Wilson Staff Fluid Feel Tour Model Blades

[max power]

I was browsing one of the local golf shops yesterday, my eye was initially caught by a set of TM MB TP Smoke irons. Gorgeous, more blade-like than many pure blades, despite the small cavity. In pretty good shape, hit well, and a good price at $450, but I didn't need another set of irons, especially for any significant amount of money. I moved over to the lower priced used clubs, and amongst the sea of PINGs and Callaways I found a set of Wilson Staff Fluid Feels 3-PW (appears to be the 1984-1986 model according to the internet). They were filthy (unrelated question-what golf shop doesn't bother to clean any of its used clubs?), and in desperate need of new grips, but appeared to be in good shape otherwise. I hit the 3 iron, 5 iron, 8 iron, and PW in the hitting bay, and they felt about 98-99% as good as the TM MBs. The price? $39! I brought them up to the front and said I wanted them re-gripped with red 2G Tour Wraps. The salesman said "$39? The grips will cost nearly as much." I said I couldn't pass them up at that price and the grand total with new grips, installation, and tax was $72. The salesman said "these are really hard to hit," and I couldn't help but respond "unless you're swinging them right!" We agreed that a "new" set of blades with brand new grips for less than the cost of 1 used club was a more than decent deal. They certainly don't look forgiving, but I figure if I can handle 1982 Titleist Tour Models I'll make due with these (if anything they look slightly more forgiving than the Titleists). I cleaned 'em when I got home and they look like forged irons that have been used for about 5 seasons, so a screaming deal in my opinion for clubs that are a real piece of history. I'm not jingoistic about my golf clubs, but the complete lack of new American forged (or cast) irons makes these extra special. I have zero need but now want a vintage set of MacGregors and Hogans to fill out my collection. I guess there are worse and more expensive hobbies...

[Gerald]

I actually played these in the old days, it is a great set and they are not as hard as they look like.

Enjoy !

[max power]

Thanks-I'm taking them to the range this afternoon so we'll see how it goes.  My absolute lowest rounds have been with cavity backs, but my average round is about the same cavity back versus blade.  But the range usually tells the story.  When I first got my Titleist Tour Models I went to the range immediately and hit more than my share (much more) of hosel rockets.  I'm an advocate of blades and GI clubs, but I will agree that blades certainly mandate a ball first strike.

[max power]

You are absolutely correct, took 'em to the range and they weren't very hard to hit, certainly more forgiving than the Titliest Tour Models.  Really, really soft-I got no "blade vibration" even on slightly thin shots.  Shaft labels are mostly rubbed off, so I can tell that they're Dynamic Golds, but not whether they're regular or stiff.  No matter, my shots went straight, they felt great, and they're in the bag now.

Originally Posted by Gerald

I actually played these in the old days, it is a great set and they are not as hard as they look like.

Enjoy !

[Bryan SD2]

Wilson Staff Forged!  Welcome to the club!!

(My forged cavity back RM's suddenly make me feel like I'm cheating)

[max power]

I hit 'em at the range again today, just incredibly soft feeling irons.  For some reason my swing was grooved for long irons-I hit the 1 iron and 3 iron better than the PW (couldn't stop chunking).

[dbuck]

see my sig-gotta love em.

[Gerald]

Mine have been in the garage for about 20 yrs now together with a buch of the old persimmon woods ...... maybe I should refurbish them, I played really solid with these in the old days.

Originally Posted by max power

You are absolutely correct, took 'em to the range and they weren't very hard to hit, certainly more forgiving than the Titliest Tour Models.  Really, really soft-I got no "blade vibration" even on slightly thin shots.  Shaft labels are mostly rubbed off, so I can tell that they're Dynamic Golds, but not whether they're regular or stiff.  No matter, my shots went straight, they felt great, and they're in the bag now.

[max power]

Played my first round today with the Wilson Staffs, 18 hole executive course.  Honestly, they were very, very easy to hit.  Easily the softest-feeling irons I own, and alignment was a snap.  Nearly had my first hole in one twice today, both holes were about 145 yds, 8 iron, tap in birdies.  My two bad holes (double bogey) were directly due to flubbed shots with the lob wedge.

I feel kind of stupid bagging a $39 set of irons while my Mizunos and MacGregors sit in the closet, but I see myself sticking with these for at least a month or two (which is a long time for me to go between an iron rotation).

[Red_on_the_head]

I've been playing the FG17's, Circa 1980, and love em.  I hit them better than the shovels I've been told are "easier" to hit.

[ngrec]

I was in a little golf shop a couple of years ago and a set Wilson Staff blades (2-PW) caught my eye.  The price tag was $100 and I talked him down to $60.  I think I went straight to the driving range right after I bought them and was shocked at how well I hit them - I even hit the 2 and 3 irons well.

I came home and started doing research on what exactly I had bought..  It turned out to be a set of 1969 Wilson Staff Dynapower Bulletback irons.  I played them for a few months but then the shhhhh$%#*'s started happening so I went to the Ping i10's..

Here is a set I found on ebay..

[Gerald]

That makes no sound to me .....

Originally Posted by max power

I feel kind of stupid bagging a $39 set of irons while my Mizunos and MacGregors sit in the closet, but I see myself sticking with these for at least a month or two (which is a long time for me to go between an iron rotation).

