Blade users thread (NO DEBATING CLUBHEADS! NO Buy Sell Trade!)

[mahonie]

DaBears, welcome to the forum and great questions. I learned to play with bladed 8 and 3 irons in the good old days of balata balls. I was bought an 8-iron for Christmas and the 3-iron followed two weeks later for my birthday. Both blades but different brands (!). I then picked up a mongrel half set of clubs with no two clubs the same brand which I played for 15 years. Learning with blades I feel has given me a slight advantage as you had to hit the ball properly to get any half-decent results.

 

Then I bought a set of Wilson Staff Progressives in my mid-20s...small cavity 2-7, pure blade 8-SW (yes you used to get 10 clubs in a set) and played them for 12 years! Dabbled with players' CBs after having a break from the game but got back to the purest form of golf when I got a set of MP4s. My ballstriking has got back to the levels it used to be and the confidence that I get standing over a such a great looking club has permeated through the rest of my game. I think this is down to the turf interaction which is tremendous...small, shallow divots with no digging at all...and the great feeling when you flush one.

 

This year, my driving has been the best it has ever been and my always sketchy short game has improved no end. My scores when I am playing well with the MP4s are the best I've ever had. On bad days, I'm no worse than with any clubs I've played with. I am looking at reshafting them with something lighter than the S300s as my swing speed is diminishing with age :-( Hope this helps

[Jonesy]

I am a simple man, I like how blades look at address and how they feel at impact, that's why I started playing them. That's essentially all there should be to it but people insist on putting the fear of playing blades into others for whatever reason. I fell into that trap awhile back but I won't fall for it again, I like my blades when I look down at them and I love how they feel when I hit them, that's why I play blades.

[Fellaheen51]

My journey unto playing MB blades was quite by accident. Found a partial set of FG-17's at a thrift store for $2 each. Looked interesting and they were in great shape. What the heck. In search of info, led me to this website. And in particular to the Classic section. Where people were actually playing and waxing poetic about their virtues. Whoa!! A whole world of classic/vintage clubs were out there. Clubs that I did not know anything about. But never the less found very appealing. Then I discovered Hogans.

 

Became very infatuated with the notion of playing them. Had this vague notion that Hogans were always what the real ballers played back in the day. That they were the Cadillac of irons. (Debatable, but not the point here.) So I set off to find a set. Deciding that '99 Apexs were to be my point of entry. A less than pristine set was purchased at a very good price point and I soon discovered that a well struck golf shot with the 99's was quite unlike any other. That I could indeed play reasonably well with them. Once I turned off the inner dialogue in my head that was questioning "Am I good enough to play blades?".

 

But the biggest difference maker on their playability was YTBD. That was getting the "right" shaft in them. They came with Apex 4's. Didn't seem quite right. A little to heavy, little to stiff. Then I reshafted to Nippon 950's and that made all the difference. My preference being towards a LW steel shaft with a softer tip section. Especially as I need to play irons at a longer than 'standard' length due to height and short(er) arms. I've never been a TTDG fan finding them heavy, boardy, to stiff in the tip and quite unsuitable. Didn't like them when I was 25, sure and hell don't care for them at 65.

 

Therein lies part of the problem when trying to evaluate new MB's at the LGS. Seemingly, they are always shafted with TTDG S300 (or something similar). One goes in for a demo of a set, the shafts installed being altogether unsuitable for swing capabilities and thus determine that "blades" are to difficult to hit consistently. Certainly my experience trying to demo MP4/5's for example. And its not like they stock demo clubs that offer a whole lot of options. Being that most LGS sell very few of them.

 

So fast forward. Now have acquired three sets of '99 Apexs (upgrading in head condition quality), two sets of '88 Redlines (a complete set sold off recently for future financing), '79 Apex II's that have been modernized and a set of '72 Apexs that were just acquired and awaiting a winter upgrade of the shafts. A couple of sets of Wilson's that have come and gone. A set of Maxfli Australian Blades (TTDG grrrr) that were thrifted for a ridiculously cheap price, played briefly and then flipped. Take about "butta knives"!! And a set of GR Tour Grinds that were around for awhile but weren't played very often. They got sold off recently.

 

Guess the point here is that there are many quality offerings out there that do not require big investments to test the waters. Especially so if one is willing to accept a set that has a few years of age to them. But really, a well executed design of a MB blade is timeless. How much change really takes place? Boron anyone?

 

Thanks Golfwrx.

