I am ready for blades - where do I start?

[sonnygolf]

Ready to join the best players in the game by using the best type of clubs in the game. 

 

Question whats a good set to start with? 

[setter02]

Used set of older ones like MP-33s, 32/67s or TP MBs.  Lots of quality sets you can get for not much and can be flipped for same amount when you're ready to get something newer.

Edited December 21, 2020 by setter02

[Aviador Naval]

If you’re truly ready for blades it doesn’t matter what you pick - choose what you like to look at and what feels good to you when struck.

 

if you’re a poseur, stay away from Mizuno.  Great clubs - no bounce.   You’ll be laying sod all over the place and be stuck telling your partners you’re a +3 but just having a bad day...

[philly2kuk]

17 minutes ago, Aviador Naval said:

If you’re truly ready for blades it doesn’t matter what you pick - choose what you like to look at and what feels good to you when struck.

 

if you’re a poseur, stay away from Mizuno.  Great clubs - no bounce.   You’ll be laying sod all over the place and be stuck telling your partners you’re a +3 but just having a bad day...

Used to play links golf at university so switched to mizuno blades as I was playing 4/5 times a week and loved them. Made a big difference to my game. The issue was when I went home for the holidays my home course was a soft spongy mess compared to the rock hard links turf.

 

I did exactly what Aviador said, laid sod everywhere - I was off five and a good iron player then. So if you’re a poser or play a very soft course be warned they won’t be for you!

[bvanlieu]

You can start with the 178232 blade threads on WRX.  That will get you through the holidays. 

 

So many good used sets out there to choose from to dip your toes. If new, don't forget about direct brands where Hogan still produces a great club for good value. 

[brew4eagle]

Wilson Staff FG- 17, 51, 53, 59, 62...

[DixieD]

6 hours ago, Aviador Naval said:

If you’re truly ready for blades it doesn’t matter what you pick - choose what you like to look at and what feels good to you when struck.

 

if you’re a poseur, stay away from Mizuno.  Great clubs - no bounce.   You’ll be laying sod all over the place and be stuck telling your partners you’re a +3 but just having a bad day...

So which blades have more bounce? 

[courcy75]

First off........Who do you think you are?!

 

 

 

 

 

/JK man. Hope you find a set that works for you. 

[Tree Levino]

1 hour ago, DixieD said:

So which blades have more bounce? 

Titleist, callaway, Srixon. 
 

Miura is by far the best IMO and it isn’t close. The heads are about a clubs worth heavier than others so they are more forgiving. 
 

for a cheap entry an old set of Srixons is the way to go 

[puttingmatt]

7 hours ago, sonnygolf said:

Ready to join the best players in the game by using the best type of clubs in the game. 

 

Question whats a good set to start with? 

Frankly, if you have to ask, your not ready.

Find the right set for your game, that means demo. 

[NRJyzr]

7 hours ago, Aviador Naval said:

If you’re truly ready for blades it doesn’t matter what you pick - choose what you like to look at and what feels good to you when struck.

 

if you’re a poseur, stay away from Mizuno.  Great clubs - no bounce.   You’ll be laying sod all over the place and be stuck telling your partners you’re a +3 but just having a bad day...

Some Mizuno models have bounce, some do not.  MS-11 / MP-11 were some of the earliest blades to actually have bounce, Hogan Apex possibly being the first.  

 

Some of the subsequent Mizunos had less.  The MP-37s brought bounce back.  I don't know about any models since then, I haven't tracked it.

 

[OsnolaKinnard]

7 hours ago, sonnygolf said:

Ready to join the best players in the game by using the best type of clubs in the game. 

 

Question whats a good set to start with? 

 

MacGregor VFoil 1025M.  Very good COG location, excellent sole design that is a bit more forgiving, and all in all a very easy to hit blade that still gives you excellent performance, and they feel incredible.  

 

 

[Bad9]

What makes you think you're ready?

[uglande]

"Where do I start?"

 

The same place you'll finish: Mizuno MP-20.

 

Nothing feels better. Reasonably priced. Surprisingly forgiving. Great stock shaft options. Can easily blend with other MP irons. The MMC is fantastic if you want more forgiveness in the longer irons. 

[SEP1006]

ADAMS MB2's, one of the most forgiving ( for a blade ) blades ever made!!!!!!

[cgasucks]

If you think you're ready then I suggest you get like a cheap set like a set of Wilson Staffs (FG-17 or made before the 1990s where its PW has the loft 52 deg) with blade profiles that are really small, thin soles, and little bounce.  If you can hit them solidly on a consistent basis you can play any modern blade.  When I started playing golf 20 years ago I thought blades would make me a better player and quicker so I bought a set of FG-17s and 1971 Button Backs.  Boy was I wrong.  I couldn't hit them consistently until years later.  But once I got to that point, I was ready to game a more recent set. 

 

Compared to my Wilsons, my 99 Apexs are a breeze to hit.

Edited December 21, 2020 by cgasucks

[jbrunk]

I went through this in 2017, though just for fun, I would never have said I am ready to join the best players in the world lol.  Demoed a different blade every Sunday for months, trying different shafts and head combinations.  You probably won’t be surprised to learn that even your well-stocked local golf shop doesn’t have all the muscle backs in their fitting carts.  As such, I was limited to Srixon, Wilson Staff, and Mizuno to start.  Got to hit used sets of Titleist, Cleveland, Nike; Taylormade and Cobra on a demo day.  In the meantime, the FG 100 sold out or I might have bought a set.  I was still between MP-18 and Z965, and nearly ready to bite on Srixon, knowing I’d be building a combo set and not getting on with the SC or MMC at all.

