Our forum faithful are well acquainted with the incredible giveaways and review opportunities in the realm of threads and comments, but we want to ensure front-page readers are involved as well.

Check out what GolfWRXers are saying about Wilson’s new Staff Model ZM wedges after putting them through their paces.

Wilson Staff Model ZM wedges

We have five GolfWRX members testing Wilson’s new Staff Model ZM wedges.

Wilson on new Staff Model ZM wedges

“This family of low, mid and high-bounce wedges delivers short-game confidence for players at every ability level. The forged 8620 carbon steel and precision-milled face provide a soft feel, maximum spin and greater stopping power in all conditions thanks to the unique engineering of the ZM Grooves and our high-tech garnet face blasting.”

How we choose our testers

GolfWRX staff evaluates each entry against the criteria laid out in the testing thread to determine the best fit for each specific product — For example, if a game-improvement iron is being tested, game-improvement iron-playing golfers will be considered.

Member testers

• @Ben Berube
• @QuigleyDU
• @wam78
• @wcbjr
• @DallasSteve

Wilson Staff Model ZM wedges review themes

• Classic looks, shaping — appealing look at address
• Face roughness, durability, spin generation
• Glare-reducing finish
• Versatile grind options without creating confusion
• Excellent distance and consistency
• Solid feel — not mushy, not clicky
• Compelling price point — value

Member review highlights

@Ben Berube

“First impression is wow! Take a look at these babies and how old-school they look. But right out of the box I was blown away. They look legit…”

“On the range, these wedges were locked in. It was 52/53 degrees out so chilly and hitting range balls, but wow they were on point. Familiar shape, topline is perfect, which I am a big fan of. I hate thin top lines in wedges and like when they blend well with my irons…immediately I was thumping the 100-yard flag left and right and then even 20 yards behind that with the 50*.

“Team, these wedges GO! Sure, looks, feel and sound are all important. But kind of hard to screw that up in wedges. I need accurate distances and repeatable feel. These ZF wedges have that factored.”

“Sound and feel are pure. Awesome wedges that stop. Awesome-looking throwbacks.”

“These ZM wedges are performing. The ball blasts off the face and not sure why I am the only one talking about this. The sound is so crisp and not a mush feeling. They feel just as you would expect with the sound…The ball spins too. I continue to suck shots back several feet with the 58-degree.”

“I am truly impressed with these Wilson ZM wedges. Plus for the price point, how can you pay double for a Vokey that will not guarantee anything?”

“Long. Solid. The ball goes. Sound is great. Spin is exceptional, stops on a dime and can suck them back easily.”

“Like we have all said, not “clicky” but a hard hitting sound that I am really liking. Matches the distances and results in full swings. The feel is just solid. What one would expect forged wedges to feel. Not soft like Fourteen. But a nice hard feel like older Miuras or Forged Vokeys used to. Older Pings also come to mind.”

“I dig them all around.”

“I guarantee these Wilson ZM wedges add, or feel like they add an extra 1/2 a club. 58* – goes over 100y easily. 50* – goes like 135’sh for me which is very odd. They are long and what we all want. No? Or maybe it’s the Spinner shafts are kicking these things, fellas?”

“58* – lays nice and flat, I am a big flop shot guy, love to open my faces on all irons and play “super flops”. Nice heel grind so the square leading edge sits flat. It runs through sand like butter.”

“These ZM wedges go like a bandit for me. I am liking it because the sound and feel match the distances and the spin.““Absolutely worth the $$.”

“They are long. Stop on a dime. Have a grind that most would expect. Traditional looks. Sound and feel is really what anyone would expect from crispy-looking wedges like these. Hands down I am so impressed with these wedges…”

@QuigleyDU

“I think these wedges look fantastic…they are a great size and shape. They are a chrome plated wedge that has a little bit of a dull finish that is appreciated to ward off glare.”

“I took them to a practice area and hit some short chips and pitches with the 56 and 60. I actually enjoyed the feel. They are a bit more firm. But I am not yet willing to call the “clicky”. I did like the launch window I was seeing coming off the 60. It was coming off and pitching out low.. I love that. That means the face is grabbing the ball and it is not sliding up the face. That means control.. again love it.”

“The 60 High is the one wedge that is a bit different. But I love the shape. I have loved full-face wedges since they became a thing, I think this wedge is the best shape of all the full toe/high toe wedges out there. The sole is also a bit different. It is wider but still only has 10 degrees of bounce. To me, that means forgiveness and margin for error. I need that at the moment.”

“The grinds to me are minimal. By looks, I would call my 52 an F grind for comparison, the 56 maybe a D grind with a little heel/toe relief. My 60 high toe is a bit of a wide sole. I am not really sure what to compare it to as the bounce is not super high like a K grind. I guess a low bounce K maybe? Personally, for 99.999% of golfers, I think grind is not something most really need to worry too much about. I know I am not really skilled enough with a wedge that I need something super specific. That is why in the past I have mostly opted for Cleveland wedges and the low/mid/high bounce system was fine for me…I think the Wilson bounce and grind options are simple and effective enough for basically all skill levels without getting overly complex.”

“One thing I enjoyed was the flight on fuller shots. It was pretty flat and didn’t get up in the wind. I was able to flight them and hit shots and see them in windows I expected.”

