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

[No_Catchy_Nickname]

On 5/7/2022 at 11:38 AM, NRJyzr said:

What I found interesting is that the 1i appeared to hit with a bit of a higher trajectory than the 2i.  When I tested the Recoil shaft about 5 or 6 years ago, I found a higher flight with it.  I'm going with the shaft as the cause.  Though, more testing needed.

 

 

Interesting. I would have expected a lower flight with a shorter (2i) shaft in the 1i. Still, a little extra height on a 1i isn't something I'd complain about!

[No_Catchy_Nickname]

So, I've been playing this Mizuno Originals as my irons for my last few rounds, going 5i to PW, with a 23* hybrid instead of the 4i, and sometimes a Mizuno FLi-hi #4 as well.

 

Thing is, my scoring has been horrible of late, and I decided I needed a change, so I've gone back to the MP4s.

It's not the irons that have been the problem. Sure, I've hit one or two stinkers with them, but mostly they've performed well. My tee game has also been good, which makes a refreshing change after the last two years of snap hooks.

 

The problems have been wedges and putting, especially putting. I've had  some distance control issues with my wedges, though that is partly down to playing many of my recent rounds in swirling winds, and my chipping has been awful.

 

Then there's my putting. Jesus, the putting! I think I set a new PW (Personal Worst) for putting in my last round: 43 putts.

 

Last two holes summed it up. 17th is a par three over water. 165 yards playing downwind. I hit a nice 8i to within 6ft (it was just under two paces). Left the putt in the jaws, made par.

Then I get the last hole, which is a nasty par 5 that has a tee shot over water, water all the way up the left, water right of the green, and a sort of ravine full of water to cover about 380 yards of the tee--from the near bank to the far bank is about 80~90 yards, but you need an extra 10 yards on top of that to clear the bank. The green is long and narrow, about 15 yards wide and 60 yards deep.

 

On this particular day, it was playing easy, because the tees were up, the wind was behind, and the pin was in the front third, on the right side near the water. I lashed a perfect drive (for me) up the left side of the fairway, leaving me about 185 to the hole. I went with a 6i, hit it OK, but a bit toey, and it finished pin high on the left side of the green for an eagle putt of about 30ft.

 

I walked off with a bogey 6.

 

I miss, I miss, I miss, I make.

 

Not sure what I can do about my putting.

 

Edited May 11, 2022 by No_Catchy_Nickname

[Nard_S]

14 hours ago, No_Catchy_Nickname said:

Not sure what I can do about my putting.

 

Really like those Mizuno Pro's. 

 

My putting got a lot better when I honed in on distance control. My feeling is that as good as reader (of putts) you maybe, there's days when it's not 20/20. But you can always get it to tap in length. Choose speed, then choose line to that speed. Many do the opposite but Pro's do the former and say as much in any short game video I've seen.

 

Played 13 on Mothers' Day but it was not all that inspiring, even the putts. When I reminded self to do J.R. drill, things went okay again. Weird to forget, weird it saved me again. 

 

 

[boggyman]

Finally got in another round with the Staffs. Only mustered up an 81. Couldn’t keep driver on the planet today. Hit it great warming up, oh well. Only hit 29% of the fairways and 50% of the greens per GRINT.  1st time out in a week. Yard work has kept me busy among other things. Great to be out though. 87 with heat index of 94 degrees. Great day for golf. 

[AntLockyer]

Don't want to derail the thread too much but spend some time putting looking at the hole. Even just in practice, might unlock something. It did for me.

[No_Catchy_Nickname]

On 5/12/2022 at 2:35 AM, Nard_S said:

My putting got a lot better when I honed in on distance control. My feeling is that as good as reader (of putts) you maybe, there's days when it's not 20/20. But you can always get it to tap in length. Choose speed, then choose line to that speed. Many do the opposite but Pro's do the former and say as much in any short game video I've seen.

 

Normally, I'd agree. Well, generally, I agree. Thing was, on the day of the 43 putts, I was having a problem reading the line. I'd read break into a putt when there was none, and not read break when there was some. So, unusually, it was more of a line issue than speed issue.

[No_Catchy_Nickname]

Played nine holes today with persimmon and blades. I was using my Wilson FG-J8s, which are among my favourite irons. Had a bit of a distance control problem at first because I haven't used them in a while, but once I got over that, I was doing alright. In fact, even my "bad" iron shots today were pretty good. Either a little right or a little long, mostly the former.

