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

[NRJyzr]

The older lofts are only humbling if you think about your iron distance in terms of club numbers. Loft still rules distance, in spite of all the claims otherwise, a 30* club will generally hit as far as a 30* club, high COR aside. Since this is the blade thread, not much high COR action, I think we can dispense with that aspect. LOL

Getting on with the question at hand.... I liked my set of FG-17s. Were it not for the club acquisition disease that I have, I would still have them. They're compact, have a pretty sweet feel, playing them makes you understand why Wilson Staff irons were at the top for so long. They were one of the first to try moving the CG a bit away from the hosel, with those upward sweeping musclebacks and fluid feel cutouts in the heel. Still a viable and usable club in the modern world. More than that, but I'm trying to avoid hyperbole.

[nzio]

These bad boys have finally arrived!

[zachtruitt]

Thank you gentlemen for the information! They do have a stiff/heavy feel but when they are hit pure it feels really good. I was drawn to the classic looks and I also got the whole set for $5 as well.

[Nard_S]

I always found it helpful to maintain healthy respect for the context in which a club was made. 80's vintage sticks were built in mind with getting around with a balata 3 piece wound ball. They valued spin control more for a ball that did not go straight. The "GI" was often in the sheer mass of build. Grips were often leather or corded, (60-70 gram range), shafts were rather stout. It's not just loft, it's the context of design they worked with. When ball tech moved so did the parameters of build specs. The FG 59 probably possesses some of that evolution over the FG 17. Just like the MP4 does to MS-11 So when I say 'appreciate them for what they are' that's what I mean.  Even though I eschew most pre-'90's MB's, my favorite sticks have an updated old school flavor to them. The 681, the Mac-Cobra's and the Maruman SX, (essentially a Dunlop Aussie blade) all mimic earlier designs with refinements of sole, loft and flex that the direction of ball tech at that time allowed.

Speaking of refined mid-old-school, I just picked up another set of NOS Rifle's in 7.5 flex. Have these in the Titleist's, love 'em. They mesh well with a swing happily rotating in the DG S300/S400 orbit.

[revanant]

@Nard_S Totally agreed.
My current top 3 favorite irons are the MP-4, Callaway Apex MB, and Hogan Apex Redlines.
If I was playing in 1990, only one of those sets would be available. The next set (MP-4) would take 20+ years to be created. Really puts into perspective how special certain iron sets are. :)

[revanant]

Apex MBs arrived!

[revanant]

Condition was rated “good” from Callaway Pre-owned, but there’s barely any wear.

Cost was $500 for 4-PW in Modus 120. With trade in, I’m only out of pocket for $100–my Titleist 716 CBS are going to a new home.

All in all—way cheaper than doing a shaft change on my MP-4s. Beyond excited.

[NRJyzr]

That's the somewhat annoying fact in modern world of golf equipment. It's cheaper to buy a set to replace than to do a simple reshaft

[avguy]

Right!! I've done plenty of both. On the reshafts, essentially you keep your used clubs and get new grips/shafts/ferrules/labor......not all that cheap. New set of used clubs....likely in same condition for similar costs.

My last two reshafts were to get some graphite relief for front elbow tendonitis a few years back. Put Recoils into my Mizuno MP-32, then the MP-69. As both are sold, I decided to just buy new again with Recoils already in them.

So, I await the TM P760. Still can keep the Razr MBs and Honma TW727 M as long as they don't see much range time anymore. Those are steel shafts in PX 5.0F & Nippon Modus 125R.

[NixLix26]

[img]https://s3.amazonaws.com/golfwrxforums/uploads/027/HGZ1DBPXADN6.png[/img]@revanant You won’t be disappointed.

