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

[craz-e]

5 hours ago, charlokim said:

Not the full set of MBs but new addition to the bag 

 

let us know your thoughts!

[Bigmean]

6 hours ago, JungleJimbo said:

Thanks @Bigmean for the JDM shaft comparison.
 

Very interesting to me (so I hope you don’t receive too many “ wrong forum… not blades” criticism/ responses)!

 

Thanks Jimbo, don’t worry I have been consistently inconsistent in topical posts on this thread…  that’s not going to change 😝.
 

To me, the blades thread has always really been about the blade players take on the game.   It has always been for the golfers who took the blue pill (or red?  I took both in case and washed down with a rum and Coke) in that it is golfers in 2023 who see through all of the decades of marketing garbage mixed with some science that has become “equipment fact”  and know this is a game where you have to dig out your game out of the dirt.  
 

Playing blades these days doesn’t have to do with your handicap, or you posing (well not this thread or in real life anyway), it is simply a mindset that sees equipment for what it really is. 
 

Great Segway though, I do have an update.  

Edited May 14, 2023 by Bigmean

[Bigmean]

First bad bad sim sesh with new toys.  It was meh across the bag, I was over fatigued big time as I played 54 after drives on range in an hot a** garage and I don’t think I even had much of a swing to start yesterday.  So not best info day but learned a little bit about my game. Last two rounds was my idea to play same course back to back using a different driver for each(kai’li/rogue and trpx epic).  This is a horrible idea to gain any real driver comp info, but I still believe the combo that works in sim rounds best will be better for me than numbers on the range will be so I am trying to see how to feel that out.  
 

I shot a sim +8 with rogue and +6 with epic,  not good sim scores (my house rules are putting is your superpower, 2 putt all greens and make all putts inside 10ft.) This system rewards GIR and close shots/chips and it makes it more like a video game which I like for fun.
 

Ok big mean, that’s a lot of rambling, what’s the Segway about?

 

This.   I have no idea what the epic speed is, but I guess it came and went when I was on sabbatical.  I don’t think I like it more than the rogue, but I paid $90 for that head only, and let’s say another $100 for a shaft.  I am seeing differences in numbers across all combos but the more I hit the more they get muddy but with trends.  A sub $200 stick can hang with a 2023 driver for $599 all day, and be better shaft depending.  The shafts are 100% making a bigger impact to shots than the heads. 
 

Another interesting note is that all my shafts (not sure about kai li) are “anti left” yet the gogo and trpx will happily over draw on shots that start out straight where as the crazy is the only one that seems to really only leak right if I don’t lose it right.   This explains why it is a little shorter and straighter most of time maybe as well. 
 

Finally, the big lesson I am learning about my swing and driver and may explain why I lost it so bad for so long.  I have realized, I have 2 golf swings.  One is just smooth with good tempo and ball gets in way and the other is me hitting the ball actively.  This is irons to driver.  Surprisingly unlike irons, my best drives are not the smooth tempo swing, I actually drive the ball by far straighter and farther stepping up with the intention to let it Fing go.  When I step up and think “I’m going to just murder this” as last thought and no other thoughts, I know I move my weight too much (sway), manipulate my hands through impact and other bad things, but I get my best shots just trying to rip it.  I did that in my last real round with the rogue because I was excited to hit it as it was new and drove well.  It is counterintuitive but I really think that my lost confidence to let it rip and over focus on smooth and swing thoughts actually has been a big problem in getting it back on track.  We will see.

Edited May 14, 2023 by Bigmean

[Kingcat990]

On 5/12/2023 at 8:56 PM, Bigmean said:

 

‘Are we talking about these?   

 

https://buyee.jp/item/yahoo/auction/p825097169?conversionType=service_page_search

 

I can can see where the lower toe is fat, but they look compact.

