Late 70s-Early 80s Wilson Staff Tour Blades

[MV8980]

As a junior golfer in the late 70s and early 80s, I admired the Wilson Staff Tour blades in the bags of the 17-21 year olds who played them at my club. I never owned a set but still like the look of them to this day.

 

A couple of questions: I'm looking for a complete set of these irons but see varying models on eBay and other places: Fluid Feels, Staff Tour Blades, Staff Tour Blades FG-17, and perhaps others.

 

I'm most interested in the Staff Tour Blade model and perhaps the Staff Tour Blade FG-17. What are the differences between these two? Does anyone have a link to in-depth information about Wilson irons from this era?

[meades]

I can tell you that the Wilson Tour Blades 78-80 have more muscle behind the ball than the FG-17's. Lower ball flight also. Both are outstanding irons and I grew up playing the 64 Fluid Feel's before switching to the 80 Tour Blades. I still have my sets including FG-17's and pull them out here and there to hit at the range. I game the MP 37's now and IMO they are favs. Good luck in your search for a nice set of these vintage blades.

[freddiec]

I played the mid 80s version of the "staff tour blade- fluid feel", which came out a few years after the FG-17's. The FG-17s in my opinion are probably the hardest to hit blades ever made. Very small and thin.

 

Here is the set i had and you would probably really like these. They were pretty nice. There was also another model around the same time that didn't say "tour blade" that were perhaps a tad better.

 

http://cgi.ebay.com/Wilson-Staff-Tour-Blad...93%3A1|294%3A50

[Mike_C]

I had a set of the 1976 blade, only year they made that model. I sold them to a another kid on the golf team the next year. I wish I never did, they were great sticks.....

 

 

Here is a history of all wilson irons....

 

http://www.wilson.com/wilson/staff/hist_vintage.jsp

[meades]

Some of these late 80s models get thicker soles. I guess it depends on what type of ball striker you are. I tend to to dig and the thicker soles do not help me. Leading edges are not rolled

[Jay4]

LOL...thank to the OP for nostalgia, was playing EYE2 and star-stuck by the Wilson Staff Blades, everyone I saw who had a set possess serious game.

[jmck]

FG-17s are hard to hit! Only Ram has made a smaller headed blade in the last 30 years. I'd recommend any of the fluid feel models. They made a bunch of different variations on the same theme from the early 60s to late 80s. Generally speaking, the more recent the Fluid Feel model the easier it is to hit. This one Ebay Auction 350198839544 is from the mid to late 80s (not listed in Wilson's history section). I still have a set of them and gamed them back in the 90s. Great set. Very underrated as far as blades goes. Noone ever mentions them when the "best blades of all time" thread reappears, but they're workable, forgiving, very soft, and quite pretty. That particular set on ebay is in rough shape, but if I was going to put a set of Staffs in the bag today that'd be the model.

 

Another great set that isn't on the Wilson website is the FG-51. Early 90s I think. They saw a ton of usage on the tour back in the day. No sets on ebay right now, just this 1-iron Ebay Auction 120416091311. Pretty, eh?

[mat562]

All very good irons.

 

The mid 70s 'Staff' model and the late 70s Staff Tour were brilliant irons. Both were still seeing a lot of play in the bags of good players when I started out in the game in the mid 80s. Fat muscled clubs with a high CoG and a squarish toe grind. The FG-17s came along a couple of years later and were more of the same. Smallish, high-muscled blades with a penetrating flight. Along with the Mizuno, Hogan, MacGregor and Maxfli irons they were right at the top of the tree as far as irons were concerned at that time. Lovely irons, the lot.

 

The next ones along, as I remember, were the Staff Tour Blades with a little shelf on the back. Then came the set that everyone remembers, in '87 or so, the Fluid Feels with the little red plug in the heel-side of the sole and the sort of tapered bar of muscle on the back. The MkII Fluid Feels came along at the end of the 80s and were also a cracking iron. Still the same squarish look at address and the same narrow sole.

 

A friend played the MkI Fluid Feels for years and swore they were the best set of irons there were at that time. They had to be prised out of his hands when they finally wore out.

