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

[boggyman]

8 hours ago, subrew said:

And I wasn't sure where to post this one, but thought the blade thread might be the spot.  These started out life as a set of beat up $1 each MacGregor Tourney sorta muscle backs.  They had a weird shape, flaking off chrome, rusty chrome, and lots of nicks and chatter.  I don't think these were a particularly sought after set of Macs, so hopefully nobody gets too upset with this build.

 

I stripped them raw, then had fun doing an Itobori style grind to them.  I always wanted to do that, and these seemed like the perfect base.  I kept the sole grind more normal, with a pre-worn leading edge.  And kept the backs smooth.  But lots of grinding on the toe and heal areas. 

 

It was fun getting everything to the weight I wanted.  I play irons 1/2" over normal length, so the reduced weight from the chrome stripping and grinding has them right at D2.0.  Which is pretty light, as these old heads tend to play at much heavier D5-6 range stock.

 

The patina is starting to come in after a few rounds of early morning wet golf.

 

     

That putter is 🔥….have a center shaft that is money! I’ve got a ton of lead tape on the bottom and 2 full wraps under the grip! 

[BIG STU]

15 minutes ago, boggyman said:

That putter is 🔥….have a center shaft that is money! I’ve got a ton of lead tape on the bottom and 2 full wraps under the grip! 

Got to agree. I have 3 of them. 2 are heel shafted and the one was originally a belly I am working on converting to a broomstick at 42"

[boggyman]

52 minutes ago, BIG STU said:

Got to agree. I have 3 of them. 2 are heel shafted and the one was originally a belly I am working on converting to a broomstick at 42"

I have a heel shafted as well, only it’s a tad different model. The center shaft will go to the grave with me!! It simply can’t be beat @BIG STU😁

[Bigmean]

Bobby Grace putters I have been interested in always eluded me.   One day one will fall in my lap I think.

 

I am starting to wonder about the 950gh regular flex in my kyoeis.   I wanted to hit my bb since I haven’t in forever and just worked on drives, now this is dead cold first swings warm up before hurting myself hitting driver.  Noticeably shorter and more spinny?  It is possible they are weaker but I can’t imagine much.  I did mishit one to a penal degree, but still.   The muiras were longer and stronger trajectory.   
 

 

Edited November 25, 2023 by Bigmean

[Bigmean]

Now for some LOLs.   I would love to say that in fairness I was constantly working on things, but the reality is that doesn’t even matter at this point.   The same guy that makes 12 swings with an 8 iron dead cold just did this with driver….you all hear me talk about this so much, here is what the crime scene really looks like.  The most hilarious part is the avg offline and how it gets there.   I have every possible spin/trajectory/club path you can even apply to a golf ball in my “stock” driver swing….which I don’t even have anymore I am always thinking something even if it is don’t think.

 

 

[subrew]

5 hours ago, boggyman said:

That putter is 🔥….have a center shaft that is money! I’ve got a ton of lead tape on the bottom and 2 full wraps under the grip! 

 

I love it.  And this one is center shafted.  

[BIG STU]

12 minutes ago, subrew said:

 

I love it.  And this one is center shafted.  

Just like mine weights and all. But I do not have a Blue shaft. On some of the Tour Heads they have regular Allen screws that you can put different ones in for weight. One of my other ones is a V-Foil which is painted differently and has the holes drilled into the sides. I finished messing with mine this afternoon. I have a shaft bender so I bent my up to 79* lie. I will maybe putt with it some tomorrow after Church. I think it may need some weight for me

[NRJyzr]

30 minutes ago, Bigmean said:

I am starting to wonder about the 950gh regular flex in my kyoeis.

 

Possibly interestingly...

 

I put 950GH regular shafts in the Arias D-23 irons I picked up over the summer.  And, they are shorter than their lofts indicate.  I've even had issues making decent contact at times.

 

Picked up a full set of the Mudus 120 that I used to test the 2 iron.  Now, to do the actual work of the reshaft...

 

[boggyman]

2 hours ago, subrew said:

 

I love it.  And this one is center shafted.  

What shaft is that? What do you use for a head cover?

[Cpk23]

I picked up these Muirfield 20th 2-PW yesterday. I don't know much about them but they look great and were in great condition. Has anyone played these? I'm tempted to put in my preferred shafts and grips. 

