Blade users thread (NO DEBATING CLUBHEADS! NO Buy Sell Trade!)

[turtsoup]

By the way, turtsoup that is a nice avatar. Beautiful dogs.

 

Thank you buddy. They're my boys but they worship my wife lol. We went with the alaskan theme in Tennessee haha. Malamute, husky and wolf hybrid. They are wild!

[NRJyzr]

By the way, turtsoup that is a nice avatar. Beautiful dogs.

 

They're my boys but they worship my wife lol.

 

I know how that works. My wife is VERY much a dog person, and they seem to know it. They all love her.

 

Story I like to tell.... I'm stopping at the store on the way home from work. I come out to my car to head home, there's a car next to me with a dog in it (it wasn't hot weather, or too cold, so it was ok). Dog comes up to the window, looks at me. I say, "I'm sorry, but she didn't come with me today."

 

Dog turns around and goes to the other side of the car. LOL

[Bigmean]

NR, no offense would be taken if you said you JDM guys are freaking nuts that spend 2x as much for clubs that don't matter. Jdm club fetish is a lot like collecting putters. The same justifications and price per diminishing returns applies, no wonder I fell for it. Even though I know all this, it doesn't matter because at the end of the day I have putters that to me, are just max awesome, from feel to balance to finish to looks to the whole package. Do they make more putts than I can with my beat up raw $100 Santa Fe? Of course not, but that isn't the point. Jdm is very much so a similar appeal.

[Nard_S]

"Hostronomy", love it. lol.

 

That is making Webster's someday.

[turtsoup]

By the way, turtsoup that is a nice avatar. Beautiful dogs.

 

They're my boys but they worship my wife lol.

 

I know how that works. My wife is VERY much a dog person, and they seem to know it. They all love her.

 

Story I like to tell.... I'm stopping at the store on the way home from work. I come out to my car to head home, there's a car next to me with a dog in it (it wasn't hot weather, or too cold, so it was ok). Dog comes up to the window, looks at me. I say, "I'm sorry, but she didn't come with me today."

 

Dog turns around and goes to the other side of the car. LOL

 

Haha thats funny. Yeah my wife is some sort of dog whisperer or something.

 

A completely off topic question here, but how in the crap do you put up one of those whats in the bag under your posts?

[turtsoup]

Also, I just checked specs on the Z945, pw at 46 degrees? You guys play yours that strong? If im not mistaken, the mp33 is at 48 degrees, correct?

[NRJyzr]

Turt, the WITB stuff is the signature, which you can find under your profile. You can get to your profile thru the pulldown on the top, or just clicking your ID or even avatar in any post you've made.

 

Under that, click the "edit my profile" black box in the upper right, it will bring up all the things you can change for your profile. Signature is the third item, I believe. Hit that and go to town :)

[turtsoup]

Turt, the WITB stuff is the signature, which you can find under your profile. You can get to your profile thru the pulldown on the top, or just clicking your ID or even avatar in any post you've made.

 

Under that, click the "edit my profile" black box in the upper right, it will bring up all the things you can change for your profile. Signature is the third item, I believe. Hit that and go to town :)

 

I love the phrase, "go to town" lol. Thank you sir, I'm gonna bust it wide open here in a few. Don't have an appointment for another hour and am watching a little PGA Tour Live

[NRJyzr]

Also, I just checked specs on the Z945, pw at 46 degrees? You guys play yours that strong? If im not mistaken, the mp33 is at 48 degrees, correct?

 

Yes, the Srixon stuff is a bit strong lofted. I play my PW at 49° or 50°, either having my clubs bent a couple degrees weak, or playing clubs that were designed to be at that loft. I admit I'm somewhat atypical. LOL

 

If I were playing Srixon Z945's, I would keep the PW at 46°, get a GW at 50°, and bend the 4i and 5i a bit strong to have 4° gaps. Or, bend the whole set to have lofts from a 22° 4 iron to the 46° PW in even 4° gaps. If I had the 3 iron, I'd definitely do the latter and bend the 3i to 18°.

 

My thinking is to have 9 clubs with even 4° gaps from 18° to 50°, 17° to 49°, or even 20° to 52°. I don't particularly care what numbers are on the bottom, only that I don't want to bend clubs stronger to get there, and create super-digging clubheads with no bounce, or even negative bounce. (FWIW, the Srixons have enough bounce to bend them 2° strong and not affect them)

[Bigmean]

My Pw is 47 I think, 9 is 43? 8 39? It has been a while, I thought I was 1* stronger than normal(blade normal) because of switching with a cb set. When I got my BB I made them same loft and lie as my mizzys.

