First post but have I just made a big mistake?

[jammag]

Hello there forumers, I have been reading over this forum a bit for past few weeks and finally joined up today. Little bit of background basically im 22 I have recent started playing a lot more and joined up at a club in West Norfolk, I used to play when I was 12 but as no one my age to play with I got bored on my own with the coach so gave up only playing very briefly. After a month at my club I gained my first handicap of 23, which is not brilliant but I havent really played many competitions yet to get it down but I believe I will get that down very soon as cricket season is now done and I can play twice a weekend now.

Now onto my worry, I gained my clubs about 3 years ago second hand some Mizuno MX19s 3-SW, Wilson Staff Fybrid and also a Mizuno 920i driver. Bought them for £50 which I thought at the time was a good buy. Now recently I have been playing more I have been developing my own set, got a LW and GW, new putter. So as I really wanted my "own" clubs as such I set my heart on some Nike TW Forge Blade Irons. So I ordered them today, now after wanting some reviews on these clubs a lot of people say blades are for low handicappers etc or for good ball strikers.

I generally hit the ball very well, its very rare with the irons that I will hook or slice it. Also I do tend to adapt to things very well I think this comes mainly from the amount of cricket I play adapting to the numerous bats I have had and also timing the ball on quick or wet pitches etc.

I guess what I am saying is with enough practice should I be ok with these clubs and will get better from using them or have I made a huge mistake and my game will go all over the place?

Also while im here anyone else on here from the West Norfolk region?

cheers for reading this I hope you havent fell asleep by the time you get to the end.

Jamie

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Blades don't have to be for the better players but they tend to be a lot more unforgiving on bad shots. If you are anything like me you can have good ball striking days and bad, and its the bad ones where you'll struggle. A cavity back tends to have a larger sweetspot and so is more forgiving.

I guess if you play a lot of cricket you will already have some decent hand/eye co-ordination. Did you try the irons first or just get lured by the look of them. I would suggest giving them a go, maybe have a lesson or two and see if that helps and if you really can't use them put them on e-bay and put it down to experience. We've all been suckered by shiny new gear that hasn't helped our games at all and been consigned to dark cupboards or straight back out for sale.

 

[EaseNgrace]

Hi Jamie, The VR Blades are aimed at low h/c players but im sure you'll get used to them. Modern blades allow alot more room for error than their equivalent 10 years ago.
Im from Norwich by the way, I play at Weston Park. If you fancy a game anytime just let me know. Where do you play?

 

[jammag]

Thanks for the quick reply. I am glad to hear that I should be ok and there not just for the better players. Generally speaking my ball striking is good for 90% of the round, generally speaking I will play with people who played more than me and I will hit the ball better but they have experience over me I suppose so they know how to play to handicap where as I will take risks too much and misjudge certain distances etc.

I havent tried them first which is abit silly really. Generally I like buying online and havent really had a bad experience yet and once ive set my eyes on something I want it you see, bit of a bad trait I have.

With the lessons I think I am going to invest in some and once I am back on the winter shifts will give me abit more time in the evenings to do this. Do you all take lessons regularly or do you see if you start slicing and then go to the pro?

 

[birdieman]

Don't panic, it's not so long ago that everyone played with blade style clubs.
Just build a decent swing, perhaps with some lessons, get your ball position right and enjoy hitting them.
The difference in sweet spot is significant between blades and cavity backs but cavity backs, despite some of the hype, do not turn bad shots into good.

Enjoy them!

 

[jammag]

Hi there, I currently play at Middleton Hall. I believe we have some golfing link with Weston Park. I think a few of us are thinking of venturing to some courses round Norwich way and Weston Park will be on our list so when we go I will let you know and you can show us the course (and all the nice hints and tips )

 

[RGDave]

I have some terrific news for you.

I you bought the TW forged blades 2009, panic not.

According to Ralph Maltby (yes, I know, don't knock it, I'm trying to be positive) they are nowhere near as frightening as all that. In fact, they have a similar rating to my Mizunos.

I think you'll be OK. You might hit a few bad ones that won't travel so well (compared to a big cavity iron), I know this from playing with TP blade Mizunos, but as you've done it, you've done it. My playing partner is a cricketer and he can hit anything....

just not very straight at times, but he finds the middle a lot.

 

[mally]

Hi Jammag, if you were getting lessons regularly then you have a lot of money to burn. I personally think that having a lesson or two once in a while works for me as i can have a lesson then take a month practicing what i have learnt then go back to the club pro for another lesson. He will see how far i have progressed with his instruction and if it is still not working will give me more help on that area of my game. Working on a consistant swing is the way i work with my lessons which takes a lot of practice but if you are confident in that area then you can move on. There is always something you can be working on though.

 

[EaseNgrace]

Hi there, I currently play at Middleton Hall. I believe we have some golfing link with Weston Park. I think a few of us are thinking of venturing to some courses round Norwich way and Weston Park will be on our list so when we go I will let you know and you can show us the course (and all the nice hints and tips )

Don't forget a members guest green fee too. The course is lovely at the minute.

 

[jammag]

Thanks for putting my mind at ease a bit. I am glad they are abit more forgiving than the old style blades. I know they are going to take some getting used to but I do want to work at it.

With regards to the lessons I dont want to take lessons every week as you said they cost a lot and I dont want to be getting in the mind set of my pro tells me everything and get onto the course and feel lost without him telling me what to do. I feel I generally have a good swing but I suppose I will find out if I need to work on anything with these clubs.

Also reading reviews on certain clubs does seem that cavity backs are very forgiving but as you state they dont make a brilliant shot, so I guess its a big risk but only time will tell if it was the right decision.