 

Hit a few in my bay and they feel so good. Currently playing JPX 900 Tours and these may replace them. My previous blades were Nike Forged Blades, Titleist 695 MB and Titleist 712 MB. These Muirfields may be the best looking at address that I have found.

 

Would I be foolish to play 35 year old irons?

[RolandofGilead]

4 hours ago, Cpk23 said:

These Muirfields may be the best looking at address that I have found.

I recently picked up a set of these and feel the same way. The leading edge is really good too - in and out of turf very quickly for older blades. I played the 9i and P on a combo set for a few rounds and loved them. Just got a set of X100 shafts and will be building and testing this week. Will report back.

[NRJyzr]

15 hours ago, Cpk23 said:

I picked up these Muirfield 20th 2-PW yesterday. I don't know much about them but they look great and were in great condition. Has anyone played these? I'm tempted to put in my preferred shafts and grips. 

 

Hit a few in my bay and they feel so good. Currently playing JPX 900 Tours and these may replace them. My previous blades were Nike Forged Blades, Titleist 695 MB and Titleist 712 MB. These Muirfields may be the best looking at address that I have found.

 

Would I be foolish to play 35 year old irons?

 

These are the retail release of a clubhead that was originally produced as a prototype, that Jack Nicklaus used to win the 1980 US Open and PGA.  They were referred to as the Pro-81 forging, and were released as sold as a Limited Edition, 1000 sets here in the USA, 1000 sets in Japan.

 

Jack switched away from them to the VIP-inspired Muirfields through 1985, based on what MacGregor called the Pro-82 forging.  He switched back to the Pro-81 in 1986, and used them to win the Masters.  MacGregor then decided to release them as the Muirfield 20ths, the 20 in the name commemorating the 20 majors won by Jack.

 

The 20ths lasted through 1990 or 1991, if my memory of the Maltby Club ID Guide is accurate.

 

Interesting side note:  the Muirfields from 1983-1986 were actually a flat back forging, with the muscle CNC machined into the head.  This per Clay Long, who wrote the program for said milling.

 

Sad note....   I own a set of Muirfields, and ran across a set of Muirfield 20ths at a 2nd Swing shop about 20 years ago.  They were all of $69, 3-PW, and they had a 2 iron in the 2 iron rack, probably $5 or $10 more, tops.  I decided to wait to pick them up on my next trip.  Of course, they were not there.  <sigh>

 

Oh well, not meant to be.  I'll content myself with multiple iterations of Ram Tour Grinds, and the 986 Tours and Wilson Staff 78 Tour Blades that are lying around, wondering if I'll ever use them...

 

Edit:  this was info learned by golfunderpar18, who contacted Clay Long and received an answer.  He then shared it in a post in the Classic folders.

 

 

Edited November 26, 2023 by NRJyzr
Crediting the source

[subrew]

23 hours ago, boggyman said:

What shaft is that? What do you use for a head cover?

 

It's a Javlyn FX x-stiff graphite shaft.  I pulled it out of a Mizuno Fli-Hi driving iron as there is no way I could play a X-stiff shaft in that.  It was the stiffest shaft I tested on my home-made deflection board.  I then tipped it several inches so the head is very solid.  I bought the putter as a head-only.

 

Headcover is a generic Craftsman Golf mallet cover.  The magnetic flap is located in the center, but it has just enough give to fit.  After two years if use, it has worn in nicely and comes on/off very quickly.

 

[boggyman]

34 minutes ago, subrew said:

 

It's a Javlyn FX x-stiff graphite shaft.  I pulled it out of a Mizuno Fli-Hi driving iron as there is no way I could play a X-stiff shaft in that.  It was the stiffest shaft I tested on my home-made deflection board.  I then tipped it several inches so the head is very solid.  I bought the putter as a head-only.

 

Headcover is a generic Craftsman Golf mallet cover.  The magnetic flap is located in the center, but it has just enough give to fit.  After two years if use, it has worn in nicely and comes on/off very quickly.

 

Appreciate the info…. Last head cover I got a shop owner gave it to me free of charge. I couldn’t find anything to come close to fitting it. Still have the OG but the velcro is shot. 

[Maine Golfer]

On 11/12/2023 at 8:29 PM, RolandofGilead said:

. My winter set is the 1987 W/S Fluid Feels, which are a birth year set. As it turns out so are these Macs, so it will be quite the duel.