 

Putting...I discovered something. After three-putting three holes on the trot, I noticed I was pressing the putter into the green as I addressed the ball. In other words, I was getting really tense as I set up over the putt. After that, I hovered the putt over the ground as I set up and did much better. In fact, I holed two long putts in succession, on the seventh and eighth, one of about 25 foot and one about 40 foot (for a birdie). I'd normally make one of those putts about once every two or three years, so I was pretty happy.

 

Apart from the 40ft putt, I think the best shot was a 7i from 165 off a hanging lie to about 5ft on a par 5 to set up a birdie (which I made). It followed probably my worst shot, which was a heeled 5w off a really bad hanging lie.

[boggyman]

1 hour ago, No_Catchy_Nickname said:

Played nine holes today with persimmon and blades. I was using my Wilson FG-J8s, which are among my favourite irons. Had a bit of a distance control problem at first because I haven't used them in a while, but once I got over that, I was doing alright. In fact, even my "bad" iron shots today were pretty good. Either a little right or a little long, mostly the former.

 

Putting...I discovered something. After three-putting three holes on the trot, I noticed I was pressing the putter into the green as I addressed the ball. In other words, I was getting really tense as I set up over the putt. After that, I hovered the putt over the ground as I set up and did much better. In fact, I holed two long putts in succession, on the seventh and eighth, one of about 25 foot and one about 40 foot (for a birdie). I'd normally make one of those putts about once every two or three years, so I was pretty happy.

 

Apart from the 40ft putt, I think the best shot was a 7i from 165 off a hanging lie to about 5ft on a par 5 to set up a birdie (which I made). It followed probably my worst shot, which was a heeled 5w off a really bad hanging lie.

Those J8s the equivalent to FG17s aren’t they? Nice sticks! Love my 17s!

[No_Catchy_Nickname]

5 hours ago, boggyman said:

Those J8s the equivalent to FG17s aren’t they? Nice sticks! Love my 17s!

 

Yep. As far as I can tell, they are identical to the FG17s apart from the stamping. Really good clubs. I love the look at address, especially in the short irons, they feel great, and they are not at all difficult to hit.

 

A firm favourite of mine.

[boggyman]

1 hour ago, No_Catchy_Nickname said:

 

Yep. As far as I can tell, they are identical to the FG17s apart from the stamping. Really good clubs. I love the look at address, especially in the short irons, they feel great, and they are not at all difficult to hit.

 

A firm favourite of mine.

Thanks! Feel the same about them! Looks, feel, not hard to hit, and know that I’ll get the yardage I’m expecting out of each and every iron! My all time favorite iron, bar none! 

Edited May 16, 2022 by boggyman

[No_Catchy_Nickname]

57 minutes ago, boggyman said:

Thanks! Feel the same about them! Looks, feel, not hard to hit, and know that I’ll get the yardage I’m expecting out of each and every iron! My all time favorite iron, bar none! 

 

I was getting the yardages wrong at first because I haven't hit them for a while. I was also playing an old surlyn covered wound ball (Titleist DT 100 compression), which I expected to be shorter than a modern ball. After three or four holes, I realised I was hitting the ball about 5 yards further than I expected. Once I adjusted, I was pin-high or thereabouts on every hole.

 

Made things a lot better once I'd figured it out😆

 

[No_Catchy_Nickname]

Played an early morning round with the MP4s back in the bag. I think it's the first time I've played them this year. 

 

Beautiful weather, and the course was ripe for scoring. Unfortunately, I was hitting the ball really well tee to green, but putting like a drunken fool on the greens.

 

The worst was probably the fourth, a par three. I hit a lovely 7i pin-high to about 10ft, leaving a straight, downhill putt. Didn't even come close, and missed the one coming back to walk off with a bogey. My only excuse was that the dew on the green was messing with the speed of the putts.

 

Didn't have the excuse of the dew for the missed birdie on the last from 5ft, though...

 

So, good ball striking, but finished with a very average 81 with 12 GiR, one OoB, and 37 putts.

 

Really liked the MP4s. I found the graphite shafts (ATTAS shafts for irons, 115X) easier to swing than the S300s I have in the Mizuno Originals I was playing prior to the MP4s. But I still think steel shafts feel better. Oh well.

