Wilson Staff FG51 Irons

[boggyman]

Anyone still play these in here?? If not, what would your pick be to replace a set of FG17s?? 

[Socrates]

Don't play them.  Have a set in the basement.  They did replace my FG17's, but that was 25 years ago.  Long since retired.

[Brewski_golfs]

Played a set of FG51's for about 10 years, probably my favorite irons ever.  Regret that I sold them a few years ago

[boggyman]

1 hour ago, Brewski_golfs said:

Played a set of FG51's for about 10 years, probably my favorite irons ever.  Regret that I sold them a few years ago

Would you play them if you still had them??

[Swingingk]

I've not played FG-51's but my experience has been that anything that starts with "FG" is great.  If I were replacing my own FG-17's it'd be with another set of FG-17's.  😆

[Brewski_golfs]

If I had a set in good shape I would definitely play them.  I find the design very similar to many modern blades, just the lofts would be different.  

[boggyman]

32 minutes ago, Brewski_golfs said:

If I had a set in good shape I would definitely play them.  I find the design very similar to many modern blades, just the lofts would be different.  

Thanks. I like the older lofts, only need a SW that way. Thanks again.

[NRJyzr]

A gent I know from the old GEA got a set of FG-51s.  He had Joe Kwok grind the soles to be more like the MP-33 grind, and had the chrome stripped.  Got them set up and went to town, absolutely loved them.  

 

Haven't chatted with him for quite a few years, don't know what he's moved on to, if at all, or even if he's still playing.  For all I know he could be floating around WRX  🙂 

[boggyman]

8 minutes ago, NRJyzr said:

A gent I know from the old GEA got a set of FG-51s.  He had Joe Kwok grind the soles to be more like the MP-33 grind, and had the chrome stripped.  Got them set up and went to town, absolutely loved them.  

 

Haven't chatted with him for quite a few years, don't know what he's moved on to, if at all, or even if he's still playing.  For all I know he could be floating around WRX  🙂 

Thanks. 

[Swingingk]

11 hours ago, NRJyzr said:

A gent I know from the old GEA got a set of FG-51s.  He had Joe Kwok grind the soles to be more like the MP-33 grind, and had the chrome stripped.  Got them set up and went to town, absolutely loved them.  

 

Haven't chatted with him for quite a few years, don't know what he's moved on to, if at all, or even if he's still playing.  For all I know he could be floating around WRX  🙂 

Raw FG51's custom ground by Joe Kwok?!  Boy that sounds sweet...

[cold_war_era_golfer]

I almost bought these but couldn’t find a set this summer.  I went with then Fg53 goose necks which opened Pandora’s box for me relating to Wilson blades.  I’ve got a few vintage sets now and more “recent” FG17s and slightly more recent then those 1984-86 Fluid Feels and 87-88 Fluid Feels.

 

Those late 80s Fluid Feels are really nice.

 

[KRW59]

22 hours ago, boggyman said:

Thanks. I like the older lofts, only need a SW that way. Thanks again.

This is the sand wedge made the same years as the W/S FG-51 irons.. (1991-1993) .....I played it years ago with my '88 Hogan Redlines , and now it goes in the bag with my '88-'90 Goosenecks.. The scuff on the sole was from a perfectly struck pitch shot off a concrete cart path,I holed out to win a large carry over skin ( $120 )....

Edited October 1, 2020 by KRW59

[LeftyMac]

I have 2 sets which is interesting as I'm not sure whether you could buy lefty sets at retail.

[EmperorPenguin]

My brother used to play FG-17's when he started playing golf, and as a gift from my brother-in-law he received a set of FG-51's.  They set up very much like FG-17's, and to me what I consider very important: they do not have vertical diamonds.  If I did not score my T589's ('89 Fluid Feels without vertical diamonds) I would have bought the FG-51's instead.  Today the FG-51's are more expensive than other models for their clean cosmetics.  I recall Payne won the '91 US Open at Hazeltine with the FG-51's--and the dreaded Ping Anser 5 putter.

[Dr. Block]

76 Staffs for me...with a Ping Eye 2 SW.  I love anything Wilson though.  Made with tender love and care in my neck of the woods near Chicago.  Wilson Staff golf equipment was first-class kit in that era.  

