Price
$230 per iron
Wilson Staff Model XB
Price
$230 per iron
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matt martian photography
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Why We Like It
- Wilson ran more than 4,000 face-optimization profiles across five impact locations before deciding on three: one for the 2- through 5-irons; another for the 6-through 8-irons and one for the rest of the set.
- The hollow-body construction allows for tungsten in the 2- through 7-irons (19 to 27 grams) to be positioned in the low toe area to raise stability.
- Urethane was injected into the internal cavity to reduce vibrations at impact to enhance sound and feel.
- The faces are precision milled for consistency, then bead blasted to reduce glare.
- The sole camber has more curvature in the sole than most irons. Combined with a shorter blade length, this allows the heads to move quickly through the turf.
- SPECS: 7-iron: 32 degrees; PW: 46 degrees
what our testers said
handicap
- all
- low
- mid
- high
COMMENT SUMMARY
Hot List panelists observed a compact, elegant model with a satin/matte finish, minimal offset and a classic, blade-like look. It’s soft and quiet at impact, cradles the ball, and excels in turf interaction. Testers praised its strong, penetrating launch, impressive distance and high, consistent ball flight; it’s also very workable with reliable face feedback and decent off-center forgiveness. One caveat: it demands precision—it's less forgiving if you miss the sweet spot.
Summaries generated from tester comments with the assistance of AI.
COMMENT SUMMARY
Hot List testers noted an elegant, small-headed look at address with a silver matte finish that reduces glare. The face delivers a soft, consistent feel and a pleasant sweet spot; many praised turf interaction and the way the head cradles the ball, launching high with excellent distance. Some found it very workable—able to flight shots high or low—while others perceived it as more distance-oriented. One drawback: in this category the compact, near-zero-offset head can feel a little unforgiving and intimidating for some.
Summaries generated from tester comments with the assistance of AI.
COMMENT SUMMARY
Hot List panelists observed a compact, satin‑finished iron that looks sleek and feels soft/quiet at impact. It produced powerful, often high yet penetrating ball flight with excellent distance and turf interaction. Workable both ways, impacts across the face were consistent, mis‑hits tended to stay on line, and feedback was solid. One drawback: a few found it finicky, needing very precise contact to maximize performance.
Summaries generated from tester comments with the assistance of AI.
COMMENT SUMMARY
Summaries generated from tester comments with the assistance of AI.
Wesley
31, Handicap 4
3 years testing
In terms of feel and consistency off the face, these are great. Very workable. Can move it high or low. And I really like the simplicity of the model. It's very clean. I would say these are more like a traditional blade than a players distance set of irons.
Robert
29, Handicap +2
2 years testing
The clubhead cradles the ball and has some good pop to it off the face. This is definitely more of a distance iron than a players iron. Workability is limited.
Alan
31, Handicap 3
2 years testing
It is one of the better irons with turf interaction and is super-soft off the face. I love the silver matte finish, because you don't get any glare looking down at it. If you're somebody that digs a lot, it really moves through the turf well and doesn't seem to get caught up at the bottom.
Megan
40, Handicap 0
2 years testing
I had to put a bit more work into these than most others in this category. The good shots underperformed. The bad shots were better, but still a lot of work.
Jack
36, Handicap 1
3 years testing
Excels in every field. Launches the ball high, is workable, and doesn't dig into the turf. The matte finish is a cool look, too. It does everything to a very high standard.
SEE ALL (20)
Wesley
31, Handicap 4
3 years testing
In terms of feel and consistency off the face, these are great. Very workable. Can move it high or low. And I really like the simplicity of the model. It's very clean. I would say these are more like a traditional blade than a players distance set of irons.
Robert
29, Handicap +2
2 years testing
The clubhead cradles the ball and has some good pop to it off the face. This is definitely more of a distance iron than a players iron. Workability is limited.
Alan
31, Handicap 3
2 years testing
It is one of the better irons with turf interaction and is super-soft off the face. I love the silver matte finish, because you don't get any glare looking down at it. If you're somebody that digs a lot, it really moves through the turf well and doesn't seem to get caught up at the bottom.