Yeah those are the ones. I'll get some photos of them next to some other sets I have laying around. I think the smallest set I have to compare is my Arias CR16 irons. I'll throw in a MacGregor in the photo for contrast when I get home

[NRJyzr]

1 hour ago, Kingcat990 said:

Arias CR16 irons

 

Speaking of off topic  🙂

 

Our Feline Majesty, would you care to offer commentary on your CR16 irons?  I picked up D-23 2i and 5i for demo, have been thinking about buying a set of either the D-23 or CR16, would like to hear your thoughts on them...

 

[Bigmean]

On 5/14/2023 at 4:48 PM, Kingcat990 said:

Yeah those are the ones. I'll get some photos of them next to some other sets I have laying around. I think the smallest set I have to compare is my Arias CR16 irons. I'll throw in a MacGregor in the photo for contrast when I get home

Wow.  Thanks man, this may have saved me $700….

 

 

 

Also a dumb out of the loop question, when in the hell did my 1957 blades get soooo expensive?   On my shaft kick I was kicking around idea of building some weird shaft set of blades and since I always only want to play that set why not find a beat up set and refinish etc. and there are like not alot of sets and $2,000 range????  I think I paid $1050 like new which for me and golf clubs was like going to Disney and telling the kids get whatever food and drinks and souvenirs they want the whole time.
 

 The only clubs I have ever gotten that I have bought at a premium and not what was a very depreciated price in my life is a Golds factory putter/putter modifications and the small blades.

 

And truthfully speaking they both stand above all other clubs and putters I have used.  I think it is dumb pure luck on the putter, but it is my soul mate.  It legit is starting to get a “Tiger woods Newport” wear mark.  

Edited May 16, 2023 by Bigmean

[NRJyzr]

Keeping with Biggie's blade users driver discussion...

 

I've fought spin issues off the tee since I've been playing this game.  Because of this, I've almost never used a driver that ranks in the upper ranges of forgiveness.  Closest I got was King LTD, which is forgiving, but not in that upper range.  Any time I'd try something approaching 5000 MOI, I'd get shorter distance and even the velcro effect in the fairway. 

 

Well, these days my speed is down about 10 mph, if not a bit more, thanks to age and a less than stellar back.  The closest to a new driver I've got is a SpeedZone, which has the adjustable weights.  Decided I'd give it some play this year.

 

In the Sims over the winter, I managed my best ballspeed with that club, compared to other sticks I'd hit.  Part of my decision process. 😉

 

Side note: interestingly, the Mizuno T-Zoid Forged Ti driver, at a whopping 275cc and currently only 43" long, was within 2 mph of the SpeedZone.  It's going to see the course, also.

 

Started the year hitting the SpeedZone with the heavy weight forward.  Noticed I had to bump the loft a bit higher, but the ball still tended to fall quickly; seemed like there wasn't enough spin.  Thought it was time to maybe try the heavy weight back.  Have some heavier weights, put an 18g in the back, 6g in front, and added a bit of lead tape at the very back of the clubhead.  Dropped the loft to its lowest (9*) setting.

 

And it's been interesting, in a good way.  Distance is pretty good.  But the biggest is that I'm hitting more fairways than I possibly ever have,  and even when not, the ball is in play.  It's not an exaggeration to say I'd been previously averaging a couple punchouts per round, and those are way down.  Harder to score when you're having to get up and down from 50-100 yds two to three times every round.  Actually feeling pretty good about my tee game right now.

 

Club details:  10.5* SpeedZone head, tuned to 9*.  Shaft is HZRDUS Black 6.5.  43.5" club length, swingweight D5 or so.

 

[Nard_S]

Shot 87 on 2nd outing. 47/40. On #3 chipped in from 30 feet on sweeping downhill for bird. Solid tee game on back nine helped card. Poor management on front had me drinking a beer at turn, lol. My swing is coming out of the dark ages. 

 

I'm using MP 650, is 10.5* has a 75g shaft. The thing is most accurate driver I've ever owned and in good part it's the weight & mid spin nature which makes it a fairway finder. If i buy new metals, they will be modeled on it's build.  It's not longest but percentages off tee are very good.

