After finding resounding marketplace success with last year’s Duo, Wilson Staff is looking to bolster their Tour ball presence with the redesign of the FG Tour. Already having seen success on worldwide professional Tours, the new FG Tour aims to incorporate distance, feel, and spin for a price that should be attractive to many consumers.
Key Technology and Information from Wilson Staff
The new Wilson Staff FG Tour four-piece urethane tour ball sets a new standard for the discerning player. As the softest tour ball designed for the Feel (F) player, the FG Tour guarantees exceptional distance from the tee, best-in-class spin around the green and unmatched soft feel.
Wilson Staff is so confident in the performance of this ball, we are offering a money back guarantee.
ADVANCED 4-PIECE CONSTRUCTION
- Each layer is uniquely designed for optimal performance. The soft core provides feel and low driver spin, both mantle layers promote maximized velocity and the cast urethane cover generates tour-quality spin and control.
70 COMPRESSION
- At 70 compression, this groundbreaking technology provides the softest feel of any high performance urethane golf ball.
318 DIMPLE PATTERN
- This ball guarantees a stable and penetrating flight trajectory in even the toughest wind conditions.
Wilson looked to make some marked changes to the 2014 FG Tour. The newest version is now a 4-piece ball, with an extra mantle layer added compared to the 2013 version. In addition, the core was made softer, bringing the FG Tour down to a 70 compression rating and labeling it the softest Tour ball on the market (according to Wilson).
The reasoning for the softer core in the 2014 FG Tour is twofold. First of all, Wilson claims that it provides lower driver spin and higher ball speeds, but even more in-line with their F(Feel), C(Control), D(Distance) product labeling, the softer core enhances feel. Extended testing did show that the FG Tour was extremely soft feeling from full swings to touch shots, though there were no indications that it provided increased full-swing distance for the reviewer (though it was comparable to other balls).
While distance is a coveted quality in golf balls for many players, spin around the greens is typically what consumers are primarily looking for out of a Tour ball. In hand, the FG Tour has an extremely ‘sticky’ feeling to it and it is easy to see that it will provide as much spin as the conditions allow. Testing typically shows most urethane covered balls produce very similar spin numbers to others, though the misconception that there are notable differences among brands does still persist. Using a 53° wedge with a 60 yard pitch swing on a Vector X launch monitor, it was observed that the FG Tour sat firmly inside the same window as other high-end urethane balls recently tested by the reviewer. On-course testing backed this up on full swings, pitches, and greenside shots.
Though the reviewer isn’t exactly harsh on golf balls, testing showed excellent durability, with multiple practice sessions and a full 18-hole round using a single ball doing little to harm the cast urethane cover.
Final Thoughts
At $44.99, the new Wilson Staff FG Tour ball offers comparable distance and spin to many of the top selling balls on the market at a very competitive price. With a compression rating that is mostly unparalleled among its peers, it’s most unique quality is its extremely soft feel, a quality that seems to become more and more popular with consumers every year. Worth noting is that Wilson Staff is offering a money back guarantee on the FG Tour, a sign that they believe fully in the product they are selling. More information, including ordering instructions, can be found at www.wilson.com.
Thanks for the review, Ryan. I might have looked past this one simply because of the brand, and it sounds like that might have been a mistake. Is Wilson saying lower compression is good for everyone, or is this targeted at certain players? Either way, I’ve got a 2 ball sampler that has been sitting on the shelf, and I’ll have to go try it out.
Nice job on this spotlight Hawk, ball sounds like a solid performer for sure. Interesting about the “sticky” feel of the ball, I believe I’ve felt something similar with new Pro V1’s also.
These are a bit out of my price range but if I can find a sale it could be worth a go.
A 4 piece ball that I had a chance at actually compressing is intriguing.
Thanks for the info Hawk. I would love to get a hold of these and try them for myself. Hard to think they’ll sell a billion dozen with that price being so close to Pro V1 territory….people are going to just pick Pro V1 for the marketing alone I fear.
If they’re durable I’d be all for checking some out though, thanks buddy!
Nice spotlight Hawkster, I’m a big fan of this golf ball from the couple sleeves Troy gave me earlier this year. I like the feel of the lower compression off of the club. Its definitely a solid offering
Great job Ryan, I like the feel of the Duo so I may just give these a try. The 70 compression my be good for my slow swing. Thanks for the spotlight for a fine Wilson product.
I’m not sure how they can claim that it’s the softest tour ball on the market…the Bridgestone B330-RX and B330-RXS both have a lower compression rating than 70 (65 and 64 respectively).
@ 1badbadger, technically they only say its the softest “tour” urethane ball. i take that to mean that the bridgestones are not “tour” balls.
But I played a sleeve and was super impressed too. The feel was great, not to hard and not to soft. Just right.
Good review, spot on. The original FG Tour was a good cool weather ball and as good as anything around the greens (my favorite ball to putt). Downside was that in warm weather I lost a lot of distance and it became a bit of a wet sock. The FG Tour X helped the humidity issue but at a loss of green side feel and putting touch. Wilson did its homework and listened to the complaints apparently because the new FG Tour is a gem. It’s gotten some pro play (in Europe) with success.
It’s long, holds a line in wind and retains the great short game touch. Its durability is also improved.
My favorite balls are the Pro V1x, the Callaway Speed Regime 3 and the Wilson. If the price came in around $40 Wilson would have the same success they had with the Duo. Perhaps it will gain acceptance when better players give it a shot.
Very informative article! I’ve never used Wilson balls, but these seem worthwhile. I think I’ll check them out. Thanks!