStiff]

Imo, they’re a poor example to use, it’s why I asked the question of if 2000-3000 dollar sets are where we really think Wilson should go?

Also, what’s funny is Wilson’s iron R&D has long been among the best, they have a very real marketing and image issue, not a design one when it comes to irons

Yeah I hadn't read that far yet. It's like saying they need a great set of blades. Which like you mentioned no one actually needs, don't sell, and they already do have that. Lol

You mentioned Mizuno as a good example and they really are. As their sales transitioned from better player irons more towards Hot Metals their growth rate skyrocketed.

 

[ddec]

I would love to see it. They aren’t much a needle mover, but I find the market more exciting when they are active with strong products.

 

[Jman]

I don't think they need a $2k+ set of irons.

They need a rock solid game improvement iron that is marketed well and can show it performs and looks as good as the big names. Plus if they're $100 less that might help influence some purchases, if they're more it'll be tough for them

I think if they can get close to a Srixon ZX5 style iron that doesn't have tacky badging and colors that'll help. Although Cobra did well with their multicolor lineup of badges years ago, I think the market has shifted to cleaner iron design

It’d absolutely not where they should go, which was my point hahahaha

They HAVE that, the Dynapower and Dynapower forged are those irons, they have a marketing and availability issue.

IMO, there’s nothing tacky about the DPF, and they do everything the ZX5 can do. They’re actually an extremely comparable and competitive iron. I’d actually argue they’re one of the more complete irons of 2024

 

[Jman]

Yeah I hadn't read that far yet. It's like saying they need a great set of blades. Which like you mentioned no one actually needs, don't sell, and they already do have that. Lol

You mentioned Mizuno as a good example and they really are. As their sales transitioned from better player irons more towards Hot Metals their growth rate skyrocketed.

If people only knew how many (how few) sets of blades actually sell hahaha

 

[Jman]

How would you change that image if they threw you the keys? As I’ve said before, I’m an emotional and native based consumer. How do they get to me? I was 5 when they were relevant, so images of guys in wool sweaters are not going to cut it.

It’s the question I’ve searched for the answer to for 12 years of writing here. Hahaha

I think consistency matters more than anything, without that consistency in message and presence, no other ideas matter or help, ya know?

 

[MtlJeff]

Aim for the moon because WHEN they miss at least they will be among the stars

Well not to be all science-y here but they'd need to go another 4.5 light years to get to proxima centauri lol

 

[leftybob]

According to that article they were #1 in Irons in1992. I did not fact check it.

They were. And their fall was swift and severe.

F you Wilson fat shaft, F you.

 

[The Dave]

It’d absolutely not where they should go, which was my point hahahaha

They HAVE that, the Dynapower and Dynapower forged are those irons, they have a marketing and availability issue.

IMO, there’s nothing tacky about the DPF, and they do everything the ZX5 can do. They’re actually an extremely comparable and competitive iron. I’d actually argue they’re one of the more complete irons of 2024

Availability issue I think is key. I think the Dynapower was a naming issue that caused me to never look at them. I love the look of the DPF though (now looking at it)

Their CBs though are beautiful

 

[Danimal]

It’d absolutely not where they should go, which was my point hahahaha

They HAVE that, the Dynapower and Dynapower forged are those irons, they have a marketing and availability issue.

IMO, there’s nothing tacky about the DPF, and they do everything the ZX5 can do. They’re actually an extremely comparable and competitive iron. I’d actually argue they’re one of the more complete irons of 2024

They are so good. Everyone that I tell I have Wilson irons, they look at me like I have a third eye. Wilson has very little recognition in the “new” world. I think they try, it just isn’t working yet. I came from the ZX5 irons and the DPF are every bit as good.

 

[BuffaloPlunger]

I’ll be honest, I’ve never hit a Wilson but their blades look like they’d be one of the best feeling irons on the market. I have a couple of friends who love their Wilson’s

 

[Jman]

They are so good. Everyone that I tell I have Wilson irons, they look at me like I have a third eye. Wilson has very little recognition in the “new” world. I think they try, it just isn’t working yet. I came from the ZX5 irons and the DPF are very bit as good.

