1993-1996 Wilson 8802 Putter - The Vintage Golfer 

I'm 84 y.o. and my 8802 is in the bag alongside my TM SLDR irons. Had a near mint "designed by" 30 or so years ago (which I sold for a grand) that ended up with Trevino winning 2 tournaments with. The 8802 is pure golf....no alignment aids, no MOI engineering, no heel-toe weighting, no adjustments (save length) and no shaft arcs. And it's beauty is unmatched. I did however had to put a piece of lead tape on the back flange to eliminate the sun's glare, it's only fault. I also mounted a Super Stroke 2.0 grip to replace the well-worn leather one.

Well, this is still in my bag!!! For me, no gimmicks... it is all me and it tells me so. I did not know the Arnold Palmer story, thanks - explains a lot. When I started golf in the early 80’s, I tried every putter in the store and settled on similar one by Arne and played it a few years till I went on the Ping tour of putters - you know the anser, the zing, the .... Then, I picked up the 8802 and tried it in the store. It had/has such a nice balance and It was so anti-technology that if I hit it right or left, it was because of me and I bought it. I think Ben Crenshaw and Brad Faxon, two of the best played it too. The lack of technology meant that I had to tighten up my stroke and that is a good thing. I make my fair share of 10-20 footers and that is the magic distance. I can miss short and long, don’t get me wrong. But it tells me if I am off and honesty is the best policy IMHO. It looks very much the same as the first Annie putter in a side by side comparison but it is different somehow - seems like I have to find a nickel. :-) So, one the Pings visits the bag but never for long. Someone saw it one day and said “wow, a blade putter” - so obviously you play with blades BUT I play it with anything...the putter always stands on its own, 50% of your shots are with her, she is what you brought to the dance, everything else is but an affair.

Another beauty! I have used a similar Wilson putter the 8813 same putter just with a alignment line on it. Such a sweet feeling putter. Thanks.............Can't wait to see what you have next week.

Just picked up a mint 8802 lefthanded at a yard sale for $4.99! Also got a few other gems, TP MILLS 10 lefthanded, Ben hogan sure out 60° wedge, and an beryllium copper Odyssey dual force 660 putter. $20 total! Couldn't believe it!

This is a great simple putter that I have used since 1993 (previously used the Arnold Palmer similar style one) Simply the best!

I just bought the Wilson Tour Special I Forged to go with my 1995 Wilson Pro Staff Midsize irons. Seemed like a perfect match. Love the reviews!

Yeah, there's just something about this putter which is really nice to use. Hard' to describe. I mean you'd "think" it would be difficult to aim as there's no alignment aid except the thick top line. But what it has is just right as it's pretty easy to visualize if it's square. It also has a nice sound to it that provides good feedback. I even think the no-ferrule style fits it well because it's heel-shafted and offset which has a way of making it look "isolated" at address as if you can only focus on the head. What set to play it in? Any set I guess as it has been played by people all throughout history. But if you wanted to match it with something for that historic look, how about some Wilson blades? Like the putter, there is no cavity on them so it would look like it fits in as a long iron's head would. I don't know if they made blades in a satin finish then, but if they did, those would fit even better.

John Reuter made the shaft over design very popular with the Bullseye putter. He also got everyone to think that the fluted shaft would stop any type of twisting. The Spalding Cash In putter had such a thin shaft (marketed for feel probably) that you could feel the shaft torque when hitting off center long putts. But Wilson and even Arnold Palmer did not make this putter great. I am not even sure how many tournaments Arnie won with his Designed by Arnold Palmer. I believe they are rare because they were only made for a few years before Arnie left Wilson and started his own company. He probably wanted to keep up with Hogan at the time. I believe we all wanted that putter back in the late 70s and beyond because of Ben Crenshaw (8802), Lee Trevino, Tom Watson, and other tour pros that won with them. The two things that make putters collectable are 1) What pros used them 2) How rare are they? In the end there is no magic. We cannot buy a putting stroke. In the end they are all just hunks of metal at the end of sticks.

You would play this with Wilson Staff blades or Staff Gooseneck irons.

Obviously it would pair nicely with some Staff blades. I had a version of that putter and I would toss it in the bag on occasion with my FG-17 irons. I remember the sweet spot was nowhere near the mark on top of the putter.

Question asked at 5.30 what to play with this putter Answer any irons you have at moment, these blade putters are the best on really fast bent grass greens, such good feel

Match it up with a set of Wilson Staff Midsize irons and a Wilson Invex driver a la John Daly at the 95 Open I still have my 8802 with the original headcover tucked away in my crawl space, great feel, not exactly forgiving

I have a 8802 and trying to figure out the year, My grip looks like this, with the silver swirls, but feels more leather, and has a red/blue flag on the end, it "does NOT" have the wilson staff logo as seen in this video where he claims his to be from the 90's. I was told mine was probably from the 60's/70's era. any help? thanks

The early original models had a smooth transition between the shaft end and the top of the hosel. Later models, remakes if you will, have a noticeable shoulder and taller face height. Head speed shaft with the grey green band though the black model had a fluted shaft.

In the 70s 80s, best amateur putter I knew, used the original.He achieved some Bobby Locke top spin.Deadly 2 putt from distance, rarely missed under 6 feet.Bill D , made it a magic wand.

Hi I've just picked up an 8813 with a fluted shaft leather grip and no aim marker. Would this be 70s era too.?

What mean ‘What irons would you play’. Simple your normal every day iron. Putting is an art form, it’s a feel process and is in my eye separate from the elements of golf! I used it with my Callaway irons no issue no problem!

This putter originally went with a set of pi5 Wilson Staff irons

I totally understand the matching set thing being a turn off for this putter. Perhaps save interesting putters from your collection for mini golf my wife and i love using our custom putters and even take them on vacation for an impromptu match.

I use an 8802 with Srixon irons. Tends to work rather well.

i've got a Powerbilt that looks like this, and i wonder if it's forged?

Any fellow 8802 fans know around what year the version with the high face and black "The Wilson 8802" font is from?

A set of Titleist Forged tour irons from the 90’s would be a good match and throw in a early metalwood like the Pittsburgh Persimmon.

I think it would fit in nicely with some Hogan Apex channel backs, a 975D driver, a PT three wood, and some Cleveland 485 wedges.

Now what about the Otey Crisman Putters that predate the Wilson?

What year are the ones that say “original Wilson 8802” or is that a knock off version I’m buying off eBay right now?

What year would the same exact putter with a black wilson logo instead of the red one?

What if you have a Wilson Staff 8813 with a fluted shaft and a nickel sized face? Did they make the 8813 in the 60s or do I just assume it’s from the 70s? Thanks and great channel :)

I play it with Taylormade MCG and I played it with my Callaway Big Bertha. Use the toe of the putter for quicker greens and the middle for slower greens. That’s is how they what made

PS Play the 8802 with a set of Wilson Goose necks of course!

Cool vid

Timeless design

hogan redline irons perhaps?

If you care about the aesthetics of your set over functionality and feel that's ridiculous. If you like a club, put it in your bag. They don't have to match.

Wilson staff bullet backs

Factory fresh mp-14 irons

90s MacGregors

It is just a hunk of metal at the end of a stick. Use what looks and feels the best to you.

mine says original 8802.

RAM tour grind blade irons.

Good enough for Crenshaw then its good for me..

Play wilson wild thing irons haha

no ferrule please!

Play a 90s traditional players iron... its not vintage just vintage style.

MacGregor synchrolites. Or m Murifields

If you're worried about what other clubs to play it with, then you're missing the point. You also hit both of those putts on the heel. Sounded completely dead. Probably just not a putter fit for your game