Wilson Staff Model Blades Irons Review

50 Words or Less

The Wilson Staff Model Blades are beautiful.  Great, solid feel and surprisingly high playability.

Check out the 2024 Wilson Staff Model Blades HERE

Introduction

With 62 major championships and a major win in every decade going back to the 1920s, no golf company has the history that Wilson Staff does.  Their latest iron, the Wilson Staff Model Blades, is a modern interpretation with distinct nods to the company’s storied past.  With one major win already under its belt, this iron is on its way to carving out its own spot in the Wilson Staff story.

Looks

I love everything about the look of the Wilson Staff Model Blades.  From address to in the bag, I don’t think any company has an iron that looks this good.  What earns them such high praise is the way they blend classic and modern elements.

Let’s start with the playing position.  At address, these irons have the exact silhouette that a blade player wants: compact length, thin top line, virtually no offset.  The little details elevate it to another level.  A row of diamonds border the grooves, a throwback to Wilson irons of the past.  The “triple-knurled hosel” adds visual interest without being distracting.

As good as the Wilson Staff Model Blades look at address, I think they look even better in the bag.  The profile is a classic muscle back, but the shaping of the lower portion has a distinctly modern look.  Wilson’s shield logo adorns the toe and is balanced with the “Staff Model” branding in a clean, modest-sized font.  Finally, the attention to detail really comes through in the stylish placement of the iron numbers, tipping just slightly off the edge of the thin sole.

Sound & Feel

Playing a blade is as much about the feel as it is the look, and the Wilson Staff Model Blades don’t disappoint.  Hitting a pure shots is extremely rewarding, producing a solid feel and a robust impact sound.  If you’re tired of the “click” of thin-faced distance irons, you will love it.

The feedback from these irons is as impressive as anything I’ve hit in years.  What makes them stand apart is the way they distinguish a good shot from a great shot.  Only a truly pure shot gets the feel described above.  A good shot feels good, but not amazing.  These irons won’t spare your feelings when you make a bad swing, either.  Hitting one on the far toe or heel has a weak, slappy feel that can make you wonder if you should be playing blades.

Performance

In the grand scheme of golf equipment, the Wilson Staff Model Blades are just that: blades.  They’re designed to give pros and very low handicappers supreme control over their ball flight, and they do just that.  To be able to imagine a specific shot, make a quality swing, and see that exact shot is a joy.

Within the world of blades, the Staff Model Blades are surprisingly easy to hit.  Wilson credits their Fluid Feel Hosel, adapted from the classic Dyna-Powered irons, for eliminating unnecessary weight and increasing playability.  I was particularly impressed with the way these irons dealt with thin shots.

The Wilson Staff Model Blades have a mid-spin profile that makes them playable for a wide variety of swings.  They are slightly higher spinning than most cavity back irons because skilled players want that spin as a means to shaping their shots.  However, they are not as high spinning as some blades, which strengthens their ball flight and gives them more distance.

Finally, these irons are milled to ensure tighter tolerances.  This makes the head weight more consistent which in turn leads to more consistent swing weight.  With more consistent swing weight, each club will feel similar and that should lead to confidence with every iron in the set.

Conclusion

If it’s not obvious, I’ll say it plainly: the Wilson Staff Model Blades are one of my favorite iron sets of 2019.  They’re beautiful, they feel great, and they’re a joy to play.  The audience for true blades like this is fairly small (most golfers should check out Wilson’s C300 irons HERE), but those golfers will be thrilled by this blend of old and new.

Wilson Staff Model Blades Price & Specs

Matt Saternus
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52 Comments

  1. My golf pro loaned me one to hit. Either I was middling everything (unlikely) or these are far more forgiving than have any right to be. Only club I’ve seen which look better than my Ben Hogan Ft Worth. Stunning. Makes you want to hit golf balls all day.

  2. Rugga Mather

    Being. 70 year old golfer I remember the days of the WILSON Dyna-Power clubs. They were the best feeling and performing clubs of the Day. Is Great to see WILSON coming back with quality that once set them apart from the rest of the club companies. Proud of you WILSON. Welcome Back. 👍👍👍👍👍👍

  3. I have a set of these 3-PW and they are the best irons I have ever hit, I am 66 years old and play off 8,
    Love them

    • are they forgiving though? like the sweet spot is the size of a larger coin or is it as small as a pin?

      • If you ask this question, you probably don’t have the mindset to play them. You’ll blame your mishits on the fact they are blades. These have weight shifted toward the toe for added forgiveness. Will be easier to hit than you expect.

