P7TW Can a higher handicappers play them?

[LowAndLeft32]

Wondering if any higher handicappers have given these irons a go. I would be interested to hear how they performed. Can a higher handicappers play these? Thanks. 

[phizzy30]

If you're the 18 cap that's a "good" ball striker but has a crappy short game, then sure why not, lol.  In all seriousness, the P7TW aren't Miura Baby Blade small, but they're not oversized blades like my 623-M.  I found mishits out on the toe and high on the face to be exceptionally punishing.  If you can find the center to heel side, you'll be ok to play these.    

Edited July 2, 2022 by phizzy30

[third-times-a-charm]

Sure you can play a hockey stick or a pool noodle if you want to as well.

 

Some dudes will be along here to say that blades are super cool for anyone but fact is that those irons will not help a high handicapper play better golf in any shape or form 

[BirdieBob]

Sure...just make sure you are wearing a TW hat, shirt, shoes and bag the irons.

Good luck!

😉

[Trippels]

If your handicap is over 10 they'll burn your hands like holy water on people who don't fix pitchmarks.

[chisag]

4 hours ago, third-times-a-charm said:

Some dudes will be along here to say that blades are super cool

 

 

... but most importantly they make a high index player a better ball striker! 🤣  The real answer is practically nobody should be playing these other than Tiger unless you don't care about your score or having any help on slight mishits that a good players iron provides. They look good, they feel sweet when hit dead center and they appeal to ego's. But there is a reason even the best ball strikers on tour that just battled it out to the last hole at the US Open where ball striking is at a premium like Will Zalatoris plays T100 irons and Matt Fitzpatrick plays i210's. WRX is the only place on the planet that recommends MB's for anyone other than the very best ball strikers that work the ball on a consistent basis. 

Edited July 3, 2022 by chisag

[Ivyguy]

I got a chance to hit one a while back.. I dunno man, I had a tough time with the demo 7 iron. 
 

I could game the PW though lol

[cbbaron]

Im a 9 I couldn't hit them when I saw the demo 7 and tried it

 

[Chunkitgood]

It’s certainly true no club will make you a better ball striker.

 

Some clubs (those designed to “help” people with slow swing speeds who add loft “launch” the ball) will make it harder for you to learn to be better ball striker.  Most high handicappers are not good enough to play such clubs.

 

As to golf clubs being “punishing,” I just have to laugh.

 

 

[cheeser]

I say you buy them because you can.  Now, for the playability part of it, um, highly unlikely the results will be desirable.  You'll second-guess your decision the first time you have 200 yards over water to a tucked pin.  Heck, I'm a 6 trending lower and wouldn't even consider buying them.  We all get the itch to buy blades after a decent range session or round.  Do yourself a favor and demo a set of blades, any true blades, and see if you can hit them.  If you can, there you go.  If you can't, then you saved yourself $1500 minimum.

 

[cgasucks]

3 hours ago, LowAndLeft32 said:

Wondering if any higher handicappers have given these irons a go. I would be interested to hear how they performed. Can a higher handicappers play these? Thanks. 

 

They will perform as long as you can hit it on the sweet spot.

[AdExec]

They are outstanding irons if you can center them most of the time. When I’m on, I dream of playing these exclusively. When I’m off, I can’t wait to hit my PXG Gen 5 again. 
 

but if/when you pure a p7tw 3 iron it’s heaven 

[roundersmitty]

It’s very doubtful a fitting would put a high handicapper into these irons over everything else available. 

[David Miller]

Not sure that would be the best idea but play with what you enjoy! If you like the look and are confident than go out and have some fun with them!

 

[Zena]

You can play them! Anyone can play them! Both me and my brother have had a chance to demo a trade-in set of both the P7TW and the Cobra RF Proto rev33. They are buttery smooth and delightful… when you pure them.

 

Otherwise, they are decidedly harsh and unforgiving. But they’re playable.

 

I use MP18 blades, and I don’t keep an official handicap but I consider myself a 12-15 handicapper based on my usual scores vs course/slope rating.

 

I rarely hit them pure, but I usually only hit them half an inch toe or heel side of center, maybe a groove low at times. And I’ll often miss the green by a few yards.