 

[Nikki]

It might have been a better thing to get some cavity backs...

But, I've played cricket too and I can still hit m685's...

If you can practice very hard, take one or two lessons and work at it it may be just fine.

 

[USER1999]

Sorry, I think you're mad, and they will be for sale very soon. You mnight hit the ball well, for a 24 h'cap golfer. You won't hit the ball well for a scratch golfer. These irons were designed for Tiger. You need to be single figures at worst to play with them.

 

[jammag]

thats fair comment, im kinda hoping realising that I will have to hit it well to make use of the irons which may make me concentrate more. how ever if they improve me then they will do more than the current irons. but hey if you never try it you never know I suppose, thats why theres so much equipment about as everyone has personal preference etc.

out of interest have you tried blades and if so how did you find them and what model did you have? if you havent what puts you off them?

 

[USER1999]

Yep, I play off 10. Had a set of MacGregor 1025M, which were lovely to look at. Often to play with too. I found the 6 iron and down to be fine. Loved them. The 5, 4 and particularly the 3i were inconsistent at best, and a liability at worst. I now have Titleist ZBs, best of both worlds. Bladed 8 to PW, cavities the rest. I think you will struggle with the long irons. Heck, I am not the best ball striker in the world, but there is a reason why most don't play with blades. They are unforgiving. It is the way they are.

 

[rickg]

jammag...I think you'll be fine with the higher loft clubs, but will possibly struggle with the longer irons...3,4,5 and possibly 6.
Paul Casey has this set and even he uses the split cavity model in the 4 & 5 and the even more forgiving pro combo for his 2 & 3 irons.

That's where I got the idea from for my set up.
I play cricket and hockey and although I don't think I have the best ball striking golf swing, I do OK with them.

When you connect there's no better feeling.

You'll get plenty of feedback from these clubs and will certainly know when you've hit a bad one, but if you're prepared to work on your swing, which it sounds like you are, then you'll be fine.

I'd definitely suggest cavity irons for your 3/4 irons though. The VR full cavity are a nice iron and would match your set nicely.

Let us know how you get on.

 

[jammag]

yeah suppose thats a good way to be, if you struggle with the blades at least you have tried them and know which ones you can hit. I didnt purchase the 3i as I hit my wilson staff fybrid club very well and consistant. how ever at the moment my 4i 5i 6i are prob my most consistant clubs by a long way at the moment, although saying that I dont hit fairway woods at all well, the 4i I have no hesitation to take that out and use it as 9 times out of 10 i hit it very straight but if i try and use a 5 wood it goes everywhere. where as I know other players who cannot hit any club lower than a 6 iron.

it may say something about my swing as I cant hit a fairway wood but tend to hit the longer irons well. Something maybe for the pro to look at in a lesson.

 

[JT77]

There awesome clubs lad, have some demo ones at our club and have hit them, fantastic ball flight with the rifle shaft and feel teriffic off the face. However the pro was saying the 3, 4, 5 have smaller heads than his titleist blades, and reccomended 6-pw in the blade and 3,4,5 or 4,5 in the small cavity ones, so essentially a split set!

 

[Ethan]

They would not be an obvious choice for a 24 handicapper, but assuming you have chosen the shaft and flex wisely, you might be OK. There are other irons in the Nike range which would give almost all the benefits, and have all the room for improvement you will need, but fewer of the disadvantages. If you have just ordered, you might be wise to discuss a possible change with your pro.

Regardless of whatever set you choose, you don't need a 3 iron.

 

[RGDave]

Also reading reviews on certain clubs does seem that cavity backs are very forgiving but as you state they dont make a brilliant shot

I don't agree. What's not brilliant about hitting a dead straight shot (or even a little shaped) stone dead to the flag?

I had a pro that argued that a perfectly hit golf shot goes straight. He believed (rightly or wrongly) that in order to shape the ball, you are effectively hitting a "bad shot" in a controlled manner. The point of forgiving irons is to design a club that allows the ball to travel straighter (truer, full distance etc). when you hit it off centre.

I have hit some deliberate fades and draws with my Callaways, some to great effect and yes, brilliant shots.
It's just much harder to hit these as everything in the club design is working against you.

 

[jammag]

Also reading reviews on certain clubs does seem that cavity backs are very forgiving but as you state they dont make a brilliant shot

I don't agree. What's not brilliant about hitting a dead straight shot (or even a little shaped) stone dead to the flag?

I had a pro that argued that a perfectly hit golf shot goes straight. He believed (rightly or wrongly) that in order to shape the ball, you are effectively hitting a "bad shot" in a controlled manner. The point of forgiving irons is to design a club that allows the ball to travel straighter (truer, full distance etc). when you hit it off centre.

I have hit some deliberate fades and draws with my Callaways, some to great effect and yes, brilliant shots.
It's just much harder to hit these as everything in the club design is working against you.

I wasnt saying that hitting a dead straight ball is not good. In fact I feel it is easier if you hit dead straight all the time how ever what I meant is there seems to be this thing saying that cavity backs will protect you and even if you mis hit one you will still hit it brilliantly and get the shot you want.

Now one of the main reasons im happy I got these clubs as I feel it will show my weaknesses and allow me to work on them how ever surely if you always play cavity backs that are most forgiving then are you truely finding out how good of a player you could be? or is your equipment hiding the fact that everytime you hit the ball your not getting correct connection, or vice versa are you perhaps playing brilliant shots but because of the forgiveness is most clubs they are coming out straight so again not realising true potential of the extra shots you may be able to play?

seems to be a mixed reaction to my original post, but in a way im kinda glad I bought them to try and if not I have got a 90 day return policy so plenty of time to have a go and can go from there I suppose.