“Feel wise they are firm. I do not want to call the clicky as I don’t think that is true. But they are firmer feeling then say Mizuno or Cleveland wedges. So if that is something that you can’t look past you may want to look elsewhere.”

“I do really like the high toe 60. The shape is great and I felt really comfortable with it. The 56 may be my fav. I used it the most today. I hit some little bump and runs, some pitches, full swings, and even a bunker shot with it. It did well at everything. The sole was versatile enough and I felt I could trust the bounce and sole grind and get out of it what I put in.“

“The 56 is still the star in my book. I feel really comfortable with it. I even start using it more around the green were previously I would default to the 60. It just makes things simpler.”

“Very happy with these wedges”

@wam78

“The shape of these are outstanding! Really love the straighter leading edge and the pinched toe. Not as round as a Vokey and a little more squared off. Also, really love the look from hosel to leading edge as well, very smooth. Overall, the shaping from previous release is a little smaller, straighter lines and that squared off toe I mentioned. Really attractive!”

“Wilson wedges have had my interests since last year. Currently playing a split set of staff model cb’s and d9 forged irons and absolutely loving them! I’ve been a fan of Wilson irons for a while now, but ever since the PMP wedges and previous release, I’ve been wanting to give the wedges a go.”

“I was able to get a small bucket of balls in and have to say, the shape of these is really growing on me. Really like the sharp toe and straight leading edge…Feel off the face is firm, but not clicky at all. More of a solid, dense feel. Kind of addicting honestly.”

“The flight window is perfect. Really easy to flight down which I love!”

“All in all, fantastic look, nice solid feel with a great ball flight.”

@wcbjr

Appearance: “Finish is great. Not too busy. Font is nice, like the small insignia. Clubs are very nice and refined overall.”

50 degree

Definitely a full shot wedge. This is little to no trailing edge relief, as shown above on the left. This suits my game just fine. I use my 50* from about 90-110 yards depending on desired flight. 90 yards is a low shot with spin, 110 is a full shot with moderate spin. I can hit both of those shots, this wedge is very workable. With the combination of the head profile and the Dynamic Gold shaft, the flight is low/mid and boring. Turf interaction is great in all conditions. Rough, fairway, soft, and hard ground. I am a bit steep with my wedges and have not had any issues with digging, which is a very big positive for me. Shots toward the toe and heel obviously will have reduced distance, but not as bad as I had expected. There’s no added tungsten anywhere (I think) so this is the same as any other players wedges out there. Spin is in-line with other brand new, top of the line wedges. But again, I only use this on full shots. I don’t need a 50* spinning off the green.

54 degree

Things start to change a bit with this wedge. Two big things to note on the 54* against the 50*, there is a bit of trailing edge relief and the bounce stays the same at 8*. I only hit full shots with my 50*, and I only use my 60* when I really have to, so I need to hit a variety of yardages. This club is comfortable from 50 yards or all the way 90. I think it’s the combination of the edge relief and the lower bounce. This club is versatile. Spin is great, too. If you get really steep on one, which I do, you can start to scuff the ball. Performance in dry and wet is great. To be honest, I didn’t really even notice a change.

Feel: Overall on all the wedges, I compare them to a Vokey. Even though these wedges are forged, with the exception of the high-toe, they still have some feedback. They aren’t clicky by any means, but they aren’t as soft as say a Mizuno. I’m not really sure how they did that with the fluid-feel/bore-through design. Makes me wonder why they went that route. Maybe it’s just a throwback to their older models.

@DallasSteve

Full disclosure: I got my first set of good irons in 1975 – a set of 1957 Dyna-Powered, leather-gripped 2-PW. I’ve had a few other sets of Staff irons off and on over the years, but I fell in love again with WS because of the FG-59 irons. Now playing a combo set of 2021 Staff cb’s and mb’s, with a full set of mb’s in reserve. Still have the FG Tour V6 set, too, and they may jump back in the bag on occasion! I’ve never played the WS wedges for very long at a time; chipping and pitching are my major weakness and I’m always trying new wedges because it can’t possibly be me, right?!?!? The new Staff Model wedges have had my eye for a bit, and I’ve been really excited to test these beauties out!

“Everyone has seen pics of these wedges by now. They are gorgeous. I love how the weight is distributed in the heads, very much like the Fourteen wedges — more weight on the topline theoretically creates more spin. Vokey picked up on the concept, too. The styling on these Staff Models is superbly done.”

“I’m sure I’ll find something not-as-nice to say at some point, but right now, it’s all good!”

Any room for improvement?

GolfWRX members hoping for the addition of a raw finish. Multiple expressed their preference for a stock shaft other than True Temper Dynamic Gold Spinner.

Bonus comment

QuigleyDU: “One cosmetic thing I want to call out right now that I am glad to see. It is a super simple thing. But! It is a slightly big deal. The bottom groove. It’s a full-size groove. Not some stupid half groove.”

Check out the full member review thread here. 

More about GolfWRX member testing

Member testing gives our forum members the opportunity to put the latest golf equipment through the paces. In exchange for getting a product to test (and keep), forum members are expected to provide in-depth product feedback in the forums, along with photos, and engage with the questions of other forum members.

For brands, the GolfWRX member feedback and direct engagement is a vital window into the perceptions of avid golfers.

You can find additional testing opportunities in the GolfWRX forums.