Wilson Staff Launch Pad 2022 Irons Review

Wilson’s super game improvement Launch Pad irons get a dramatic revamp for 2022 to help high-handicappers play better golf.

With new and returning golfers flooding into the game there’s never been a better time for brands to be making super game-improvement golf irons.

Wilson (like Cleveland) stole a march on their competitors when they decided to plough huge resource into taking super game improvement clubs seriously several years ago.

And it’s thanks to the success of Wilson’s previous Launch Pad irons, launched back in 2019, that the range been redesigned for a second generation with an all-new driver, fairway wood, hybrid and irons.

“The original range achieved great success in meeting its main objective to help less skilled golfers get the ball airborne and gain consistency in the strike, but we knew it could be more aesthetically pleasing,” said Jon Pergande, Manager of Golf Club Innovation at Wilson Golf.

“The new Launch Pad range features optimised technology on the irons to keep the club head on the ball and out of the grass, while in the woods it helps players overcome one of the most frustrating problems in golf – the slice – so shots fly straighter and with more accuracy.

“The look of the irons and woods now gives players greater confidence over the ball at address and test performance results are extremely encouraging.”

Here’s everything you need to know about the 2022 Wilson Launch Pad irons.

Wilson Launch Pad 2022 Iron

RRP: £600 (s), £699 (g) | Available: March 14th
Availability: 4, 5–PW, GW, SW | Women’s: Yes | Stock shafts: KBS Max Ultralite (s, men’s only), Project X Evenflow (g) | Stock Grips Wilson Staff Midsize (men’s), Wilson Staff Performance (women’s) | Adjustable hosel: No 

Before Wilson began development on the original Launch Pad hybrid irons they conducted a ton of research into the typical ball striking traits of 10+ handicappers. And the results showed that mid and higher handicap golfers overwhelmingly have a tendency to hit iron shots fat.

They found that even typical mid-handicap golfers register fat/heavy shots 12% of the time, which costs an average of 10 yards in carry distance and means a missed green in regulation. 

RELATED: Cleveland’s new Launcher XL Halo irons

According to Wilson, the original wide bodied, camber soled, Launch Pad increased clean shots by 25% and reduced the likelihood of hitting a fat shot by 73%. Thanks to some clever new computer simulation, they believe the new Launch Pad irons are even more efficient.

By studying how a typical mid–high handicapper delivers an iron to the back of the ball, which is much steeper than better players, Wilson have tailored the new Launch Pad’s sole shape, size and camber to its target audience.

The new iron creates shorter and shallower divots, meaning golfers lose less speed in the turf, meaning Wilson’s engineers have rinsed an extra 0.75mph of head and 1mph of ball speed from simply improving turf interaction.

Compared to the brand’s brilliant D9 iron Wilson say the Launch Pad stay above the turf so the head isn’t slowed, where the D9 gets below the ground and interacts much more with the turf.

RELATED: Wilson Launch Pad 2022 driver review

It’s no secret hybrid irons are more forgiving than traditional cavity backs (historically the issue’s been convincing golfers they need/want the oversized hybrid heads), but Wilson say the new Launch Pad, which is made from 2-pieces of 17-4 stainless steel, has a more optimised head over the original. By minimising the wall thickness across the back, extra weight has been freed up to position lower in the sole. In turn that lowers the centre of gravity, making the new Launch Pad even easier to launch from the turf.

While super game improvement iron users are far more swayed by clubs that easily send shots sailing into the air and land on the green, that hasn’t stopped Wilson refining the original Launch Pad shape and size down into a more attractive slender bodied package. The new model looks more like an iron at address, with less of a hybrid appearance in the bag.

WATCH: Best 2023 Moderate Speed/High-Handicap Iron video

Verdict: Wilson Launch Pad 2022 iron

With new and returning golfers flooding into the game lots more players are willing to accept the benefits of using hybrid irons, so brands, more so than ever, are happy putting considerable resources behind developing irons in this category. It’s meant Wilson’s engineers have come up with a really attractive 2^nd generation Launch Pad.

We’ve hit the Launch Pad several times and our test pro reckons the models produces the easiest 180 yard shot he’s ever hit, which is a ringing endorsement of all hybrid irons, and how the Launch Pad’s cleverly disguised wider body doesn’t distract his eye unnecessarily.

If you struggle with ball striking consistency or flighting shots high enough to allow approaches to land and stop on the dancefloor this is a brilliant option for 2023.     

We feel it’s one of the most forgiving irons and best irons for high handicaps.

How does the Wilson Launch Pad 2023 compare to other leading high-handicap irons in data?

Launch monitor test data

Launch monitor forgiveness/dispersion data

READ NEXT: Best Irons for High Handicappers

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Rob Jerram is the Digital Editor of todaysgolfer.co.uk

He has been a journalist for more than 20 years, starting his career with Johnston Press where he covered local and regional news and sport in a variety of editorial roles across ten years.

Rob joined Bauer Media in 2010 and worked as the Senior Production Editor of Today’s Golfer and Golf World magazines for ten years before moving into the Digital Editor’s role in July 2020.

He has been playing golf for almost three decades and has been a member at Greetham Valley in Rutland for eight years, playing off a 12 handicap.

Rob uses a Ping G driver, Ping G 3-wood, TaylorMade M5 5-wood, TaylorMade P790 irons (4-PW), Ping Glide 2.0 Stealth wedges (52º, 56º, 60º), Evnroll ER2 putter, and TaylorMade Tour Response golf ball.

You can contact Rob here.

      

Wilson Staff Launch Pad 2022 Irons

RRP: £600 (s), £699 (g) | VIEW UK OFFER | VIEW US OFFER

Launched: March 2022

Availability: 4, 5–PW, GW, SW

Women's: Yes

Stock shafts: KBS Max Ultralite (s, men's only), Project X Evenflow (g)

Stock grips: Wilson Staff Midsize (men's), Wilson Staff Performance (women's)