 

Probably biggest "fix" to long club woes, something which has always plagued, has been breaking down and reconstituting the rhythm of swing. Sped up backswing but really slowed transition (while initiating DS earlier) then sped up down swing by point of fire and how fast. It's brought a higher level of handle command to swing. Better for all clubs but sub 30 degree clubs have seen biggest improvement. 

[RolandofGilead]

8 hours ago, NRJyzr said:

Club details:  10.5* SpeedZone head, tuned to 9*.  Shaft is HZRDUS Black 6.5.  43.5" club length

That is a lot of shaft for someone who has lost 10 mph! I wonder if what you have in the T-Zokd is a better fit.

 

I switched from a Ping G400 to a Titleist 975J this year and love it. I lose 10-15 yards across the board but the look and feel are miles better. The stock True Temper EI-70 shaft is a true gem.

[NRJyzr]

2 minutes ago, RolandofGilead said:

That is a lot of shaft for someone who has lost 10 mph! I wonder if what you have in the T-Zoid is a better fit.

 

The difference is the shorter length with added weight.  This shaft was at 44.5" in a King LTD; by going to 43.5" with the swingweight brought back up to the same it was at 44.5", it's playing about 6cpm softer.  So, while it's an X by label, it's more like a S+.

 

[Christen_The_Sloop]

On 5/13/2023 at 2:25 AM, Bigmean said:

Ok so that last post bought me 3 more driver posts, right?

 

The biggest problem with my whole plan to find the best setup is that it isn’t as easy as just hit 100 with each and look at numbers and what ones to use or whatever.  
 

I played a round last night, and it dawned on me that I was doing it all wrong.   So even on sim, you get into your rounds, or I do.  I even pre shot routine sometimes if it is an important or difficult shot.  So across 18 holes, I used 4 different combos with 3 drives each and maybe one had 4.  It was eye opening.   It felt like real on course practice because instead of swinging into dead space for numbers.  You actually are aiming for misses and making slightly different swings to work the ball or guard against a hazard as you would in a round.  This is how I think I am going to weed these out.  The number data is still there anyway, but it is more trial by fire of playing and not free swinging.
 

Here is where we are at, and if anyone is has numbers similar to mine 
 

1.  Kai’li is advancing to the Final Cut.  I’m going to stop humoring it until that point. It may be the longest of all and it is not inaccurate.  

 

2.  The crazy is wayyyyyy better than the initial thought.  It isn’t as long as others but popped one 312(grain of salt for fairway bounces) but generally nailed in round was 285-295 and the feeling this shaft has is probably the best of group.  Didn’t miss a fairway with it.

 

3.  I don’t get along with this fire express(spin?). Stunned really, I played good golf for years with a fire express in a titleist D2 driver, but is basically going on eBay after two uses.  Feels good, legit 10y avg shorter than the middle of the pack and legit least accurate.   I have no idea why, but this is consistently the worst setup.  Anyone want a deal on it with callaway sleeve?  I highly doubt the shaft is the problem, but it just isn’t working with whatever I am doing. 

 

4. The TRPX in epic speed 10.5 head was stupid accurate.  Much better in this head than in the rogue (so far) this and the crazy/rogue combos so far look to be most accurate while still delivering solid ok hit distance in the 265-280 range.  This shaft may not leave this club. 
 

5.  The gogo5.  It is interesting, it can be deep, it can feel really good, it isn’t bad dispersion, But in this kind of shootout it is like well rounded but not jumping out at me yet.  If you got it in a used club and hit it I feel like there is so much to like about it with feel and distance.

 

I think there is more differences than I expected in the shafts.  I’m closing in on 100 combined drives with them and getting a better handle.  I was swinging a bit better last night, but that is why I am I 

hitting all combos per session to compare what swing I have that day evenly across them.  
 

I will hold back on sharing how this goes here until I am done with final conclusions.

 

I just have one question for British expat NCN or my other blade compadre from Canada (whose username is escaping me, sorry man, been a while) living in Japan.  Wtf is up with the grips over there?  I get some of the weirdest grip compounds sometimes, and I have sweaty hands when playing and live in 90% humidity….I am regripping this weekend before I throw the trpx through my screen….