[Bmurr7]

On 5/15/2022 at 10:57 AM, No_Catchy_Nickname said:

Played nine holes today with persimmon and blades. I was using my Wilson FG-J8s, which are among my favourite irons. Had a bit of a distance control problem at first because I haven't used them in a while, but once I got over that, I was doing alright. In fact, even my "bad" iron shots today were pretty good. Either a little right or a little long, mostly the former.

 

Putting...I discovered something. After three-putting three holes on the trot, I noticed I was pressing the putter into the green as I addressed the ball. In other words, I was getting really tense as I set up over the putt. After that, I hovered the putt over the ground as I set up and did much better. In fact, I holed two long putts in succession, on the seventh and eighth, one of about 25 foot and one about 40 foot (for a birdie). I'd normally make one of those putts about once every two or three years, so I was pretty happy.

 

Apart from the 40ft putt, I think the best shot was a 7i from 165 off a hanging lie to about 5ft on a par 5 to set up a birdie (which I made). It followed probably my worst shot, which was a heeled 5w off a really bad hanging lie.

These look awesome. I might have to get a set of classic Wilsons. I love my MP14s and 712mbs but there's something about Wilson Staff irons, have this allure to them. 

[von3jack]

On 5/15/2022 at 1:57 PM, No_Catchy_Nickname said:

Played nine holes today with persimmon and blades. I was using my Wilson FG-J8s, which are among my favourite irons. Had a bit of a distance control problem at first because I haven't used them in a while, but once I got over that, I was doing alright. In fact, even my "bad" iron shots today were pretty good. Either a little right or a little long, mostly the former.

 

Putting...I discovered something. After three-putting three holes on the trot, I noticed I was pressing the putter into the green as I addressed the ball. In other words, I was getting really tense as I set up over the putt. After that, I hovered the putt over the ground as I set up and did much better. In fact, I holed two long putts in succession, on the seventh and eighth, one of about 25 foot and one about 40 foot (for a birdie). I'd normally make one of those putts about once every two or three years, so I was pretty happy.

 

Apart from the 40ft putt, I think the best shot was a 7i from 165 off a hanging lie to about 5ft on a par 5 to set up a birdie (which I made). It followed probably my worst shot, which was a heeled 5w off a really bad hanging lie.

 

What a gorgeous set up!

[Oh Hi Carl]

I have two sets of irons in play at the moment: MP-32s and MP-5s.  Different shafts, but I really don't feel much difference between them or see much difference in what the ball's doing.  Does that surprise anyone?  Would you expect to see much difference between those two sets of irons?  Thanks. 

[IcemanYVR]

39 minutes ago, Oh Hi Carl said:

I have two sets of irons in play at the moment: MP-32s and MP-5s.  Different shafts, but I really don't feel much difference between them or see much difference in what the ball's doing.  Does that surprise anyone?  Would you expect to see much difference between those two sets of irons?  Thanks. 

I played MP-33 for 10 years and I have MP-4 in the bag now. Other than the difference in shafts, there really isn’t that much difference in the club heads. 
 

But I’m also in the camp that believes that outside of the elite of the elite, most can’t really tell the difference between one set of pro-line blades to another. 
 

 

[Oh Hi Carl]

If I were forced to find any differences, I'd say the top line on the 5 is a hair thicker esp. in shorter irons, and the blade length on the 32 is a hair longer.  Those two observations may be totally false, but those are the only visual differences I can maybe see in the playing position. 

 

As for feel/sound, the 5 feels slightly like a harder metal or forging.  The 32 feels somewhat softer.  Again, they may be exactly the same metal forged exactly the same way for all I know.   

[braincramp52]

On 5/7/2022 at 8:03 AM, boggyman said:

2 rounds, 74&77, with these babies. These have unseated the 17s for the foreseeable future. Awesome combo for me. Irons are 1/4” short from W/S standards and 2* upright. Soft as butter! 

I hate you.😁

[craz-e]

Early days testing a new set of sticks, time will tell if they can replace the fg59's. 

[No_Catchy_Nickname]

On 5/23/2022 at 9:24 AM, IcemanYVR said:

I played MP-33 for 10 years and I have MP-4 in the bag now. Other than the difference in shafts, there really isn’t that much difference in the club heads. 
 

But I’m also in the camp that believes that outside of the elite of the elite, most can’t really tell the difference between one set of pro-line blades to another. 
 

 

 

The MP4s and MP33s are pretty similar. I've read that with the MP4, Mizuno were looking to update the classic MP33s, but I don't know if that's true. Pretty similar muscle pad, though the MP33s seem to have a touch more offset in the shorter irons.