 

 

birth year is a theme of my blade and other vintage club collecting. I have Wilson Staff Gooseneeck and Hogan Redlines from 88.  

[BIG STU]

On 11/25/2023 at 6:11 PM, Cpk23 said:

I picked up these Muirfield 20th 2-PW yesterday. I don't know much about them but they look great and were in great condition. Has anyone played these? I'm tempted to put in my preferred shafts and grips. 

 

Hit a few in my bay and they feel so good. Currently playing JPX 900 Tours and these may replace them. My previous blades were Nike Forged Blades, Titleist 695 MB and Titleist 712 MB. These Muirfields may be the best looking at address that I have found.

 

Would I be foolish to play 35 year old irons?

I think you will like them. I have 2 sets of the Non 20ths and 2 sets of VIPs which are basically the same heads. I played them front line money matches and all until my accident in 2020. Due to back and shoulder issues I went to the irons in my signature. One thing about them if you do not hit them right they will let you know. I am entertaining the thought of buying some more Steelfiber shafts and putting them in one of the sets of Muirfields. 

[BIG STU]

10 hours ago, subrew said:

 

It's a Javlyn FX x-stiff graphite shaft.  I pulled it out of a Mizuno Fli-Hi driving iron as there is no way I could play a X-stiff shaft in that.  It was the stiffest shaft I tested on my home-made deflection board.  I then tipped it several inches so the head is very solid.  I bought the putter as a head-only.

 

Headcover is a generic Craftsman Golf mallet cover.  The magnetic flap is located in the center, but it has just enough give to fit.  After two years if use, it has worn in nicely and comes on/off very quickly.

 

All 3 of mine started with just the heads years ago. When we had the Golf Shop we bought 10 heads from a guy on an independent tour van. The 3 I have came from a late friend that I built those for back around 05 or so. My center shafted one I have a TT thick broom stick shaft in. The V Foil has an Original Mac Factory shaft in it I obtained from another Tour Van. I also have one Bobby Grace OG cover that is broken in well and fits good

[asKaasa]

[Bigmean]

That is the best looking non of Nike blade I have seen.  That satin is fantastic too, are those miura to boot?

 

 

Some breaking golf news in my life, I am really considering getting a putting green in my backyard.  Backyard greens and artifical grass have been a booming biz down here and because of that competition they are reasonable enough now to be slipped into a backyard fire pit and maybe Argentine spit area my wife and I have talked about doing and keep the budget low key, and she surprisingly after years of me talking about it and her blowing it off said “you can finally do a putting green, but I don’t want it to be something you do yourself that looks like crap”.  I assured her if I did it, it would look right and I wasn’t going to waste money, but I got a quote today that was 60% of what I was expecting to hear from a good company and this maybe being a reality hit home.

 

 

[Jonesy]

It's been awhile since I've been here but man I'm glad to see this thread is still alive and kicking, one of the absolute best 😎 

[boggyman]

Been flirting with some SGI with graphite but come to the realization they’re not going to work. Put my FG17s in the bag today and carded a 66. Hit it unbelievable well. Even had a chip in for eagle on 18! Only missed two fairways. Put new grips on them a week ago and oh myyyyy! I traded the SGI irons and came out with a 54/58 Ping Glide 4.0 wedges and a TM Del Monte 35” putter plus $200 in shop credit left! Just an awesome day! 17s till death do us part!!!! 

[London424]

On 11/25/2023 at 7:26 PM, Bigmean said:

Now for some LOLs.   I would love to say that in fairness I was constantly working on things, but the reality is that doesn’t even matter at this point.   The same guy that makes 12 swings with an 8 iron dead cold just did this with driver….you all hear me talk about this so much, here is what the crime scene really looks like.  The most hilarious part is the avg offline and how it gets there.   I have every possible spin/trajectory/club path you can even apply to a golf ball in my “stock” driver swing….which I don’t even have anymore I am always thinking something even if it is don’t think.

 

 

Get a different driver. Look at those spin numbers!

[Bigmean]

2 hours ago, London424 said:

Get a different driver. Look at those spin numbers!

I don’t think that you can make equipment choices off of that dumpster fire of spread…I have other heads and drivers, but those spin numbers show how F’ed I really get with path/launch/face when I get in a driver rut.