 

 

Edit-Christian the sloop!  I remembered, all I could think of was bill Murray washing balls haha. I hope he is still around and well….

 

Hey no worries!

 

Glad to see you back at it! 

 

The grips in Japan are interesting. I have a hard time deviating from GP MCC, but being that I have a few packages arriving every month, I do see quite a few exotic grips. They usually don't last long - I should take some pics - what are the brands? Elite, Perfect Pro (decent cords I'd like to try).  STM... Obviously I am missing a few. 

 

I'm going to Canada in the summr for the first time in a long time, so I am compiling a bag of clubs. I found an ATTAS 2, that looked like it should fit my swing, but it hasn't felt right in the TITLEIST 915 head I had lying around. I am looking at EPON or Mizzy heads and maybe try another shaft - I get along really well with other ATTAS, so...

 

I was thinking of reshafting the MP4s I have with some Modus 105X I have lying around too - I'd be moving down from the DGX100, which I've gotten more comfortable with this year as I am getting off my rear end in the morning to exercise. Who knew lifting some weight/ stretching doing mobility stuff would protect from wear and tear? 

 

Played in a couple local tourneys this year so far - the only reason I get out at all... Finished first in the first one. Shot 80 in a monsoon on an old mountain side track in Kyoto (UJI country club). That was my goal for the year - win one time. Next event I finished 4th with another 80. Losing strokes with pitching. Last round missed 3 greens from inside 40 yards. It's unforgiveable. Putting hasn't helped either, but last game was on punched/sanded greens - what a disappointment it was to see that... I have one more tourney before Canada at a course I've never played - goal is too shoot par and win. I will continue to work on pitching / less bitching.

 

 

[NRJyzr]

19 hours ago, RolandofGilead said:

That is a lot of shaft for someone who has lost 10 mph! I wonder if what you have in the T-Zokd is a better fit.

 

I switched from a Ping G400 to a Titleist 975J this year and love it. I lose 10-15 yards across the board but the look and feel are miles better. The stock True Temper EI-70 shaft is a true gem.

 

18 hours ago, NRJyzr said:

 

The difference is the shorter length with added weight.  This shaft was at 44.5" in a King LTD; by going to 43.5" with the swingweight brought back up to the same it was at 44.5", it's playing about 6cpm softer.  So, while it's an X by label, it's more like a S+.

 

 

 

Wanted to add another comment...

 

I do also have an Aldila ProtoPype 70, and 80, both in Stiff.  I'd had the 80S in the SpeedZone for a bit, but it's currently set up at 44".  Want to cut it down to 43.5", something that's on tap.

 

The TZoid has an old BiMatrix stiff in it, the original BiMatrix, not the Proto.  It's a little soft for me, but it's likely usable.  Haven't gotten it on course yet. 

 

I have a few NV shafts I could toss in there, NV75 or NV85.  Have an NV75 X in my Cobra Deep Face, which is at 43.5", the shorter length takes the edge off enough, and the NV profile may suit me better than the HZRDUS Black does.

 

[Kingcat990]

On 5/14/2023 at 4:55 PM, Bigmean said:

Wow.  Thanks man, this may have saved me $700….

 

 

 

Also a dumb out of the loop question, when in the hell did my 1957 blades get soooo expensive?   On my shaft kick I was kicking around idea of building some weird shaft set of blades and since I always only want to play that set why not find a beat up set and refinish etc. and there are like not alot of sets and $2,000 range????  I think I paid $1050 like new which for me and golf clubs was like going to Disney and telling the kids get whatever food and drinks and souvenirs they want the whole time.
 

 The only clubs I have ever gotten that I have bought at a premium and not what was a very depreciated price in my life is a Golds factory putter/putter modifications and the small blades.

 

And truthfully speaking they both stand above all other clubs and putters I have used.  I think it is dumb pure luck on the putter, but it is my soul mate.  It legit is starting to get a “Tiger woods Newport” wear mark.  

