Wilson Staff Model RB Utility Irons

The new Wilson Staff Model RB Utility irons officially put a bow on Wilson’s impressive first half of 2024.

Yes, we said impressive. 

The new Dynapower Forged irons are sure to be contenders in this year’s player’s distance iron testing.

It’s the revamped Staff Model lineup, however, that’s doing more than simply turning heads.

If sleek and sexy player’s clubs make your heart do the cha-cha, the new Staff Models will have all your major organs doing the South Side Shuffle all night long.

Wilson Staff Model RB Utility Irons

Utility irons, by their very name, serve a utilitarian purpose. Their job is to fill the gap between the longest set-specific iron you’re comfortable hitting and your shortest metalwood, be it a hybrid or a fairway. Some still call the utility iron a “driving iron,” but OEMs prefer to stick with “utility” for one simple reason: it implies the iron has many varied uses.

Need to hit a fairway on a short and narrow par-4? Reach for your utility iron. A long par-3 where precision is key? Grab it again. How about a long, low punch-out? There are three utilities right there.

And if you’re the kind of player who tends to hook most hybrids off the continent (columnist sheepishly raises hand), you can further utilize the utility’s utility.

Like the rest of the Staff Model family, the new Wilson Staff Model RB utility irons are built for better players and were designed with input from Padraig Harrington and Kevin Kisner. Compared to the previous Staff Model utility irons, they do feature a noticeably slimmer topline. You won’t confuse it with a Staff Model blade or CB however as its topline is more in line with that of the Dynapower Forged.

Like most utility irons, the Wilson Staff Model RB utility irons do have some junk in the trunk, so to speak. The wide soles and the short-ish, squat Barney Rubble-looking build allow designers to get the CG as low as possible. That makes them easier to get up in the air than a standard long iron, especially for those of us with less than elite swing speed.

In its release information, Wilson says it’s added extra weight towards the toe to keep the nasty snap hooks at bay.

C300 Steel?

Also in its release package, Wilson says it’s using a “cutting edge” material for the face with C300 steel. C300 is better known as maraging steel which has been used in hybrids and fairways woods for years. Maraging steel, by any other name, is still maraging steel and it’s used for everything from transmission shafts and missile skins to fencing blades and bicycle frames. C300 is the second-highest grade of maraging steel. Higher amounts of cobalt and titanium make it very light and very strong and able to maintain that strength when made very thin. C300 is rated to withstand 300,000 pounds of pressure per square inch.

Utility irons may be irons but their hollow-body design is metalwood-based. Hollow bodies allow maximum face deflection which results in maximum ball speed.  Unfortunately, hollow-body designs often sound clanky. In regular irons, OEMs will inject the hollow body with foam or urethane to serve as a dampening agent. Unfortunately, anything injected into the body can limit face deflection which carries a ball speed penalty.

And if you’re gaming a utility iron, you don’t want a ball speed penalty.

Wilson is opting for an internal rib structure to mitigate that clanking, hence the RB in the club name. In our informal testing, we can say that while the RB utility isn’t as soft and sweet as the Staff Model blades or CBs, they do belong in the same family. A little clickier, perhaps, but still pleasing in sound and feel.

Wilson Staff Model RB Utility Irons: Final Thoughts, Price and Availability

As mentioned, it’s been quite a first half of 2024 for Wilson. We’ll see how each entry fares in MyGolfSpy testing (soon, dear reader, soon) but past performance shows these new offerings should perform. Wilson’s entries have traditionally performed well in player’s and player’s distance irons testing.

The usual suspects tend to dominate our Utility Iron testing. PING, Srixon, TaylorMade and Titleist are all regulars on the medal stand. But it’s also a category where outliers will perform well. Names such as Sub 70, Tour Edge, Proto Concept and Caley have all shown well. Wilson? Not so much. The original Staff Model was last tested in 2021 and finished in the bottom third of the pack.

Despite such a late release, the Wilson Staff Model RB utility should make it into this year’s testing. Based on some informal on-course and range testing, we can say you had better bring your ball-striking chops if you wish to game one. It’s not punishing, but you’ll likely find the the PING iCrossover or Titleist U505 more forgiving. The Wilson is more in line with the COBRA KING TEC utility in terms of playability.

The new Wilson Staff Model RB utility irons are non-adjustable and will be available in 18-, 21- and 24-degree lofts. The True Temper HZRDUS Gen 4 Black is the stock shaft while the Golf Pride Z is the stock grip.

The list price is $249.99. They’ll be available at retail and on Wilson.com starting Tuesday, July 9.

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