 

Now I am really curious on that putter NCN. I put the hammer on it when it was at $180 to go all in with my balance at like $400, and that got blown out of the water and it ended at like 57,000JPY, like whoa. I must have a good eye for this stuff because my gut said go everything. It has to be a $1000 putter to have the locals drive that up like that.

 

[turtsoup]

Also, I just checked specs on the Z945, pw at 46 degrees? You guys play yours that strong? If im not mistaken, the mp33 is at 48 degrees, correct?

 

Yes, the Srixon stuff is a bit strong lofted. I play my PW at 49° or 50°, either having my clubs bent a couple degrees weak, or playing clubs that were designed to be at that loft. I admit I'm somewhat atypical. LOL

 

If I were playing Srixon Z945's, I would keep the PW at 46°, get a GW at 50°, and bend the 4i and 5i a bit strong to have 4° gaps. Or, bend the whole set to have lofts from a 22° 4 iron to the 46° PW in even 4° gaps. If I had the 3 iron, I'd definitely do the latter and bend the 3i to 18°.

 

My thinking is to have 9 clubs with even 4° gaps from 18° to 50°, 17° to 49°, or even 20° to 52°. I don't particularly care what numbers are on the bottom, only that I don't want to bend clubs stronger to get there, and create super-digging clubheads with no bounce, or even negative bounce. (FWIW, the Srixons have enough bounce to bend them 2° strong and not affect them)

 

I think that's what has hooked me initially on blades. I can actually get down in the ground with mid and long irons. No wide or rounded sole to just skip and skim off everything. Very good thoughts there and I greatly appreciate it. So once I get my apex sold, I may go on a Ho'n binge lol. Iron sets that is!

[Christen_The_Sloop]

I mean no offense, but I find all the JDM and Miura lust to be a bit amusing. Though I'm sure y'all find my interest in Ram Tour Grinds equally so. LOL

 

I think it's easier my way. I can't find a new set of Golden Rams, but I *do* own five sets of Ram Tour Grinds at a total cost of $620

 

What if I told you Miura made a Ram CB back in the day?

 

I spend an inordinate amount of time looking at clubs on Yahoo auctions and I have steadily increased my knowledge of who has made what, in the Japanese Classic clubs department. If you look at certain designs you can pretty well see right away. Well, I was looking through Ram`s offerings when I saw a set that was unmistakably Miura. A few clicks later and a bunch of Japanese golf blogs confirmed it. There are few companies that Miura, and Endo, haven`t made clubs for... I always get a kick out of comparing the newer Apex CB to the Tourstage X-blade CB from around 2003 - 2005. Not totally identical, but definitely sharing a lot of DNA.

[DeNinny]

Biggie the BB PW standard is 47* and 9i is 42*.

[Bigmean]

NR's brains have leaked out on the floor......mind blown LOL.

 

Maybe the BBs are a degre stronger than my MP14s were or same? I don't recall, but that sounds right, 42/39 for 8?

 

They are right there someplace. Gracias!

[DeNinny]

BB lofts are 47, 42, 38, 34, 30, 27, 24, 21. Oh, and 18 if you get the 2i. (And you should.)

[NRJyzr]

What if I told you Miura made a Ram CB back in the day?

 

I spend an inordinate amount of time looking at clubs on Yahoo auctions and I have steadily increased my knowledge of who has made what, in the Japanese Classic clubs department. If you look at certain designs you can pretty well see right away. Well, I was looking through Ram`s offerings when I saw a set that was unmistakably Miura. A few clicks later and a bunch of Japanese golf blogs confirmed it. There are few companies that Miura, and Endo, haven`t made clubs for... I always get a kick out of comparing the newer Apex CB to the Tourstage X-blade CB from around 2003 - 2005. Not totally identical, but definitely sharing a lot of DNA.

 

Wouldn't surprise me, especially with Ram's former popularity. There was a time when they were *the* brand. Wasn't until the mid 90s that stuff started going sideways.

 

BB lofts are 47, 42, 38, 34, 30, 27, 24, 21. Oh, and 18 if you get the 2i. (And you should.)

 

REALLY not liking those 3° gaps up to the 6 iron.

 

Oh, I'm letting my biases show again, aren't I? LOL

[Bigmean]

i am now curious what I have.

[Nard_S]

BB lofts are 47, 42, 38, 34, 30, 27, 24, 21. Oh, and 18 if you get the 2i. (And you should.)

 

I somewhat surprised at increments of 5 degrees in the short irons, it does dovetail with wedges in a good way i guess.