 All 6's. Top down it goes; 304e, CR16, Masda, Tourney

Masdas on the far right below. They have a very pronounced and high toe.

Below: Tourney, Masda, CR16, 304E

 

 

 

 

 

Edited May 17, 2023 by Kingcat990

[Kingcat990]

On 5/14/2023 at 3:27 PM, NRJyzr said:

 

Speaking of off topic  🙂

 

Our Feline Majesty, would you care to offer commentary on your CR16 irons?  I picked up D-23 2i and 5i for demo, have been thinking about buying a set of either the D-23 or CR16, would like to hear your thoughts on them...

 

 

They're great. A very rewarding iron. Not as clicky as I thought they would be considering they're a stainless trim. I need to be abundantly clear though, there is absolutely no discernable difference between the CR16's and a full blown blade. They may be a CB, but the forgiveness is marginal. They are a ton of fun. No performance difference with the zero offset, just have to remind myself to get aggressive with hitting the inside of the ball. 

[Bigmean]

What is a CR16?  Who makes that?

[JungleJimbo]

38 minutes ago, Bigmean said:

What is a CR16?  Who makes that?

 

 

 

Not CR-16 specific ... but more info here: 

https://www.golfwrx.com/554920/golfwrx-spotlight-arias-true-zero-offset-d-23-irons/

 

Edited May 17, 2023 by JungleJimbo

[Bigmean]

Good looking clubs.  I don’t think I have ever seen a true 0 offset set in my hands.   
I would say the stainless is a turnoff but one of my all time favorite iron sets was the titliest dci 962s.

[NRJyzr]

1 hour ago, Bigmean said:

Good looking clubs.  I don’t think I have ever seen a true 0 offset set in my hands.   
I would say the stainless is a turnoff but one of my all time favorite iron sets was the titliest dci 962s.

 

I picked up a 2i and 5i in the D-23 irons as a test.  They're 431 stainless, but the feel is quite good.  I was pleasantly surprised.  🙂

 

I'm toying with picking up a set of either the CR16 or the D-23.  I'm leaning CR16 due to the smaller size and topline, but we'll see; the D-23s have been pretty good, and don't look as large as I'd worried they would.

 

The D-23 set are 4-PW, with a 2 iron option that you can get as low as 15*.  They don't appear to have a 3 iron, though they may be re-designating a 3i, after the CR16s were released.

 

The Zero Offset is amazing.  I've been thinking of using that D-23 2i with my 986 Tour set, if I ever actually shaft those up.  🙂

 

 

[bryanwmilburn]

First impressions on the course after 1 round are very very promising. Look amazing, feel amazing and perform wonderfully. So consistent - exactly what I was hoping for. Glad I pulled the trigger! 

[Bigmean]

I’m sure my small blades have the least offset of any of my clubs, and I clearly get along with those, not sure how different a true 0 would be but I’d imagine the same way you could adjust to SGI you would just adjust but I can see setting up with 0 being pleasing.   Currently I am not having a good relationship with losing the ball right, so I’m less enthusiastic seeing that as I would have been a few months ago haha.

Woke up this morning and I thought I slept on my hand all whack, then I realized maybe pounding 50 drives a night for the last week is not left wrist friendly so going to take some days off that work in progress.  I’m now at a stage where I have to be careful to not chase my tail with things that work for a few then don’t then overdoing this and under doing that etc.  
 

We will see….

 

 

[ChadL]

1 hour ago, bryanwmilburn said:

First impressions on the course after 1 round are very very promising. Look amazing, feel amazing and perform wonderfully. So consistent - exactly what I was hoping for. Glad I pulled the trigger! 

Spectacular....I had the previous generation Z Forged and loved them.  Playing ZX7s now.  *I don't need new irons........I don't need new irons.......I don't need new irons* 🙂

[Bigmean]

Does endo forge srixons?  I am embarrassed to say I have never owned a Srixon set or even hit any I can remember…they look great, just never crossed paths for whatever reasons. 

