Calling all Wilson experts

[braincramp52]

Did anyone know what era and loft this sand wedge is? 

 

[elwhippy]

I am thinking an 84-87 model. Quite a wide sole for a Staff. Ideal for softer US bunkers. Great find.

[Stephen8802]

It is in the '86, '86, an '88 catalogs.

[braincramp52]

18 hours ago, elwhippy said:

I am thinking an 84-87 model. Quite a wide sole for a Staff. Ideal for softer US bunkers. Great find.

I figured it was a good find for $1.46 at goodwill.😄

[Maine Golfer]

My gut tells me 55 degrees. Great fan, I adore Wilson Staff wedges from the 20th century. 

[Shallowface]

It's a 1986-88 model, and this spec page is from the 1988 catalog.

[elwhippy]

An absolute bargain. Well done Sir. 

[LeoLeo99]

On 3/5/2024 at 8:37 PM, Shallowface said:

It's a 1986-88 model, and this spec page is from the 1988 catalog.

 

A 5 iron at 30°.  Wow.  That's a modern 6, 7, or 8 iron.  

[The Aspidistra in the Hall]

4 minutes ago, LeoLeo99 said:

A 5 iron at 30°.  Wow.  That's a modern 6, 7, or 8 iron. 

Same length of shaft as the 6 or7 as well. That's 'loft creep' for you, same club just a different number on the sole.

 

[Shallowface]

The modern "standard set" is Driver/Fairway Wood/Hybrid and then the first iron.

 

The first iron is the 4th club, so maybe that's why modern iron sets these days usually begin with the 4 iron.  Which is comparable in length and loft to the 2 iron in the chart pictured above.  And for most people, just as unplayable.

 

Loft creep is what it is.  It used to bother me, but I don't care anymore.

 

 

  

[Maine Golfer]

4 hours ago, Shallowface said:

 

 

Loft creep is what it is.  It used to bother me, but I don't care anymore.

 

 

  

It bothers me not at all. The consumer has so many choices these days, I respect one's right to play what they wish.  I like my 2012 Cleveland's , easy 9 iron 39 degree's to the pin and I get great distance with my 7. 

 

I enjoy apples and oranges!  

[braincramp52]

13 minutes ago, Maine Golfer said:

It bothers me not at all. The consumer has so many choices these days, I respect one's right to play what they wish.  I like my 2012 Cleveland's , easy 9 iron 39 degree's to the pin and I get great distance with my 7. 

 

I enjoy apples and oranges!  

It's funny. I'm 71 and don't hit my irons very far. I'm the perfect candidate for strong lofted irons but I really can't say they have ever helped me score better. 

[bcstones]

5 hours ago, Shallowface said:

Loft creep is what it is.  It used to bother me, but I don't care anymore.

Loft creep doesn't really bother me either....however, the reason for it - that still bugs me. It's merely a marketing ploy of the "business" of golf, to increase sales by selling the notion that 'distance is king' 👎 & "strong" lofts are those that go further...IMO, it "weakens" the Game of Golf & I will always translate, in my mind, the term "strong" lofts...

I prefer to play the Game w/clubs based on a 7 iron loft of 40* to 38*......I have a set of H&B PowerBilt circa '56-'57, that have the 7 iron loft of 40*. It's as close in years to my first set of golf clubs, a retail H&B Grand Slam Mars 70 (which I would love to find/build at least a starter set)

 

oops, just checked the 7 iron loft of my Hogan Magnum Plus, Ping Eye2, Tommy Armour 845s & Browning 440 - all but the Magnum Plus seem to be in the 36* range, the Magnum Plus less than that....sure shows the 'creep' over time in sets I have these days 🤣

[Shilgy]

On 3/4/2024 at 12:10 PM, elwhippy said:

I am thinking an 84-87 model. Quite a wide sole for a Staff. Ideal for softer US bunkers. Great find.

Not unless the picture is backwards.😎

[Hawkeye77]

Nice!  My brother-in-law had a set of Wilson from that time period.  Brings back memories, my first really nice set were these - a few years before.  Pic not mine - wish I still had them just to look at.

 

 

Edited March 13, 2024 by Hawkeye77

[Swingingk]

On 3/12/2024 at 7:13 PM, Hawkeye77 said:

Nice!  My brother-in-law had a set of Wilson from that time period.  Brings back memories, my first really nice set were these - a few years before.  Pic not mine - wish I still had them just to look at.

 

 

One of if not THE greatest irons ever made.  There - I said it. 😁