- Staff
- #1
As seen earlier on the forum, this year Wilson Staff is re-introducing one of the most iconic putter designs in golf, its 8802 putter. THP has been fortunate enough to get one in for a full homepage review and I'll be lucky enough to be putting it through its paces.
Not only is this release a milled version of possibly THE most well known putter design ever, but it also features a re-designed Head-Speed shaft which the originals were renowned for and those shafts still hold value and are looked for by many today.
The images we saw earlier from the company, as usually do it NO justice. Its an incredibly clean and eye catching package from the satin finish on the top to the polished finish on the sole, throw in some heavy milling, a gold/black/red paint scheme commemorating Wilson Staff's 100 year anniversary, and one of the nicest OEM putter covers in quite some time and its definitely a discussion starter.
As for the on course application though, that will be interesting to break down. One thing right out of the gates I wanted to see when getting it in hand was the face height, the ORIGINAL 8802 had a face height the size of a nickel, models after were taller, as for this Milled 8802 the face is roughly the height of a quarter. Not important to most, but to the true putter heads out there, I knew it would end up being asked. Will also be interesting to see if the sweet spot holds true to the VAST majority of 8802 styles and is inside of the center of the putter from address, or if it is in the true middle.
History of the 8802 Design:
1940 – Wilson introduces the R46 Willie Hoare putter. “A revolutionary putter with a different feel and a new grip. It has an unusually broad sole, giving it excellent balance.”
1948 – R46, Winsum putter Designed by Willie Hoare.
1950 – Stock numbers were changed and the R46 become the D8802.
1954 – Winsum putter Designed by Willie Hoare is changed to D8802 stock number.
1955 – A new Winsum putter is introduced. “This goose-neck putter features a brass head, flange back…”
1959 – New Turf Rider putter, with double ribbed sole is introduced with stock number D8802.
1960 – Four new brass putters are introduced, all with flared tip shafts. One of which is called simply Arnold Palmer and is “Designed By the world famous Arnold Palmer… brass head with Flared Tip shaft; beautiful calfskin grip.”
1961 – Another Turf Rider putter with double ribbed sole is introduced, maintaining the D8802 stock number.
1962 – The Designed By Arnold Palmer putter is introduced. Described as “Flanged type blade putter” and “Perfect head feel transmitted to the grip”, it is essentially the 8802 as we know it. Assigned stock number D8852.
1963 – Arnold Palmer leaves Wilson. On November 1st, the Designed By Palmer/D8852 putter is renamed The Wilson 8802 and renumbered to D8802.
1969 – Wilson “pro” club stock numbers are changed from D to R.
1971 – Wilson Staff putters have R stock numbers and Wilson putter have D stock numbers. The 8802 model gets a black chrome finish, but retains its D8802 designation.
1975 – Wilson re-introduces the original 8802 and changes the stock number to R8802.
2014 – Wilson Staff introduces the Milled 8802.
About the Milled 8802:
In Hand Pics:
Not only is this release a milled version of possibly THE most well known putter design ever, but it also features a re-designed Head-Speed shaft which the originals were renowned for and those shafts still hold value and are looked for by many today.
The images we saw earlier from the company, as usually do it NO justice. Its an incredibly clean and eye catching package from the satin finish on the top to the polished finish on the sole, throw in some heavy milling, a gold/black/red paint scheme commemorating Wilson Staff's 100 year anniversary, and one of the nicest OEM putter covers in quite some time and its definitely a discussion starter.
As for the on course application though, that will be interesting to break down. One thing right out of the gates I wanted to see when getting it in hand was the face height, the ORIGINAL 8802 had a face height the size of a nickel, models after were taller, as for this Milled 8802 the face is roughly the height of a quarter. Not important to most, but to the true putter heads out there, I knew it would end up being asked. Will also be interesting to see if the sweet spot holds true to the VAST majority of 8802 styles and is inside of the center of the putter from address, or if it is in the true middle.
History of the 8802 Design:
1940 – Wilson introduces the R46 Willie Hoare putter. “A revolutionary putter with a different feel and a new grip. It has an unusually broad sole, giving it excellent balance.”
1948 – R46, Winsum putter Designed by Willie Hoare.
1950 – Stock numbers were changed and the R46 become the D8802.
1954 – Winsum putter Designed by Willie Hoare is changed to D8802 stock number.
1955 – A new Winsum putter is introduced. “This goose-neck putter features a brass head, flange back…”
1959 – New Turf Rider putter, with double ribbed sole is introduced with stock number D8802.
1960 – Four new brass putters are introduced, all with flared tip shafts. One of which is called simply Arnold Palmer and is “Designed By the world famous Arnold Palmer… brass head with Flared Tip shaft; beautiful calfskin grip.”
1961 – Another Turf Rider putter with double ribbed sole is introduced, maintaining the D8802 stock number.
1962 – The Designed By Arnold Palmer putter is introduced. Described as “Flanged type blade putter” and “Perfect head feel transmitted to the grip”, it is essentially the 8802 as we know it. Assigned stock number D8852.
1963 – Arnold Palmer leaves Wilson. On November 1st, the Designed By Palmer/D8852 putter is renamed The Wilson 8802 and renumbered to D8802.
1969 – Wilson “pro” club stock numbers are changed from D to R.
1971 – Wilson Staff putters have R stock numbers and Wilson putter have D stock numbers. The 8802 model gets a black chrome finish, but retains its D8802 designation.
1975 – Wilson re-introduces the original 8802 and changes the stock number to R8802.
2014 – Wilson Staff introduces the Milled 8802.
About the Milled 8802:
In Hand Pics:
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