Blades only... rank clubs you've owned based only on feel

[MelloYello]

On 7/29/2023 at 7:32 AM, Eeecc said:

Interesting how a lot of the listed best feeling have been older clubs especially Mizunos are of the older vintage…

 

I would say 3 things about that:

 

(1)

I think it's pretty widely acknowledged that among modern brands commonly seen on American shelves, Mizuno was always the "feel" company. That was their selling point. In that regard, they were without a rival. Titleist, Nike, Taylormade, Callaway and others took an obvious back seat. The consensus in the 2000s to the present has generally been that Titleist blades looked the best and Mizuno felt the best. 

 

(2) 

The rise of solid core balls have put this issue of "feel" to bed. There just isn't much separation in the "feel" department these days. Everything's evolved to the point it's more/less the same among top brands. 

 

(3) 

Launch monitors provided real data on what equated to "better." Without having to sell clubs based on claims of "feel" or "looks that fit the better player's eye" companies could market their designs with real selling points aimed at helping the average player. The importance of this shift in consumer demand cannot be overstated. 

 

With fittings being so commonplace and the concept of "game improvement technologies" baked so deeply into everything these days players don't buy into the importance of (debatably noticeable) aesthetics as much as they did 15 years ago. Back then, the shape of a driver might be the determining factor in it's popularity. Nowadays it all about how it measures up on a launch monitor. 

 

Oh, and as I said before, most blades today feel basically the same. Metallurgy being as advanced as it currently is ends up making less difference than people once argued about and companies have now had decades to sculpt their irons finding the optimal shapes, densities and thicknesses throughout their lines. 

 

Hence why so many of the responses are from people who remember playing golf in the 1970s and 1980s. You asked why so many old irons were being listed? Well, it's because today, "feel" isn't the main selling point that people obsess over. 

 

.

Edited July 31, 2023 by MelloYello

[Yacho]

1. '88 Hogan Apex Redlines

2. '79 Hogan Apex II

3. '80 Ram Golden Ram Tour Grinds

4. '76 Wilson Staff 

5. '83 Macgregor Muirfields 

6. '81 Titleist Tour Model

7. '77 Walter Hagan Ultradyne III's 

8. '84 Taylormade Tour Preferred Forged 

9. '89 Spalding Greg Norman stainless

 

Tight race for 2nd, 3rd and 4th.  The Redlines are on a different level though.  Still own and play all of these at least twice a year, and loan them out happily to anyone who wants to give 'em a shot for a round.

 

Special mention to the 8i - gw of my gamer set of '04 Hogan FTX's.  The feel of those things might even beat out the Redlines...

[SwingBlade]

1.  MP-33's (in the bag)

      Note: Feel, forgiveness, accuracy, launch

 

Since the subject is "feel" ...

I will transgress to blade like cb's like a few others above ...

2.  Miura CB-57's (still own) (balanced art)

3.  MP-64's (still own) (turf interaction)

back to blades...

 

4.  Titleist 690.MB's (still own) (classic beast)

Edited September 5, 2023 by SwingBlade

[toddba11]

1) Wison Staff Blades (latest model 2021 or so)

2) Wilson FG62s

Edited July 31, 2023 by toddba11

[Longballjock]

Titleist 670

Nike VR TW

Callaway prototype 

 

My top 3

[DevilDog]

Best feeling I've ever had were the Titleist 681s followed closely by the MP-33s.  I still have both but play the 33s.  

[Kmagnuss]

Man I haven't brought out the 33's for a few months... with all this talk about how great they are I should probably give them another go and remind myself.  My biggest issue with them is due to a recent swing change my miss is toe side instead of heel side... and heel side misses on blades are usually fine but toe side misses get punished.  For some reason the VR TW's seem to be okay with a little toe side love.

[Skitzo71]

My favorites that made it through my bag over the years:

 

1.   Titleist Tour Model - mid 80's (bullet back)

2.   99 Hogan Apex

3.   Callaway X-Prototype MB ..R.. version  (probably my favorite of all time, totally regret selling these)

 

Edited August 1, 2023 by Skitzo71

[southpaw72]

Adams MB2 still have them but retired them at the peak of my “career” and can’t bring myself to sell them even though as a lefty I’m liable to have someone break into my house and steal them lol

[bodhi555]

Actually just realised I forgot about the MP20 3 iron I have upstairs in the man cave, however just to court controversy I'd put it below both sets of Nike Blades I've had in terms of feel. It was incredibly soft don't get me wrong, I just found it too soft. 

 

Not quite like hitting a marshmallow with a pillow, but not far off. I think I'm more of a "crisp" feel sort of guy than the duller feel of a Mizuno. 

[Orchardist]

+1 on the current Wilson Staff Blades. They are so freaky good....... all the other sets I own no longer matter.