Yep. They’re actually a REALLY Comparable iron to the ZX5’s. A lot of fun.

 

[huskie]

You can also find callaway at a big box store not just wilson

 

[1860VS]

Also, what’s funny is Wilson’s iron R&D has long been among the best, they have a very real marketing and image issue, not a design one when it comes to irons

I'll be interested in seeing how the polymer in the power holes holds up after a few years of hitting the ground.

 

[hedley_lamarr08]

I don’t really agree here.

See Mizuno and Srixon.

I agree with the Mizuno. I thought about them but Vosh even said they need more notoriety and the only way to get it is through woods. “Not just an iron company”

In my area Srixon doesn’t exist. Local course just got a fitting cart. People locally know they make irons and don’t know they are associated with Cleveland wedges

 

[Jman]

I agree with the Mizuno. I thought about them but Vosh even said they need more notoriety and the only way to get it is through woods. “Not just an iron company”

In my area Srixon doesn’t exist. Local course just got a fitting cart. People locally know they make irons and don’t know they are associated with Cleveland wedges

Vosh said that about expanding beyond being known as an iron company. It’s a different argument than here with what Wilson is facing and apparently aiming to achieve.

 

[CBaker]

Good for them. In the current market they have a 0% shot, but good for them. They would need something like Scottie or Rory switching to them and playing really well. and even then would still have a hard time.

 

[JB]

Have we established that Ti Fusion and Limit3d are commercial successes in any real way? Innovative, absolutely. Sales on them isn't what's driving their market position right now though. To move up you generally need your bread and butter sets to sell like crazy, not the high priced limited ones.

Well it would be nearly impossible for a limited edition to be a commercial success, outside of initial sell out, which they did.

As to TiFusion, data suggests they are doing extremely well, so I would say yes.

Neither of those sets are priced accordingly to dominate the marketplace, nor are they the size that fits the largest bell curve of golfer.

DP for Wilson needs to continue to grow. If it does, iterations can only improve on it

 

[PhillyV]

Start by getting rid of the W and going with the shield. I will die on that mountain with Wilson. They have put out products that are top 3 quality and it felt like they had some momentum going but they’ve fallen off a cliff.

 

[hedley_lamarr08]

Vosh said that about expanding beyond being known as an iron company. It’s a different argument than here with what Wilson is facing and apparently aiming to achieve.

Not really in my opinion. There was no reason to play older TaylorMade irons but people did because of the driver. (New ones are excellent)

 

[checkered]

I admire that they aspire to this. I think that if a company doesn't aspire to be the best, they're doing it wrong. It's a huuuge mountain to climb, but having the vision to climb it is great. I wish them all the luck.

 

[Jman]

Not really in my opinion. There was no reason to play older TaylorMade irons but people did because of the driver. (New ones are excellent)

We definitely aren’t going to agree there, TM made some of the most legendary irons ever, independent of the driver.

And that’s still not a 1:1 comparison as TM has much different goals than Wilson. Much.

We have to stop trying to make Wilson fit into the same mold as the 2,000 pound gorillas in the room.

 

[Jman]

Start by getting rid of the W and going with the shield. I will die on that mountain with Wilson. They have put out products that are top 3 quality and it felt like they had some momentum going but they’ve fallen off a cliff.

They tried that.

The Wilson logo is more recognizable across all sports than the shield is.

IMO, it can’t be one or the other, it’s got to be both.

 

[chile]

Glad this thread came up, I need to try the DPF...

 

[hedley_lamarr08]

We definitely aren’t going to agree there, TM made some of the most legendary irons ever, independent of the driver.

And that’s still not a 1:1 comparison as TM has much different goals than Wilson. Much.

We have to stop trying to make Wilson fit into the same mold as the 2,000 pound gorillas in the room.

even if they claim thats their goal