FIRST LOOK: Wilson Staff Model utility iron merges speed, forgiveness

For the better part of eight months, Wilson’s Staff Model utility iron has existed as a “prototype” on the professional circuit. Gary Woodland and Brendan Steele are just a few of the high-profile names who’ve employed the club on occasion. Woodland even used the club for 36 holes during his first major title at the U.S. Open.

Now recreational players will finally get a crack at a club designed to replace the long irons in your bag.

The hollow body design features a high-strength C300 maraging steel insert that increases the trampoline effect across the entire face for faster ball speeds, particularly on mis-hits.

“The Staff Model Utility Irons will give golfers confidence on every shot and in every condition,” said Jon Pergande, Wilson’s manager of golf club innovation. “Originally created for our professional staff members, we are excited to bring the utility irons to golfers and believe the strong mix of distance and forgiveness will enable players to attack the course with more confidence.”

Utility irons have historically come in second to hybrids in the forgiveness department, but thanks to a 7-gram weight plug positioned low inside the clubhead, Wilson’s design team was able to expand the sweet spot while increasing the overall launch at the same time. The design is reminiscent of the sole weight found on the company’s FG Tour V4 utility.

The utility iron’s clean aesthetics are meant to mimic the Staff Model Blade for the better player who decides to replace traditional long irons with a more forgiving option.

Wilson’s Staff Model utility iron is available Dec. 11 in three lofts (18, 21 and 24 degrees) and retails for $230. The standard stock shaft offering is KBS’s Tour Hybrid graphite.