[Jay4]

Hey Mat, what type did Arnie and Payne play with?

[fas22]

I had a set of the 1976 blade, only year they made that model. I sold them to a another kid on the golf team the next year. I wish I never did, they were great sticks.....

 

 

Here is a history of all wilson irons....

 

http://www.wilson.com/wilson/staff/hist_vintage.jsp

 

I've got these exact irons. I played them this morning in fact. I bought them 5 years ago for $75 and put some s300 sensicore shafts in them.

 

Like the other poster said, they have a very meaty muscleback. They're way more forgiving than you'd think. The one thing you have to watch is that there is no bounce (maybe even negative bounce) and a sharp leading edge. So you have to be careful to avoid a steep digging strike.

 

Very nice feeling clubs and quite playable. I've never had any of the other Wilson blades.

[jmck]

There's the Fluid Feel set I was recommending for sale right here:

 

http://www.golfwrx.com/forums/index.php?sh...p;hl=fluid+feel

 

Small world.

[freddiec]

jmck,

Yup, in 1986 ish that model you posted was a very very desireable set for the very good club pro player. A couple of the Class A guys I knew had those and they were the cat's meow. Great design. They still look the nuts to my eye today. Love that model. Those and Hogan Apexs were the best in the 80s.

 

My brother played a set of Dynapower's for years when he was a kid. He won a huge Jr Match play tournament when he was 17 with a set of dynapowers and a Powerbilt persimmon driver. Good memories.

[KickaPoo]

has anyone seen the new 2010 Wilson Staff Tour Blades (not the FG59's) that are exclusive to Edwin Watts? I just got their most recent flyer and they look very nice. Only $499 for the 3-PW set too. But I cant find any info about them online

[KickaPoo]

this is the only thing i could find. its the page from the new Edwin Watts flyer.

http://www.edwinwattsgolfcatalogs.com/lg_display.cfm/page/2/catalog/Spring_2010

 

[varsityhacker]

I saw those but thought they were the FG59's which I own. I would like to compare them to the FG59's which are a tiny blade, but so pretty.

[jollysammy]

I just bought a set of these for my son to experiment with, but they're in such nice shape that I might get him another set to play with instead.

[url="http://www.ebay.com/itm/NICE-VINTAGE-WILSON-STAFF-FG-17-TOUR-BLADE-IRONS-3-9-SAND-WEDGE-/191190707770?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEWNX%3AIT&_trksid=p2047675.l2557&nma=true&si=fRvO%252BHbVHvT8gkOiP61k4oY34%252F4%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc"]http://www.ebay.com/itm/NICE-VINTAGE-WILSON-STAFF-FG-17-TOUR-BLADE-IRONS-3-9-SAND-WEDGE-/191190707770?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEWNX%3AIT&_trksid=p2047675.l2557&nma=true&si=fRvO%252BHbVHvT8gkOiP61k4oY34%252F4%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc[/url]

[cgasucks]

[quote name='jollysammy' timestamp='1401804641' post='9420731']
I just bought a set of these for my son to experiment with, but they're in such nice shape that I might get him another set to play with instead.

[url="http://www.ebay.com/itm/NICE-VINTAGE-WILSON-STAFF-FG-17-TOUR-BLADE-IRONS-3-9-SAND-WEDGE-/191190707770?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEWNX%3AIT&_trksid=p2047675.l2557&nma=true&si=fRvO%252BHbVHvT8gkOiP61k4oY34%252F4%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc"]http://www.ebay.com/...cvip=true&rt=nc[/url]
[/quote]

Great buy! I have a set of Fg-17s myself....may your son break course records with that set..

[TeeBonZ]

I grew up playing those staff blades! I played them until the Eye 2's came out and then switched. My son gamed them last year and I hit a few with them again. They are super clubs! Mine are the Staff Tour Blade.

[mosesgolf]

Oh man memories are coming back. I used to play a set of Wilson Staff Blades back in the 80's. I don't remember paying how much but it was pretty pricey for the 1980's. Those were the days when Wilson ruled the irons market.