 

Would I score better with a cavity back or a hollow body? Sure! Would I enjoy it as much? Definitely not.

 

My 8-iron goes 155 with 8400 spin. I don’t want the distance offered by a game improvement club. I like using my irons lol. I know I’m sacrificing lower scores. I’m very much a feel player and I fully credit practicing with a blade for my improved swing mechanics and ball striking. It’s the most masochistic way to improve, but also the fastest (for me).

 

I would say, if you enjoy it, do it. None of us asking this question are going to be on tour anyways, so do whatever makes you enjoy the game most. The more you like golfing, the more golfing you’ll do.

[aenemated]

I played the P7TWs for almost two years. I learned as a kid with blades, when my game was at its absolute peak in my late teens/early 20s, I was playing MP14s. After my long layoff, when I felt my game was coming back, I went back to them and have stuck with them - and defended them a lot for several years on this very board. 

 

I love those irons. They feel tremendous (on a pure strike) and are incredibly workable. And when everything was on - which would happen every so often - I'd put up some solid scores with them.

 

But over the last several months, I really started to just come around to reality. After a ton of work on my short game; the biggest weak spot in my game became my iron play. I put in as much work as I could but the simple fact is I'm not an 18 y/o with all the time in the world to play golf anymore. So after a couple months of research and checking out all the options to fit what I hoped to find; settled on the Callaway Apex Pros. Considered the TCBs but figured if I was gonna get some help, let's get all we can in an appealing package. That turned out to be the Apex Pros. 

 

Ordered them last Sunday (1° flat, Steelfiber i95s) and they were crazy fast at my doorstep Wednesday. Took 'em over to the club today finally and after about half an hour on the range; went out for a quick 9. 

 

Shot 38 in the wind - which as anyone who's played TPC Vegas will tell you; that ain't an easy track when there's no wind. The 3 greens I missed were poor club selection (short once, long twice) because I had no idea how far anything was gonna go with the new lofts and forgiveness, especially in said wind. Had four makeable looks at birdie and made one of them. (Funny thing about my earlier "rarely 3 putt" part ... 3 putted #2 after banging it 10 feet past the cup like an idiot) I realistically should have hit every green as all shots were the right line, just the wrong club. 

 

One shot stood out though. #5, wound up in the first cut off the tee with one of those funky sidehill/uphill lies so common at that course. Terrible strike from there, another 1/2" and it'd been a shank but ... instead got to the green anyway and I two putted for par. 

 

That wouldn't have happened with the P7TWs. Same strike, I'd have been down in that awful valley to the left with a crazy tough pitch up to the green. Bogey for sure and double would definitely be in the picture.

 

In my mind, I wanna think "Oh, I'd have done mostly the same thing with the blades." But I've played there enough in the 3 months we've been over there to also know ... yeah bro, but you haven't.

 

So why this long post about this?

 

CAN you play them? Yes. Will your scores suffer? Also yes. 

 

I've said a lot about how I don't care about my handicap or my score - and I still don't - but I still want to play well if that makes sense. I want to hit greens, I want to make birdies. I like to hit shotmaker shots and I think I can still do that with the Apex and the little bit of help covers my incompetency. Unless you have the time to dedicate to refining your swing to the point of not only being able to hit the dead center of the clubface every time but with all the other stuff of the swing firing perfectly as well; you're gonna have a bad time. I never bought into the whole "Oh it makes you focus more" or whatever is the most often justification ... for me, it was just what I played when I played my best. But those days were 25 years ago. 

 

But also; it's your life and your game, man. Do what you want. 

Edited July 3, 2022 by aenemated

[philly2kuk]

I know high handicappers with blades, I know low handicappers with shovels. Play what you want to play, it’s your money and life and only you know how you enjoy your golf.
 

All I will say from my own experience is whenever I’ve played blades or smaller irons I need to play more often to play well with them. When I was playing four times a week in my late teens and early twenties I dropped from 15-6 using MP32s, but that was a product of lots of practice. The minute I stopped practicing as much the MP32s went as I couldn’t hit them as consistently.

