Equipment
Wilson Dynapower fairway woods, hybrids: What you need to know
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW: The new Wilson Dynapower fairway woods and hybrids get their energy from a variable face thickness pattern developed through the use of artificial intelligence to pinpoint ways to maximize deflection. The goal is more consistent ball speed across the face. In addition, the fairway wood lineup includes two models for the first time, offering a forgiveness-focused Dynapower Max and a more compact, lower-spinning option Dynapower Carbon. Lightweight crown designs, including a carbonfiber crown on the Dynapower Carbon fairway wood, save mass to help produce more forgiving, easier-launching and lower-spinning models across the lineup.
PRICE: Fairway woods: Dynapower Max, $280 (15, 18, 21 degrees); Dynapower Carbon, $330 (13.5, 15, 16.5, 18, 21 degrees, six-way adjustable hosel). Hybrids: Dynapower, $250 (17, 19, 22, 25, 28 degrees). At retail Feb. 12.
3 COOL THINGS
1. Face first. Wilson’s team explored a variable thickness face design through the use of artificial intelligence with its previous Dynapower fairway woods two years ago. This second iteration considered a greater degree of variability in thicknesses and regions to squeeze more deflection and thus more consistent ball speed values across a broader area of the face. It's a process similar to what was used for the latest Dynapower drivers, but unlike drivers, fairway woods and hybrids are more concerned with durability and not a limitation from the spring-like effect test known as CT (for “characteristic time”). The face design on all three models basically takes the form of concentric thickness regions surrounding the hottest point at face center. In each case the thicknesses were evaluated and modified across 17 points to get optimal response across the broadest area.
Further helping the face to flex is the thinning out of the internal area of the adjustable hosel on the Dynapower Carbon model. Borrowing again from the driver designs, this “open hosel” construction actually saves more mass than on the drivers because the steel on a fairway wood is more dense than the titanium on a driver. With the same amount of material remeoved on the adjustable hosel, it saves seven grams (40-percent more mass saved than on a driver). That mass is pulled from higher in the heel to help lower the CG for less spin and more efficient launch. It also frees up that area of the face to deflect more effectively for better ball speed in a region of the face that typically is the slowest.
2. Two heads are better than one. For the first time, Wilson will offer two distinct fairway woods in its flagship lineup. The division of labor is set between the higher-launching, forgiveness-focused Dynapower Max, and the compact, better-player option, Dynapower Carbon. The latter concentrates on driving more mass lower in the head to decrease spin. Those efforts include a carbonfiber crown piece and 30-gram tungsten weight that’s placed low and forward and flush with the sole. The added adjustability of a six-way hosel creates more fitting options that will be of greater importance to the highly-skilled player. The remaining saved mass adds stability through a weight pad lining the inside of the rear skirt.
Dynapower Max
On the Dynapower Max fairway wood, the larger front-to-back measurement and shallower face height (vs. Dynapower Carbon) should resonate with average players looking for both easier launch and forgiveness on mis-hits. There’s also a variable thickness design of the crown includes four sections that get thinner than a credit card to save weight that’s relocated low on the sole to optimize spin and increase launch. The additional mass pushed low and to the perimeter of the head to lower spin and to build forgiveness.
Dynapower Carbon
3. Hybrid helper. The Dynapower hybrids take a similar tack as the Dynapower Max fairway wood, emphasizing forgiveness and higher launch. Like the fairway wood, the hybrid utilizes a crown with variable thickness. Four ultra-thin areas, thinner than a credit card, cover the vast majority of the crown supported by three beams one-tenth of an inch wide that are about 50 percent thicker than the thinnest sections.
To provide more forgiveness, the hybrid’s toe area is expanded from the previous Dynapower model and the leading edge sits closer to the ground for easier alignment and turf interaction. Together, that makes for a larger face area, which also allows more room for the AI-driven face design to create more areas of better ball speed retention.