[Gsea]

"76 Staffs for me...with a Ping Eye 2 SW"

Same with 65 Dynapower. Eye2 sw till I'm no longer vertical

[No_Catchy_Nickname]

Those Ping SW (and LW) were just something else. I don't like EYE2 irons on the whole, but I'll never part with my BeCu LW. I have a red-dot BeCu 3-SW set that I am going to sell, but that SW is hard to let got of, even though the lie is wrong for me.

[Gsea]

23 minutes ago, No_Catchy_Nickname said:

Those Ping SW (and LW) were just something else. I don't like EYE2 irons on the whole, but I'll never part with my BeCu LW. I have a red-dot BeCu 3-SW set that I am going to sell, but that SW is hard to let got of, even though the lie is wrong for me.

let me know when you are selling, id be interested.  Have the exact same set and specs

[No_Catchy_Nickname]

4 minutes ago, Gsea said:

let me know when you are selling, id be interested.  Have the exact same set and specs

 

Sorry, I'll be selling locally in Japan, so I don't think the shipping costs will make it worth it for you.

[Dr. Block]

3 hours ago, No_Catchy_Nickname said:

Those Ping SW (and LW) were just something else. I don't like EYE2 irons on the whole, but I'll never part with my BeCu LW. I have a red-dot BeCu 3-SW set that I am going to sell, but that SW is hard to let got of, even though the lie is wrong for me.

They really were something else, and there have been many tributes since.  The three that stand out in my mind are the 90's era Yonex Phil Mickelson signature wedges, the Taylormade high toes, and the Callaway PM Grinds.   

[brew4eagle]

Just got a set of FG-51s, 3-P with DG R400

[becalmbecool]

On 10/1/2020 at 6:07 AM, KRW59 said:

This is the sand wedge made the same years as the W/S FG-51 irons.. (1991-1993) .....I played it years ago with my '88 Hogan Redlines , and now it goes in the bag with my '88-'90 Goosenecks.. The scuff on the sole was from a perfectly struck pitch shot off a concrete cart path,I holed out to win a large carry over skin ( $120 )....

Actually, this is the sand wedge from the same years lol, and as far as the comment about FG-51'S not having vertical diamonds on the face, well have a look. Actually, all the LH examples I have seen have had the diamonds, but I've never seen a RH set with the diamonds.  

[becalmbecool]

For all you Wilson fans, here's another quirky LH vs RH difference I've noticed recently.  The 80's era RH Fluid Feel Wilsons do not have the "s" connected to the "o" on the "Wilson" sole stamp, but the LH do. 

[No_Catchy_Nickname]

12 hours ago, brew4eagle said:

Just got a set of FG-51s, 3-P with DG R400

 

Nice irons. R400s? You didn't by any chance get them from Japan, did you? I see a lot of Eighties/Nineties clubs with R400 on the auction sites here. 

[KRW59]

3 hours ago, becalmbecool said:

Actually, this is the sand wedge from the same years lol, and as far as the comment about FG-51'S not having vertical diamonds on the face, well have a look. Actually, all the LH examples I have seen have had the diamonds, but I've never seen a RH set with the diamonds.  

Nice.... both sand wedges were made in the same years ...the difference being ,the FG 51 being the " kit SW " and the Joe Phillips being a " specialty SW "...

 

 

 

 

[brew4eagle]

35 minutes ago, No_Catchy_Nickname said:

 

Nice irons. R400s? You didn't by any chance get them from Japan, did you? I see a lot of Eighties/Nineties clubs with R400 on the auction sites here. 

Not sure where they ultimately originated from, but I bought them from a U.S. seller.

[Swingingk]

3 hours ago, becalmbecool said:

For all you Wilson fans, here's another quirky LH vs RH difference I've noticed recently.  The 80's era RH Fluid Feel Wilsons do not have the "s" connected to the "o" on the "Wilson" sole stamp, but the LH do. 

That's very interesting.  I wonder why that is?  

[brew4eagle]

There's also these FG-51s from a UK seller that don't have the full "Wilson Staff" script on the back, and no "Tour Blade" on the sole, I like this cleaner look....

 

Edited December 12, 2020 by brew4eagle

[No_Catchy_Nickname]

38 minutes ago, brew4eagle said:

There's also these FG-51s from a UK seller that don't have the full "Wilson Staff" script on the back, and no "Tour Blade" on the sole, I like this cleaner look....

 

 

Me too. Wonder if they were manufactured in the UK somewhere under licence.

[Socrates]

I prefer this look.  I had to pull off some lead tape that had been there since the mid 80's.