[No_Catchy_Nickname]

I was just reading what Fellaheen said, and his comment about a well-struck shot resonated with me. I play golf for fun (though I would like to play a bit more competitively), and part of that fun comes from enjoying the feeling of a well-struck shot. Blades give the greatest enjoyment on that front, that's why I play them.

[bladehunter]

Word of advice mr bear . ... When swapping to an mb especially be sure it is with a shaft that fits you. I find that with a blade or any iron that cuts through turf sharply the shaft fitment becomes much more imperative. I've hit some Irons I hated with certain shafts and later lucked into the same irons with shafts that I knew worked for me and I loved them. so what I'm saying is just don't go get any old mb with some old shaft that doesn't fit you and then hate them and swear off an mb Iron forever. That happens a lot and it's a big reason why folks think they can't play them.

[Bigmean]

I was just reading what Fellaheen said, and his comment about a well-struck shot resonated with me. I play golf for fun (though I would like to play a bit more competitively), and part of that fun comes from enjoying the feeling of a well-struck shot. Blades give the greatest enjoyment on that front, that's why I play them.

 

This is really it. And people like us know that we are not losing shots, so if you are shooting same scores, why not play the max enjoyment? By feedback I mean good and bad, I think in golf feedback is mostly

interpreted as bad and mishit, which is not the case.

[DeNinny]

"I don't have the game to play blades."

 

...^ The saddest and most UNTRUE words ever posted to WRX. No manufacturer of "forgiving" clubs has EVER been able to prove said "forgiving" technology universally applies to all golfers using it. There is ZERO scientific and statistically valid correlation between handicap and what irons to play. Furthermore, there are a lot of inherent forgiving features in a blade's design that have just as much (if not more) technical merit as the alternatives. A blade is designed to enhance and enable clean ball contact first which is a very forgiving feature.

[NRJyzr]

What was your first experience switching into a bladed irons (Bladed irons players)?

 

In my second year playing golf, a friend had picked up a couple sets of blades. He was a mid single digit player, had never played blades, wanted to try them. One day on the range before our round, I hit a couple of his clubs. Liked the feel, but like the golf retailer mantra goes, I didn't think I could play them, being a 20 hdcp at the time. (fwiw, my shots with his clubs were no different than the shots with my own clubs)

 

Kept thinking about them, local pro shop had MP14 demo. I took a 5 iron with me to the range a couple times. This particular range had flags with little raised "greens" to use as targets. I found I could hit the "green" with the MP14 5 iron pretty well. I had a horrible time doing so with my own CB 5 and 6 irons. All clubs had DGS300, so it was as apples to apples as one could get.

 

Picked up a used set of Golden Rams that winter, being too cheap to buy MP14s for what I still felt was an experiment. Hdcp dropped a half dozen shots immediately, and I finished that year at 13. Largely stuck with them since then (I've spent this year bouncing between 6 and 8, fwiw).

 

 

 

My second question goes out to anyone who has played blades and doesn't anymore and anyone who has never owned a set of blades, Why don't you game blades?

 

I have put the blades aside a few times over the last 16 seasons, for various reasons. In some cases, it was for a set of irons I *really* wanted to play, like the Peerless Tour irons I built for myself. In virtually every case, I wound up setting them aside because the various CBs I tried didn't really do much for me. In some cases, my scores actually went up.

 

The exception for this is the Eye2+ I have. I picked these up because I spun them 1,000 to 1,500 rpm less with a 6 iron, as compared to my Mizuno MS-11 blades, which had DGX100 at the time. The Mizunos were spinning over 7000rpm and I was getting killed in the wind. In spite of the Eye2+ hitting the ball even higher (my 5 iron launch with MS-11s was around 18-19°, the Pings go even higher), my iron game in the wind improved dramatically.

 

I played them again for an extended period this summer, during which I got the index down to 6 again. Interestingly, and maybe amusingly, my avg scores with the Pings and with my various Ram Tour Grinds were identical during this stretch of play. :)

 

 

My third question is simply what you personally think makes a great bladed iron?

 

I prefer a muscle that extends somewhat higher up the backpad than some, the low muscle seen on many modern sets doesn't appeal to me (Bridgestone J15 blades as one example). I like having some bounce in the sole, even some camber from front to back, with some killing of the leading edge. That said, I also like the leading edge to be fairly straight, so heel/toe camber should be minimal.

 

CG should be as close to center as is possible. I'm not particularly enthralled with the CG close to the heel as we've seen with so many classic sets.

 

I think that about covers it. :)

[DaBears]

I am a simple man, I like how blades look at address and how they feel at impact, that's why I started playing them. That's essentially all there should be to it but people insist on putting the fear of playing blades into others for whatever reason. I fell into that trap awhile back but I won't fall for it again, I like my blades when I look down at them and I love how they feel when I hit them, that's why I play blades.