[Oh Hi Carl]

1 hour ago, craz-e said:

Early days testing a new set of sticks, time will tell if they can replace the fg59's. 

I hear those are sweet.  How do you feel about the screw in the back? 

[IcemanYVR]

1 hour ago, No_Catchy_Nickname said:

 

The MP4s and MP33s are pretty similar. I've read that with the MP4, Mizuno were looking to update the classic MP33s, but I don't know if that's true. Pretty similar muscle pad, though the MP33s seem to have a touch more offset in the shorter irons.

 

I don't know any of the numbers, but it makes sense. I definitely like the looks of the MP-4 PW and 9i at address better than the MP-33.

[craz-e]

21 minutes ago, Oh Hi Carl said:

I hear those are sweet.  How do you feel about the screw in the back? 

 

 

Not too fussed to be honest, the look at address, sole design and performance are what matters to me.

[Oh Hi Carl]

3 minutes ago, craz-e said:

 

 

Not too fussed to be honest, the look at address, sole design and performance are what matters to me.

Some people love it -- a nod to modern technology on an otherwise classic looking club.  

[boggyman]

2 hours ago, braincramp52 said:

I hate you.😁

My putting is killing me🤦‍♂️

[No_Catchy_Nickname]

3 hours ago, craz-e said:

 

 

Not too fussed to be honest, the look at address, sole design and performance are what matters to me.

 

I saw those Callaway blades for the first time in the flesh recently. Got to agree with you. The screw doesn't look particularly great, but the look at address and performance matter way more than a screw which I can't even see when I address and hit the ball. 

[Christen_The_Sloop]

On 5/24/2022 at 2:35 PM, No_Catchy_Nickname said:

 

I saw those Callaway blades for the first time in the flesh recently. Got to agree with you. The screw doesn't look particularly great, but the look at address and performance matter way more than a screw which I can't even see when I address and hit the ball. 

Slap on a little lead tape. That's a good answer for ugliness and beauty. I have some sets of irons that look to good, if you know what I mean.

 

This hasn't been a great year for golf. Father in law is having a tough time with his health and he's my main golf partner. Starting a garden... Keeping the yard in nice shape. Taking the girls where they need to go... Life kind of gets in the way...

 

Still hitting the ball okay. I have my sequencing pretty much down, so not a lot can go wrong . A little left with the irons. A little right with the driver. Putting is always good. And chipping is alright, because I have a gd chipping green to chip to.

 

I hit some balls tongiht. The top tracer always entices me to play a virtual round. Played Pinehurst and shot a 71. I'm -7 in my last four rounds there. So hand me the US Open now.

 

After the round I hit my Dunlop Seve 1-iron wX100, Tourstage MR23 US Spec CB 2-iron X100 and Tommy Armour Silver Scot 986 3-iron S300. The clear winner was....

 

The gd Silver Scot. My goodness. It's the most unusual looking club I have with no offset, but it performs. Has me looking for some grips. First ball I hit 7 balls with it averaging 215. Hitting nice mid-high draws, like no one's business. First one was dead on target. The most I got off target was 7 yards twice and I was dead on twice.

 

The MR23 is the worst of the bunch. It feels absolutely dead. There are very few clubs I have hit that feel as bad. And, I love the rest of the set... Thinking pull the shaft and try something different.

 

[FirePro]

Almost pulled the trigger on a set of MP 14's that had little to no wear but I would have had to pull the heads to get them in my carry on luggage.  Did I miss out on something wonderful, I probably don't want to know.

 

 

[Veridium]

On 5/23/2022 at 5:25 PM, craz-e said:

Early days testing a new set of sticks, time will tell if they can replace the fg59's. 

I have a set of 6-9 of those apex mbs and they are money scoring clubs!

[Joe S]

15 hours ago, FirePro said:

Almost pulled the trigger on a set of MP 14's that had little to no wear but I would have had to pull the heads to get them in my carry on luggage.  Did I miss out on something wonderful, I probably don't want to know.

 

 

 

Depends on how much you would have paid for them.  These are definitely worth owning, but they aren't so rare that you can't find a nice set if you want them.  I once found a nice set of Golden Ram Tom Watson Tour Grind irons on a trip for $20, so I clearly had to buy them and figure out how to get them home.  If it was a situation like that you probably should have bought them.