granters
Q-School Graduate
As i'm off work at the moment and very bored i was looking through my gear trying to decide what needs updated first. So out came my beloved Wilson Staff Progressives, bought for me by my old man in 1996 for doing well in my exams.
I recently regripped them with pink multi-compounds (Mr Wilson forgive me for i have sinned...). The shafts are Wilson Firestick steel, RL115 regular flex.
I got down to 5 with these boys, and by god if you can hit them, you can hit anything. I still use them, although i mix and match the longer irons with some Fatshafts. I aint as good as i used to be.
These were made when Wilson Staff were one of THE names in irons. You can see by the condition of them that they were built to last. Real quality workmanship you don't see often these days. Before the days of everything being made in China and manufacturers took real pride in their product.
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The set up is 3-7 iron are cavities, although still aimed at the tour pro with very much a "blade" feel and flight. This is the cavity
The long irons are not for the faint hearted and are extremley unforgiving, but have stood me in good stead over the years. I can honestly say they have made me a better golfer, as every shot puts my technique under intense scrutiny. This is the top line of the 3 iron
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There's no better feeling than catching one out of the centre which produces a beautifully low, boring flight. Catch it bad and it's going nowhere fast.
The bladed clubs are real players irons. They also fly low and must be kept under control. They send it fizzing from the centre of the face, start low and gently rise during the flight. Beautiful when executed properly.
Side by side
I have to concede, they just can't compete distance wise with modern clubs. They are purely based around feel, which is why i struggle with certain modern brands. There are plenty of occasions where i'll be standing on the tee with a 6 iron and my partners will have 8 irons.
And there are plenty of times that i've knocked it closer.
I would certainly argue that modern technology has taken a fair amount of skill out of the game, but necassarily so to make it more accessible.
I would also argue that the technical skills i have gained through using my Wilsons have absolutely made be a better ball striker, a better "worker" of the ball and given me the confidence that I am playing the shot, not the club. It's for these reasons i really believe i'll get down to low single figures when i really get going again.
It would do a lot of beginners a lot of good if they learned their trade on a set like this.
I've considered selling them a few times but just can't bring myself to do it. I have so many good memories attached to these peices of metal that only a golfer can understand.
I played my one and only Club Champ final(junior) with them and had the round of my life, hitting 70 off whites for 2 under par, and still losing the match against a Scotland Internationalist.
I beat some players i had no right to beat, and me and my clubs had to stick together when the pressure was on.
I shot 67, 69 and 70 in 3 consecutive medals with them.
I don't need to go on, you understand because you're a golfer too.
So while technology has left my old Wilsons in the past, i'll always remember and cherish them. And they'll certainly get a few more outings before they are replaced.
I hope nobody has cried sentimental tears reading this like i have
I recently regripped them with pink multi-compounds (Mr Wilson forgive me for i have sinned...). The shafts are Wilson Firestick steel, RL115 regular flex.
I got down to 5 with these boys, and by god if you can hit them, you can hit anything. I still use them, although i mix and match the longer irons with some Fatshafts. I aint as good as i used to be.
These were made when Wilson Staff were one of THE names in irons. You can see by the condition of them that they were built to last. Real quality workmanship you don't see often these days. Before the days of everything being made in China and manufacturers took real pride in their product.
[image]
The set up is 3-7 iron are cavities, although still aimed at the tour pro with very much a "blade" feel and flight. This is the cavity
The long irons are not for the faint hearted and are extremley unforgiving, but have stood me in good stead over the years. I can honestly say they have made me a better golfer, as every shot puts my technique under intense scrutiny. This is the top line of the 3 iron
[image]
There's no better feeling than catching one out of the centre which produces a beautifully low, boring flight. Catch it bad and it's going nowhere fast.
The bladed clubs are real players irons. They also fly low and must be kept under control. They send it fizzing from the centre of the face, start low and gently rise during the flight. Beautiful when executed properly.
Side by side
I have to concede, they just can't compete distance wise with modern clubs. They are purely based around feel, which is why i struggle with certain modern brands. There are plenty of occasions where i'll be standing on the tee with a 6 iron and my partners will have 8 irons.
And there are plenty of times that i've knocked it closer.
I would certainly argue that modern technology has taken a fair amount of skill out of the game, but necassarily so to make it more accessible.
I would also argue that the technical skills i have gained through using my Wilsons have absolutely made be a better ball striker, a better "worker" of the ball and given me the confidence that I am playing the shot, not the club. It's for these reasons i really believe i'll get down to low single figures when i really get going again.
It would do a lot of beginners a lot of good if they learned their trade on a set like this.
I've considered selling them a few times but just can't bring myself to do it. I have so many good memories attached to these peices of metal that only a golfer can understand.
I played my one and only Club Champ final(junior) with them and had the round of my life, hitting 70 off whites for 2 under par, and still losing the match against a Scotland Internationalist.
I beat some players i had no right to beat, and me and my clubs had to stick together when the pressure was on.
I shot 67, 69 and 70 in 3 consecutive medals with them.
I don't need to go on, you understand because you're a golfer too.
So while technology has left my old Wilsons in the past, i'll always remember and cherish them. And they'll certainly get a few more outings before they are replaced.
I hope nobody has cried sentimental tears reading this like i have