[NRJyzr]

Yesterday I finally hit some balls at a dome near me. First time since early November, I believe. Took my 1980 Golden Rams to the dome. They don't allow full bags inside, so I brought 3i, 6i, 9i, and a 58*. Was fairly interesting. First half dozen shots, I hit 5 clanks. Well moron, what do you expect after four months off? LOL

After a bit, it was like getting back to normal. That being, swinging Ram Tour Grinds, and Ram wedges (58* is a Ram 1982 Commemorative). It did allow me to revisit why I don't like hitting in a dome, bloody things are too short. My 9i hits the ceiling about halfway to the back wall, 6 iron hits ceiling closer to back wall, 3 iron hits the top of the back wall. Such is my life.

I also brought a Zing Blonde driver. That was fairly entertaining. Hit it pretty well, for the most part. Even the chilled range balls felt ok with the laminate.

Got partial wedge practice, also. They have some targets in the middle of the floor, I spent a fair part of my time taking shots with the 58* at said targets. Without success, of course. LOL

[JStang]

I just took delivery on a set of Tour Issue 2018 Apex MB heads. I feel like I overthink (doubt) this blade thing and dove in head first. I have played some really good golf with a set of Nike VR Pro Combo's from 2011 so they can't possibly that much different. I will check back in after throwing in some Project X 6.5's and hitting the range mid week.

[Kingcat990]

Its exponentially cheaper to buy a used set, pull the shafts for a re shaft, then sell the heads. I've done it 4 times now just off of Ksouth9 on eBay. I'm expecting to be on msfix13's christmas card list this year based on how many ferrules I've had to buy in all these shaft changes.

[Tree Levino]

Apex MB are fantastic. So soft, lower spin (which is nice given I hit in the ball high), and near perfect aesthetic.

Nice trade. Modus is a great shaft. Likes a smooth swing. If you try to over power them it does not go well. Smooth swing = good result generally.

[JStang]

I just got done dry swing weighting my Apex MB’s and they are coming in a bit heavy. Do any of you guys know anyone that can remove 4g or so from the hosel of a few heads? Not looking for the Schwartzel hack job.

 

Thanks! These things are beautiful.

[Tree Levino]

LOL drill press. So good.

[PorkChopExpress]

Apex mb and the Raws are pretty sweet.

But Titleist 714 mb lives forever

[cav5]

I'm considering making my own blade combo set. Mizuno 68s for 7-PW, and 69s for 3-6.

[Nard_S]

So it's been the warmest Winter in memory in my parts and it's allowed me to go out and swing a bunch. A Winter that never was. A Spring that will not be. No Final Four, no Masters, no Opening Day. 2 months ahead of schedule for a season that goes off in strangest of way, if at all.

Swing feels good, went off course with things and ended up with tendonitis in left shoulder. Selfie revealed issue, Dr. Deb fixed shoulder. Have found solid adjustments that even bleed down to dreaded big dog. 681's hold serve and continually reward my faith in them. Planning on a lot of play, lot of home renovation work and club builds till things settle down. Cheers.

 

[kylemd]

Played at a local private club as a guest this week. First time out or hitting balls for two months. 89. Ragged inconsistent 89. My MP 29’s still perform. Going to put some lighter weight graphite in them. Currently with Matrix Ozik program 130’s. Just too heavy for me. Built up two six iron heads (29’s) with Paderson kinetixx. Liked the 75 gram regular the best. Tried a stiff in the other head. It was ok but had better flight and club more distance with the reg 75 gram shaft. Going to try some 60 gram shafts also. Just cant part with my beloved MP 29 heads though. Tried my miura tourney blades. Well wanted to like them.... just didn't. Different feels altogether that I couldnt get along with. Will prob sell them. Had IMRT Kevlar weave Padersons in them I had on hand. I will say the Kevlar weave ( the green ones) to me played very stiff to flex.... these were regular as well. Amazing how one shaft plays compared to another. I tend to fit myself as there a few fitters I trust in the area.