[ebk]

Wow. I have an all original (except maybe grips) set of 1961 Wilson Staff Dyna Power Fluid Feel and a set of same model from I think 1967 with DG shafts. Awesome clubs, when hit solid. Sweet spot is pretty close to heel and not too large, if I remember correctly. The '61s were my dads, so they are not going anywhere, even if I haven't used them in thirty years...

Those Staffs you mention are sweet - I remember a number of good players using them. It seems the good players played them or Hogan back in the day.

I remember walking Spyglass at the Crosby in the mid 80's and George Archer, who was leading the tourney that day was still using the mid '60s Dyna Powers.

[Jaylasvegas]

Great thread, my first set was the 1978-80 tour blades. The most beautiful irons ever made IMO

[oldschoolrocker]

For some eye candy on older Wilson irons come by the classic forum section and take a gander at some of the old sets.

[Llefty]

I'm fairly sure Payne Stewart played Staff Progressive irons,among other Staff models. I had a set that I played for almost 10 years. Really nice. Surprisingly,I didnt think the FG-17s were that hard to hit. They had a low trajectory,and a vibration at impact that I really liked.

[jollysammy]

The reason I got them was that my son currently games ZM and ZB irons for tournaments and these looked fairly similar. He's been playing blades from 11 years old to now age 14. He's a pure ballstriker with unorthodox grip, never has a divot, picks it clean.

[super20dan]

had a set of the 78-80 tour blades. couldnt hit them to save my life

[Bimmer1]

In the 1980's as a junior golfer the FG-17's were all I knew and I played my best golf with them. The 76 irons were awesome. I always wanted a set but eventually fell in love with the SX-25 blades from Yamaha (Hal Sutton grind). I think Edwin Watts even had a fluid feel Dynapower re-issue set available in the late 1980's.

[jollysammy]

Oh my god. The irons arrived and they look beautiful. The grooves look like they were hit maybe 3 times at most and the grips are still looking like new. I asked the seller for the history of these clubs and he responded that he didn't know, he bought them at an estate sale. Seems like the poor guy might've been a collector or had these and saved them somehow like new, died and either his wife or unknowing kids just sold his stuff off cheap. Now I'm not sure if I want my son to game these, he hit them on the range and they are just a little shorter and lower trajectory than his Titleist blades, but not much, and dead straight. With the low bounce, great for tight lies. He was launching high rainbows with the sand wedge off of dried tight lies...

[jollysammy]

I just got a set of 1976 bullet backs Wilson Staffs as well. They hit even sweeter than the tour blades according to my son. Would anyone know the loft and lie angles for this vintage set?

[Kathy Marie]

From Maltby's Golf Club Design, Fitting, Alteration & Repair, 4th edition, p844:

2i 21* 38.5" 57*
3i 24 38 58
4i 27 37.5 59
5i 31 37 60
6i 35 36.5 61
7i 39 36.25 62
8i 43 35.75 63
9i 47 35.25 63
P 51 35.25 64
S 55 35.25 64


These stats were published in 1974 and the next set listed was published in 1982. The lofts are all decreased by one degree excepting the sand wedge which stays at 55; lies on 6-9 were reduced by one degree and lengths remained the same excepting the pitching and sand wedges which were shortened by a quarter inch.

HTH,

Kathy
editted for formatting

[Forged4ever]

Can't really add anything to what's been said above.

Played Staffs for 19 years before switchin to Mizzy in '86.

First set in '67 was a cut down set of Dyna Powers. Played the 17's when they were introduced in '81, and went through a second set whichntook me to '86. The Tour Blade followed the 17's though I stayed with the 17's. I was used to em, could hit em and they were beautiful irons, though so were the Tour Blades.

I play a set of Button Backs or 17's in an annual 36 hole vintage tournament.

The 51's were decent irons but the best Staff blades that I feel they've put out since the 17's are the 59's. I rotate those with my 68's and the finished '12 in the bag.

Staff blades are second to none, even today.

Have a great season Bro

Fairways & Greens My Friends,
Richard