WILSON INTRODUCES NEXT
GENERATION OF FAT SHAFTS

New space-age material added for greater lightness & accuracy

Leading club manufacturer Wilson has introduced a new and improved Fat Shaft iron designed especially for the average golfer. The new shafts incorporate an ultra-lightweight material called Hyper Carbon, which has been used in the construction of space satellites. More recently, it was applied successfully to Wilson high-performance tennis racquets. It is 28% stronger than traditional graphite and 10% lighter than the original Fat Shafts.

The Wilson Fat Shaft Hyper Carbon Iron also features a ‘fatter’ .535" tip diameter and a re-designed clubhead, that combines a responsive face with a more uniform sweetspot for even greater accuracy. "When we launched the original Fat Shaft Iron in 1997, it proved a genuine breakthrough in game improvement technology," said Angus Moir, Business Director for Wilson Golf. "Now the refinements to the innovative shaft, together with an improved clubhead, have produced an even more accurate iron."

The original Fat Shaft Oversized Cast iron made an immediate impact on the UK golf market and saw sales of Wilson premium clubs increase rapidly over the past two years. The .500" tip quickly proved to be one of the game’s most advanced developments, winning the Innovation of the Year prize at the EMAP Golf Awards for the last two years.

By creating a shaft which was wider or ‘fatter’ where the golfer needs it most - above the club head - it reduced torque (twisting) on impact with the ball and provided greater torsional stability, resulting in deadly accuracy and greater distance. Wilson has now expanded on this concept, increasing the tip diameter of the new Fat Shaft Hyper Carbon Iron to .535". This produces even straighter and longer shots by increasing torsional stability by an additional 8% from the original Fat Shafts. In extensive testing, it was found that 85% of golfers strike the ball between the centre and the toe of the club. So Wilson has shifted the centre of gravity in the head towards the middle of the club by redistributing weight (14 grams) from the hosel and back heel to the low toe and sole.

In addition, the new Fat Shaft Irons feature a deeper undercut back cavity and a lower back perimeter weighting, which moves the centre of gravity back and produces a more responsive face.

"These factors generate a larger and more centred sweetspot, which extends out towards the toe where golfers hit the ball," explained Nick Addecott, UK Brand Manager for Wilson Golf. "This new clubhead design, combined with the widest, most stable shaft in golf and Hyper Carbon technology, undoubtedly makes the new Wilson Fat Shaft irons the most accurate on the market."

The new Fat Shaft Iron is also available with a re-designed steel shaft using a .500" tip. Called the Wilson Fat Shaft Platinum iron, it features a softer longitudinal flex due to thinner shaft walls which make it 10% lighter than the original steel shafts.

"We tested steel at a number of different tip sizes and found .500" to be the optimal diameter for the average golfer," added Nick Addecott. The Fat Shaft Platinum irons also incorporate the same new clubhead designs used in the Fat Shaft Hyper Carbon irons. Both new Fat Shaft irons are available in right and left hand options with a regular or stiff shaft. The Fat Shaft Hyper Carbon irons also come in a Lite shaft. There is also a Ladies Fat Shaft iron designed specifically for women to enjoy the benefits of Fat Shaft Technology. Shafts and heads are designed for easy swing speeds without sacrificing accuracy or stability. They are available in right hand only with a Superlite graphite shaft for greater club head speed and control.

The new Wilson Fat Shaft Hyper Carbon Irons (3-SW) have a RRP of £699, and the new Fat Shaft Platinum Irons (3-SW) come with a RRP of £469. The Ladies Fat Shaft irons (4-SW) carry a RRP of £629.

THE NEW FAT SHAFT IRON VERSUS THE COMPETITION  

Results of testing carried out by using the Iron Byron machine at the Wilson R&D facility in Chicago on competitor irons:

* Regular flex - Graphite