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reviews
Irons
Wilson 2026 Staff Model XB Irons Review: Distance, feel and forgiveness

published: Jan 27, 2026

Wilson 2026 Staff Model XB Irons Review: Distance, feel and forgiveness

Jack BackhouseLink

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Wilson has given their Staff Model range a new addition for 2026 and we think it could be game-changer…

Table of Contents

Jump to:

  • Ncg summary
  • First impressions
  • On the range
  • Ncg verdict
  • Wilson 2026 staff model xb irons review: the details

Quietly but surely, Wilson has created one of the most complete players’ iron ranges on the market and they may have just released their most intriguing model yet.

The Wilson 2026 Staff Model XB irons are the brand’s first ever hollow-bodied players’ distance irons.

To put that in layman’s terms, this is basically the Wilson P790s as they have slightly stronger lofts, are made to be more forgiving but designed to look as much like their blade offer as possible.

So, do the Wilson 2026 Staff Model XB irons still deliver that wow factor? Find out in our full review below…

  • RELATED: Wilson Staff Model Irons 2026: Everything You Need To Know!
  • RELATED: Wilson 2026 Staff Model Blade Irons Review: A pure feel
  • RELATED: Wilson 2026 Staff Model CB Irons Review: The Cavity Backs you shouldn’t overlook

NCG Summary

Wilson 2026 Staff Model XB Irons
National Club Golfer and National Club Golfer magazine

NCG Summary

What sets these hollow-body irons apart from other on the market is how they retain the soft feel of a blade iron but with the added bit of forgiveness for more playability. They also deliver strong spin rates, so approach shots aren’t much of a worry.

Equally, the performance is consistent across the set. There are no unpredictable, hot strikes that often put players off hollow-body irons.

PROS

  • Surprisingly soft feel
  • Quick ball speeds
  • Plenty of forgiveness

CONS

  • Like the other Wilson 2026 Staff Model irons, it is still targeted towards confident ball strikers rather than higher handicappers

First Impressions

From behind the ball, the Staff Model XB does an excellent job of disguising its technology.

Wilson has deliberately made it look as close as possible to the Blade and CB, meaning you still get that clean, premium Staff Model look in the bag.

Wilson 2026 Staff Model XB Irons

Only when you place it next to the other irons do you really notice the slightly thicker top line and a marginally bigger head. But from behind or when they are sat in the bag, I couldn’t note much difference between the models.

For a hollow-body iron, I was surprised at how compact the XB was. I found it to be confidence-inspiring rather than chunky.

On the range

Wilson’s hollow-body design and precisely positioned centre of gravity, the XB produces noticeably higher ball speeds and more carry distance than the Blade and CB. In testing, it consistently flew around five yards further with a nine iron, with ball speed increases of several mph over the other models.

What’s most impressive, though, is that the extra distance doesn’t come at the expense of control. Spin rates remained exceptionally strong, with the shorter irons often registering over 8,000 rpm of spin.

Wilson 2026 Staff Model XB Irons

This meant I had as much stopping power at my disposal as I would expect from a set of blade irons. I have to question why any club golfer would game a set of blades or CBs if hollow-body irons can do this.

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In the longer irons, the forgiveness really shows itself. I thought the five-iron performance showed higher ball speeds, stronger carry numbers, and far more stability on imperfect strikes. This made it significantly more playable than a traditional blade-style long iron.

As you would expect these are a clear step-up in terms of their forgiveness levels over the other models in the 2026 Staff Model range. I thought this was especially the case on my strikes that came off lower in the club face and out of the toe.

Wilson has done quite a lot of work to make these sound and feel just as good as their blade offerings. I felt as though, despite hitting something that was made to be more forgiving it still felt really soft.

NCG Verdict

Overall, I think Wilson has absolutely nailed the brief with the 2026 Staff Model XB irons.

Both the distance gains and the level of forgiveness across the face of these irons make them extremely playable, but they still somehow maintain that soft feel and clean looks which make them appealing for better golfers.

A lot of golfers will be wary of hollow-body irons, I know I am at times, due to their reputation of being hard to control and hot off the face. This isn’t the case here, so don’t let past experiences stop you from giving them a go.

Wilson 2026 Staff Model XB Irons Review: The Details

RRP: £1,169 / $1399.99 – 4-PW

Grip: Golf Pride Z

Shaft: Nippon Modus Tour 110 Stock Shaft

More information: Wilson Golf

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Don’t forget to check out and like our YouTube channel – YOUR GOLF NCG – where you will find lots of hints, tips and equipment reviews.

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About the author

Callaway Epic Max driver review
Jack Backhouse

A member of the PGA for 13 years, Jack has lived golf for more than half his life. Inspired by Tiger Wood’s winning putt at the 2008 US Open, an obsession began with watching slow motion golf swings on the internet and reading What’s In The Bag articles in magazines.

Not destined for a life behind the desk in a pro shop, Jack has focussed more on coaching, working closely with regional teams in North Yorkshire and helping golfers of all levels on their journey to enjoying playing the game more. Jack has coached many junior golfers into the county teams, and once worked with a player at the 2018 Open Championship at Carnoustie.

After letting his game fall apart prior to COVID, Jack rediscovered his love for playing golf after joining Silloth Golf Club in 2020 and whipping round the windy, firm links course. Playing regularly with a half set of clubs he has a passion for shot making and developing skill, and claims to have the sharpest 30-100 yard game in the North of England (only because he doesn’t know anyone in the South), and now maintains a +1 handicap at a club much closer to home, Sand Moor GC.

Jack has always tinkered with his equipment, once building his own Frankenstein one length set of clubs after watching Bryson DeChambeau burst onto the scene after winning the US Amateur. He firmly believes in getting custom fit and is happy to debate anyone about blade irons being superior to any other iron category.

Jack loves: playing quickly, 2 ball golf, match play, heathland courses, pencil bags, foursomes, Tiger Wood’s swing 2005-2009.

Jack hates: buggies, unnecessary trees, giving shots, the 7 iron loft debate, graphite shaft lovers weird superiority complex.

What’s In Jack’s Bag:

Titleist TSR2 Driver

Titleist TSR2 Fairway wood

TaylorMade P7MB 3-P

Titleist SM10 wedges

TaylorMade TP Reserve Blade putter

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