Specification comparison

Highlighted cells differ between the two sets. Lofts and lies are factory standard.

Lofts compared

What the differences mean

At the 7-iron, the Staff Tour Blade is 38° and the Staff Model Blade is 34°, a 4° gap. Each degree of loft is worth roughly 3 to 4 yards of carry at the same swing speed, so the Staff Model Blade should carry roughly 12 to 16 yards further with that club, on a slightly lower, shallower flight than the Staff Tour Blade. Across the 9 clubs both sets share, the Staff Model Blade averages 3.6° stronger, with the largest gap at the 5-iron (30° vs 26°). The pitching wedges are 50° and 46°; the stronger one leaves a 4° jump to a 50° gap wedge, which matters when planning wedge gapping. Beyond loft, the Staff Tour Blade 7-iron sits 1° flatter (61° vs 62°), which nudges start direction slightly right for a right-hander; the Staff Model Blade 7-iron is 1 inches longer (36.25" vs 37.25").

The sets are built differently: the Staff Tour Blade runs 2-iron to SW (10 clubs), the Staff Model Blade 2-iron to PW (9 clubs).

Both are blade irons, built for low single-digit handicaps who strike the ball consistently. Compact muscleback irons with minimal offset, thin toplines and the smallest sweet spot — built for shot-shaping over forgiveness. Because they target the same golfer, the decision comes down to the specific loft, feel and shaping differences rather than who the sets are made for.

The Staff Tour Blade is listed as forged muscle back and the Staff Model Blade as forged. The Staff Tour Blade's muscle-back shape keeps mass directly behind the strike for feedback and control, where a cavity spreads it to the perimeter for forgiveness.

There are 32 years between these sets (1987 and 2019), more than one design generation. Over that time irons moved toward stronger lofts, thinner and faster faces, hollow and multi-material heads and wider use of tungsten, so the newer set is not simply a better version of the older one: it may launch and spin quite differently. Here the 7-iron loft moved from 38° to 34°.

Which should you choose?

The Staff Model Blade is the stronger-lofted set — up to 4° stronger than the Staff Tour Blade on matching clubs. Expect longer carry per numbered iron but a flatter descent angle; gapping at the wedge end is where that shows up.

Both charts are reproduced in full on their own pages: Wilson Staff Tour Blade specs and Wilson Staff Model Blade specs.

Frequently asked questions