Megan
40, Handicap 0
2 years testing
I had to put a bit more work into these than most others in this category. The good shots underperformed. The bad shots were better, but still a lot of work.
Jack
36, Handicap 1
3 years testing
Excels in every field. Launches the ball high, is workable, and doesn't dig into the turf. The matte finish is a cool look, too. It does everything to a very high standard.
Andrew
40, Handicap 8
1 year testing
The ball came off more explosively than I was expecting, based on the looks of the club. It started off low with more backspin than I would like. You can move it right to left fairly easily, and mis-hits generally stay on track.
Chris
60, Handicap 8
1 year testing
A great all-around club. I found the ball flight to be the highest and farthest in this category of irons. Got the ball up quickly and was really firm off the face, with a nice clicking sound. It performed really well on off-center hits as well.
Skylar
27, Handicap 7
3 years testing
I'm not sure it has a sweet spot. Being lightweight is a plus, but it doesn't really offer much help, even on good swings. Not very forgiving in any way.
Ricky
47, Handicap 0
10+ years testing
The best thing about these irons is its looks, especially at address. Very elegant. The sweet spot on the face yields pleasant results, too.
Jamie
52, Handicap 7
3 years testing
A classic look. It feels pretty dense getting down to the ball, which makes it play really stable. The ball flies straight at the target nearly every time.
Sean
54, Handicap 6
9 years testing
Good workability; a little firm at contact. Definitely something I would play.
Anand
44, Handicap 6
10+ years testing
Not many shaft options. I just couldn't find a good, consistent ball flight window with the pitching wedge and 7-iron. I was all over the place. The 5-iron, however, was the best I've hit so far. I hit several balls off the ground and had no trouble getting them up in the air. They went mighty far as well.
Paul
64, Handicap 6
10+ years testing
I love that it's on the smaller side for a power iron. The satin finish is almost a calming look. Soft, powerful, well-above-average turf interaction. It delivered all the power while keeping distances very consistent.
Jason
49, Handicap 0
10+ years testing
I like how sleek it is. The contact on the face feels very similar all over, but there's enough of a difference to where you can discern center hits from off-center hits. Great with turf interaction.
Thomas
61, Handicap 7
10+ years testing
Nice, compact club. Soft and quiet, too. Unfortunately, it wasn't as easy to hit as as I would have liked. It was a little finicky on where I needed to hit it. Didn't have quite enough horsepower for me, either.
Matt
28, Handicap 7
2 years testing
Not very forgiving with distance. No matter how well I hit it, the ball just seemed to nosedive straight out of the air. It's as if it ran into a brick wall. So I wasn't getting the numbers I would have liked out of it.
Wayne
61, Handicap 7
3 years testing
Delivers a strong, penetrating ball flight and is workable in both directions. Impacts across the face are very consistent, with some loss of distance, but nothing significant. Feedback into the hands feels pretty good, even on mis-hits.
Peter
58, Handicap 8
10+ years testing
I love the finish. It just looks really sexy. Very clean-looking club. No distractions. Performance-wise, you have to be pretty precise with it to get the best out of it. Distance is probably its best feature.
BK
42, Handicap 2
10+ years testing
For this category, it's a little too unforgiving. But when you look down at it, you see a small clubhead with virtually no offset. Some golfers are looking for that, but for others, that might be a little too intimidating.
Alejandra
27, Handicap 6
5 years testing
It felt a little heavy to me. Each time I hit it well, the response was great. But because of the extra weight, I had some trouble making solid contact consistently. I was bottoming the club out behind the ball, and missing most everything short.
Andrew
40, Handicap 8
1 year testing
The ball came off more explosively than I was expecting, based on the looks of the club. It started off low with more backspin than I would like. You can move it right to left fairly easily, and mis-hits generally stay on track.
Chris
60, Handicap 8
1 year testing
A great all-around club. I found the ball flight to be the highest and farthest in this category of irons. Got the ball up quickly and was really firm off the face, with a nice clicking sound. It performed really well on off-center hits as well.