I wish you were the first person i talked to when buying new irons. Simplicity is key, like the way you think sir

[DaBears]

ladies and gent thanks for this much treasured information only those daring and bold enough to play blades can share, i value the information very much and am pleased to say once the needed fees add up ill be sure to purchase a pair after some more research. (All the advice about shafts really made me even rethink the shafts i game now a proper fitting was not taken place)

 

More discussion will most definitely take place once i purchase a set of blades as well as some JUICY pictures. Cheers

[DeNinny]

DaBears, as long as you have a positive attitude about blades, you will be fine (at least) with them. Welcome to the LIGHT side. Looking forward to reading your blades journey.

[Nard_S]

Received Greg Norman Signatures today, they are not perfect (bag chatter) but they are over all pretty clean and did not see a ton of use.

 

DG S300 shafts w/ factory grips, TOUR stamp & shallow signature suggests they were Hoffman forged, clubs have good heft guessing they are

 

D2 swing weight. For #7 iron OAL weight at 440 grams matches my Wilson FG59's w/ DG S300, both exceed Hogan's by 6 grams or so.

 

Bitchin!

 

 

 

 

attachment=3546888:IMG_0837 (1).JPG]

[Bigmean]

Bitchin is right, those are some sick looking heads. Congrats!

[Unicorn88]

Got my new Wishon mmc blades last week and i looove them now after 5rounds !

[Bigmean]

Those are cool! Nice sticks bro, and I think when in doubt, I can't deny that playing somethig that people don't have makes it even better. That is my one self admitted club vanity, I don't care about brands or cost or status, but in the world of big oems, I think it is so liberating to have Sticks that people Don't recognize.

 

That looks like a cooler cut muscle than the mizzys, looks more functional.

[No_Catchy_Nickname]

I got an itch for unusual clubs after reading the thread about European club manufacturers. I'm toying with the idea of ordering a set of these:

http://www.orkagolf.com/products/rs1/

 

Or these: http://www.coopergolf.com/forged-irons/cooper-cp25-iron-raw

The cooper wedges look pretty nice as well: http://www.coopergolf.com/tour-series-wedges/cooper-tour-series-v-grind-wedge-raw

 

I could order a set and pick them up when I am over in the UK next....the weak pound makes it especially tempting.

[craz-e]

Those orka and cooper irons look stunning!

Buy both!

[No_Catchy_Nickname]

Those orka and cooper irons look stunning!

Buy both!

 

That's the only logical decision on GolfWRX! :cheesy:

[Jonesy]

I actually think I'm in love with those Cooper blades

[No_Catchy_Nickname]

The Orka ones are cheaper, but those Cooper blades are really nice to look at. I am guessing Kyoei blanks, because they remind me a lot of the Yururi Flatbacks, and I believe they're Kyoei forged.

[Jonesy]

I think you have to get them both for 'research' purposes, we're all dying to know how they perform! You would of course have to have both sets at the same time to ensure there is no bias...

[No_Catchy_Nickname]

I think you have to get them both for 'research' purposes, we're all dying to know how they perform! You would of course have to have both sets at the same time to ensure there is no bias...

 

This is a forum full of enablers, isn't it

 

This is how bad it is: I have sets of MP-4s, MP-69s, MS-11s, and Mac VIPs. I have a set of Mac Tour Forged heads from 1980. I am eyeing a 5-PW set of MP-68s in the local second hand shop. And I am seriously considering buying a set of the Cooper blades heads to take back to Japan with me after Christmas.

[NRJyzr]

I think you have to get them both for 'research' purposes, we're all dying to know how they perform! You would of course have to have both sets at the same time to ensure there is no bias...

 

This is a forum full of enablers, isn't it

 

This is how bad it is: I have sets of MP-4s, MP-69s, MS-11s, and Mac VIPs. I have a set of Mac Tour Forged heads from 1980. I am eyeing a 5-PW set of MP-68s in the local second hand shop. And I am seriously considering buying a set of the Cooper blades heads to take back to Japan with me after Christmas.

 

 

I'll make you feel better, Catchy: I have a set of Muirfields, 78 Staffs, Vibration Matched Golden Rams, Golden Ram TW276, 1970s Golden Rams, Ram TG-898, Ram FX Nickels, MS-11s, aluminum shafted Haig Ultras (rusty), most of a set of overlength superstiff FG17s, Wood Brothers blades, Purefit 1020 blades, 986 Tours, and then the CBs, Eye2+, ISI, black dot Revolutions, and 2011 Tour Preferred MC.