[Hickory4ever]

You can play whatever you want, but realistically, playing a club that requires more precision may be a frustrating experience for those that struggle with their irons. Knowing that, do what floats your boat.

 

I also think that the perception of blades being hard to hit is not as bad as it is often portrayed, although there is a difference. In recent years I have been playing a lot of hickory and classic golf (blades) and went back to a MB in my modern clubs for fun. The sky did not fall and my scores have remained in my normal range and most importantly I am having fun. 

 

My advice is if you struggle in your iron play, stick with irons that give you a little more leeway. Whatever you choose, make sure that you get clubs that have the appropriate flex and are properly fitted. 
 

 

[LowAndLeft32]

8 hours ago, aenemated said:

I played the P7TWs for almost two years. I learned as a kid with blades, when my game was at its absolute peak in my late teens/early 20s, I was playing MP14s. After my long layoff, when I felt my game was coming back, I went back to them and have stuck with them - and defended them a lot for several years on this very board. 

 

I love those irons. They feel tremendous (on a pure strike) and are incredibly workable. And when everything was on - which would happen every so often - I'd put up some solid scores with them.

 

But over the last several months, I really started to just come around to reality. After a ton of work on my short game; the biggest weak spot in my game became my iron play. I put in as much work as I could but the simple fact is I'm not an 18 y/o with all the time in the world to play golf anymore. So after a couple months of research and checking out all the options to fit what I hoped to find; settled on the Callaway Apex Pros. Considered the TCBs but figured if I was gonna get some help, let's get all we can in an appealing package. That turned out to be the Apex Pros. 

 

Ordered them last Sunday (1° flat, Steelfiber i95s) and they were crazy fast at my doorstep Wednesday. Took 'em over to the club today finally and after about half an hour on the range; went out for a quick 9. 

 

Shot 38 in the wind - which as anyone who's played TPC Vegas will tell you; that ain't an easy track when there's no wind. The 3 greens I missed were poor club selection (short once, long twice) because I had no idea how far anything was gonna go with the new lofts and forgiveness, especially in said wind. Had four makeable looks at birdie and made one of them. (Funny thing about my earlier "rarely 3 putt" part ... 3 putted #2 after banging it 10 feet past the cup like an idiot) I realistically should have hit every green as all shots were the right line, just the wrong club. 

 

One shot stood out though. #5, wound up in the first cut off the tee with one of those funky sidehill/uphill lies so common at that course. Terrible strike from there, another 1/2" and it'd been a shank but ... instead got to the green anyway and I two putted for par. 

 

That wouldn't have happened with the P7TWs. Same strike, I'd have been down in that awful valley to the left with a crazy tough pitch up to the green. Bogey for sure and double would definitely be in the picture.

 

In my mind, I wanna think "Oh, I'd have done mostly the same thing with the blades." But I've played there enough in the 3 months we've been over there to also know ... yeah bro, but you haven't.

 

So why this long post about this?

 

CAN you play them? Yes. Will your scores suffer? Also yes. 

 

I've said a lot about how I don't care about my handicap or my score - and I still don't - but I still want to play well if that makes sense. I want to hit greens, I want to make birdies. I like to hit shotmaker shots and I think I can still do that with the Apex and the little bit of help covers my incompetency. Unless you have the time to dedicate to refining your swing to the point of not only being able to hit the dead center of the clubface every time but with all the other stuff of the swing firing perfectly as well; you're gonna have a bad time. I never bought into the whole "Oh it makes you focus more" or whatever is the most often justification ... for me, it was just what I played when I played my best. But those days were 25 years ago. 

 

But also; it's your life and your game, man. Do what you want. 

Great story. Thanks for sharing. So what made you choose the apex pros? 

[bodhi555]

I've used the Nike version of these irons (the VR Pros) for 4 years now, and as ever with these questions my answer would be....it depends. It depends entirely on where your mishits are with an iron. If you catch them out the middle they are buttery smooth and one of the best feelings in golf, yet if you catch them a bit thin they are remarkably forgiving and still give you the same distance - albeit with less carry - than a well struck shot. If you miss near the hosel they are no different to any other iron. 

 

However.