[DeNinny]

BB lofts are 47, 42, 38, 34, 30, 27, 24, 21. Oh, and 18 if you get the 2i. (And you should.)

 

REALLY not liking those 3° gaps up to the 6 iron.

 

Oh, I'm letting my biases show again, aren't I? LOL

 

That's the point of a forum and this thread, to SHARE your perspective and biases (LMAO regardless of how off base they are).

 

I don't obsess about loft gaps and club lengths unless either creates a gap or creates overlap in my yardages. And at this point, those 3* gaps (with +1/2" length adds) are still producing 10 yard longer shots. My yardages are still gapped correctly even at 3*.

 

PW goes 105-115

9i goes 115-125

8i goes 125-135

7i goes 135-145

6i goes 145-155

5i goes 155-165

4i goes 165-175

3i goes 175-185

2i goes 185-195

 

So to me based on these results, that 3* gap is just perfect in combination with +1/2" length increases. And I wouldn't stress about the absolute # being 3*, 4*, or 5* unless there is an issue with yardage gaps/overlaps.

 

And Nard_S, yes the same logic above applies to my PW at 5* more loft than my 9i. I still get a 10 yard spread. And then I go 6* to a 53* wedge that goes 80-90 and then 7* to a 60* wedge that goes 65-75. Only in my wedges do I have gaps, but that is OK by me because I have to learn partial shots with them and PW anyway, so that is how I close the gaps.

[wmblake2000]

BB lofts are 47, 42, 38, 34, 30, 27, 24, 21. Oh, and 18 if you get the 2i. (And you should.)

 

REALLY not liking those 3° gaps up to the 6 iron.

 

Oh, I'm letting my biases show again, aren't I? LOL

 

That's the point of a forum and this thread, to SHARE your perspective and biases (LMAO regardless of how off base they are).

 

I don't obsess about loft gaps and club lengths unless either creates a gap or creates overlap in my yardages. And at this point, those 3* gaps (with +1/2" length adds) are still producing 10 yard longer shots. My yardages are still gapped correctly even at 3*.

 

PW goes 105-115

9i goes 115-125

8i goes 125-135

7i goes 135-145

6i goes 145-155

5i goes 155-165

4i goes 165-175

3i goes 175-185

2i goes 185-195

 

So to me based on these results, that 3* gap is just perfect in combination with +1/2" length increases. And I wouldn't stress about the absolute # being 3*, 4*, or 5* unless there is an issue with yardage gaps/overlaps.

 

And Nard_S, yes the same logic above applies to my PW at 5* more loft than my 9i. I still get a 10 yard spread. And then I go 6* to a 53* wedge that goes 80-90 and then 7* to a 60* wedge that goes 65-75. Only in my wedges do I have gaps, but that is OK by me because I have to learn partial shots with them and PW anyway, so that is how I close the gaps.

 

I think one of the hardest things for us amateurs is to get a good handle on how far we hit irons - at least that's true for me. There's enough variance from day to day and shot to shot that... I mean, some days I am 2 clubs longer than other days. And within any round, I am going to have better and lessor quality strikes. And gapping irons - I doubt that your gaps are so regular and precise (that's not a criticism of you - but a general observation about irons).

 

As I play better, figuring out how far I hit each iron is getting more important, but I don't know how to do it. I almost think you need several sessions with a Trackman and your regular (not range) balls to really get a clear idea. Or maybe arrcos kind of technology might even be better because it's on course performance. I guess that's the best answer.

 

Anyone use arrcos or anything else to really dial in your distances?

[NRJyzr]

DeNinny, LOL :)

 

FWIW, my obsession isn't about distance gaps so much as bag makeup. I don't care to have tight gaps at the top, and don't care to have 10 clubs where I can have 9. Such as, 1-pw consisting of 17-20-23-26-30-34-38-42-46-50 versus 2-pw consisting of 18-22-26-30-34-38-42-46-50.

 

The latter lets me carry a 55 and 60, or 54 and 58, along with a 3 wood, in the 12 spots other than driver and putter.

(or 17-21-25-29-33-37-41-45-49 with a 53-58 wedge set, etc, ad nauseum)

 

 

Anyone use arrcos or anything else to really dial in your distances?

 

I have a laser rangefinder, use it in on-course play to help figure things out. There was a time when I had it down to the yard, but changes in my game, swing, and my back took care of that. ;)

[turtsoup]

BB lofts are 47, 42, 38, 34, 30, 27, 24, 21. Oh, and 18 if you get the 2i. (And you should.)

 

REALLY not liking those 3° gaps up to the 6 iron.