[Puppetmaster]

On 7/28/2023 at 3:49 PM, NRJyzr said:

 

The only reason I didn't list those 99 Aussie Blades is that I have never owned a set.  They were the softest club I'd ever hit.  

 

 

Same reason I couldn't list the MP-68 or Miura TB haha. Pretty sure the MP-32 and -33s were awesome too, just didn't get a good frame of reference over the years, since I didn't own any of those. 

 

[Darth_Blader]

Had to bump this to get back on page one...always need a blade feel topic on page one! 

 

TourStage Z101s

Mizuno MP33

Mizuno MP68

 

[spacecowboy]

1) Yamaha SX-25

2) Mizuno MP-14

 

been a long time since playing blades since most strikes started to feel like frozen butter. 

[Phabs]

Nike VR2’s 

MP33’s

MP5’s… boarderline blade but I think they qualify 

[TLUBulldogGolf]

This is a tough one. My ranking for what I've played:

 

MP-68

MP-20

MP-33

MP-67

MP-69

MP-37

Callaway X Protos

[Soccerrick10]

1 - MP4 - soft, buttery feel

1.5 - PXG 0317 CB - one of the best feeling, soft modern day iron I’ve owned (assuming a CB is allowed to be included)

2 - MP18mb / PXG 0211 ST -  very similar strong and powerful feel.

 

Edited August 6, 2023 by Soccerrick10

[nichho]

After much deliberation I'm going for.

 

1. Wilson Staff Model. Sold.

 

2. Callaway Apex mb 18 (no nut model). Sold..

 

Of the Mizuno's I've owned, MP 67, 68, 5, 32, 4, 20 & 221 the winners are.

 

3. MP 4. Sold.

 

I currently own the 221 which replaced the MP 20's

[nitram]

Hogan Apex ('99)

Bridgestone J33

Miura '07 Tournament

Mizuno MP14

 

[SquadGuy]

1) 1979 Hogan Apex II

2) 2002 Mizuno MP 33

[mosesgolf]

My personal favorites

 

1.  Titleist 710MB

2.  Mizuno MP33

3.  Titleist 714MB

 

Adam Scott and Webb Simpson(lifelong blade guys) just moved away from blades.  The long term survivability of blades is in serious jeopardy.  Ironically the best golf I've ever played was with the 710MBs but that was when I was younger and had some clubhead speed.

[scojo]

Srixon 945 felt the best followed by mizuno mp4. And I’ve gamed Miura 101MB, Titleist 670,  Mizuno 919, Ping Blueprints and titleist 710 MB. 

[BTP]

On 7/29/2023 at 6:00 PM, hwwong said:

1) Cobra S3 Pro

2) Nike VR Pro

3) Mizuno MP 37

 

 

Surprised I had to read this far just to finally see the S3 Pros mentioned. They are BY FAR the best feeling MB blade irons I have EVER played. Nothing is even a close second to them feel wise but if I had to list a set I have gamed it would the MP-32s. Others I have played but feel wise I did not care for were Titleist 712mb and Bridgestone J33b.

[Nard_S]

 Greg Norman Signatures............if you can find sweet spot, lol. High and tight to heel.

 

The reigning king in my pretty large collection of hoedom.

[mogc60]

The 3 best feeling sets of irons I ever hit. ZForged would get honorable mention. The Daiwa Advisors had the most sledge hammer heavy feel, like the ball just launched off the face. The VFoil M1025 were the best irons I ever hit. 

[EaglesGolf99]

2 hours ago, mogc60 said:

The 3 best feeling sets of irons I ever hit. ZForged would get honorable mention. The Daiwa Advisors had the most sledge hammer heavy feel, like the ball just launched off the face. The VFoil M1025 were the best irons I ever hit. 

Love those Advisors. 

[bogieboy]

Mine would be 1962 macgregor M Tourney VFQs, flame ceramic face, have them in 2-D.S.wedge... butter soft butter knives....

[miles2go]

MP 33’s would be my #1. MP 14’s after that. Funny thing is I’m a much better ball striker today than I ever was when I played those clubs. Using Game Improvement irons now and don’t notice any real difference in feel. 

[misterkye]

1. Honma cl606- relatively unknown, but one of my all time faves

2. Mizuno MP33

3. Nike VR TW

Edited August 20, 2023 by misterkye

[oskaru]

Mizuno MP-37

Nike OG Forged Blades

Mizuno MP-33

 

37s are currently firmly in the bag. Just an amazing set of irons with flatter soles and lines that better suit my eye than for example 33s, which are also good.

 

Still have a 3-9 set of the Nike heads. Really like the feel and how they look in the short irons -- better hosel-topline transition in the 8 and 9 irons. That said, the 37s are King in the 3-4-5 irons.