Wilson Fat Shaft Irons Review – Still Good And Forgiving for High Handicappers?

Wilson Fat Shaft Irons Review – Still Good And Forgiving for High Handicappers?

“The Wilson Fat Shaft irons are over 25 years old.”

Their advanced age means that you can get a used set for a very affordable price. But even at a deeply discounted price, are they worth it?

The Wilson Fat Shaft irons certainly live up to their names. The stock shafts are over 500mm in diameter and they are about an inch longer than standard shafts. But there is more to these irons than oversized shafts. I tested the Wilson Fat Shaft irons to see if they have any value for today’s high handicap golfer. Read on to find out everything you need to know about these irons.

Are the Wilson Fat Shaft Irons Still Good?

“The Wilson Fat Shaft irons have a pretty basic design overall.”

You have an oversized cast stainless steel head, thick top line, thick soles and stock, high-torque shafts. Right away, you can tell that the Wilson Fat Shaft irons were designed for beginners and high handicappers.

But what took me by surprise was the looks of these irons. Keep in mind that the Wilson Fat Shaft irons were introduced back in 1997. So they are over 25 years-old. But amazingly, they resemble modern game improvement irons.

During testing, I didn’t feel like I was playing dinosaur irons like some of the other sets I have tested for this series. Instead, the Wilson Fat Shaft irons have surprisingly modern looks, clean lines and a very confidence-inspiring look at address.

Maybe the oddest thing was that I didn’t even notice the longer shafts at first. It wasn’t until I moved up to the 7-iron that I realized that the shaft was almost an inch longer than my gamer 7-iron. So if by the end of this review you are sold on the Wilson Fat Shaft irons, just be aware that the shaft length and loft will be a bit wonky.

The Wilson Fat Shaft irons have a traditional cavity back design so the MOI is naturally higher than your average muscle back irons. The undercut is pretty deep; but not so deep that it makes these irons ugly.

Overall, I liked the looks of these irons and the longer shafts didn’t bother my swing very much at all. But how are they on forgiveness?

Are the Wilson Fat Shaft Irons Forgiving for High Handicappers?

“These clubs didn’t cease to amaze me on the course.”

On my first shot into a par 4, I affected a nice baby draw that landed clean on the green. I’ll say that again…my first shot! And even when I shot one into the tall heathers, I was able to scoop the ball up cleanly with the 7-iron.

The wide sole really helps the club to glide over the turf or to cut through the tall stuff. So if you’re the kind of player that finds yourself in the rough often, these irons will work well for you.

Still, I was a bit concerned as to why I ended up in the heather in the first place. This is where I think the longer shafts came into play. In the mid irons, I had to pull my shot back a little to compensate for the shaft length. This put more spin on my ball and that’s when I ended up in the rough.

For some reason, in the long irons, the longer shafts didn’t seem to matter. But the mid irons is where I ran into a bit of trouble. Still, this can easily be remedied by simply  swapping out shafts which you can afford to do because these irons sell for a very low price.

Inherently, there is plenty of forgiveness in these irons. The head is oversized so you get a wide sweet spot. Only extreme mis-hits will send you into the woods.

Wilson Fat Shaft Vs Wilson Launch Pad Irons

“The Wilson Launch Pad irons have even wider soles than the Wilson Fat Shaft irons.”

The Launch Pad irons are considered super game improvement irons and behind the ball, they almost look like hybrid irons. There is a ton of weight that has been moved low and back in the head so these irons live up to their name by sending the ball high in the air. Personally, I prefer the controlled launch of the Wilson Fat Shaft irons but if you need max forgiveness and max launch, check out the Wilson Launch Pad irons.