Key Takeaways
- New Staff Model wedges offer “Tour-inspired” grinds for versatility around the green.
- New grind is available in 56-, 58- and 60-degree models, right-handed only.
- Priced at $129.99, due to hit stores on Feb. 9.
The new Wilson Staff Model Tour Grind wedges are an interesting release. Not so much for what is there as much as for what isn’t there.
What is there is a sole grind with a little added versatility. If you like to open the clubface and get creative around the green, this grind will suit you. What isn’t there? This specific grind on lower-lofted wedges. It’s available on higher-lofted wedges only.
Which, if you think about it, makes some sense.
Wilson Staff Tour Grind Wedges: Keep It Simple
Navigating your way through the wedge sole grind maze can be confusing. Do you need high bounce on all your wedges or just specific ones? What about heel and/or toe relief? Do you need different wedge grinds for different playing conditions? And how do you know what conditions you’re going to be playing in?
When you have all those options—and don’t have an honest-to-goodness wedge fitting available—it’s little wonder the most common choice is whatever is in the middle.
Wilson Staff introduced its Staff Model wedges last January with two options. A “standard” grind and one with a full-face, high-toe option. The new Wilson Staff Tour Grind wedges are meant to supplement that lineup. The Tour Grind is really more of an S-grind with plenty of trailing-edge relief.
In its press release, Wilson says the new Staff Model Tour Grind wedges are ideal for tighter lies and firmer course conditions. From what we’ve been able to glean from the imagery provided, it does appear the leading edge is a tad less rounded than the original Staff Model wedges. There appears to be some heel relief, making the wedge easy to open up.
“Forged” 8620
If you’re a Forged Snob, you’re likely to scoff at a “forged” 8620 carbon steel wedge. In reality, the rough shape is cast and then heated and forged into its final shape. Wilson has been forging its wedges and irons in this manner for years. Experience has shown that unless you have incredibly sensitive hands and ears, it’s unlikely you’ll be able to tell the difference.
It is interesting that Wilson is releasing the Staff Model Tour Grind wedges in only three lofts: 56, 58 and 60 degrees. Again, it’s likely a nod toward simplification. Chances are you’re not going to get cute with your 50-, 52- or 54-degree wedge, using them almost exclusively for full shots or straight-on pitches. If you have open-faced shots in your arsenal, you’re more than likely going to use them around the green with higher-lofted wedges.
In terms of versatility, you’ll find the Tour Grind wedges about halfway between Wilson’s original Staff Model wedges and the Staff Model Hi-Toe wedges. The Hi-Toes are available in 58- and 60-degree lofts only and are made for those of us who like to channel our inner-Seve around the green.
Vokey, Callaway and Cleveland all have sexy groove stories to tell. The Wilson groove story, on the other hand, is fairly vanilla. “Precision milled” with “Advanced Spin” score lines is about as daring as Wilson is getting. The Staff Model Tour Grind wedges, as does the rest of the Staff Model wedge line, features fairly densely packaged grooves for more groove contact with the ball. And if you look closely, you’ll also see a hint of rotational milling on the face.
Wilson Staff Model Tour Grind Wedges: Specs, Price and Availability
If Big Five wedge pricing makes you cranky, then the Wilson Staff Model Tour Grind wedges should cheer you right up. As with the rest of the Staff Model wedges, the new Tour Grinds will retail at $129.99 which is anywhere from $20 to $30 below Vokey, Cleveland, Callaway, COBRA and PING.
As mentioned, the Wilson Staff Model Tour Grind wedges will be available in 56-, 58- and 60-degree lofts only. The 56-degree model features 12 degrees of bounce, while the 58 and 60 feature 10 degrees of bounce. The True Temper Dynamic Gold 120 shaft is stock as is the Golf Price Tour Velvet grip.
Sorry, lefties. These will be available on right-handed models only for now.
They hit the stores Feb. 9.
For more information, visit Wilson.com.
Jack
3 years ago
I put some of these wedges in my bag and was very skeptical about how they would perform, but i got a good deal on them and figured it was worth the experiment. I previously had vokeys that were in need of replacement. Long story short, the Wilson wedges are staying in the bag. I think we often get snobby about brands and pay additional thinking they are so much better. Sometimes this is not true. I always loved the performance of Nike clubs and luckily all the Nike haters kept the eBay prices low on those clubs. Now Nike had a bit more of a following than Wilson, but I will definitely use the lower price of the Wilson clubs to try a few more.