Blades or Cavity Back's?

[AllTheGearNoIdea]

This is my first post and already i am asking for help...
Hi to all on GM forum.

Please can anyone help.......

Last year I inherited some golf clubs from my Granddad who has now unfortunately passed away. He was a total golf nut and every time I went to see him he would talk about nothing else. I personally was always interested in the game but I never really took it up until he specifically left me his clubs. I have since joined a club and I now totally love the game myself and still play with my granddads clubs.

The clubs he left me are 2007 Nike forged blades. I now know these are very expensive clubs but are specifically made and generally used by lower handicapped players. My granddad was off 5 so obviously the blade design worked for him but I am off 20. I am confident with the shorter irons but struggle with the long irons (3&4 irons to be specific) The clubs are still like new and obviously have sentimental value but I am unsure if they are hampering my game.

I know my granddad would want me to improve to the best I could be so I need to know if there is a huge difference between blades and cavity backed clubs?

I know people say cavity backs are more forgiving but how much more forgiving?
I am also told cavity backs are easier to hit?
When I look down at address with a cavity is seems huge with a fat top line which looks funny to me. Is this becuase i am only used to playing with blades?

Should I take the clubs to be custom fitted to me (i.e. loft and lie etc) or should I really be looking at using cavity backs being a high handicapped player?

What other options are out there?

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

 

[CliveW]

Hi and welcome.
Sorry to hear about your Grandad, but what a legacy he has left if it gets you playing this wonderful game.
For what it's worth, most players of high/mid handicap struggle with the long irons, this is borne out by the number of hybrid clubs on the market now. Blades are harder to use than cavity backed clubs, but there are irons which are a compromise between the two. My suggestion would be to speak to a pro and perhaps let him see how you cope with the blades and ask his advice. Another option would be to buy a second hand set of irons that are more suitable to your game but keep your Nikes and when you improve try the blades again.

 

[Imurg]

If you only struggle with the 3 and 4 irons then maybe a couple of hybrids will be better for you. 3iron hybrid is usually 21 degree and 4 iron 24. Maybe even just get 1 of about 22/23 to cover both clubs depending on what else you have in the bag. Nike do some good ones if you want to keep it similar brand-wise.
I'd use them. As long as you can hit 5-pw then use 'em.

 

[MashieNiblick]

Sorry to hear about your grandad. He has left you a great double legacy in those clubs and an introduction to the best game ever invented.

I've never fully bought into the "blades are just for low handicappers" argument, but they are less forgiving (i.e. an off centre strike will produce a relatively worse result than it would with a cavity). However most players of my generation learnt to play with blades. My theory is you will learn to hit what you use. If you use blades you may learn to hit the ball better. I agree that after hitting blades a big fat cavity back can look very clumsy. So I'd keep them and learn to use them.

Good advice above re hybrids or trying a cheaper cavity set to get you going but if you get rid of those blades too soon you may regret it.

 

[Crazyface]

I was using cavity back and got my H/C down to 15. I was tempted into buying some MP30 (basically blades. I got down to 13 but I've noticed that when firing into the green from say 150 meters in I can be just a little right or left so missing the green. Very frustrating. I dug out my old cavity backs (15 years old) on Tuesday and played with them. Massive difference. I hit every green in regulation on the back nine. Even twice firing in with a 5 iron. MP30 will be on e-bay soon. As cool as they are, and fantastic to hit with I've realised I'm not good enough to use them, (can you hear my heart braking?). Hang onto your grandads clubs tho. Make him proud when you start to use them. He'll be watching you can count on it.

 

[Aztecs27]

I was using cavity back and got my H/C down to 15. I was tempted into buying some MP30 (basically blades. I got down to 13 but I've noticed that when firing into the green from say 150 meters in I can be just a little right or left so missing the green. Very frustrating. I dug out my old cavity backs (15 years old) on Tuesday and played with them. Massive difference. I hit every green in regulation on the back nine. Even twice firing in with a 5 iron. MP30 will be on e-bay soon. As cool as they are, and fantastic to hit with I've realised I'm not good enough to use them, (can you hear my heart braking?). Hang onto your grandads clubs tho. Make him proud when you start to use them. He'll be watching you can count on it.

Sad times!

Nice to hear you're back on the right track with your cavitys though. Doesn't matter how you shoot, just gotta shoot the lowest score possible.

I've never used "proper" cavity clubs as I've only ever used Lynx irons before my Mizzys and they weren't cavitied (is that a word), but you learn with what you have I suppose.

 

[jammag]

Hi there sorry to hear about your Grandad and good to see you are taking up the sport in his footsteps.

I bought some Nike TW Blades last year and was told I would struggle how ever after experimenting recently with some caivty backs there isnt much difference in overall performance. You learn to hit what you have. I found that with the blades you will perhaps hit 80% good shots which go a lot better than the cavity backs and feels very smooth when connecting properly but the 20% shots when slightly mis hit dont go very far and can provide a nice shock up the arms. Where as the cavitys if you nail one they probably go as far as the normal blade stroke. you will probably hit about 90% fairly well with the cavity and the 10% slight mishits wont make as much difference as the blades do.

I recently bought some cavity backs and havent really benfitted too much as yet, regretting paying £100 for the new clubs. I feel blades are better for summer when the conditions are nice but when its really boggy yes its handy having the cavitys but overall I would stick with what you got.

 

[Owen_Thomas_14]

Dont get me started on this subject. To cut a long story short ill say stay to the blades

 

[HomerJSimpson]

I echo the sentiments about your grandad. For me I'd be looking at cavity backs as they really do give you more forgiveness on the wayward ones. However if I had the chance and the budget, I'd look at a cheap set of cavity's for now (maybe G10, Cally X20, TM Tour Burners) etc and not worry about the thicker top line but get a lesson or two and use this summer to improve your ball striking. Then once you get more consistent swap the 3 or 4 iron for a hybrid and use the clubs your grandad left you (maybe a regrip) and remember him as you shoot yor way to glory.