Wilson Staff Model X Ball Review
What’s new? How much does it cost? And how does it perform? Jack Backhouse brings you the low down on the Wilson Staff Model X Golf Ball
Wilson are releasing a new tour calibre golf ball in 2024, the Wilson Staff Model X ball. Unlike the previous tour ball, the Staff Model X is for players seeking more ball speed and spin. So how did we find it? Find out in our Wilson Staff Model X ball review
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NCG SUMMARY
I am a huge fan of this golf ball. It offers great spin and control on shots inside 50 yards, it feels solid from an iron and produced pretty good speeds with the driver, so what more could you ask for?
A new addition to Wilson’s premium golf ball lineup, the Staff Model X is a four-piece ball looking for more spin, more height and more control with their shots.
PROS
- Love the old-school logo and text
- Bags of spin
- Feels good off of the puttter
CONS
- Not as much ball speed as The Wilson Staff Model ball
Wilson Staff Model X Ball Review: First Impressions
The 2023 Wilson Staff model golf ball was hugely underrated, in my opinion. It felt good, had plenty of spin and was reasonably priced, a great option for players who didn’t want to break the bank for a tour-level ball. For 2024, Wilson has produced two golf balls, the Staff Model to have great feel and spin but a lower flight, and the Staff Model X for players who want more spin and more flight. As the exact player this ball is aimed at, I was excited to put it through its paces.
NCG Verdict
Golfers do not think enough about the golf ball they play. Most either use the same thing they have always used out of habit (me), or even worse, just use whatever they find out on the course. The golf ball can drastically change your ball flight, control and feel around the greens, so should be just as heavily tested and fitted as a driver or irons.
Our ball testing started with a 50-yard pitch, and I couldn’t believe how much this ball was spinning. Over 8000 rpm on this short shot is really impressive and is as much, if not more, than any other ball I have tested this year. I love throwing these shots at the pin and seeing them stop or even come back slightly, and this ball is capable of that. This is a huge tick in the box for the Wilson Staff Model X.
The new Staff Model X ball has a lot of similar characteristics to last year’s ball but has an adapted inner mantle layer and advanced V-COR™ performance technology which optimises iron spin from the fairways.
With the Staff Model X, I saw a higher ball speed and more spin from the 7 iron than the standard Wilson Staff Model golf ball, which means the firmer core is doing everything it is designed to do. I had 7 iron spin at just under 6000rpm, which is not far at all from what would be considered optimal. I am pleased with the 167-yard average carry, too as this is about what I’d expect from my current gamer.
The driver numbers, too, were pretty pleasing. A very consistent ball speed is always great to see, and a consistently highish spin makes me happy too. I don’t ever like to see shots where the spin drops off with bad strikes so to see an average of 2800 rpm is spot on.
As expected, around and on the greens, the ball felt great, similar to other popular tour golf balls. I really like how the logo with the old-style text looks on the ball, and the line alignment aid is spot on for golfers who choose to line the ball up on the green.
To further my test, I think I would need to use it on the golf course for a couple of rounds before I make any decision about gamer ball for the season. The Wilson Staff Model X will be right up there as a contender but first, I need to see how durable it is over 18 holes and how it fairs on the windy, undulating course I call my home. If you have the appropriate swing speed, then this should absolutely be a ball that you consider for 2024.
Wilson Staff Model X Golf Ball Review: The Details
Available: Feb 2024
RRP: £52
Colours: White/Yellow
More information: Wilson Website
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Jack Backhouse
Jack is a PGA Golf Professional who specialises in coaching, teaching golf to beginners and top-level amateurs for 10+ years. He also loves his golf equipment and analysing the data of the latest clubs on the market using launch monitors, specialising in blade irons and low-spinning drivers despite having a chronically low ball flight.
Although Jack has no formal journalism training, He has been reading What's In The Bag articles since he started playing at 12 and studying golf swings since his dad first filmed his swing to reveal one of the worst over-the-top slice swings he reckons has ever been recorded, which set him off on the path to be a coach. His favourite club ever owned was a Ping G10 driver bought from a local top amateur with the hope that some of the quality golf shots would come with it (they didn't), and worst was a Nike SQ driver he only bought because Tiger was using it.
Jack is a member of Sand Moor Golf Club and regularly gets out on the golf course to prepare for tournaments. Jack uses a TaylorMade BRNR Mini driver, a half set of TaylorMade P7MB irons, MG4 wedges and a TaylorMade TP Reserve putter.
