Wilson Staff Model Blades Irons Review
hat’s new? How much does it cost? And how does it perform? Jack Backhouse brings you the low down on the Wilson Staff Model Blades
With over 60 major championship victories, Wilson have a long history of building tour calibre irons. The Wilson Staff Model blades are the latest iteration of their tour model, but how did we find them? Read our Wilson Staff Model irons review to find out.
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NCG SUMMARY
Wilson know how to make blade irons, and these do not miss.
They look great, have slightly moved the weight around in the head for an improved feel, and will strike fear into your playing partner’s hearts; everything a good blade iron should do.
PROS
- Look so good behind the ball
- Great feel
- Low price
CONS
- Will not suit slow or inconsistent ball strikers
Wilson Staff Model Blades Irons Review: First Impressions
These irons put you on edge. They’re thin and clean and make you wonder whether you are skilful enough to attempt to hit them. I love blades. I have hit pretty much all of them, and these are right up there with the best-looking on the market right now. So far, so good.
NCG Verdict
These are the player’s irons to top all player’s irons. I love blades. I have hit them all (pretty much), and in terms of unboxed sex appeal, there is nothing better than the Staff Model blade irons.
Building on what was already an excellent iron in the previous staff model, Wilson have significantly removed some mass in the heel of the club and distributed it around the toe, moving the centre of gravity to where it should be: the centre of the club face. This expands the hitting area, increasing playability and actually making the club more forgiving, which, in a blade, can be quite hard to do.
Just look at how nicely that club sits behind the ball. This is a long iron, and although it has a thin top line, the heel-to-toe length remains classic and longer than other brands, which makes it more appealing to hit.
In any iron test, we always hit a long/mid/short iron to get a feel for how the irons feel club to club, and I started with a 9 iron. One thing I think golfers worry about, which turns them away from blades, is a potential lack of distance due to the higher lofts, not realising that a club’s loft is altered to hit a particular launch window, not change length. I hit the Staff Model 9 iron 143 yards carry, which is 42 degrees of loft, which would go the same distance as a Dynapwr 9 iron, which is 37 degrees loft.
Out of the centre of the face, these irons are as long as most, and I am pleased with the control I had with them. The 7-iron averaged 166 yards carry at 6466 rpm of backspin, which is perfect. With irons, you want the ball spinning and launching high enough to be able to stop the ball on the greens, and that’s what I got from the Staff Model irons. The 5-iron carry of 193 yards at 129 ball speed was more than I expected, so it feels good to know these clubs are still powerful despite being tiny.
Despite the distance, the Forged 8620 Carbon Steel construction also provides a soft feel, and with the high ball flight, I can see why these irons are the go-to model for Wilson’s staff players.
As far as player’s irons go, I am not sure they get much better than these. Wilson have seemed to encapsulate the classic old iron feeling and put that into a new head, with new weighting for the total package. Great looks, plenty of distance, and a soft feel. I could quite happily put these irons in my bag and use them for a season. Wilson have been sneaky good in the last couple of years and this is another big release for them.
Wilson Staff Model Irons Review: The Details
Available: Now
RRP: £1050 4-PW
7 iron loft: (Degrees) 34
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Mid 115 Shaft (R/S/X)
More information: Wilson Website
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.
