Blades

[beck9965]

Still got my Neil Coles Classics that I used to knock around the school field, like mhwgc said that's all we had, I can still hit them ok as well.

 

[mcbroon]

I grew up playing my old man's cast-off blades. Hogan Apex they were - beautiful clubs.

I've promised myself a set of blades if/when I get to Cat 1 but whether I go through with that remains to be seen. From an aesthetic point of view, I haven't seen many more beautiful clubs than the Wilson Staff FG62 :thup:

 

[guest100718]

Can someone point me in the direction of the evidence that shows that using GI clubs will improve my game beyond what a blade would?

 

[Foxholer]

Blades generally look beautiful, though some just look 'old' and I'm sorry, but that's what those look Bob.

Now is also the start of the (3 seasons out of 4) period where CBs and 'easier' come into their own as lush/thick grass limits the performance of blades in most cases!

I've had several sets - TP-9s , Miura Tournament Blades, Vega V-Muscles, MP37s and they were all a joy to hit (well), but they were costing me a couple of shots most rounds, so a combo set has been the best option for me! When I first used the TP-9s - for practice - a Pro was at the same range and used Callaway Big Berthas. His reason was because using them he scored best! His 7 iron had a strike mark the size of a 20p!

 

[patricks148]

Can someone point me in the direction of the evidence that shows that using GI clubs will improve my game beyond what a blade would?

Paddy dear boy, I'm not sure gi clubs will help your game , but they will make it easier.

I was a blade fan and thought as you progressed down in handicap , blades were the next step.

I play with some pretty handy players scratch and lower, none use blades.

 

[guest100718]

Paddy dear boy, I'm not sure gi clubs will help your game , but they will make it easier.

I was a blade fan and thought as you progressed down in handicap , blades were the next step.

I play with some pretty handy players scratch and lower, none use blades.

How would they make it easier? My fault is I get to quick and hit from the top and hoik the ball left. I dont use blades at them moment.

 

[patricks148]

How would they make it easier? My fault is I get to quick and hit from the top and hoik the ball left. I dont use blades at them moment.

Miss hit a GI club still goes more or less the same distance. Larger heads make glancing blows less distractive. Prob less spin as well.

I'm sure our mutual friend Phil will be along in a moment to disagree with me

 

[Imurg]

Middle a blade and middle a GI club and, apart from the actual feel, there won't be much difference.
Miss hit a blade and you can lose 10-15 yards easily
Miss hit a GI and you may lose 5.
Not scientific - from personal experience.

 

[SaintHacker]

Or in other words, miss hit a blade and you won't go quite as far into the cabbage as you would with a cavity back. I'm off to ebay for a browse...

 

[MadAdey]

Or in other words, miss hit a blade and you won't go quite as far into the cabbage as you would with a cavity back. I'm off to ebay for a browse...

Nice philosophy........

 

[bobmac]

Blades generally look beautiful, though some just look 'old' and I'm sorry, but that's what those look Bob.

That might be because they are old, 26 years old to be precise.
And dont be sorry, I still love hitting them.

 

[One Planer]

Nice philosophy........

:thup:

 

[Lord Tyrion]

I played in a pro-am a few weeks ago. I was admiring the pro's sexy irons when I noticed the 3 iron was cavity backed, the rest in the bag were blades. Any reason I asked. "It is so damned easy to hit, why make life harder for yourself", was the reply. Makes sense to me.

 

[Spear-Chucker]

Started off with cavity backs (Stix) many years ago and went to blades as I got better. The change made me a better ball striker and now don't feel comfortable when I hit CB's - some great clubs out there but not for me. I like the ability to hit more accentuated high, low, left and right shots with what I have now. Favourites before these were Cobra Greg Norman signature blades. Lovely.

 

[Deleted member 1147]

I used to have the Titleist 735CM's (progressive set), the short irons were bladed the long irons a small cavity.
I don't believe I either lost or gained anything by going to the AP2s, which I think are a lovely club.
I'm normally a decent ball striker so perhaps that's the issue, if you hit an iron well then you can get away with most clubs. Except that some GI clubs get the ball too high for my liking.

 

[Snelly]

The subject of blades is perennial here and you always get a pretty even split with some saying they are fantastic and others saying they make golf harder. Both have a fair point. But the question is being asked within this forum - a place for people who are generally more passionate or borderline obsessed about their golf than the average golfer, irrespective of handicap. I think this skews the split between the two differing views quite significantly.

I think that if you were to ask a less obsessive bunch of golfers for their views on this (again, across the handicap range) then you would get a different split. Rather than an approximate 50/50, more likely you would have 90%+ of people saying something along the lines that blades are only for elite golfers these days and anyone who uses them and isn't off 2 or better is making the game harder for themselves.

Doesn't mean people should not use them of course. Just means that they are using them because they like them and think they are cool - very good reasons to use them. But they do make golf that little bit trickier and anyone who says otherwise is mistaken.

 

[Spear-Chucker]

Doesn't mean people should not use them of course. Just means that they are using them because they like them and think they are cool - very good reasons to use them. But they do make golf that little bit trickier and anyone who says otherwise is mistaken.

Have to agree wholeheartedly with this. We are all lucky in that we have have a choice (given our budgets) and don't have to worry about making cuts. I'm sure if your living depended upon performance there would be some different answers.

 

[Piece]

My first proper set of clubs were a set of Mizuno Pro Originals, from the mid 80s. Now they were a real blade.

Ditto. :thup: In fact, I still have them, sitting in the shed being used as home for spiders. I think I should get them polished up, reshafted and use them on the range. I did hit them at the range a few years ago and the feeling out of the middle is second to none. Mis-hit one, and on a cold day, you know all about it!

 

[Region3]

The subject of blades is perennial here and you always get a pretty even split with some saying they are fantastic and others saying they make golf harder.

I agree with both of those points of view.


I've said this before and no doubt will again....

If I'm playing to put food on the table then I'll take all the help I can get. If I'm playing for fun I'll use what makes me happy. Having said that my MP-69's aren't blades like you used to get 30 years ago, they have a fair chunk of club behind the ball.

As long as I understand that I'm not a ball striking god and these may be hampering my game slightly then I may be a fool, but an informed one.

Funnily enough I was thinking about this a couple of days ago. I'm not sure how much lower I can get with my game as it is and thought about getting something like AP2's just to see if my scores improved, but keeping the current clubs to put back into play when I've decided I can go no lower.

 

[mhwgc]

Have to agree wholeheartedly with this. We are all lucky in that we have have a choice (given our budgets) and don't have to worry about making cuts. I'm sure if your living depended upon performance there would be some different answers.

Yes, this is me down to a tee!