Equipment

Wilson Staff reintroduces its classic 8802 putter

Published

10 years ago

Jul 1, 2014

The putter that has won more majors than any other is back. To celebrate its 100th anniversary as a company, Wilson Staff is reintroducing the classic 8802 putter.

Although Wilson used the 8802 moniker earlier, the putter essentially came into being with the “Designed by Arnold Palmer” in 1962. When Palmer left Wilson in 1963, the putter was renamed “The Wilson 8802.” For the next 50 years, the 8802 found its way into the bags of the top players of the world, including Ben Crenshaw, Greg Norman and Phil Mickelson, and it has been a favorite of amateur golfers around the world.

Some 50 years later after its original introduction, Wilson is bringing a new milled 8802 putter to market. And as you can see, it’s a beauty.

Made from 304 stainless steel and featuring the traditional 8802 heel-shafted design, the putter is equipped with a double milled face and a 335-gram head as well as stamping consistent with the original 8802.

A steepless True Temper Head Speed shaft and Lamkin 3GEN pistol grip are standard on the new 8802.

The new 8802 comes with a red and white putter cover that is at once bold and classic, which you can see below. The putter is presently available in only a right-handed model at one length: 35 inches and retails for $179.99.

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39 Comments

stephenf

Oct 24, 2016 at 9:41 am

Very nice views, Wilson. If you’re going to look at the putter from on the ground up the line, on the ground down the line, or on the ground from behind the heel of the putter, this will give a player a really good idea of what it’s like.

I don’t know why people prefer the Jetsons putters. None of them have the feel you can get by hitting a good forged putter on the sweet spot. They just dampen the feel of bad strikes. It’s not that hard to hit the sweet spot of a putter anyway, which makes it even more inexplicable to me why any pro would use them. If you can’t line up a simple, clean blade and hit the sweet spot at putter speed, maybe you need to go work at it until you can. Then work on hitting the sweet spot on chips and pitches, and work back. Watch what it does for your game.

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hells no

May 11, 2015 at 12:10 pm

For all of those looking to make the game of golf harder.

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- stephenf
  
  Oct 24, 2016 at 9:33 am
  
  For all those who have the minimal skill it takes to hit a putter on the sweet spot.
  
  Reply Report comment
VoteOutIncumbents

Apr 19, 2015 at 11:02 am

I bought this putter and used it for the first time last week. I remember as a kid my first putter was a blade…I remember (I think, it’s been forty years) being a better putter back then. So I went back to the future with this new blade. On my first hole I made a twenty footer…haven’t done THAT in a while. Made another long one later in the round. It takes a little getting used to because it requires an arc swing that you have to “feel”. So far (one round) I love it!

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Mike

Mar 29, 2015 at 7:56 pm

Have The Gentle Ben Walter Hagen 8802. Beautiful putter.

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KyleB13

Mar 11, 2015 at 12:00 pm

Got one and it is super smooth and so good looking! Makes you think of putting as an art, not a mental science with alignments, MOI, colors, shapes, arcs, etc. Hopefully I can just roll it half as good as Crenshaw, Palmer, Nicklaus and we’ll be doing good!

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Ponjo

Jan 2, 2015 at 5:20 pm

Just purchased this putter in a 33″ length. The roll is magnificent. Big credit for Wilson turning my order round in 3 days via my Golf Pro.

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mario francolini

Oct 14, 2014 at 4:49 am

hi we make a similar putter here in England which is Forged in the Black Country (where the Titanic Chains Were made) and we hand finish them in Warwickshire William Shakespeare country, we make them in two materials 303 stainless and a silicone bronze, if anybody would like to see them i can send some pictures of our work

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- Brian Conley
  
  Mar 14, 2015 at 11:23 am
  
  Please send me some information.
  Thanks, Brian
  
  Reply Report comment
- Steve Bilbrough
  
  Jul 29, 2015 at 7:03 pm
  
  Would be interested to see your 8802 style putters in 303 stainless and silicone bronze. Pl;ease send pico’s and pricing.
  
  Thank you … Steve
  
  Reply Report comment
- stephenf
  
  Oct 24, 2016 at 9:34 am
  
  send send send send SEND
  
  Reply Report comment
M.

Aug 24, 2014 at 9:47 pm

Let Tiger have his fun with the stack and tilt bandits, and when his done I’m sure we’ll see him over at the dirt doing the twirl with Elk

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- bradford
  
  Aug 27, 2014 at 9:22 am
  
  wrong thread?
  
