Wilson Staff Launch Pad Irons Review

Wilson Staff offers a new take on game improvement irons with their new Launch Pad iron series. Geared toward the player looking for help in launch and carry, the Launch Pad irons offer a ton of forgiveness and lift in a clean style and design.

Wilson Staff Launch Pad irons.

Background and Tech

Much like the Wilson Staff Launch Pad driver, the irons in the series fit securely in the game improvement category. A hefty club head design throughout the set leaves no question for whom these are designed: players who need help getting the ball into the air.

“The Launch Pad Irons will give game-improvement golfers confidence over every shot, says Jon Pergande, Manager of Golf Club Innovation. “Keeping the everyday player in mind, our test results show the Launch Pad sole reduces fat shots by 73%, enabling players to attack the course with more confidence.”

Wilson Staff Launch Pad irons sole.

The biggest story of these irons is the Launch Pad sole, designed to all but eliminate the “chunk” or fat shots that plague mid-to-high handicappers. More pronounced in the longer irons, this sole progressively narrows down to the scoring clubs, which are closer to a traditional width. A slightly thicker sole also promotes a leading edge that hovers above the ground, setting players up for ideal impact at address.

Lightweight in design to promote higher swing speeds, the Launch Pad irons come equipped with your choice of steel KBS Tour 80 or graphite UST-Mamiya Recoil 460 shafts.

Wilson Launch Pad irons hosel graphics.

Appearance and Performance

As described above, the aesthetics of the Launch Pad irons are game improvement-minded through and through. These club heads are thick, and they appear to be closer to a hybrid design than a traditional iron.

There are two schools of thought on the design: it’s either too “hefty” for players who prefer a traditional design, or thick enough to promote confidence in your game. At address the Launch Pad irons look like you can’t possibly hit a bad shot. The offset is minimal, and the club face topline is thin enough to remind you that this is still an iron. While the thickness of the iron’s back is definitely noticeable, hybrid fans won’t be distracted from the shape at all.

When struck, these irons produce a soft “clicking” sound at impact. This is preferred for a club of this type, as I don’t want to hear an overly metallic sound I could expect from fairway woods or larger hybrids. It is distinct from an iron sound, mind you; however, watching the golf ball launch effortlessly launch into the air is a treat.

Wilson Staff Launch Pad iron topline.

I’m convinced these might be the easiest clubs I’ve hit all season. There’s almost zero thought required when swinging the club, because you just know the ball is getting airborne. While distances were a tad shorter for me in comparison to my gamers, there’s nothing wrong with taking one more club to get the distance you need. (*Note: I was not fit to these clubs, so finding the proper shaft combo could also help.)

What was most impressive in the Launch Pad iron series were the long irons. I found the 4-iron, for example, to launch higher than my gamers, which took some getting used to. On particularly windy days this may prove to be an issue, however I cannot overstate the feeling of knowing the ball is going to fly effortlessly toward the target on lower-lofted clubs. As someone who sometimes struggles with my long irons (and who doesn’t?), this was a huge plus.

Wilson Staff Launch pad WS shield.

Overall Impression

Mid-to-high handicap players need to consider the Wilson Staff Launch Pad irons this upcoming season. While every company offers some level of game improvement options, these are by far the best rendition from Wilson Staff in a long time. With a proper fitting to account for distance control, the Wilson Staff Launch Pad irons appear to be a home run.

For more information on the entire Launch Pad family, visit Wilson Golf here.