Wilson Staff Fluid Feel Tour Blades 84-86 and 87-88

[cold_war_era_golfer]

Maybe I’m stating the obvious but from what I had read online I assumed these were basically the same aside from different fonts.  Even quickly glancing at the Kaplan book they looked the same.

 

The backs are very different in shape.

Faces are pretty much the same.

Both have S shafts but different stickers.

 

 

[Stephen8802]

I can't answer your questions because I've never hit the later model...I never saw the need. But like you, I thought the only difference was the lettering.

 

The earlier model above was my main club for most of my competitive golf, which was my period of playing every day. I found them much better than my previous set, FG 17s, and still consider them the standard for irons.

 

Now that I'm hitting other forged irons I realize that they aren't the only good clubs in the world, but I still love those irons. I actually bought another set the year after I got these, 1960 re-issues, but left them in the box and never hit them because there wasn't a need to take my main set out of the bag. (I sold them for a ton this year and have used that money to fund my club buying habit).

 

So, if you have them, hit them; if you are considering buying them, buy them and hit them. If you have to choose between the two, I don't know how the later set plays, but the earlier set is a great set of irons.

 

 

 

[Foozle]

I have both sets of FF Tour Blades and currently am playing FG17's. My personal favourite Wilson irons are the '76 (mini) bullet Staffs. They are all great clubs and,IMHO, some of the best looking blades ever made.

I think it impossible to advise as the slightly different playing characteristics will appeal differently to each player. There are as many "best ever irons" as there are players.

As Stephen says, I would encourage you to experiment and try them -  a big part of the pleasure of collecting and playing vintage!

You won't be disappointed by any of the sets mentioned.

[NRJyzr]

It's the 87-88 and 89-90 Fluid Feels that are largely the same. 

 

The difference in the muscle back between the Line Under models from 84-86 and the 87-90 models is VERY noticeable in the second pic.

[cold_war_era_golfer]

I intend to play both even tho they are both in nice shape.

Lately I've been playing FG-17s, '62-63 Turf Riders, and 60-61 DynaPowered.

I enjoyed the 60s models more so than the FG 17s so I thought I'd give the 80s Fluid Feels a chance.

 

I think i need to change my username!

[Stephen8802]

I like the way you roll...you make me feel responsible and I've been on a silly buying spree this year. My wife is someone neutral on all this and only has one rule: I can't buy anything I can sell for the same money or better in the future.

 

Hit 'em all and have fun. I have even been picking up random irons of sets I've never hit just to hit a few balls with each at the range. There is something strangely exciting about trying new clubs.

[cold_war_era_golfer]

I can’t find the info online maybe someone here would know.

 

Where the 80s blades still made in America?

[NRJyzr]

3 hours ago, coldwareragolfer said:

I can’t find the info online maybe someone here would know.

 

Where the 80s blades still made in America?

 

According to conversations I'd read back in early days of golf forums, yes.  Both Cornell and Hoffman were still putting out forging in the 80s and the 90s.

 

I believe my Golden Rams say "Forged in USA" on them

 

[LeftyMac]

6 hours ago, coldwareragolfer said:

I can’t find the info online maybe someone here would know.

 

Where the 80s blades still made in America?

The FG51's in 1990 were supposedly the last of the US forged Wilsons.

[JDLA]

Lefty Mac I believe you are correct with, from my understanding, Hoffman was the forging house for the fg-51’s. 

[cold_war_era_golfer]

I’ve come a long way in a year and sold both sets of 80s Fluid Feels.  I think the originals have more character.

[weakputt]

On 12/24/2020 at 11:12 AM, NRJyzr said:

 

According to conversations I'd read back in early days of golf forums, yes.  Both Cornell and Hoffman were still putting out forging in the 80s and the 90s.

 

I believe my Golden Rams say "Forged in USA" on them

 

I was told my 86-87 Fluid Feels were forged for Wilson by Hoffman Forgings.

[Duper]

The one on the Left is a TOUR Fluid Feel , the one on the right is a NON-TOUR Fluid Feel  ..... different design .