 

If you catch them out of the toe they can be a bit unpredictable - sometimes going full distance but left, sometimes dropping short and right. Even worse is if you catch them high up the face, then they will go absolutely nowhere. 

 

I very rarely catch it off the toe and don't use a tee on Par 3s so the above issues don't really affect me, however your game may differ. 

 

For reference I'm a 9 with a shockingly unpredictable long game. 

[MountainKing]

You can, but why would you want to? 

[wsupjs]

I agree with most in the thread that you technically can use them, but it's probably not a good idea or will be very fun for you.

 

With that being said, if you're that curious about them, I'd consider buying a 7 iron demo club to use as almost a training aid at the range. That can give you plenty of reps with it, build up the skill of hitting blades, and not deal with the on-course struggles from their learning curve.

[chisag]

11 hours ago, aenemated said:

I played the P7TWs for almost two years. I learned as a kid with blades, when my game was at its absolute peak in my late teens/early 20s, I was playing MP14s. After my long layoff, when I felt my game was coming back, I went back to them and have stuck with them - and defended them a lot for several years on this very board. 

 

I love those irons. They feel tremendous (on a pure strike) and are incredibly workable. And when everything was on - which would happen every so often - I'd put up some solid scores with them.

 

CAN you play them? Yes. Will your scores suffer? Also yes. 

 

But also; it's your life and your game, man. Do what you want. 

 

 

... Great reply. It is amazing how similar these MB threads have been for the last 25 years. It happens nowhere else. Nothing wrong with that if you can at least be honest about why you want to play them. My biggest pet peeve is they make you a better ball striker. They don't. A better swing makes you a better ball striker as 99% of the best ball strikers in the world on the LPGA that don't play MB's will confirm. Their livelihood depends on hitting the best iron shots possible, they practice all day every day and virtually none of them use MB's with 2 or 3 exceptions. 

... There are certainly member here like Zena that said "Would I score better with a cavity back or a hollow body? Sure! Would I enjoy it as much? Definitely not." and I love those responses because they are not trying to convince others MB's will improve their game, they just may enjoy playing them for many reasons other than score. Why those that play MB's feel the need to convince mid/high index golfers to play them instead of getting fit, something I have yet to read because no qualified fitter is going to put a high index player into MB's. I don't see threads where someone with an 85mph swing and smooth transition asking if they should play a HZRDUS Smoke Green RDX and others reply it will "make them a better driver" or it "really isn't that hard to hit". 

...  In the end it is always the same from anyone employing common sense. If scoring and hitting great iron shots closer to your target is your objective, get fit and play what works best. If pure enjoyment is your goal and scoring is secondary or unimportant, play whatever makes you happy.  

[Kingcat990]

Aim small, miss small. Just make sure the pace of play is upheld.

 

[elwhippy]

Please don't waste your money. Most of the planet's touring pros and elite amateurs shun blades. That says it all.

[aenemated]

6 hours ago, LowAndLeft32 said:

Great story. Thanks for sharing. So what made you choose the apex pros? 

 

They were able to pack a lot of tech into a tiny head that looks great at address and they have the feel that works for me. Really all it came down to. The last part being where the T100s lost me - which, believe me, I WANTED to love because I don't think there's a better looking iron in that category. I just can't jive with the feel of Titleist irons and I've never been able to; going back to the OG DCI days.

 

Which is weird because I love everything else they make. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ 

[hellojude]

I wouldn't. You would be giving up a lot to play those irons. 

[brutus27]

Whatever you head you pick get fitted for the correct shaft. 

[Billfitz]

Anybody can play anything. Whether you should play something that demands a skill level that you don't possess is a different story. 

[Chief Penguin]

I’m a low single digit handicap and my iron play is the strength of my game; I play Apex pro 19s. Yesterday I had 193 into a par 5 with the ball sitting up in the rough; I took 6 iron. I didn’t control my arc depth well enough and caught the ball a bit high on the face, and the ball goes very high and lands 10 yards shorter than anticipated on the front edge of the green. With a blade, that strike probably loses another 10 yards and curves more, leaving me in the front left bunker. The up & down probability just halved.

 

the question is what makes you happier, getting better results from misses and shooting lower scores or looking at (real) blades? valid either way, but you don’t get them both.