 

Oh, I'm letting my biases show again, aren't I? LOL

 

That's the point of a forum and this thread, to SHARE your perspective and biases (LMAO regardless of how off base they are).

 

I don't obsess about loft gaps and club lengths unless either creates a gap or creates overlap in my yardages. And at this point, those 3* gaps (with +1/2" length adds) are still producing 10 yard longer shots. My yardages are still gapped correctly even at 3*.

 

PW goes 105-115

9i goes 115-125

8i goes 125-135

7i goes 135-145

6i goes 145-155

5i goes 155-165

4i goes 165-175

3i goes 175-185

2i goes 185-195

 

So to me based on these results, that 3* gap is just perfect in combination with +1/2" length increases. And I wouldn't stress about the absolute # being 3*, 4*, or 5* unless there is an issue with yardage gaps/overlaps.

 

And Nard_S, yes the same logic above applies to my PW at 5* more loft than my 9i. I still get a 10 yard spread. And then I go 6* to a 53* wedge that goes 80-90 and then 7* to a 60* wedge that goes 65-75. Only in my wedges do I have gaps, but that is OK by me because I have to learn partial shots with them and PW anyway, so that is how I close the gaps.

 

I think one of the hardest things for us amateurs is to get a good handle on how far we hit irons - at least that's true for me. There's enough variance from day to day and shot to shot that... I mean, some days I am 2 clubs longer than other days. And within any round, I am going to have better and lessor quality strikes. And gapping irons - I doubt that your gaps are so regular and precise (that's not a criticism of you - but a general observation about irons).

 

As I play better, figuring out how far I hit each iron is getting more important, but I don't know how to do it. I almost think you need several sessions with a Trackman and your regular (not range) balls to really get a clear idea. Or maybe arrcos kind of technology might even be better because it's on course performance. I guess that's the best answer.

 

Anyone use arrcos or anything else to really dial in your distances?

 

I do have arccos but am maybe three rounds into it. Quality of strike plays so much role in it. I know that i hit a 7 iron 175-180 with my apex (please dont bash me for posting a yardage, the apex are crazy juiced lol) but after hitting a few turds here and there my arccos distance may be 160 or something. I'm sure it will level out over time, plus where ive switched irons but its a little frustrating up front. Arccos is AWESOME by the way. I'm really enjoying it. Think i have two full rounds and a 9 holes logged on it so far. I've even thought about purchasing the cobra grips with the sensor built in but i cant give up my bestgrips

[wmblake2000]

NRJ do you use your laser after the shot (how far did I hit it) or before (I have x yards) and then do some math after the shot? I am assuming the latter.

 

I have a GPS app (golfpads) because it is pretty reliable but using it to track shot distances is a pain. I think they are going to launch some arrcos-like pads soonish.

[Nard_S]

The tricky part about calculating yardages is factoring conditions of wind, turf, temperature and humidity. A 7 iron on a July balmy day is a lot different than one on a cold damp Spring day in New England.

 

The other factor is, what swing arrived on any given day. Is it "A" variety or lesser "B" to "C"

 

Do the calculus on both and you'll be pin high.

[NRJyzr]

NRJ do you use your laser after the shot (how far did I hit it) or before (I have x yards) and then do some math after the shot? I am assuming the latter.

 

I have a GPS app (golfpads) because it is pretty reliable but using it to track shot distances is a pain. I think they are going to launch some arrcos-like pads soonish.

 

Primarily the latter, but I will try to laser backwards from time to time.

 

The problem I have with GPS is they're usually ±3 yds or so, and also highly dependent on the quality of the mapping done. If you get someone who is careless, or just doesn't give a damn, you can get some strange issues. I've run into this a time or three.

 

Which is why I went laser.

 

Using both laser and GPS is probably the best way to have all information. My GPS carrying friends and I will do this sort of thing from time to time.

[wmblake2000]

I had used swing by swing before this and it was awful! 3 yards is actually pretty good! I am forbidden by law to buy another laser, having now lost 3 of them.

[DeNinny]

BB lofts are 47, 42, 38, 34, 30, 27, 24, 21. Oh, and 18 if you get the 2i. (And you should.)

 

REALLY not liking those 3° gaps up to the 6 iron.

 

Oh, I'm letting my biases show again, aren't I? LOL

 

That's the point of a forum and this thread, to SHARE your perspective and biases (LMAO regardless of how off base they are).

 

I don't obsess about loft gaps and club lengths unless either creates a gap or creates overlap in my yardages. And at this point, those 3* gaps (with +1/2" length adds) are still producing 10 yard longer shots. My yardages are still gapped correctly even at 3*.