Skylar
27, Handicap 7
3 years testing
I'm not sure it has a sweet spot. Being lightweight is a plus, but it doesn't really offer much help, even on good swings. Not very forgiving in any way.
Jamie
52, Handicap 7
3 years testing
A classic look. It feels pretty dense getting down to the ball, which makes it play really stable. The ball flies straight at the target nearly every time.
Sean
54, Handicap 6
9 years testing
Good workability; a little firm at contact. Definitely something I would play.
Anand
44, Handicap 6
10+ years testing
Not many shaft options. I just couldn't find a good, consistent ball flight window with the pitching wedge and 7-iron. I was all over the place. The 5-iron, however, was the best I've hit so far. I hit several balls off the ground and had no trouble getting them up in the air. They went mighty far as well.
Paul
64, Handicap 6
10+ years testing
I love that it's on the smaller side for a power iron. The satin finish is almost a calming look. Soft, powerful, well-above-average turf interaction. It delivered all the power while keeping distances very consistent.
Thomas
61, Handicap 7
10+ years testing
Nice, compact club. Soft and quiet, too. Unfortunately, it wasn't as easy to hit as as I would have liked. It was a little finicky on where I needed to hit it. Didn't have quite enough horsepower for me, either.
Matt
28, Handicap 7
2 years testing
Not very forgiving with distance. No matter how well I hit it, the ball just seemed to nosedive straight out of the air. It's as if it ran into a brick wall. So I wasn't getting the numbers I would have liked out of it.
Wayne
61, Handicap 7
3 years testing
Delivers a strong, penetrating ball flight and is workable in both directions. Impacts across the face are very consistent, with some loss of distance, but nothing significant. Feedback into the hands feels pretty good, even on mis-hits.
Peter
58, Handicap 8
10+ years testing
I love the finish. It just looks really sexy. Very clean-looking club. No distractions. Performance-wise, you have to be pretty precise with it to get the best out of it. Distance is probably its best feature.
Alejandra
27, Handicap 6
5 years testing
It felt a little heavy to me. Each time I hit it well, the response was great. But because of the extra weight, I had some trouble making solid contact consistently. I was bottoming the club out behind the ball, and missing most everything short.
Wesley
31, Handicap 4
3 years testing
In terms of feel and consistency off the face, these are great. Very workable. Can move it high or low. And I really like the simplicity of the model. It's very clean. I would say these are more like a traditional blade than a players distance set of irons.
Robert
29, Handicap +2
2 years testing
The clubhead cradles the ball and has some good pop to it off the face. This is definitely more of a distance iron than a players iron. Workability is limited.
Alan
31, Handicap 3
2 years testing
It is one of the better irons with turf interaction and is super-soft off the face. I love the silver matte finish, because you don't get any glare looking down at it. If you're somebody that digs a lot, it really moves through the turf well and doesn't seem to get caught up at the bottom.
Megan
40, Handicap 0
2 years testing
I had to put a bit more work into these than most others in this category. The good shots underperformed. The bad shots were better, but still a lot of work.
Jack
36, Handicap 1
3 years testing
Excels in every field. Launches the ball high, is workable, and doesn't dig into the turf. The matte finish is a cool look, too. It does everything to a very high standard.
Ricky
47, Handicap 0
10+ years testing
The best thing about these irons is its looks, especially at address. Very elegant. The sweet spot on the face yields pleasant results, too.
Jason
49, Handicap 0
10+ years testing
I like how sleek it is. The contact on the face feels very similar all over, but there's enough of a difference to where you can discern center hits from off-center hits. Great with turf interaction.
BK
42, Handicap 2
10+ years testing
For this category, it's a little too unforgiving. But when you look down at it, you see a small clubhead with virtually no offset. Some golfers are looking for that, but for others, that might be a little too intimidating.
NO REVIEWS
There are no tester reviews here.
Range Results
We tracked 20,000 shots through player testing and then had them analyzed by our team of scientists. These graphics reflect the relative performance our players saw for each club in the category.
A Skeptic’s Guide To New Golf Equipment
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