[Bigmean]

10 minutes ago, ChadL said:

Spectacular....I had the previous generation Z Forged and loved them.  Playing ZX7s now.  *I don't need new irons........I don't need new irons.......I don't need new irons* 🙂

That is not the right attitude to have around here, you should probably get some new irons just to be sure you don’t need new irons😂

[ChadL]

3 minutes ago, Bigmean said:

Does endo forge srixons?  I am embarrassed to say I have never owned a Srixon set or even hit any I can remember…they look great, just never crossed paths for whatever reasons. 

They did and then went to another forging house.  I can't recall which Z series they went away from Endo. However, with the ZX7s they went back to Endo and I don't believe they have changed since.

Edited May 17, 2023 by ChadL

[bryanwmilburn]

1 minute ago, Bigmean said:

Does endo forge srixons?  I am embarrassed to say I have never owned a Srixon set or even hit any I can remember…they look great, just never crossed paths for whatever reasons. 

Yep. And they’re amazing. IMO you’d be hard pressed to find a better combination of look, feel, playability and dare I say it…..forgiveness…..in a blade. FWIW I did do ZX7 in 4-5 and think it was the right choice. 

[Christen_The_Sloop]

16 hours ago, bryanwmilburn said:

Yep. And they’re amazing. IMO you’d be hard pressed to find a better combination of look, feel, playability and dare I say it…..forgiveness…..in a blade. FWIW I did do ZX7 in 4-5 and think it was the right choice. 

Srixon are the Rodney Dangerfield of irons. They've made a lot of winners though. They get it right at least as often as Mizuno, just don't have the same appeal. They can only blame themselves.

Edited May 18, 2023 by Christen_The_Sloop

[No_Catchy_Nickname]

Funny to read this; I've just put my Srixon Pro-100s back in the back. 

 

Lovely, meaty irons to hit.

Older pic:

[Bigmean]

The 100s were always the srixons I was drawn to.  I think my “GI” onoffs are endo, endo stuff to me has always been kinda like that expected forged feel.  
 

So speaking of this, may as well go from drivers to CBs, I apparently Somehow lost my 5 iron to my Shingo set(how? Tee box between 5 and 6?). I played the Shingo set my first 4 rounds as I was getting back into it and I called the course about it (I mean other than the recoil I can’t imagine someone finding that and not thinking it is a wal mart or knockoff club or anything worth keeping) and they said no, so now I have 6-p in a set I will never find a single 5 iron for, BUT I can replace the whole set for like $300, which I don’t think I want to.  I do like them, but I only play them if I am struggling or have not swung in months.  If I get another set of CBs, I feel compelled to get an old set of prgr ID BL, or the Stenson set which I honestly can’t remember if I had or not on my spree, how F’ed is that.  I’m like 50/50 on if I had them before….I don’t remember.

 

Im more inclined to do nothing and just not have a 5 iron in that set and build a set of dope blades with ridiculously Japanese shafts if I am Going to spend $1 tho.

Edited May 18, 2023 by Bigmean

[NRJyzr]

If it doesn't conflict with your sensibilities, I'd be inclined to go Frankenstein with your Shingo set, plugging in a 5 iron that's similar enough to align.  Or, because of how you use it, maybe put a hollow clubhead in that slot, with the appropriate loft.

 

Or, a hybrid or utility for that part of the bag, since it's your "my game isn't cooperating now" set.  Which leads me to....

 

If you're willing to go this route, you could look at the TS1, TS2, or TS1-IM clubheads from GolfWorks.  All are hollow and foam filled, could play the part of a Utility Iron in that slot.  You can buy a single clubhead to plug into the set, and build it with the appropriate shaft.  All boxes ticked.  🙂

 

(they have other, standard CB clubheads, if hollow doesn't work for you)

 

Edited May 18, 2023 by NRJyzr

[JungleJimbo]

 

 

 

 

Edited May 19, 2023 by JungleJimbo