 

PW goes 105-115

9i goes 115-125

8i goes 125-135

7i goes 135-145

6i goes 145-155

5i goes 155-165

4i goes 165-175

3i goes 175-185

2i goes 185-195

 

So to me based on these results, that 3* gap is just perfect in combination with +1/2" length increases. And I wouldn't stress about the absolute # being 3*, 4*, or 5* unless there is an issue with yardage gaps/overlaps.

 

And Nard_S, yes the same logic above applies to my PW at 5* more loft than my 9i. I still get a 10 yard spread. And then I go 6* to a 53* wedge that goes 80-90 and then 7* to a 60* wedge that goes 65-75. Only in my wedges do I have gaps, but that is OK by me because I have to learn partial shots with them and PW anyway, so that is how I close the gaps.

 

I think one of the hardest things for us amateurs is to get a good handle on how far we hit irons - at least that's true for me. There's enough variance from day to day and shot to shot that... I mean, some days I am 2 clubs longer than other days. And within any round, I am going to have better and lessor quality strikes. And gapping irons - I doubt that your gaps are so regular and precise (that's not a criticism of you - but a general observation about irons).

 

As I play better, figuring out how far I hit each iron is getting more important, but I don't know how to do it. I almost think you need several sessions with a Trackman and your regular (not range) balls to really get a clear idea. Or maybe arrcos kind of technology might even be better because it's on course performance. I guess that's the best answer.

 

Anyone use arrcos or anything else to really dial in your distances?

 

So I completely get what you are saying, but this amateur is an OCD, anal-retentive Cal Berkeley Chem E AND instrumentation engineer. I know my gaps aren't so picture perfect precise as my table above, but I do know that the middle of those ranges by iron # is fairly accurate which is more my desire than the spread being 10 yards within an iron. I forgot to mention that that spread is my best guesstimate of a good to decent shot. It doesn't take into account my horrible miss hits. Also I play the same exact course which helps you understand yardages since you get similar shots over and over. And I use a range finder to see how far I hit and carry the ball both on the course and on the range. LOL I even know how my ranges change with the weather. And furthermore, this anal-retentiveness is how I know a blade is more precise and WHY I play them. By using them, my yardages and gaps became slightly MORE precise so that I can rely on them to go as far as I intended.

 

And yeah, to your point, it takes a lot of experience and hitting your clubs with know references and measurements to get there. But an amateur *can* quantify his gaps *if* he is methodical about it.

 

And NRJ, I know where you come from at the top (long) end of the bag getting "squeezed" on lofts. LOL you know I don't mean you were 'off base' specifically.

[NRJyzr]

And NRJ, I know where you come from at the top (long) end of the bag getting "squeezed" on lofts. LOL you know I don't mean you were 'off base' specifically.

 

No worries amiho. I thought it was pretty funny.

 

Got into more detail for anyone who may not have seen any previous similar comments on that, and may have been interested. You know, that guy may show up in this thread some day. It could happen.

[Bigmean]

NRJ do you use your laser after the shot (how far did I hit it) or before (I have x yards) and then do some math after the shot? I am assuming the latter.

 

I have a GPS app (golfpads) because it is pretty reliable but using it to track shot distances is a pain. I think they are going to launch some arrcos-like pads soonish.

 

I use a laser and one of my games few strong points is that I have pretty darn good distance control with irons, especially 6-pw, what the laser does is gets you trained to learn your distances. Like if you feel like you hit a 9 155, and pull it twice from that distance and finish twice at like 148, you don't take a 9 the next time you see 155 or similar in the rangefinder, and eventually you really hone into your stock, and you can start from there then move based on lies and conditions. Obviously I am here because I love ironplay, and I love hitting 7 iron 140 or a pw 150 when the conditions dictate that is really the play. So with the laser a. Umberto is automatic start point, then evaluate the conditions, you remember how certain lies acted, and there is no guesswork as to if how it worked last time went in regards to distance because with the laser you know, so from there if the situation rings any bells or has elevation or wind, you can more reliably make the right call to club up or down.

 

Lasers are awesome.

[DeNinny]

And NRJ, I know where you come from at the top (long) end of the bag getting "squeezed" on lofts. LOL you know I don't mean you were 'off base' specifically.

 

No worries amiho. I thought it was pretty funny.

 

Got into more detail for anyone who may not have seen any previous similar comments on that, and may have been interested. You know, that guy may show up in this thread some day. It could happen.

 

Hey man, if a 3* loft gap ain't right in YOUR head, then it ain't right, period.

 

I'm always interested in anybody's method to their madness with this carney game. Gaining others' perspectives is knowledge.