 

The latter are about to be shafted up, if I ever get around to actually assembling them.

 

This doesn't count my almost having purchased a set of Golden Ram TW282 generously offered to me by one of our brothers. Or the Mizuno MS-702 I've encountered this year and had to resist buying, and the MP-14s that are still waved in front of me from time to time, having the allure by being the iron that got me started on this road.

 

Does that help you feel better at all?

 

I suppose I could recount all the sets I've owned and moved over the last 15 years, but that could be a while. LOL

[Tcann32]

Really interested in this forum, I've seen a lot of talk that higher handicap players need to stay away from blades but on the other side blades are supposedly a training aid if you will. Myself being a plus 9 handicap looking to maximize my game should i look in to purchasing a set of old blades to help further my game? Also can't find an iron that isn't a blade or cb that fits my eye. currently gaming the MP-25 but them and everything else i SHOUL play as a plus handscap is to bulky.

 

Here are some questions to the forum that would help me answer some other questions i have about blades

 

What was your first experience switching into a bladed irons (Bladed irons players). My second question goes out to anyone who has played blades and doesn't anymore and anyone who has never owned a set of blades, Why don't you game blades?. My third question is simply what you personally think makes a great bladed iron?

 

1) My experience switching to blades (mp67s) at a 16 index was a positive one. I found that they enhanced my play on my good ballstriking days, and I am more likely able to shoot my personal best with blades in my bag. Overall they have been better for my game at any handicap, whether it be 16 or 8 or anything in between. But it is a marginal improvement over CBs and SGIs that is only most evident when I am playing well. Also I can't go back to CBs. I am a blades player for life. I used to switch back and forth between blades and CBs for almost 10 years. But not anymore. Blades give me the best ball control possible, feedback is great, and there really isn't a better feeling in golf than hitting a blade pure. There's really no need to play anything else. All CBs do for me is take away from my golf experience.

 

2) N/A (BLADES FOR LIFE!!!)

 

3) A great bladed iron is one that has a simple muscle that spans the length of the head. It should have relatively even thickness and height. There should be some muscle still attached to the hosel. It should be made from high quality steel, with minimal defect density and even carbon distribution throughout. Bounce should be minimal and the leading edge not too rounded.

 

The best 10 rounds of my life have been with blades.. I finally recently shot in the 70's, with blades. So, either I'm secretly an idiot and a scratch golfer, or blades aren't that scary.

[WidespreadPanic]

I switched from MP30's to MP33's about a month ago, and my ball striking got better. I dont know what it is, maybe the thinner top line, but I just have so much confidence over every shot i hit. I did lose a few yards, but nothing big enough to bother me.

[No_Catchy_Nickname]

I'll make you feel better, Catchy: I have a set of Muirfields, 78 Staffs, Vibration Matched Golden Rams, Golden Ram TW276, 1970s Golden Rams, Ram TG-898, Ram FX Nickels, MS-11s, aluminum shafted Haig Ultras (rusty), most of a set of overlength superstiff FG17s, Wood Brothers blades, Purefit 1020 blades, 986 Tours, and then the CBs, Eye2+, ISI, black dot Revolutions, and 2011 Tour Preferred MC.

 

The latter are about to be shafted up, if I ever get around to actually assembling them.

 

This doesn't count my almost having purchased a set of Golden Ram TW282 generously offered to me by one of our brothers. Or the Mizuno MS-702 I've encountered this year and had to resist buying, and the MP-14s that are still waved in front of me from time to time, having the allure by being the iron that got me started on this road.

 

Does that help you feel better at all?

 

I suppose I could recount all the sets I've owned and moved over the last 15 years, but that could be a while. LOL

 

No, it makes me feel jealous!

 

To be honest, it's not about the number sets I own, want to own, or could own. It's about the number of sets I am allowed to own.

[NRJyzr]

I switched from MP30's to MP33's about a month ago, and my ball striking got better. I dont know what it is, maybe the thinner top line, but I just have so much confidence over every shot i hit. I did lose a few yards, but nothing big enough to bother me.

 

 

When the 33s and 30s were both current sets, the 33s were generally preferred. Some went so far as to say the 33s were more forgiving.

 

Any yards you lost could be due to the lofts, the 30s are slightly stronger lofted.

[NRJyzr]

The best 10 rounds of my life have been with blades.. I finally recently shot in the 70's, with blades. So, either I'm secretly an idiot and a scratch golfer, or blades are that scary.

