Blades vs GI Irons

[MashieNiblick]

I grew up playing blades. That's all we had. Probably helped me in the long term but I wish I had had the choice that's available now.

I have a couple of true blades (MP68 and MacGregor V-Foil M) which I hit now and again on the range and my experience is that there is a real loss of distance and flight on even slight mis hits compared to the cavity back irons I usually play. You also know as soon as you hit the ball that it isn't off the middle.

The thing to do is get hold of an ex-demo blade from e-bay or a local shop and give it a go.

 

[duncan mackie]

I don't like a large or over size head on my irons or fairways however wanting to progress from GI irons I decided I was going to by some Nike TW blades which were on sale in my local pro shop. They had a demonstrator 7 iron and I asked if I could take it on the course.

To put it bluntly it looked superb sat in the bag and behind the ball but the reality of it is that I lost distance, lost consistency and didn't get away with miss hits especially on the longer irons. The accuracy on a good shot was great however it wasn't significantly better than using a good game improvement iron.

I now use a set of Ping i15's and couldn't be happier with them as feedback and accuracy are exceptional. They also look good to my eye. Westwood uses the i20's which are marginally more forgiving so if players of his ability can se see the benefit that's all the recommendation required.

excellent summary, and one that I suspect many people will relate to.

 

[One Planer]

I said in my previous post I was a little weird, to which Alex agreed (Thanks pal ), and I feel this a little more now.

Previous to playing a blade type club (MP32's) I had Taylormade R7 GI irons. Then I moved from the R7's to the MP32's, I actually gained distance.

The gains were quite simple to explain. I had a GI head with a light, 90g, steel shaft. GI clubs launch the ball high anyway, couple that with a light shaft, the ball almost came down with snow on it.

The MP32's being a 'players' club, launched the ball much lower. Couple that with a much, much heavier shaft in TT DG R300 (127g) my ball flight was much more penetrating and much more forward as opposed to up.

 

[Fish]

I'm not sure my MP-52's are blades per se, they are a double muscle back but they are certainly far more better looking when at address than my chunky G20's ever were. My striking of the ball has improved a lot since I changed and I find myself concentrating much more with them and more importantly, you don't need to help them in any way, a clean strike and you feel everything and off they go, their a joy to play with and I have increased my iron yardages with them. I honestly cannot remember the last time I fatted a ball taking a divot since having them, whereas, with the the G20's that could occur at least once in any round!

 

[sev112]

My name's steve, and I used to play Blades ; now i am on the path to recovery and i now play SGI irons

I used to think I could handle blades, I told my self they were "real" game improvement clubs as you had to get better to play with them, and I thought I did as my handicap dropped a bit.
But I was an addict.
I was tempted by their shiny looks and what I thought everyone thought about me when they saw my Mizzys in my bag.

I tried to wean myself off -I tried a forged progressive set, and I realised there was a light at the end of the tunnel.
My handicap dropped to 11 and it was the forgiveness of the perimeter weighted lower irons, as well as the support of my playing partners that got me to that stage.

I am now on the path to salvation. The good Samaritans at GM and PING took me out of the wilderness and showed me the way of the SGI iron. I have not looked back since. No longer does the temptation of a shiny small headed club tempt me back. I can look at my Mizzys and Hogans without fear- I even take one out now and again in the garden and chop down a few dandelions to remind myself of those dark days of the past.

But I have been saved.
Hallelujah.

 

[duncan mackie]

My name's steve, and I used to play Blades ; now i am on the path to recovery ..................
Hallelujah.

on of the best posts this year - brilliant

 

[Snelly]

A top quality post by sev112!

My summary would be that blades are for people that like blades. Irons that are not blades are for people who don't wish to make the game of golf any harder than it already is.

 

[Foxholer]

My name's steve, and I used to play Blades ; now i am on the path to recovery and i now play SGI irons

I used to think I could handle blades, I told my self they were "real" game improvement clubs as you had to get better to play with them, and I thought I did as my handicap dropped a bit.
But I was an addict.
I was tempted by their shiny looks and what I thought everyone thought about me when they saw my Mizzys in my bag.

I tried to wean myself off -I tried a forged progressive set, and I realised there was a light at the end of the tunnel.
My handicap dropped to 11 and it was the forgiveness of the perimeter weighted lower irons, as well as the support of my playing partners that got me to that stage.

I am now on the path to salvation. The good Samaritans at GM and PING took me out of the wilderness and showed me the way of the SGI iron. I have not looked back since. No longer does the temptation of a shiny small headed club tempt me back. I can look at my Mizzys and Hogans without fear- I even take one out now and again in the garden and chop down a few dandelions to remind myself of those dark days of the past.

But I have been saved.
Hallelujah.

A top quality post by sev112!

My summary would be that blades are for people that like blades. Irons that are not blades are for people who don't wish to make the game of golf any harder than it already is.

These 2 posts should be pinned!

I still pay homage to blades by using them as part of a Combo set!

Best of both on some days; worst of both on others!

 

[ger147]

I grew up playing blades. That's all we had. Probably helped me in the long term but I wish I had had the choice that's available now.

I have a couple of true blades (MP68 and MacGregor V-Foil M) which I hit now and again on the range and my experience is that there is a real loss of distance and flight on even slight mis hits compared to the cavity back irons I usually play. You also know as soon as you hit the ball that it isn't off the middle.

The thing to do is get hold of an ex-demo blade from e-bay or a local shop and give it a go.

Thanks for the idea, just picked up a mint 2nd hand MP-69 6 iron for just £10, so I can have a go with it at the range and stick it in my bag as a 15th club for bounce rounds and see how I get on with it vs my JPX 800 Pro 6 iron.

 

[ger147]

My MP-69 6 iron for £10 from eBay arrived today.

Hit a few balls in the park next to my house tonight but a bit early to make any judgements. We'll see how it goes over the next few months.

 

[In_The_Rough]

My MP-69 6 iron for £10 from eBay arrived today.

Hit a few balls in the park next to my house tonight but a bit early to make any judgements. We'll see how it goes over the next few months.

I use the previous model MP-68 and they are great. the control and feel you get from them are second to none really. I do not find them that bad really to hit, it is only when you get to 4 iron that it starts to get really tricky. I do not think they are anywhere near as hard to hit of blades from10+ years ago