My fitter at the time was hyping up the new Callaway Apex MB, which the demos came in bonded, but I knew my shaft by then anyway.  As soon as I hit it I knew that was the blade for me.  I comboed up with the X-Forged (even though they’re not similar at all) and had one of the first sets shipped that Thanksgiving.  I still have the set, just added the A wedge, and play them through the Summer months, moving to more forgiving irons during the Fall & Winter.

 

My takeaway, there are numerous subtle differences between all muscleback irons, the same as any other golf equipment.  It may take longer to find your ideal fit, but it’s ever so much more important to get the right fit.  Just grabbing any old used set won’t work.  Again like anything else, they won’t be built for your swing.

[phil g]

Try to find the oldest cheapest set you can. If you can with them and enjoy it then you will know exactly what you need in a newer iron

[gators78]

1 hour ago, uglande said:

"Where do I start?"

 

The same place you'll finish: Mizuno MP-20.

 

Nothing feels better. Reasonably priced. Surprisingly forgiving. Great stock shaft options. Can easily blend with other MP irons. The MMC is fantastic if you want more forgiveness in the longer irons. 

 

 

I'm trying to hide this from my wife, but I was looking at a backup set. They are the best irons I've ever used. 

Edited December 21, 2020 by gators78

[boggyman]

1 hour ago, cgasucks said:

If you think you're ready then I suggest you get like a cheap set like a set of Wilson Staffs (FG-17 or made before the 1990s where its PW has the loft 52 deg) with blade profiles that are really small, thin soles, and little bounce.  If you can hit them solidly on a consistent basis you can play any modern blade.  When I started playing golf 20 years ago I thought blades would make me a better player and quicker so I bought a set of FG-17s and 1971 Button Backs.  Boy was I wrong.  I couldn't hit them consistently until years later.  But once I got to that point, I was ready to game a more recent set. 

 

Compared to my Wilsons, my 99 Apexs are a breeze to hit.

Crazy how everyone that’s had 17s think they’re hard to hit. I find mine as easy to hit as a SGI , “for me” at least. Love me some FG 17s!!!!! 

[boggyman]

Look up some old school Wilson Staff on the Bay. You won’t be disappointed I promise. $150 or less and you’re set. Got a super nice set of spare FG 17s minus the grips for $59 plus the shipping. $97 total. Can’t go wrong! Good luck in your venture. 

[gdb99]

A set that has a shaft that fits your game. 
Good luck. 

[asKaasa]

Apex MB 18

[2bGood]

The Cool thing about blades is they are much less effected by technologic advances in club design. ie an older model work as well as something that came out in 2020. 

 

The other cool thing is used blades tend to hold their value.

 

These two factors give a you a great chance to grab a couple sets of used blades play them for a bit in real world conditions and decide what is right for you. Then sell what you don't like for what you paid. 

[jerryo]

Keep it simple and start with Mizuno MP-4s. Can't go wrong.

[cgasucks]

2 hours ago, boggyman said:

Crazy how everyone that’s had 17s think they’re hard to hit. I find mine as easy to hit as a SGI , “for me” at least. Love me some FG 17s!!!!! 

In the beginning for me, the FG-17s were hard to hit and didn't realize the lofts were much weaker than I thought.  Now as my swing has improved much since then, I can pretty much play with any club.

[dubbelbogey]

If it were me, I'd set my budget, and go find the best set of Mizunos I could find at that price point. I'm sure you could find sets ranging from under $200 up to full new retail MSRP. Doesn't really matter which one, anything in the last 15 years is going to be fine. Plus, you'll be able to answer that question that most end up asking themselves: what's the big deal about Mizunos, anyway?

 

Sure, there are a lot of really great blades from every company out there. But the Mizunos seem to be sort of a reference that folks keep coming back to. Not that they're better for all players, not by any means, but they provide a good way measure your affinity for blades, in general.

 

 

 

 

[Aviador Naval]

8 hours ago, DixieD said:

So which blades have more bounce? 

I’m not sure whether it is the true bounce angle or the effective bounce from camber/radius but I’ve had good luck with the following: Titleist 716 and 718; had a couple demo rounds and enjoyed the relatively recent Callaway Apex MB; from yesteryear, my favorite is Hogan Apex Redline.

 

None of these clubs have a GI sole or for that matter even a players CB sole but they do tolerate a little moisture on the course and allow for an occasional ‘slightly steep’ without requiring a wheelbarrow to replace the divot.

Edited December 21, 2020 by Aviador Naval

[ephmen]

Serious question-why do people play blades besides ego? Some of the best ball strikers on tour play more forgiving clubs.  Plenty of more forgiving forged clubs with great feel, so I don't think feel is the answer. 

[Aviador Naval]

12 minutes ago, ephmen said:

Serious question-why do people play blades besides ego? Some of the best ball strikers on tour play more forgiving clubs.  Plenty of more forgiving forged clubs with great feel, so I don't think feel is the answer. 

A few non-ego reasons include:

 

1. you grew up with them and like the look/feel.

2. you have good speed and are a natural high ball hitter so typical GI causes as many problems as it solves

3. you play in dry, firm, tight conditions the vast majority of the time

4. you understand physics better than marketing and realize the degree of ‘forgiveness’ is much more relevant in a laboratory than a golf course

5.  you relish the journey more than the destination and would rather draw/fade/stinger the ball around for 78 than plug down the middle for 75