Gear: Wilson Staff Model, Staff Model X balls Price: $54.99 per dozen
Specifications: Available in yellow and white, four-piece urethane covered balls.
Available: 12 January
For Whom: Golfers looking to maximize their greenside spin and achieve elite distances off the tee.
The Skinny : Wilson reformulated cores for the Staff Model and Staff Model X golf balls to increase distance and spin on the green.
The Deep Dive – Wilson produces all of the footballs and tennis balls for the NFL, as well as all the golf balls for the U.S. Open Tennis Championship.
Wilson’s Staff Duo is a low-spin ball that helps recreational golfers straighten their slice and hit more fairways. The perimeter-weighted Triad is designed for golfers looking to improve their greenside spin. Staff Model balls are designed for elite players that want maximum control and distance on the greens. The Staff Model X and standard Staff Model have both been updated to 2024.
Both the Staff Model X and Staff Model are four-piece balls with a large core of rubber that is encased by two layers of mantle. Wilson Golf has changed the composition of its core and added material to increase ball speed and range.
Staff Model X and Staff Model (left), both of which have updated cores, provide greater distance. (David Dusek/Golfweek)
Each ball has a core that is covered in a soft inner layer, which is then covered with a second, firmer mantle and a thin urethane covering. The two-mantle ball design has the advantage that the inner mantle is softer, which reduces spin when hitting off the tee. However, the outer mantle is firmer, allowing the grooves of wedges and shortirons to grab the soft cover easier.
Staff Model standard has a slightly reduced overall compression. It will feel softer when you hit it, spin a little less off the tee and produce a lower flight of ball with your driver and long clubs.
Staff Model X is firmer and produces a higher launch off the tee. It also generates slightly more spin on the green. Staff Model X produces a little more spin from the tee. Golfers who prefer to move the ball left to right or right to left with their irons and woods will be able do this more easily.