  Reply Report comment
tom

Aug 14, 2014 at 2:08 am

Have the early 8802, the reissue and the Palmer model. I have used them for years. I really like the reissue but I got to say I like the look of the new one. I swore I was quitting buying the putters but I should never say never! Shouldn’t you put your money into the club you use the most?

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LeoLeo

Jul 25, 2014 at 9:59 pm

I have the “Original” Wilson 8802 which was obviously not the original that I bought around 1982. It has a dull pickle finish no the shine of the original. It’s so simple compared to all the space ship shaped putters out today.

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Shallowface

Jul 25, 2014 at 8:13 am

Love the direction in which Wilson is heading!

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luc van heirweghe

Jul 14, 2014 at 10:20 am

Dear Sir/Madam,

I’m particularly interested in buying a Wilson Staff 8802 – putter but cannot find a stie on which to buy one. Can you offer any assistance ?

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- Jeff S
  
  Jul 14, 2014 at 9:24 pm
  
  You can buy one directly from the Wilson website.
  
  Reply Report comment
- stephenf
  
  Oct 24, 2016 at 9:35 am
  
  Also give the Palmer or Old Master replicas a look.
  
  Reply Report comment
bobbycj

Jul 11, 2014 at 11:25 pm

I’ve played the 8882 blk for the past few years. I think the head is fairly heavy (350 gm), I love it, very consistent roll, I like the milled grooves. Have a Winn pistol grip (oversized) on it. I saw a new 8882 the other day in the shop for $79. I think $179 for a 8802 is steep unless you get it just for nostalgia…if that’s the case get an original on ebay for $40. If you’re getting it to actually make putts just get the 8882. Or, just get it to look like a big shot on the practice green. I can’t say enough good things about the 8882 blk. I like the Napa toe hang style putter and hit one whenever I can to see how it compares against the 8882 blk. I’ve yet to find one better

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Jack

Jul 9, 2014 at 4:29 pm

Bettinardi made a blade similar to the 8802. I have it my bag. It’s the real deal.
This particular is no longer in production. If you find one buy it.

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Mike Webber

Jul 3, 2014 at 3:48 pm

I think the original Wilson putter was made of a heavier metal, which I believe was Pot Metal. Unlike today’s version of stainless steel, which has a livelier face upon contact, the heavier putter was referred to as being almost dead. That means you hit the ball as far as you wanted it to go. To me that’s a step ahead of today’s blended metals in which their is a measured amount of guess work. While I’m at it, I also have to give me regard to the Staff Irons of the mid 60’s through 1971. I still play the button backs.

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- David Findla
  
  Jul 10, 2014 at 1:54 pm
  
  I was told many years ago that the original 8802 was made of metal from scrapped WWII warships.
  
  Reply Report comment
- Joe Duffer
  
  Jul 23, 2014 at 12:41 pm
  
  The original Wilson Palmer and 8802 putters were made from 1030 carbon steel.
  
  Reply Report comment
- Truth Hurts
  
  Mar 16, 2015 at 11:06 am
  
  The amount of nonsense in the world of Golf regarding Putters reminds one of the alchemy of the Middle Ages.
  
  Reply Report comment
Grant

Jul 3, 2014 at 11:10 am

My 1970’s model 8802 is looking at me from the bag
Best feeling putter ever. Ihave some old green shafted Ironmaster’s that also feel good. Never have any doubt whenIuse the 8802.

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Neil Cooney

Jul 2, 2014 at 6:35 am

What Retail outlets in Ireland can new “retro” putter be bought through ??

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tlmck

Jul 2, 2014 at 3:34 am

I wish they would remake the old “Flag Hi”. Basically the same as 8802 except for less flange. More solid hit as well. Mine is has decades of bag chatter, but is still gameable.

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Boo

Jul 1, 2014 at 11:48 pm

The putter head is just too light at 335 grams. Wish they could make it more in the 350 plus range!

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Mike

Jul 1, 2014 at 10:18 pm

Originally was made from pot metal not stainless steel

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- Joe Duffer
  
  Jul 23, 2014 at 12:44 pm
  
  Wrong… they were made from 1030 carbon steel.
  
  Reply Report comment
Cwolf

Jul 1, 2014 at 3:51 pm

Buttah

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Chuck

Jul 1, 2014 at 1:45 pm

Ummm, somebody please correct me if I am wrong. But the classic Wilson Head Speed shaft was a STEPPED shaft.

