Anyone else own blades even though you’re “not good enough” to play them?

[Itsjustagame]

Another blade thread?

Don't play blades. I'm "too good" to play them

[Tre4ISU]

A few years ago when the MP18s came out and I was single, there was a demo set on ebay for $600. I figured if nothing else I'd make a cool display or something if they didn't work out. Mid way through winter, I'm like, "Screw it, I'll build some monsters with Project X 6.5 in them and see if I can hit them." I by no means believe these are the best iron for me and my next ones will be something along the JPX Tour or MMC line, but these things have been very good to me. Given, I came from maybe the worst iron Mizuno has made in the MP25s, but I've been stunned by the forgiveness. I was actually pretty set on hunting a set of JPX Tours over the winter but ended up sticking with these for at least another year. 

[BombinJim]

Just got on the blade train tonight. It will be a lot different than my Ping Anser CB’s! Excited about my first round with them Saturday!

 

[lefthack]

My KZG 7 iron is deadly! Wow, I am killing greens. Prefect launch, minimal run out, just sweet. I am so happy I went this route, these clubs are incredible.

[Dannys1208]

I probably shouldn’t play blades, but I like them. Iron sets over the last 10 years. Cleveland CG16, 716 Ap2, iBlades, Ping Blueprints. 

[drbonesvt]

IMOP toe shot is as bad in GI shovels as it is Blades - or if I’m not warmed up hitting thin.   None of which is fixable via club tech 

 

guilty as charged 

[lefthack]

19 minutes ago, drbonesvt said:

IMOP toe shot is as bad in GI shovels as it is Blades - or if I’m not warmed up hitting thin.   None of which is fixable via club tech 

 

guilty as charged 

 

There are times I get a little lazy with my 9i and that b**** goes straight out off the toe. My next shot is off the next fairway slightly further than I was the first time. 🤣

[chipa]

I am making the change from my Acer XV Tour blades to Titleist 990B's which are a small cb but supposedly play more like a blade. I hit my Acer's good but I have always had problems with short irons. However, I recently bought a DCI LW and was surprised how light it felt and how easy it was to get the clubface square. It turns out the hosel is much longer than the Acer plus not near as much weight on the toe so that makes it feel lighter. It has convinced me that I need to try some old school irons so I ordered a set of 990B's. Even though I am a 12 hc. (estimated) I am poor with my short irons on anything less than full swings especially with pitches and I rarely get up and down. On the contrary I hit my mid and long irons pretty straight. I will only be playing the 5 iron to P so I think I can handle it, after all the old 5 iron is more or less a strong 6 iron by today's players irons standard. Wish me luck.

[lefthack]

I am about to put my blades back in the bag. I like the split cavity, but they aren't as enjoyable. A little less frustrating to some degree, but not enough to prefer them 

[Vinnieluvv]

When I'm feeling froggy and it's the right kind of course, I'll take out my Ping i500s and play MP-18s, MP-33s, or Whitlam Blades.

 

But that's happening less and less. 

[copegolfer]

DUH

[puttingmatt]

Who says your not good enough for blades.

Hell I see guys playing  game improvement

clubs that aren't good enough for those  either.  At least with the blades  you'll have an excuse.

[Old Tom Morris]

I’ve got a set of 990 and MP-37 that I will hit at the range occasionally.  Quickly reminds me that my ball striking always needs improvement.  

[Nixhex524]

I just picked up a set of 714 MB from a member here and I am glad I did... was more of a drunk purchase but man, I really do love playing these things.  They are nowhere near as bad as I thought they would be, pretty forgiving for a blade actually.

[Nickc]

About time the USGA and R&A banned these new fangled  cavity backed GI and SGI irons and maybe metal headed drivers and fairway woods for that matter.

When I first had a go at golf in the 1960's all irons were blade types and handicaps and varying skill levels probably just as good and varied but it was a bit more of a level playing field and a handicap was more to do with your skill level than being disguised by the type of club design.

