I’ve reviewed every iron model in the new 2026 Staff Model family and thoroughly enjoyed doing so. It’s no secret that Wilson has some momentum in the irons department of late, especially with the resurgence of the Staff Model brand.
After dropping out of favour with many golfers, it’s nice to see that Wilson is on an upward trajectory, because they’ve gone back to what they know – creating great looking, great performing players irons.
In this review, I’ll be looking at the latest edition of the Staff Model Blades, which should be bread and butter for Wilson, right? I’m not sure the same could be said for me however, I haven’t tested a set of blades for a little while so this could be interesting…
Who Are They Aimed At?
It goes without saying that these irons are not only aimed at better players, but elite golfers. Ball strikers, long hitters, traditionalists, players who have it on a piece of string and do so consistently. As Wilson puts it, they’re “crafted for the world’s most precise ball strikers.”
As we know, there’s not too many of them around and in 2026 with the amount of forgiveness available across the iron market, even if you are that kind of player, the chances are a cavity back iron is still the best option. Just ask this generation’s best ball striker and five-time major champion, Rory McIlroy.
If you’re interested in blades, you better make sure your game is up to scratch.
The Tech
The Staff Model Blade design is the flagship iron in the Wilson lineup and remains a favourite among the brand’s global Tour professionals, but as we know technology is not something R&D departments concern themselves with when it comes to blades. For these, you’re pretty much on your own.
However there has been some changes since the 2024 irons. The 2026 model features refined, contemporary shaping engineered for exceptional control. A variable hosel length is said to enable more accurate mass distribution and ensures seamless visual alignment with the Staff Model CB and XB models.
The blade length has been shortened and offset reduced, delivering a more compact profile and minimising the area beyond the scoreline – resulting in a distinctly modern, tour-inspired aesthetic.
Wilson 2026 Staff Model Blade Irons Review
Looks
The Staff Model Blades are stunning looking irons. I’d go as far as to say they’re probably the best-looking irons of the year so far, completing what is a great looking iron family with sharp lines and great craftsmanship.
Unsurprisingly they feature a small footprint by the ball, with minimal offset which was really refreshing.
The topline isn’t quite as thin as I had anticipated which again was a nice surprise.
Yes, these heads are small but they’re not tiny and there’s enough meat behind the ball to give a little confidence. I certainly wasn’t scared…
I really like the look of the variable hosel length paired with the traditional-looking extra-long ferrules. This is then combined with the modern brushed chrome finish and the Wilson shield logo making for an all-round beautiful iron.
As I mentioned in both reviews of the CB and XB irons, there’s something about the brushed satin finish that just slightly cheapens the overall package for me though.
A lot will disagree, but I just find it a little bright on the eye – I would prefer a slightly darker finish.
Feel
The Staff Model blades aren’t the softest feeling blades on the market, but they’re certainly not hard either. If it’s super-soft that you’re after, look no further than the Mizuno Pro S1.
The irons are crafted from forged 8620 Carbon Steel, which is one of the softest materials on the market, and what you get is instant feedback at impact. You can tell exactly where you’ve struck it on the face which is really refreshing in today’s world of technology packed heads.
During testing I hit a couple right out of the meat and that’s when you really do get that buttery soft feel, they also sound great – a real throwback.
Performance
I tested the 5, 7 and 9 irons on Foresight GCQuad and Titleist Pro V1 balls as per, and when analysing the data I have to say I was very surprised in how much I was getting out of the Staff Model blades, in terms of ball speed and carry – especially with the longer irons.
Due to inconsistent ball striking, I was expecting to see a significant drop in carry numbers from the XB and CB models, yet this was only really the case with the 9 iron.
With 5 irons I was impressed to see a ball speed of 130 mph and a carry distance of 199 yards for a single shot. This isn’t too far off my Titleist T250s that have stronger lofts and far more in the way of speed off the face. On average I saw 191 carry and 128 ball speed, which was a real pleasant surprise. Maybe blades aren’t as hard to hit as we all thought!
With 7 iron I averaged 165.5 yards carry, which is much more what I expected to be seeing but still quite impressive – it’s a number I’d be pretty happy with on the golf course.
I really enjoyed how consistent the spin numbers were when testing these irons too, even when the odd mishit crept in I still looked up and saw consistency across the face.
Wilson 2026 Staff Model Blade Irons Review
As we’re seeing year on year, blades are unsurprisingly becoming a thing of the past. Before I hit the first few shots in testing, I was expecting to really struggle with consistency, dispersion and strike, but I really was pleasantly surprised.
If you’re a better player and a confident ball striker looking for a set of modern blades, these just must be on your testing list – especially with the competitive price-tag of £1,169 RRP for 7 irons.
They look great not only in the bag but also down by the ball, offer more forgiveness and speed than any blade I have ever tested and feel great. What more can you really ask for?
Would I Use Them?
Don’t be daft. Let’s not get too excited…
