Forged vs. Form-Forged?

Seen form-forged thrown around lately, was just wondering what the difference was? how does it affect play?

I've been wondering about this myself lately

In general, form forged are rough cast, then pounded into final shape with a forging process. Full on forged is pounded into shape from a billet of steel.

In general, form forged are rough cast, then pounded into final shape with a forging process. Full on forged is pounded into shape from a billet of steel.

This is exactly what form forged is. Cleveland was doing this with a lot of thier wedges and irons several years ago.

Is there enough of a difference in feedback/playability/shotmaking etc. between the two methods for it to be a consideration for new irons?

Is there enough of a difference in feedback/playability/shotmaking etc. between the two methods for it to be a consideration for new irons?

VJ did quite well with his form forged clubs. He was quite fond of his Form Forged 900 T/A wedges if I recall. So I imagine you should do fine with them if the overall design of the club suits you.

Is there enough of a difference in feedback/playability/shotmaking etc. between the two methods for it to be a consideration for new irons?

Marketing FUD, pure and simple.

Is there enough of a difference in feedback/playability/shotmaking etc. between the two methods for it to be a consideration for new irons?

 

Marketing FUD, pure and simple.

Agreed. Imo, the metal they're using makes alot more difference than the method of forging. :rolleyes:

Cleveland 8620 Steel in there form Forged Wedges, and TA-1, and TA-3 irons. FYI: Vokeys, are 8620 Steel as well.

A side note: I had a set of TA1's several years ago, and they felt amazing. It was one of those sets that I should have never sold.

I read about this somewhere awhile back, so if I am wrong, please somebody correct me. but IIRC, forged irons are usually struck 3 times, once to go from a tube shaped billet to a rough shape and then twice more to fill out the rest of the shape and details. Form forged clubs are only struck once. The 1st 2 steps are done like a cast club and then the final step is striking it to make the final touches. Like somebody else said though, it is the metal used, not the process. Every company does it differently. Mizuno uses grain flow forging, TM coin forging and so on and so forth. There are differences, but they esentially do the same thing. I have always understood that it is the metal that makes hte difference and the metal they have to use to be able to forge clubs is softer than casting metal, hence, forged clubs feel softer. But, I am by no means a forging or metal expert.

You are all right on the difference between grain-flow forging and true forging. IMHO, while the materials make the difference in the feel of the club, a true forged club that is struck multiple times will have far better consistency than a cast club or a grain-flow forged club because the material is "packed" tighter in the forging process so there are fewer inconsistencies across the face and in the weight distribution in the clubhead. Most average players won't notice the difference, but low or scratch players certainly can.

Fancy word for Casting, pure and simple!

Fancy word for Casting, pure and simple!

No, it's not. There is an extra mfg process after the casting process. Read the other posts above, their ideas are correct.

I briefly bagged a set of Cleveland TA-2's that were form forged and they felt awesome. I regret getting rid of them. They may not have felt as soft as forged but darn close to it. When struck pure these felt as smooth as forged.

Albeit Form Forging is essentially a 'fancy' way of casting an iron, it's very different to the investment casting method that OEMs like Ping use.

As others have stated above, the steel used has more of an influence on the quality and feel of the finished product than the method of construction. Cast clubheads can be made to feel softer than forgings if the steel used is of the right type. And there are people who will tell you that ou can't feel a difference anyway.

Ultimately, the test is to get hold of some and hit them to see how they work for you.

You are all right on the difference between grain-flow forging and true forging. IMHO, while the materials make the difference in the feel of the club, a true forged club that is struck multiple times will have far better consistency than a cast club or a grain-flow forged club because the material is "packed" tighter in the forging process so there are fewer inconsistencies across the face and in the weight distribution in the clubhead. Most average players won't notice the difference, but low or scratch players certainly can.

And don't forget, forged clubheads make your whites whiter, build strong bodies eight ways AND cure the heartbreak of psoriasis.

I briefly bagged a set of Cleveland TA-2's that were form forged and they felt awesome. I regret getting rid of them. They may not have felt as soft as forged but darn close to it. When struck pure these felt as smooth as forged.

I have a set I'll sell you... worst set of Irons I've purchased over the last 20 years. The feel was what I didn't like. Haven't bought anything from Cleveland since.

Like others have posted, form forged is a fancy term for cast. It is all about the metal used when it comes to feel.

And don't forget, forged clubheads make your whites whiter, build strong bodies eight ways AND cure the heartbreak of psoriasis.

Congratulations, you have just won the "Most useless post of the month award."

Congratulations, you have just won the "Most useless post of the month award."

I'm not sure about that.

Is there not a 'Which wedge spins the most?' thread thus far this month?

I'll get one posted up for you if you want mat?

Or how about a which driver is the longest and bestest?

I was thinking "List the top 50 reasons why Tiger Roolz!!!" ??

OK, where does 8620 Carbon Steel fall on the scale?

pretty solid.

pretty solid.

As in not very soft, won't give you much feedback, or solid as in pretty good steel for a clubhead?

(sorry, but I use way too much slang in day-to-day discussions...lol...have to clarify!)

8620 is great.

Vokey and Cleveland wedges are made out of this and they are cast.

Really I think people worry way to much about this forged and cast thing. It's just not a huge factor in playing good golf.

Like others have posted, form forged is a fancy term for cast. It is all about the metal used when it comes to feel.

No, really, it's not just a fancy term for investment cast clubs. The end product may end up very much the same if they use the same materials, but the process is different.

There is a BIG difference in feel between 8620 cast and 8620 Form Forged. Case in point: Sonartec wedges vs. Titleist wedges. Titlesit feel like rocks compared to Sonartecs which feel like butter. Same material, but the form forging makes a wonder of difference in the feel.

Now I'll sit back and wait for the "no one can feel the difference between the two" post that someone always puts up after a post like this.

There have been blind tests done that conclude a golfer cannot feel any difference between a forged or cast iron head. A form forged gead is not the same as a true forged club head. https://www.golftec.com/blog/2016/11/forged-versus-cast-irons-one-better/

Tom Wishon on forging: http://wishongolf.com/forged-irons-from-japan-vs-us-or-china-the-facts/

I thought I remember a test where PGA Tour players were used and there were exact club made from the same metal (8620 I think) with the same shaft and grip and no one was able to tell the difference with any certainty between a forged and a cast club. I need to do some digging to see if I can find this online anywhere.

Form forged via casting vs. forged is about the aligning process and OEM cost and design choice. Neither has a direct scientific influence on the game or "most" amateurs; which is best is a choice.

Form forged is a less expensive and simpler process that is more durable compared to multistep soft forging process from a billet of steel.

From my beginning, in golf, I have played soft forged wedges but switched to cast Vokey SM6 wedges when introduced. After extensive play with Vokey, there is a difference at impact as to feel; just as important, I don't have money in the game of which feels better. The choice is simply how a wedge head feels in my hands. It appears as the ball comes off the face almost hot. Some may like that, I don't. For that reason, I will be going back soon to high end forged wedges.