In defence of blades

[AC168]

I grew up playing blades and play what are considered forgiving players clubs.  I’ve always thought that if u have time to work on your iron game, playing blades is better for u in the long run.  (Today’s blades are actually pretty forgiving compared to some from the 70s and 80s.). 
 

If u don’t have time and can’t go to the range much, such as with me, playing something with forgiveness is good.  That being said, I still have a set of my blades in case I get a good window to play and practice.

[Benkross]

The vast majority of blade players on WRX are better ball strikers than the majority of tour pros. If they had short games they’d be playing for the Green Jacket. Play what you love but I will let my blades sit in my spare bag. 

[bobfoster]

I freaking love this, because I've had a totally harsh week at work, and needed some comedic relief. And what could be better than a WRX blades thread? 

 

I have five opinions:

 

1. Everyone should play blades, because bad golfers get more feedback and will learn, and good golfers can work them.

2. Everyone should play GI or SGI irons, because bad golfers get forgiveness, and good golfers can really work them almost as well.

3. A scratch golfer with blades can beat an LPGA pro with GI because he'll have more short iron precision.

4. An LPGA pro with blades can beat a scratch golfer with GI because she'll have better control of ball flight and spin.

5. Gaming blades is just sexier. Bagging them is like taking the hot cheerleader to the prom. SGI is like taking your grandmother to the prom. So there's that as the only real defense of blades (heehee).

 

But all kidding aside? The blades vs. GI argument has been a moot point for a few years now. Is not "either/or" (as it was a couple decades ago). There are now a hundred gradations. I currently play Mizzy MP 20 MMC Irons. Are they blades? No, not strictly speaking. Are they GI? No, not strictly speaking. Maybe I'd call them muscle backs or something? Really only care about finding the clubs that fit my game, not how I categorize them. Categories actually only matter to golf journalists, they don't really matter much to modern golfers. Point is, the science of golf has developed dramatically in the last decade or so. The five or six major OEMs (and several other minor ones) have produced some incredible nuances.  The blade/GI decision was a thing in the late 90s - early aughts. It isn't anymore to anyone that has kept up with the advancements in club technology. It is no longer a binary choice, it is choosing a point along a continuum. 

 

Care that if I'm 150 out, I have confidence that with my 8* I can be on the green with a good chance of a two putt (or if I hit it really well, a good chance at a one putt). Don't really care if I call my 8*i a blade or GI. As a friend of mine says, pictures don't go on scorecards, only stokes do.

 

Tru dat.

Edited October 15, 2022 by bobfoster