Expert Review: Wilson Staff Model Utility Iron


All photos courtesy of Cole Karsky
About this Review: This review is my honest opinion of the iron, which I purchased with my own money in January of 2022.
My take
The Wilson Staff Model Utility Iron has become my favorite club in the bag. I have so much confidence in the club that it has become my go-to safe shot club off the tee on narrow holes. I am able to hit this club off the tee, fairway, and rough with ease. The utility club is geared towards a mid to low-handicap player who is looking to replace a long iron in their bag.
About the club I own
- Model: 2022 Wilson Staff Model Utility Iron
- Loft setting: 21°
- Shaft type: Dynamic Gold Tour Issue
- Shaft flex: x-100
About me
- Average score: 75-83
- Handicap: 6
- Experience: 25 years of golf
- Right/Left-Handed: Right-Handed
- Typical ball flight: Moderate Height
- Golf ball used: Titleist ProV1
- Club swing speed: 105mph
Test conditions
- When I bought the club: January 2022
- Days tested: 40
- Where I’ve used it: Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, North Dakota, South Carolina
- Weather and wind conditions: All weather and wind conditions.
How it performs
What I was looking for
I was looking for a versatile club to replace the long irons in my bag that I struggle with hitting. I wanted to have a utility iron to have the ability to adjust my launch.
Why I chose this club
I chose to buy the Wilson Staff Model for a combination of reasons. The main reason was the playability. This club allowed me to optimize my launch based on shot shape decisions. I feel comfortable with flighting this club down for low stingers and being able to hit high, soft landing shots. I did look at other club options, but the combination of playability, forgiveness, looks, and brand pedigree allowed me to choose the Wilson Staff Model confidently.
What I love about it
- Distance: The utility iron has a hollow body design. This allows the player to achieve a desirable distance while maintaining its other features, such as forgiveness and playability.
- Forgiveness: This club flows well with players' iron sets and gives the player a forgiving option at the top end of the bag.
- Feel: The Wilson Staff Model Utility Iron offers a fantastic feel and feedback. I have that unmistakable pure feeling when I hit the ball on the sweet spot. On the contrary, when my shots move away from the sweet spot, I have the response back, letting me know it is an off-center strike.
- Sound: Along the same lines of feel, I can hear when a ball is struck well and when it is an off-center strike. One sometimes gets a high-pitched ting sound with a hollow body iron, but that is not the case with this club. If a player is looking for a more audible sound response, this club has a fairly muted sound overall.
- Workability: I am comfortable working with this club in both directions. I am also comfortable with shaping shots in high and low trajectories.
- Shaft Feel: The Dynamic Gold X-100 shaft matches what I play in my irons and offers me a consistent feel from club to club.
- Shaft Performance: The Dynamic Gold X-100 is one of the top-performing iron shafts available on the market.
- Grip Feel: The Golf Pride Tour Velvet is the most common stock grip available. It has a great feel that players are familiar with.
- Launch Angle: As mentioned, this club allows me to shape my shots with high and low trajectories. Its versatility allows me to confidently pull it on tight par 4s off the tee, hit it in the rough or fairway, hit it into long par 3s, or hold long approaches into the green.
- Spin: The spin is within the expected margins for this style of club.
Issues I’ve encountered
- Adjustability: This club was not designed with any adjustable components.
- Aesthetic Appeal: This is not necessarily an issue for me. The iron has a clean and classic look that will appeal to players with a discerning eye. No loud graphics, just a classic, clean look. However, the top line at address is a bit thicker than a player's iron but thinner than other comparable utility irons. Some players may feel that the top line is too thick.
Best shot with this club
One of my favorite courses has a short par 4 that gives nightmares to everyone who plays there. It is 323 yards long, narrow, heavily tree-lined with tall pines on each side, water short, and alongside the tiered green protecting it from stray approach shots. If someone misses the fairway, they are almost assuredly not going to have a chance to hit the green. The ideal position on the hole is putting one in wedge range. To score with a birdie or escape with a par, being on the correct tier of the green is essential. Doing that is extremely difficult if one does not hit the fairway. I hit the Wilson Staff Utility about 205 yards. As a result, this positioned me with a perfect gap wedge into that tiered green, giving me that coveted look at birdie.
Value for the money vs. other options
During my testing phase, I concentrated on two utility irons. The first was the Titleist U-505. The second was the Wilson Staff Model Utility Iron. Both clubs looked and felt amazing. I was getting very similar performances and feedback from both clubs. However, I just could not justify the price difference between the two. This made choosing the Staff Model Utility an easy choice for me.
Final verdict
Players looking to replace their long iron will fall in love with the Wilson Staff Model Utility Iron. I have gained all the forgiveness benefits of a utility iron but have not sacrificed any playability. This has quickly become my favorite club in the bag.