 

I was more sharing the pain I have been going through.  When I had it on track earlier this summer my spin was still low and floated between 1500-2400 and those are bombs for my SS.  Once I get over 2400 they don’t go the same.  1600-2000 seems to be my sweet spot.  What I shared is truly what I am capable of any given night or day and I am traumatized by it.   That was a particularly bad session and I thought worth the share as this group has heard plenty on how I lost the ability to hit driver.

 

i think I am going to find some random pro for lessons and just do a driver swing only lesson.  I don’t even know what to do at this point but if I am “thinking and trying” that shitshow on screen is a potential result…. It’s maddening.

[Jonesy]

@Bigmean I'm in a proper driver rut at the moment as well, I feel your pain... 

 

My own fault though, havent practiced consistently in a long time and it's catching up with me. Luckily my 13.5° 3 wood has been saving me somewhat 

[Eeecc]

23 minutes ago, Bigmean said:

I don’t think that you can make equipment choices off of that dumpster fire of spread…I have other heads and drivers, but those spin numbers show how F’ed I really get with path/launch/face when I get in a driver rut.

 

I was more sharing the pain I have been going through.  When I had it on track earlier this summer my spin was still low and floated between 1500-2400 and those are bombs for my SS.  Once I get over 2400 they don’t go the same.  1600-2000 seems to be my sweet spot.  What I shared is truly what I am capable of any given night or day and I am traumatized by it.   That was a particularly bad session and I thought worth the share as this group has heard plenty on how I lost the ability to hit driver.

 

i think I am going to find some random pro for lessons and just do a driver swing only lesson.  I don’t even know what to do at this point but if I am “thinking and trying” that shitshow on screen is a potential result…. It’s maddening.

 

I have always been in a driver rut, can it be a rut if it has been occurring since I started playing golf for like 8years? 
 

I am some good vibes tho this winter when I picked up some new drivers. Early indoor sim testing is promising. Hopefully not just honeymoon phase.

 

Makes no sense but I am favoring a smaller 435cc head and the internal weights forward vs the supposed more forgiving 460cc w full back weights.

 

Same as me favoring blades or tight shallow player’s cb.
 

I am back to blades MP29 for my winter practice and still puring them.

[RolandofGilead]

On 11/25/2023 at 9:00 PM, NRJyzr said:

MacGregor then decided to release them as the Muirfield 20ths, the 20 in the name commemorating the 20 majors won by Jack.

I built these up and played them on Wednesday - absolutely fantastic. For whatever reason, I hit some of the best long iron shots in a long time with these. I’m really into the birth year set idea and these are going to replace my beloved W/S Fluid Feels, also made in 1987, as my winter / retro iron set.

 

 

 

Edited December 1, 2023 by RolandofGilead

[NRJyzr]

39 minutes ago, RolandofGilead said:

I’m really into the birth year set idea and these are going to replace my beloved W/S Fluid Feels, also made in 1987

 

Thank you for reminding me how old I am.  LOL

 

[Bigmean]

Man, my rut is going on 8 years.   I mean I posted that session because anyone who saw that would say that is a 20cap min, and I don’t even care if I was trying to change plane and grip and stance and ball location for all those, I should be good enough to where that would have bad shots but not that mess.  I stripe my 3 wood, can cut it and draw it pretty reliably and I could probably keep it in the 70s more if I just used that, but I refuse, absolutely refuse to go that route.   I don’t want to grind, I want to play and maybe score.
 

Im going to work on it again tonight and this weekend, but f$ck man….I can’t seem to dig this out if the dirt and in the 30 years I have played this game (nard isn’t the only old guy here lol) I have never not been able to feel out swing changes that work for a while with the kind of reps I have put into driver.  And the worst part is with my back I really just can’t hit 150 drives, so my sessions seem to max at 40 before I’m doing a dis service even if I want to spend all night working on it.   
 

 

[Kmagnuss]

@Bigmean ... I had a disaster of a year (last year) with my irons, and no matter what lessons I took, videos I studied, and thousands of balls I hit I couldn't get out of the funk.  What ended up doing it for me was a 6 week break to clear my head.  Sometimes we get so used to the flaws in our swings that we can't notice them, but for some reason after taking a break they become glaringly apparent the first time back out and easily fixable.

[NRJyzr]

1 hour ago, Bigmean said:

I stripe my 3 wood, can cut it and draw it pretty reliably and I could probably keep it in the 70s more if I just used that,

 

Makes me think driver is a club length and/or club weight issue.

 

What length are your 3w and driver?  And what shaft weight for each?