It takes about a few months before you really dial in on a set and just when you feel very confident with a set, you are changing for the next set to get used to.

It would be better to with one set for at least half a season and then decide if you are going to stick with them or else...... if you have a set you play well with, stay with it ........

[max power]

Honestly, it doesn't take me 3 months to dial in a set of irons-maybe 1 round and a couple range sessions.  If the maximum lowest possible score/handicap was my only goal it would probably make sense to stick to only one set.  But I'm no pro and never will be, and my love of golf extends to many, many facets of the game.  One of which is playing different irons, or a different driver every once in a while-even a different putter now and then.  I keep track of my distances with every club I use, saved in a Word document (which I also weirdly enjoy) so switching 1 or 14 clubs doesn't really affect my shot/decision making out on the course.

I've been playing with persimmon and blades lately, cause it's harder, it feels great, and it's fun.

Originally Posted by Gerald

That makes no sound to me .....

It takes about a few months before you really dial in on a set and just when you feel very confident with a set, you are changing for the next set to get used to.

It would be better to with one set for at least half a season and then decide if you are going to stick with them or else...... if you have a set you play well with, stay with it ........

[staffs2-4]

Hi, I have a set of fluid feels from circa 1987. 2 iron threw to pw. Might even find ther 1 iron had that as well. I have owned them since new and used them on and off till about 7 years ago when I purchased a set of Pi7s.....also great clubs. If anyone is interested in making me an offer I'd be happy to sell. They are in really condition given their age. Happy to attach pix. Be sad to see them go but would like an enthusiast to enjoy them rather than have them in the closet.

[k-troop]

I have a set of staff fluid feel blades--I don't know how old they are, but I got them used in like 1989.  I've gone through 5 or 6 sets of irons since then, but these are the ones that I have never gotten rid of.  I recently cleaned out my garage of all excess golf gear; I sold 3 sets of irons and a dozen assorted wedges and hybrids, but I couldn't let go of these.

[HoganApexBlades]

I just picked up a set (2-PW) of the '85-'86 Staff Fluid Feel Tour Blades (missing the 7 iron) for $1.99 each at a local Goodwill. They look like they're in good to very good condition, except for all the dirt and grass that was never scrubbed off the faces. They have stiff shafts and 6 of them have nice Chamois grips. I'll post before/after cleaning pics soon.

[Wade Patton]

On 9/18/2017 at 8:01 AM, HoganApexBlades said:

I just picked up a set (2-PW) of the '85-'86 Staff Fluid Feel Tour Blades (missing the 7 iron) for $1.99 each at a local Goodwill. They look like they're in good to very good condition, except for all the dirt and grass that was never scrubbed off the faces. They have stiff shafts and 6 of them have nice Chamois grips. I'll post before/after cleaning pics soon.

I now have two sets of them. One in stiff and the other in regular shafts. I don't even know which is best for me now, but my newest favorite is another set of recent acquisitions (worked beautifully today) Palmer Standard 85's with stiff (TTDG) shafts. I've finally gotten my swing established and settled down enough tho appreciate the differences in shaft characteristics. Next to get the Apex line sorted. And I'm sure I'll slow down into regular shafts eventually.  But I have loved the Wilson's for a long time. They just work and feel great!

[Deepred]

On 2/28/2011 at 8:32 PM, max power said:

I was browsing one of the local golf shops yesterday, my eye was initially caught by a set of TM MB TP Smoke irons. Gorgeous, more blade-like than many pure blades, despite the small cavity. In pretty good shape, hit well, and a good price at $450, but I didn't need another set of irons, especially for any significant amount of money. I moved over to the lower priced used clubs, and amongst the sea of PINGs and Callaways I found a set of Wilson Staff Fluid Feels 3-PW (appears to be the 1984-1986 model according to the internet). They were filthy (unrelated question-what golf shop doesn't bother to clean any of its used clubs?), and in desperate need of new grips, but appeared to be in good shape otherwise. I hit the 3 iron, 5 iron, 8 iron, and PW in the hitting bay, and they felt about 98-99% as good as the TM MBs. The price? $39! I brought them up to the front and said I wanted them re-gripped with red 2G Tour Wraps. The salesman said "$39? The grips will cost nearly as much." I said I couldn't pass them up at that price and the grand total with new grips, installation, and tax was $72. The salesman said "these are really hard to hit," and I couldn't help but respond "unless you're swinging them right!" We agreed that a "new" set of blades with brand new grips for less than the cost of 1 used club was a more than decent deal. They certainly don't look forgiving, but I figure if I can handle 1982 Titleist Tour Models I'll make due with these (if anything they look slightly more forgiving than the Titleists). I cleaned 'em when I got home and they look like forged irons that have been used for about 5 seasons, so a screaming deal in my opinion for clubs that are a real piece of history. I'm not jingoistic about my golf clubs, but the complete lack of new American forged (or cast) irons makes these extra special. I have zero need but now want a vintage set of MacGregors and Hogans to fill out my collection. I guess there are worse and more expensive hobbies...

Many Wilson blades have high to very high MOI scores. Anyone who thinks they are hard to hit hasn’t hit them.