Wilson Staff Model Blades Review
The Prettiest Blades For Shot Shaping
I had the best looking irons on the golf course for 8 rounds this summer, no matter the course I was at, because my bag was filled with the 2024 Wilson Staff Model Blades.
Not only are these the best looking irons you can buy, they can carve the ball any which way you like. These irons can hit any shot you want on-command. While these might not be for everyone, don’t over look them just because you are not an elite ball striker.
This is my definitive Wilson Staff Model Blades Review.
5 Years in the Making
I grew up playing Wilson blades. Back in the day that was pretty much all anyone made/played. Over the years irons have changed greatly, however the basic blade design hasn’t. The last version of the Wilson Staff Model Blades was 5 years ago. The 2024 Staff Model Blades are a slightly re-engineered model of those clubs for even better feel, better weight usage and more shot shaping precision. While virtually every company has a “blade” iron, Wilson makes both the best looking ones and the best performing ones.
Design Tweek
The way that Wilson moves weight into the toe is pretty much what sets the Wilson Staff Model Blades apart from other brands while keeping them extra small and thin. This was already designed into the 2019 version of these clubs, but it was refined more in the new Wilson Staff Model Blades. The 3 tier “cavity” progressively removed the weight toward the heel which helps move the CG toward the center creating the most solid feel and the best performance. The hollow hosel also freed up some weight to shift toward the toe. The rounding of every angle makes these more turf friendly since they resist digging as much as possible with these “butter knives”. While these aren’t a drastic departure from the previous design because “if it isn’t broke, don’t fix it.”
Small Blade Size
Here is where the “internets” can lead you astray. The chatter out there is that no one should play blade irons. Don’t listen to that nonsense since it just isn’t true. The small blade size can be easier to hit than big fat soled super game improvement irons. Now I’m not saying I want to see these blades in the 30 handicap golfer just hacking his way around 18 holes, but just because you don’t shoot in the 70s doesn’t mean you can’t play Wilson Staff Model Blades. The small blade size paired with the camber and thin lines might just be what you need for your iron swing. For me the “in and out” of the turf is perfect. I can take a little divot, but not dig or bounce like much large clubs often do for me. The small target = small miss seems to apply also. The small blade size doesn’t scare me away, but actually seems to help me focus on solid contact.
Surprizing Performance
Play the clubs that you like to look at, enjoy hitting and help your game. I know you are not part of the .01% of professional golfers in the world, you can still play blades if you want. Just because some writer at a magazine says that your handicap should determine what irons you play, I say decide on the clubs you hit best and enjoy hitting. Give these a try because you might just fall in love with their looks and their performance. The Wilson Staff Model Blades have traditional lofts so don’t be surprised if you are a club shorter than your normal irons, but that doesn’t matter as long as you know and play your distances. Where these clubs shine is there ability to hit different shots. If you just line up and want to hit straight shots you can, but if you need to flight it, curve it, work it, move it; then these clubs can do that with the best of them. A good way to improve iron striking is by hitting different shots on-command. I’ve had wonderful iron play every round these were in the bag. I could hit every club from the 4-iron through the PW with precision and accuracy. The long irons aren’t as difficult to hit as some might think. That small muscle-backs just pop the ball off the turf with ease and are the most solid feeling pure long irons. Mid irons can really offer accuracy will approaching greens. Short irons are like throwing darts at flags.
Wilson Staff Model Blades 8 Iron Stats
Data from Flightscope MEVO+ 2023 Launch Monitor
➜ Spin: 8,147 rpms
➜ Launch Angle: 30.8*
➜ Dispersion: 3.5 yds
➜ Club Head Speed: 88.0 mph
➜ Ball Speed: 101.5 mph
➜ Total Distance: 150.1 yds
➜ Carry Distance: 147.9 yds
Summary
The Wilson Staff Model Blades are the best looking and feeling irons for me right now. Their performance is equally good for high quality ball strikers. I’m not saying you need to be elite, or scratch to play these, but 30 handicappers are not the target golfer either. If can you hit quality irons shots, you should give these a look. You will have the best looking bag on the course, but you might just be surprised at how well you hit iron shots with these blades. The camber makes turf interaction easy, the small head helps focus, the improved CG + forged head means pure feel and the traditional lofts means you can carry a hybrid and a normal set of wedges. Don’t sleep on Wilson Staff Model Blades, these are the prettiest irons you can buy and offer shot shaping performance.
For more information: Wilson Website
