Wishon Golf Launches Bendable Hosel Woods

Proprietary Design is a Major Improvement Over Adjustable Clubs

Chris Duthie

As a result of USGA restrictions imposed in 2005, there have very few game-improvement advancements in golf club technology during the last 10 years.

Ok, yes, there have been some significant developments—like high COR club heads, hybrid irons, variable-thickness clubfaces and slot-face irons. But ask yourself this: Of those gee-whiz “breakthroughs,” how many have honestly resulted in making us better golfers?

I wager few, if any. The proof is in the statistical analysis of golfers’ handicaps, which haven’t changed much since the introduction of steel shafts in the 1930s.

What we’re seeing these days are industry-wide cosmetic changes—a bit of paint here, some creative tooling there—underscored by an avalanche of savvy marketing that baits golfers into buying clubs that, engineering-wise, haven’t changed significantly in more than a decade.

So when something new and real does come down the game-improvement pike, it’s worth a hard look. And in this case, it’s the new bendable hosel designed by Tom Wishon, a 30-year veteran of golf club engineering and design whose Tom Wishon Golf Technology club component business is based in Durango, Colo.

What’s the big deal about bendable hosels?

First thing to know is these are not those ratchet-style adjustable hosels we see on clubs bearing major corporate nameplates like Cleveland, TaylorMade, Nike and Titleist—all of which claim adjustable hosel clubs are a big improvement in golf-club design.

“Adjustable hosel clubs are fundamentally flawed and can dramatically impede a golfer’s game,” states Wishon. “I know, because I designed the first adjustable hosel driver in 1995 (see evidence above). That’s why I came up with the bendable hosel, which is fully customizable for every golfer and is specifically designed to maximize a player’s potential, whether he or she is a high handicapper or a scratch golfer.”

Wishon maintains that adjustable hosel clubs eliminate a crucial fitting specification for accuracy improvement—a custom face angle.

“And that’s bad,” he says, “because that is cutting a lot of golfers short in terms of giving them a club that will enable them to keep the ball in play more often while also incorporating the right loft angle to optimize launch angle for maximizing distance.

“With our proprietary bendable hosel technology,” he explains, “Wishon Golf is the only company that offers golfers their best-fit loft, lie and face angle, all three of which exist independently on the same clubhead to offer the most complete benefit in custom clubfitting.”

Without going into boring detail about the differences between adjustable and bendable hosels—Wishon has posted an online video about this very topic here—it’s more prudent to discuss Wishon’s new line of bendable hosel drivers, fairway woods and hybrid irons, all of which can be customized with the lie adjusted within a range from 4-degrees up to 4-degrees flat, and the face angle bent from 4-degrees open to 4-degrees closed.

The new 919THI Driver features four separate right-hand designs that include 9-, 11-, 13- and 15.5-degree lofts to further enhance a player’s performance. (Left-hand lofts are 11- and 13-degrees.) Further, the 919THI comes with either a conventional or black oxide finish, and is equipped with a variable thickness face with high MOI (moment of inertia) that delivers the best off-center hit performance in the game.

The 929HS Fairway Wood is offered in six right-hand models (#2, 3, 4, 5, 7 and 9) and three left-hand models (#3, 5 and 7). The 31mm semi-shallow face height is ideal for playing off tight, close-mown fairways and for golfers who need more confidence in getting the ball airborne. Its high strength steel thin face also allows for high COR for increased ball velocity and a maximum 1.50 smash factor for increased ball speed and distance.

The 950HC Fairway Wood is the company’s traditionally sized fairway wood. It offers a 34mm face height and five right-hand models (#3, 4, 5, 7 and 9). The high strength steel thin face allows for high COR and a maximum 1.50 smash factor.

The new 775HS Hybrid Iron comes in five right-hand models (#2, 3, 4, 5, 6) and one left-hand model (#3). Specifications include a split-level, narrowed primary sole width for more consistent fairway and rough shotmaking; plus a thin, high COR, high-strength alloy face that delivers increased ball velocity and a maximum 1.50 smash factor.

This new lineup is available only through custom clubmakers. For a clubmaker near you, visit the Wishon Golf website.

RELATED LINKS

An Exclusive Interview WIth Tom Wishon (Part 1)

An Exclusive Interview with Tom Wishon (Part 2)

Is Knuth Golf’s High Heat the Best Driver Ever?

Chris Duthie is a contributor to Colorado AvidGolfer, the state’s leading resource for golf and the lifestyle that surrounds it. It publishes eight issues annually and proudly delivers daily content via www.coloradoavidgolfer.com.