  4. Very nice and great review. In terms of best looking blades on the market? Still have to give that title to Mizuno.

  5. Tom Duckworth

    I still have my Staff blades from 1979 and still dig them out from time to time. Their new blades are beautiful
    but I haven’t seen them in person because no one has them in stock just the other Wilson irons.
    I would give these a try I don’t think blades are as scary as people like to think and you do adjust to them after awhile.

  6. Mario Slavich

    I had a set Wilson blades that I hit very well and I gave the to a young man that couldn’t afford clubs. Do I miss them yes!

  7. I’ve played the Tour V-6 for several years and purchased the FG Tour 100 9 and wedge. I very much would like to hit these!!

  8. Dustin C Barrett

    I hopefully will be in the market for some new irons this next spring and these are definitely going to be one of my top interest. I’ve been, other than to try a different set here and there, using Titleist 695mb’s and 710mb’s ever since each was released flipping back and forth between the two depending on which one I could find in the best condition and a decent price after I wore out the groves on my previous set. Unfortunately it’s very difficult to find sets of either in good enough condition to bother with that aren’t over priced. Sorry, but I’m not spending $475-$500+ on a model that is 10+ years old unless it’s new in plastic.

  9. Great review. Miura MB-101’s or Wilson Staff Model Blades?

  10. Bill Malec

    Have a 7 iron coming to try. Unfortunately trying to find a demo iron is not so easy (come on Wilson!). Ordered one with the shaft I want and grip I like though.
    We will see…

  11. CAMPBELL RODDEN

    Recently bought a new set of the new cobra king forged tec Irons having tried them out and received good feedback from you Matt .

    I really do like these wilson staff tour blades as a possible second set . Know they’re quite different to the cobras.

    Never ever had a set of wilson equipment in the past so not sure about how they compare quality and performance wise to the other major brands .

    Seriously thinking about a second set of either these blades or the wilson c300 Forged Irons .

    Would appreciate your feedback. Thanks

    • Matt Saternus

      Campbell,

      The C300 Forged is more similar to your Cobras. If you want something that’s more challenging to hit, the Staff Model Blades are it. Wilson’s quality is absolutely on a level with any other OEM.

      -Matt

    • Matt Sherwood

      I’ve been a single marker for years also a blade man through and through.. I looked for a smooth looking iron for around a year to replace my overpriced titliest blades, and found it immediately with the new Wilson’s… I went into shock at first really Wilson have created this beautiful masterpiece.. And priced fairly.. congratulations Wilson finally sticking to your over priced competitors.

  12. Wilson Staff Model Blade, Ping Blueprint, TaylorMade PT71 or Mizuno MP 20 MB?

    • Matt Saternus

      Rudy,

      I think the Blueprints are the easiest to play. Beyond that it’s a matter of preference for looks and feel.

      -Matt

  13. Bob Pegram

    What are the bounce angles on these irons?

  14. How much forgiveness will I sacrifice by switching from Titleist CB to Wilson blade? I consider my cb’s quite forgiving & easy to hit

  15. I have been a Wilson fan ever since my dad gave me his old set of 1962 Dynapower irons. I strayed to Pings in the 1980s, but returned to Fat Shafts when they came out, and now I play FG62s. I hate to say it, but one factor in my love of Wilson irons is simply the way they look. They are beautiful. They fit my eye. I might play better with a more forgiving club, but I just love playing with a beautiful golf club. That being said, I wonder about ways to improve performance. I love the idea of fat shafts, but the club was simply not as pretty as blades, so I abandoned them. But now I wonder: is it possible to put a fat shaft on FG62s or even on my old Dynapowers?

    • Matt Saternus

      Dick,

      No, I don’t think you can. I’m not sure the exact dimensions of the Fat Shaft, but I believe the hosel would need to be made extra large to accommodate it.

      -Matt

  16. Any shaft options besides Stiff? Always loved Staffs and played blades my whole golf career but I’m a Senior now. Thanks.

    • Matt Saternus

      Tom,

      I’m not sure what options Wilson orders through their custom shop. I would suggest contacting them, or you could order the Staff Model Blades through a builder like Club Champion who can build them with any shaft you want.

      Best,

      Matt

  17. Martin Lehmann

    Turning 60 this year, I decided to go back to blades with these Wilson clubs (having started my golfing days more than 40 years ago with John Letters Master Mex irons and after that having played with Mizuno MP33’s for a long time before switching to Ping cavity backs). Best decision was to leave my ego behind and have the Wilson blades fitted with light weight regular shafts (KBS 80). Fantastic set of golf clubs, that have helped bringing my handicap back to low single figures again (2.9).

