Wilson Staff Model Putters

Wilson Staff Model Putters – Key Takeaways

Three new models plus an updated 8802 100-percent precision milled from 304 stainless steel Available in 33-,  34- and 35-inch models $349.99. Available for pre-sale starting today; at retail Nov. 1

Say what you want about the new line of Wilson Staff Model putters.

But you can’t say they’re not pretty.

Wilson introduced the Staff Model moniker in January 2019 with the ultra-sexy Staff Model blades. Since then, Wilson added the Staff Model CB irons along with Staff Model wedges, utility irons and balls. Pretty much all that’s left are putters and metalwoods. We’ve heard rumors of Staff Model metal woods and we’ll see what role the newly USGA-approved DynaPowr metalwoods will play in the Wilson lineup.

Wilson hasn’t played in the premium end of the putter pool for quite some time, The Infinite line has performed exceptionally well in MyGolfSpy’s testing. But Infinite remains a value-priced option. Staff Model, according to Wilson, is reserved for the game’s best players and for golfers who appreciate premium.

Will the new Wilson Staff Model putters check the right boxes? Let’s take a look.

Wilson Staff Model Putters: Precision Milling

“We’re trying to improve our stature with our elite Wilson Staff Advisory members and our Tour staff,” says Wilson Global Innovation Manager Jon Pergande. “That pushed us down the path of the Staff Model putter.”

The Infinite putter line has been hugely successful for Wilson and models have been played on Tour by Padraig Harrington and Brendan Steele. Harrington won the 2015 Honda Classic with an Infinite.

“It’s a value-priced line that delivers great performance,” says Pergande, “but Staff Model has always been about products geared for the better player and our Tour players. We don’t have huge experience down this avenue with putters so it’s been a measured approach.”

Wilson is sticking with the basics. The four models include an updated and 100-percent milled version of the classic 8802. The other three models are also standard fare in the premium field: an Anser-style blade, a rounded mid-mallet and a high MOI fang-toothed mallet.

“Those four putters should cover a broad range of players,” says Pergande.

 

Blades and Mallets

The new Wilson Staff Model BL-22 is the Anser-style blade that’s in everyone’s catalog. It features a plumber’s neck hosel and medium toe-hang. The MT22 is a rounded mallet with a short slant-neck hosel, also with medium toe-hang.

The TM22 is known at the Tech Mallet. It’s a moderate toe-hang, high-MOI putter with a traditional sabretooth design. Kevin Streelman has had the TM22 in the bag the last two weeks on Tour.

For the nostalgia buff, there’s an update to the classic 8802 which is toe-down.

“We’ve had versions of this putter dating back to the early 1960s with the Arnold Palmer models,” says Pergande. “As simple of a design that it is, it’s still evolved over the years. And when you start milling something that was so based in handheld craftsmanship, it’s amazing what you can do to make it better.”

New—At Least For Wilson

While not even remotely groundbreaking, the lineup is a step out of the same-old-same-old for Wilson. The putters are 100-percent precision milled from a block of 304 stainless steel.

I had to ask Pergande the obvious question: How is precision milling different from, say, regular old milling?

“Precision milling is a great way to describe the goal of milling,” he says. “When you start looking at CAD files, milling gives you a high level of consistency so the end product is very precise.”

Looking back at Wilson’s history, Pergande says forgings used to be very dependent on who was doing the finishing.

“That approach isn’t consistent over time,” he says. “Milling is the ultimate end game of this entire process because you’re going to get exactly what’s in the CAD file 100 percent of the time.”

Along with milling the entire body out of 304 stainless, Wilson is adding aggressive face-milling to ensure consistent roll on the face. The faces of the Infinite putters are also milled but those bodies are cast,

“The Infinite’s are 431 stainless steel,” explains Pergande. “304 is a preferred steel to look at. 303 might be a little softer but 304 holds its lines a little better.”

Customization is Coming

For whom are the new Wilson Staff Model putters? If you require any degree of customization for your flat stick, or really any degree of fitting beyond what length you prefer, we can safely say, “not you.”

“We’ll look at all levels of customization for the consumer but there’s an education process involved,” says Pergande. “If we’re going to offer loft or lie options, we’re going to have to explain to the consumer why they’d want a different loft or lie.”

All four models will be available in 33-, 34- and 35-inch options. Additionally, the three new models (the BL22 blade and the MT22 and TM22 mallets) feature sole weights. The 33-inch models will have two 20-gram sole weights while the 34-inch models will have 15-gram weights and the 35-inch models will have 10-gram weights. 25-gram weights will also be available.

“That’s stock because the shorter the putter, the more weight you’ll want in the head,” says Pergande. “We can spend time on the green with a Tour player and swap out weights until we get what they want. But, ultimately, we will need to figure out a way to communicate to the consumer what weighting they might want.”

The same approach applies to grip options. To start, you can have any putter grip you want as long as it’s a Wilson-logoed Lamkin Deep-Etched Full Cord.

“It’s a comfortable, standard grip,” says Pergande, “but there’s a whole slew of other options that we’ll need to explore.”

Wilson Staff Model Putters: Price and Availability

Without customization or any real putter fitting protocol, you’ll be left with being fitted from stock. Four models and three lengths per model (33, 34 and 35 inches) means you’ll have 12 options.

As mentioned, Wilson plans to offer more customization options as well as more head shapes. That said, today’s launch represents a very measured, walk-before-you-run approach. Despite having some impressive performers over the years, Wilson has never been known for its putters (other than the 8802). There’s nothing in the new offering that screams new, different or revolutionary. But, as with Mizuno and Cleveland, you might find an off-the-shelf putter that fits both your eye and your stroke.

The new Wilson Staff Model Putters are available for presale starting today on the Wilson Golf website for $349.99. The company expects the putters to be available at retail on Nov. 1.

For more information, visit the Wilson Golf website.

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