So if Wilson is selling a shaft that is stepless, but is calling it (as is no doubt their proprietary right) “Head Speed”, it is something else entirely, right?

Wilson has made lots and lots of 8802 variants and reissues over the years. I would have thought that the modern challenge would have been to absolutely faithfully re-create the orignal “Designed by Arnold Palmer.”

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- I
  
  Jul 2, 2014 at 3:40 am
  
  Inane comment
  
  Reply Report comment
- Bill Morrell
  
  Jul 3, 2014 at 1:53 pm
  
  I have owned three original (1964) 8802’s and one Designed By. All had 5 step shafts with green shaft bands. Why Wilson wouldn’t use this in their “tribute ” putter is baffling at best.
  
  Reply Report comment
  - Lee Richardson
    
    Sep 13, 2014 at 11:12 am
    
    Want to part with one of the originals?
    
    Reply Report comment
Reid

Jul 1, 2014 at 1:31 pm

I’ve loved every past model including the original and still have a ton in my collection. This is a definitely must add for me!

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Equipment

A shocking Backstryke putter appearance + 7 interesting gear photos from the Zurich Classic

Published

3 hours ago

Apr 25, 2024

Andrew Tursky

Welcome to New Orleans, where TPC Louisiana plays host to the 2024 Zurich Classic. In between breakfast beignets and nightly Creole feasts, PGA Tour players are also competing in the unique two-man format at the Zurich this week.

Although the vibes in Nawlins are a bit lighter-fare than the recent back-to-back competitions the Masters and the RBC Heritage signature event), the gear news was no less serious this week.

We spotted some recent changes from Rory McIlroy, a very rare Odyssey Backstryke putter, dove into the bag of legendary New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees, and spotted Patrick Cantlay continuing to test new equipment.

Get your beads out and crack your crawfish, because it’s time for an equipment rundown from The Big Easy (meaning New Orleans, of course, not Ernie Els).

See all of our photos from the Zurich Classic here

Rory’s on-and-off lob wedge

Since the end of 2023, Rory McIlroy has had an on-again, off-again relationship with a Titleist Vokey K-Grind lob wedge. In his last start, it was on, and the wedge is back in the bag again this week. We got a great look at the complicated grind that McIlroy uses.

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A full look into McIlroy’s bag above also shows that he switched out of the TaylorMade BRNR Mini Copper that he used at the RBC Heritage, and he’s back into the Qi10 core 3-wood. As we discussed last week, McIlroy will likely keep the BRNR around as a course-specific club, trading it in and out for the 3-wood.

See Rory McIlroy’s full 2024 WITB from the Zurich here

Turning Back the clock

Unless Tommy Gainey is in the field, it’s unlikely you’ll ever see Odyssey’s Backstryke technology make an appearance on the PGA Tour.

But then, when you least expect it, Russ Cochran shows up.

For more than a decade – since the 2013 Sony Open in Hawai’i – Cochran has been stuck on 599 PGA Tour starts. This week will be his 600th.

Cochran is in the field at the Zurich this week playing alongside Eric Cole, whose regular caddie is Reed Cochran, Russ’s son.

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The putter is certainly awesome, but don’t forget to check out Cochran’s full WITB from this week.

Drew Brees with a Super Bowl winning Scotty Cameron putter

Drew Brees, a legendary retired quarterback for the hometown New Orleans Saints, made an appearance at the Zurich’s Wednesday Pro-Am, playing alongside Zach Johnson, Ryan Palmer, and current Saints QB Derek Carr.

Brees’ bag included a TaylorMade Stealth2 Plus driver, a BRNR Mini 13.5-degree, a Stealth 5-wood, a mixed set of P-790 and P-760 irons, Milled Grind Hi-Toe wedges, and a custom Scotty Cameron “New Orleans Saints” putter, which Scotty made for Brees following his Super Bowl MVP-winning performance in 2010.

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It should also be noted that Brees has his Venmo QR code as a bag tag.

If you’re gambling with Brees on the course, just know that not having cash won’t work as an excuse.

Brilliant.

See Drew Brees’ full WITB from the Zurich here

Stricker’s unrecognizable putter

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Here’s a better look at Stricker’s flatstick, which he started using back in 2007.

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Patrick Cantlay has opened the equipment-switching floodgates

Over on the PGA Tour’s Equipment Report this week, we covered Cantlay’s recent switch into Ping Blueprint S irons, and a Titleist TSR2 driver.

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Daniel Berger’s custom Jailbird site lines

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We’ll see you next week in Texas for the 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson!

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