 

[Tim Sherwood]

If you don't hit the middle, every iron delivers poor shots. Play what you like the look of when you stand over the ball👍

Edited July 14, 2021 by Tim Sherwood

[Pepperturbo]

On 3/8/2021 at 8:53 AM, Forged4ever said:

Things came together for me that week, I stuck some irons, made some putts and beat a future National USGA Champion in the semis and closed out the then Oakmont Club Champ in the finals for the Victory. I'll never forget that everyone, from my Club Pro, Father, Bro and Best Bud, to that USGA Champion that I beat and finally Maddie, even though I told her that she was partly responsible for the switch,😂😂, thought that I was bat sh*t crazy for takin the 68's outa the bag, however I was swingin arguably the best that I had in my life(+2.8), and while I considered that first dream a fluke, I took that second dream as gospel, lol. Pete always said that I was his most hard headed student, rivaling his younger Bro, cuz when something worked, I rode that b*stard 6' deep into the ground and didn't change/switch till it quit working, lolol. 

Good story, inspirational.  I especially like anyone that's bat sh*t crazy at times when others least expect it.  It's a hard road best traveled by hard-headed people when they think they know best while everyone around us thinks we're nutso.  Have a great day.

 

Side note, thanks to CAD, most blades today are easier to hit than blades of years past.   If you question your ball-striking skill, you're either bat sh*t crazy or wise beyond your years as you pass on by 620 MBs. 😛

 

Edited July 14, 2021 by Pepperturbo

[Fairway14]

Throughout the 1950's and 60's muscle back blade designs were the only irons available, and lots of great shots were played with them from beginner to Tour pro skill level.  The cavity back irons available during the 1970's, 80's 90's were fine , and the perimeter weighting is helpful for most players. But in the most recent 20 years iron heads have become so over sized that I believe it's counter productive. 

So, I think what matters most is head size. When the head size becomes to large it is more difficult to square at impact, especially from less than idea lies. Several  years ago Mizuno introduced an over sized head muscle back design (MP5) , but I think players found it hard to strike consistently solid shots with such a large head.

[jplroper]

On 3/11/2021 at 4:37 PM, Tre4ISU said:

A few years ago when the MP18s came out and I was single, there was a demo set on ebay for $600. I figured if nothing else I'd make a cool display or something if they didn't work out. Mid way through winter, I'm like, "Screw it, I'll build some monsters with Project X 6.5 in them and see if I can hit them." I by no means believe these are the best iron for me and my next ones will be something along the JPX Tour or MMC line, but these things have been very good to me. Given, I came from maybe the worst iron Mizuno has made in the MP25s, but I've been stunned by the forgiveness. I was actually pretty set on hunting a set of JPX Tours over the winter but ended up sticking with these for at least another year. 

" Screw it, I'll build some monsters", thats a great line.

[chipa]

21 hours ago, Fairway14 said:

Throughout the 1950's and 60's muscle back blade designs were the only irons available, and lots of great shots were played with them from beginner to Tour pro skill level.  The cavity back irons available during the 1970's, 80's 90's were fine , and the perimeter weighting is helpful for most players. But in the most recent 20 years iron heads have become so over sized that I believe it's counter productive. 

So, I think what matters most is head size. When the head size becomes to large it is more difficult to square at impact, especially from less than idea lies. Several  years ago Mizuno introduced an over sized head muscle back design (MP5) , but I think players found it hard to strike consistently solid shots with such a large head.

 

That's a good observation, I can't hit the larger clubs.

 

I'll add something else I found out recently. If one has a handsy takeaway the modern clubs with a lot of weight on the toe and less in the hosel feel very heavy compared to the older ones. I did not know this until I bought a DCI LW and it feels much lighter than my Acer Tours even though is is 35 grams heaver at the same length. 

[Chuck_IV]

I WAS good enough at one point and used Mizuno MP30's from 2003(still play them for now). These days, getting older and not playing as much as I used to(no more league play), they are tough to play. I still have some great rounds with them but they are to unforgiving for me now. More miss hits and not as much length. So I'm moving on to the Ping G425 irons(if they ever come in).

 

Me of old - Good enough to play blades

Me of today - Not so much

[Tiptx1122]

They do tend to be harder to hit the older and less you play. I say who cares what you play as I see many golfers using SGI irons and well at least they are out doing something besides sitting at home doing nothing. Sometime I think maybe they were hand me down clubs and don't know any better