[RobotDoctor]

I have a spare set of Ben Hogan Apex blades (1999 model) that has TT DGS300 shafts in them. My primary set is the same model with Modus3 Tour 120s shafts which are outstanding. I just purchased a used set of Modus3 Tour 105s shafts and will try them on my spare set and compare.

[NRJyzr]

 

Outstanding news, Brother Nard. Speaking to the personal golf related portion of your post, of course.

[Nard_S]

99 Apex are righteous, played the snot out of one set for 3 years and still have a another in reserve. Only #1 iron I could ever hit. Took maybe 20 pokes, hit some to great results, put it away :)

[Nard_S]

Thanks! I'm weary to say "I got this" we've all been there many times, false solutions for misdirected diagnosis is nature of this stuff. Video pointed out something rather obvious. I need to employ it more within some bounds but wish I did it a lot sooner.

[Tree Levino]

Just picked up some 945 at a local clearance sale. Got them on course yesterday. Things are PURE. Going to decide whether I put my spare set of TI X100 in them or combo the short irons in with my 745. They seem very forgiving so I might just hold on to both sets. SO good.

[deejaid]

I found these irons on eBay and they caught my eye for a few reasons. First, they are made by a company called Pedersen Golf which had been making clubs in Connecticut since the early 1900’s. They are no longer in business but at one time they were the leaders in custom fit golf equipment and were quite an expensive and high end clubs. These clubs were ordered by a gentleman in the mid 1990’s and in the time they took to arrive he had decided to move into a more game improvement club so these were never even hit.

 

So, cool looking set of blades with a wider sole in mint, unused condition? Sounds great. The clincher for me was that they were built with Precision Rifle 5.0 shafts which I had in my MX-23’s years ago and loved, so that made it a done deal.

 

While they are stainless I wasn’t sure if they were forged or not, as they didn’t have the same feel as my older forged stainless irons but the ease which the bent in the loft/lie machine confirmed they are indeed forged. What’s really cool is the set of irons came with a set of Pedersen persimmon woods. The woods I assume would be from the late 70’s early 80’s as they had been previously played and were refinished and reshafted with the same Rifle 5.0 shafts.

 

As for playability, these are some of the easiest playing blades I’ve ever played. The wide sole and low COG makes these fly high and long. They look super classy too. Last picture is a comparison of the soles next to my early 80’s Palmer Deacons and Mid 50’s Macgregor Tommy Armours.

 

[bsuwara]

Forged stainless steel? Wow, that’s gotta be about as rare as they come. Great find and enjoy!

[Kingcat990]

Are they hollow? Interesting set. The wider sole has me thinking they are hollow. Do they sound clicky? If they are forged, that's pretty unreal. And as always, nice photos.

[deejaid]

You know, I was thinking the exact same thing. The listing made no mention of them being forged or cast and when I received them though they were cast. Toe strikes hardly feel different than center strikes and distances are hardly penalized. Not the normal result with a forged blade.

 

Distances are also longer than I am used to. I’m not your typical WRXer so when I hit a few 5-irons 190 yards I was shocked. The ball was flying further than I expected. I had the pro at my club adjust the pw and I warned him that I thought they were cast but they moved so easy he said they were forged. So maybe they are a hollow blade, 20 years before “Players Distance” irons became popular.

[bortass]

I used to practice with a Mizuno 6i blade, can't remember the model number though. I was working on my swing quite a bit at the time and wanted the extra feedback that you get from a blade on mishits. Nothing like feeling it in my hands when I really boned a shot. Of course the exhilaration of a well struck ball made up for it.

My swing improved, as did my game, and I picked up a set of MacGregor Pro-Ms off Ebay back in 2012. They were a dream set of clubs for me. I had the lie angles bent to match my MacGregor M565s. I played them for a few months and didn't notice a real difference in my overall game aka scores. I went back to my M565s for a bit before quitting the game in 2013. I just started playing again and decided to game the Pro-Ms in fairly short order. I may be losing distance with the Pro-Ms but I don't care. It's an ego thing, lol,.