PGA Show Preview: Wilson Golf (Dual-Milled Face Putters: 888 Series)
Wilson Golf today announced a new line of five innovatively designed putters, the Wilson Staff 888 series. These putters were inspired by classic Wilson designs but have been updated with precision milling and cutting-edge technology to blend classic shapes with modern performance and feel.
The 888 series putters utilizes VPD, or Visual Plane Differential, alignment technology with multi-surface markings to help players position their eyes directly above the putting target line. The putters all feature dual-milled faces, meaning that the first pass milling operation ensures a flat face for consistency. Then, secondary master grooves are milled directly onto the face of the putter to promote forward spin and reduce skid after impact. The arched shape of these secondary grooves imparts a slight side spin on heel and toe impacts, helping to hit the ball in a straight line.
“The 888 series of putters has a style for every player,” said Bob Thurman, global director of R&D. “We have taken the vintage shapes from our rich history of Wilson archives and applied the most cutting-edge technology to the designs to provide golfers with a putter that looks streamlined and classic but has all of the latest innovations to keep our putts straight and accurate.”
The 888 series putters consist of 8881 through 8885, each with its own unique features, as follows:
- 8881 – A traditional heel-toe putter that is heel-shafted with a plumber hosel (also available in men’s left-handed options
- 8882 – Heel shafted with an off-set gooseneck hosel
- 8883 – A toe-weighted putter with a semi-mallet
- 8884 – A heel-toe weighted, semi-mallet hybrid
- 8885 – Heel-toe weighted mallet putter with a heel-shafted plumber hosel (also available in women’s and men’s left-handed varieties)
All 888 series putters incorporate low durometer and soft polymer VRAD grips by Golf Pride with a step-less barrel shaft for improved feel and feedback on the green.
The suggested list price for any of the five Wilson Staff 888 series putters is $149.99. Wilson will be exhibiting at Mtg Room 202-B at the 57th PGA Merchandise Show (January 28-30, 2010):
About Wilson Golf
For nearly a century, Wilson Golf has designed, manufactured and distributed premium and recreational golf equipment throughout the world. Since 1914, Wilson Staff irons have won 61 Major championships, more than any other iron manufacturer in history. Wilson Staff’s Zip Ball, Di9 iron and the Wilson Staff Smooth driver were honored with Golf Digest’s Hot List awards in 2009. Wilson Staff, Profile, ProStaff and Hope consumer brands continue that tradition today by delivering the highest quality golf equipment to all golfers to enhance performance on the course and overall enjoyment of the game.
