I'm curious what people think about when to make the transition from playing with cavity backed irons to playing with blades. There seems to be many differing thoughts on the issue from what I've heard and read. What are your thoughts about how difficult it is to hit "players" and when one is ready to do so?

Good luck!!! How often do you feel that you hit the "sweet spot" with a cavity back iron?

I have always played forged blades; I still have some really old Wilson Tour Blades that I like. As I've gotten older, I've tried various cavity backs, but they always feel like I'm hitting a rock off-center. There just is nothing like the response of a well-struck blade, but of course there is nothing like the awful result of a poorly-struck blade!

quote:

Originally posted by DeadMoney:
Good luck!!! How often do you feel that you hit the "sweet spot" with a cavity back iron?

I'd say I hit the club properly 80% of the time. I guess I'm really looking to get the feedback that is provided by a blade to improve my game over time.

Most touring Pros still play with a form of cavity back. I don't reccommend getting blades unless you're hitting the ball pure 99% of the time.

Blades will get a little more distance from the iron and usually have less offest from the hosel to help with "working" the ball more.

I used to be a club pro and tried a set of blades, after 6 months I went back to my cavity backs. Cavity backs will be much more forgiving and you can get pro models without any offset.

If you are less than about a 12 hdcp, then my suggestion for a better set of irons is getting a custom set.

Most larger stores and golf courses will have demo days where the Rep will take notes on your swing, use a scratch board and impact tape to determine how to improve your impact with the ball by adjusting the position of the head.

There are many things you can adjust on irons and I found that my custom Pings turned out fewer missed shots. As you grow older or your swing progresses you can have them bent to match or order a new set.

Thanks for the advice P.A.D.R.E. I'll certainly take it into consideration when the time comes to make a change.

I recommend a combo set of irons. For example I have a set of Taylor Made irons, Wedges - 7 iron are blades, 6-3 are cavity back. Forged instead of cast makes a big difference with feel. Blades are harder to get into the air.

Personally I have never played blades, but bottom line - try a couple differant kinds and play the ones you feel the most comfortable with. I compare this to cigars - smoke what you like, doesn't matter what others like. Same with golf clubs - play what you like, and hit more consistently.

I almost bought a set of the Taylormade Rac MB's a couple years ago when shopping for a new set. I hit them well, loved the feel and was very close. Then I decided I'd probably regret it once I got on the course and played a few rounds with them, so I bought the Rac LT2's, which are the players cavity backs. I love them, but the MB's were sooooo pretty. Some day........

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improve my game over time.

Be ready to wait a long, long time...!

Why wait for your game to improve? And if you're looking to improve, the "feedback" that "players" seek is something WAY beyond what an ordinary hack can possibly think he or she is feeling. "Feedback" in the sense that it is something anyone with over a 3 handicap (consistently shoots under-80 rounds) is talking about is vibration and the sting from off-center hits. That's not feedback or feel...except to the extent that your clubs are telling you quite clearly: "YOU NEED LESSONS, NOT NEW CLUBS!"

However, if you want to minimize how far off line you hit the ball, "feel" is irrelevant...and you need to get clubs that help you hit the ball. Cavity-back irons are a lot more forgiving...but they also come as an offset head. So, you have cavity-back offset heads that are, perhaps, the most forgiving.

There are lots of forged cavity back clubs that are great, and have the same kind of feel as the older blades. Over the years I've played old Wilson Staff's (my dad's 1969 model, and then later on, 1976 model)...old Hogan Apex II, Apex PC...Spalding 16th Pro...McGregor Tourney...as well as TA 845's, and Ping Eye2, but ended up settling with my current sticks which are Mizuno T-Zoid forged cavity backs that are fairly old by now, I suppose.

I never liked the Pings because they looked like a "hook" set up at address, and everything I hit always went high left...as if the toe would close upon impact which, I think, was the idea behind them because they were game improvement irons designed to keep people from fading and slicing. The 845's were great, and they really changed my game when I went to them. But by then, I could start to get a "feel" for clubs and the different balls, and the cast heads were 'hard' which is when I went to the Mizuno.

The blades are much more demanding...and this 'feel' that we 5, 6, or 10, 14, or 18 handicap golfers are talking about can be found in many of the cavity back clubs out there. It's a matter of finding one that helps you hit the ball straighter so you get on the green in fewer strokes and sink more putts, rather than searching for your ball in the rough. Put the ball in the hole. End of story.

I shoot "Bogey" golf but I played with an older gentlemen one day and on a 385 par4 he teed off with a 4D wood (never heard of that before). Then he hit a 5 iron, and then ran it up with a 7 iron and either one putted for par or two putted for bogey ALL day long. He kicked my @ss. I'm not sure the the clubs matter as much as the person

Try some forged cavity backs...
Mizuno makes great clubs, and their MX-23/25, MP-30, and MP-60 (almost pure blades) are a great place to start. They allow you to work the ball, and are more forgiving than true blades. The MX-23/25's (25's are the newer version) are easier to hit and have more cavity, but allow you to still work the ball, and have a great forged feel.
The MP-30s and 60s are less forgiving, but still more forgiving than true blades, and allow for great workability, and feel truer than the MX-23/25s.
Test them out at your local shop. Mizuno makes great player's clubs.

I made the leap and wouldn't go back. At first it was a little challenging to get used to, but in the long run I've needed to remain extra focused and extra consistent.

On bad days though, yikes!

I am a 6 handicap and LOVE the feel and workability of my Titleist 695MBs.

After a summer of lessons from one of the top teaching pro's in the country, my handicap went from 18 to 8. I started using Mizuno blades and I cannot believe it. Hitting the ball was like butter. Every shot hardly made a sound and my ball flight was amazing to watch. This was almost better than sex.

However, with that said, I use Bobby Jones hybrids to replace my 3 and 4 irons.

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Originally posted by US_Tank:
After a summer of lessons from one of the top teaching pro's in the country, my handicap went from 18 to 8. I started using Mizuno blades and I cannot believe it. Hitting the ball was like butter. Every shot hardly made a sound and my ball flight was amazing to watch. This was almost better than sex.

I've always played blades, although I only play a couple dozen times a year now; hitting it pure with a blade is indeed an incomparable feeling... with your clothes on, that is! But, if you still think it's almost better than sex, perhaps you need to see a top pro... nah, I'm not going to finish that thought.

Id go with a progression set, cavity back long irons, moving into the blades for the higher irons. My current set is mizzuno MP-30s in the 345 and the MP-33 in the 6789P, the combo set is also what a lot of tour players are doing these days.

quote:

Originally posted by US_Tank:
After a summer of lessons from one of the top teaching pro's in the country, my handicap went from 18 to 8. I started using Mizuno blades and I cannot believe it. Hitting the ball was like butter. Every shot hardly made a sound and my ball flight was amazing to watch. This was almost better than sex.

However, with that said, I use Bobby Jones hybrids to replace my 3 and 4 irons.

When can we play for say 10-20 bucks a hole.
18 to a 8 because of a set of clubs is just unheard of.

I play the Cleveland Ta7-Tour and it's the best damm club out there. My handy has not gone down yet.

Yet then again, I play to a 3.