 

 

My experience has been similar. My lowest scores, either relative to par (3 times) or total strokes (twice), have been with blades in the bag.

 

In May and June this year, I got my index to its second lowest level ever. I did it with blades and Eye2+ both. I played both for extended stretches and, ultimately, I found it didn't matter which were in the bag. My avg score for either were virtually identical, maybe a tenth of a stroke difference at most.

 

Not sure why, but Eye2+ are about the only CB set I can say that's true. In spite of their being nearly the antithesis of the type of irons I've used primarily for the last 16 seasons. Go figure.

[DeNinny]

Really interested in this forum, I've seen a lot of talk that higher handicap players need to stay away from blades but on the other side blades are supposedly a training aid if you will. Myself being a plus 9 handicap looking to maximize my game should i look in to purchasing a set of old blades to help further my game? Also can't find an iron that isn't a blade or cb that fits my eye. currently gaming the MP-25 but them and everything else i SHOUL play as a plus handscap is to bulky.

 

Here are some questions to the forum that would help me answer some other questions i have about blades

 

What was your first experience switching into a bladed irons (Bladed irons players). My second question goes out to anyone who has played blades and doesn't anymore and anyone who has never owned a set of blades, Why don't you game blades?. My third question is simply what you personally think makes a great bladed iron?

 

1) My experience switching to blades (mp67s) at a 16 index was a positive one. I found that they enhanced my play on my good ballstriking days, and I am more likely able to shoot my personal best with blades in my bag. Overall they have been better for my game at any handicap, whether it be 16 or 8 or anything in between. But it is a marginal improvement over CBs and SGIs that is only most evident when I am playing well. Also I can't go back to CBs. I am a blades player for life. I used to switch back and forth between blades and CBs for almost 10 years. But not anymore. Blades give me the best ball control possible, feedback is great, and there really isn't a better feeling in golf than hitting a blade pure. There's really no need to play anything else. All CBs do for me is take away from my golf experience.

 

2) N/A (BLADES FOR LIFE!!!)

 

3) A great bladed iron is one that has a simple muscle that spans the length of the head. It should have relatively even thickness and height. There should be some muscle still attached to the hosel. It should be made from high quality steel, with minimal defect density and even carbon distribution throughout. Bounce should be minimal and the leading edge not too rounded.

 

The best 10 rounds of my life have been with blades.. I finally recently shot in the 70's, with blades. So, either I'm secretly an idiot and a scratch golfer, or blades are that scary.

 

FYI it is the technology behind the blade design that enables you to play your best golf (or to put it another way, the, at times, DETRIMENTAL technology of CB designs). The 'magic' is the physics. The only reason they are viewed as 'scary' or only for scratch golfers is because of duplicitous marketing by club manufacturers in the business of selling "forgiving" irons. They want you to believe that you aren't good enough for blades so that you make more forgiving iron purchases. Yet golfers of ANY skill level continue to shoot their lowest scores with blades. The reason is the BENEFICIAL science behind their design.

[duffer987]

The best 10 rounds of my life have been with blades.. I finally recently shot in the 70's, with blades. So, either I'm secretly an idiot and a scratch golfer, or blades are that scary.

 

 

My experience has been similar. My lowest scores, either relative to par (3 times) or total strokes (twice), have been with blades in the bag.

 

In May and June this year, I got my index to its second lowest level ever. I did it with blades and Eye2+ both. I played both for extended stretches and, ultimately, I found it didn't matter which were in the bag. My avg score for either were virtually identical, maybe a tenth of a stroke difference at most.

 

Not sure why, but Eye2+ are about the only CB set I can say that's true. In spite of their being nearly the antithesis of the type of irons I've used primarily for the last 16 seasons. Go figure.

 

Well surely if the majority of your golf is played with a particular genre of clubs, statistically the odds should lean in that direction right? :)

Surely x 2 you second point is all that matters: the swing is the thing!

 

I've played a minimum 10 rounds this year with 3 driver heads, 3 iron sets, and 2 wedge sets. And some combo of all those (except the wedges) has been in the bag during either my 'career low' shot this year, two potential career lows I clusterfcked away, or while I strung together a bunch of good rounds to reach my lowest ever index - which I am now climbing away from ;)

 

A golfer happened to be playing certain equipment when their swing got in the way and they went low. Enjoy it TC32 and long may it continue for you :)

 

BTW NRJ - regardless of the iron, I just think it's cool you are going out there with this 'old' equipment and knocking down flags, while a bunch of us (well me at least) keeps picking something newish and shiny off the shelf.