  18. Henrik Palmer

    Playing the AP2’s for a couple of years, but fell instantly in love with these blades. Lowered my hcp last summer from 11 to 6, and I’m 48 yrs now… such a joy to hit, and ironically blades force you to focus more, and therefore makes you a better player in my opinion. (Playing KBS Tour Stiff shaft, carrying my 7iron 170 yards.)

    • Jorge Villalba

      Thanks! That’s what I thinking about. Improve the game by using a not as easy to hit club with a nice feeling and great feedback.

    • I’m currently playing PXG 0211st irons..which are a blade of sorts I believe. I’m inconsistent but working on it.. I get frustrated but Still keep going. Are the wilson staff blades similar to my PXGs I don’t have an official handicap.. I can hit the ball far but if I’m honest the game frustrates me at times.

      Stupidly though I’d keep trying to get it right with blades rather than hit big chunky irons

      Pathetic I know 😒 anyway pxg0211st similar to these?

  19. Rudy Gonzales

    I got Wilson staff Cubs and I love them

  20. Anthony C

    Great review as usual Matt.
    How would these compare with your two gamers the Blueprint and The Gen 3T’s?

    • Matt Saternus

      Anthony,

      They don’t have much in common with the GEN3 T other than being reasonably close in size. The Staff Model Blade and the Blueprint are very similar, it just comes down to preference.

      -Matt

  21. I have a strong preference for a more cambered sole. From the pictures, these look a little more rounded than other blades in their class (thinking especially of Blueprints and MP-20s, which are the only two that I think rival the Wilson Staff Model Blades’ looks). Is that what you’ve experienced, Matt?

    • Matt Saternus

      Eric,

      That’s an interesting observation. Are you talking about rounding from heel to toe – across the length of the sole – or from the leading to trailing edge? Or both?

      Best,

      Matt

      • I was looking from leading to trailing edge. Seems to be a more rounded shape there than many other blades?

        (As a quick side rant, this is my biggest complaint about being fitted indoors on a mat. The impact of the sole shape is so much more evident outdoors.)

  22. Just bought some of these and what everyone says is true. These are easy to hit and was getting the same distance as my Ping i210’s.
    I put these up against the Ping i59, Ping i525, Mizuno 221 and 225 as well as the Callaway Rogue ST Pro and these won i. Dispersion every time. They felt better than the Mizuno 221 but looks are split 50/50 with Mizuno!
    Did I mention the price? ..$280 cheaper than the i59 and $170 cheaper than the i525.
    What else can you say… try them, you wont regret it… I promise!!

  23. Hey Matt, I’m a college golfer who is a decent ball striker, but not with a crazy amount of speed. Currently playing the apex pro 19s and just fell in love with these wilson staff model irons. I love the way the look and feel, but have always been a bit worried about giving up some forgiveness as compared to a players cavity. I keep seeing that these Wilson’s are long and forgiving for a blade. Would you say the forgiveness is more in line with a small cavity, and are they a lot shorter distance wise than a club like that? Really want to give these a go but don’t want to see more scores skyrocket hahah

    • Matt Saternus

      JP,

      My advise is always to get fit to see what the differences are for you. As a low spin player, the higher spin of a blade iron doesn’t cost me a ton of distance. Others see very different results. In terms of forgiveness, you will always give up some with a blade, but, relative to other blades, I think these are fairly easy to hit.

      Best,

      Matt

  24. Braken Wooden

    How would these Wilson Staff Blades compare to the Taylormade p790’s?

  25. Hi Matt,

    I could only dream to be good enough to play these. I was just curious if you found the the feel to to be buttery soft?

    Thank you for all your great reviews.

    Michael

  26. How would you compare Calloway apex 21 MB’s to the Wilson staff blades for forgiveness and playability and dimensoins

  27. Matt:
    The look and increased sole camber of the Wilson Saff blade appeals to me.

    I enjoy my sets of MacGregor PCB Tour Irons with Rifle 5.0 shafts- would you think the Wilson Staff blade would
    be an improvement for a 12 handicap- age 70?

    • Matt Saternus

      Tim,

      It depends what you’re looking for an improvement in. My advice is always to test your gear against the new stuff in a fitting to see exactly what improvements you’re getting.

      -Matt

  28. Hi,

    Still playing a set of John Letters Super Mex irons my father gave me when I was a little younger.
    Wondering if I would benefit from replacing them with the Willson Blades.
    What can I expect?

    – Hessel

    • Matt Saternus

      Hessel,

      I’m not familiar with the set you mentioned, so I’m not sure how the Wilson Staff would compare.

      Best,

      Matt

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