-Carl

I am 18 years old now and started playing with these irons one year ago at hcp 12 now one year later. I Play hcp 5-6.
First i hit 150 m with a 5# iron now i play a 7/8#. 200 m with a 3# iron. Amazing. I really love these clubs. I never tee up my ball because you get a sensational feeling when hitting the ball pure off the ground. Love them.
Would recommend these if you are seeking distance in your irons. because the are very solid and a bit heavy but it gives you the length you need.

What strikes you initially about these irons is their pure beauty. You just can't help admiring the design and look of these irons. As a high single digit to low teen handicap I read with interest all the reviews on the 695mb, including this one and found the varying opinions to be most useful.

Not wanting to drop $1,000 on a new set without fully being sure of my competence to use them properly, I waited until the prices came down and bought a lightly used set for $400. The irons arrived (they were fitted with the stock dynamic gold S300 shafts) and I quickly headed out to the range with high anticipation. Would I experience the smooth nothingless of pure contact with a piercing ball flight right on target or would there be hand rattling slices glancing off the tee box?

My experience was much better than expected with more solid contact than rattling slices (although there were a few of those). The interesting thing is that the club immediately tells you what you're doing wrong. Hits too far out on the toe and you know it immediately and get your swing back on track. The set I bought had the stock tour velvet cord grips that were in poor shape. I left the clubs at the range to be fitted with a new set of tour velvet grips (no cords).

I returned to the range a week later with new grips on the irons and proceeded to hit about 80 balls with almost all solid and on target. Slight mishits are not too punishing, you just loose a little distance. Pure shots pierce like they were shot out of a cannon, some leaving me in awe that I just hit a ball like that. You really have to keep your wits about you as you move into the lower irons (3,4 in particular) and concetrate on a good swing. My experience is very consistent with the other reviewers.

Some things to note as others did:

Handicap really is not that important as long as you know why your handicap is what it is. In other words, if you are generally a good ball striker with your irons, you don't need to be afraid of the 695mbs. You could have a high handicap because your driving is inconsistent, short game rusty and putting is poor.

I am looking forward to getting these irons out on the course in 2009 and see what happens to my handicap. My guess is the irons will only improve my handicap if I can just improve my short game and drive the ball more consistenly.

I just got a brand new set of these for almost half their original price after using various individual blades within a set of cavity-backs for the last year.

Although, IMO, the 695.MBs don't feel as 'soft' on contact as the Nike Blade, the Titleist 690.MB or Mizuno MP-32/33, I find I get a better distance and trajectory.
When comparing distance, trajectory, 'workability' and looks, the Titleist 695.MBs tick all the boxes for me.

Can't see these leaving my bag. (unless I see a set of ZM-Forged at really cheap price!)

I will say one thing that is very important, in my mind anyways. You don't have to be a pure ball striker to appreciate these clubs. Truth be told, these clubs will make you a better player because they ask you to be a better player. The transition from my other blades to these was relatively seamless and the results were awe-inspiring to me. I considered myself to be a pretty good striker of the ball at the time I acquired my 695mb's, but these clubs have taught me to be even better. If you are intimidated by the size of the heads (which look tight and small) then perhaps you should look elsewhere, as Dave mentioned. I was not and these clubs have rewarded me with an improved game and an even greater appreciation of just how fun golf can be.

Overall, this review was the clincher for me in determing that I was ready to test drive these irons. This review is the "real deal" in terms of a thoughtful and meaningful review. You don't come across the likes of this very often. Fantastic review, Dave!

Sounds like you just need to chose the best clubs for you and forget about needing anymore yards...

Bubble 4 iron: 220
nike 4 iron: 200

Bubble 7 iron 175
nike 7 iron 165

Bubble p wedge 135
nike p wedge 120

so its rougly 15 yards. Don't get me wrong, i would choose blades over oversized cavity backs anyday of the week based soley on feel and appearance alone.
I was considering the Titleist mb clubs shown above or the Taylor made mb smoke irons, but i'm just afraid that if i dish out that much money and basically get the same distance with those clubs as my current nike clubs, i would be wasting about 900 bucks. I love stores like Roger Dunns because they allow us to demo clubs before we hit them, but its never the same as hitting it on a real course because at a real course you're able to see where the ball ends up opposed to hitting it into a wall.

If your prior set loft angles are different then obviiously that could be the diff. Also you may not be loading the shaft as well as your prior set? Check your fitting...

Also you will lose yards w/ a blade verses CB if not hit very close to center. But you say you are striking them well. I assume your yardages are consistent?

I would recommend hitting another blade w/ same parameters for compare...

I have heard some blades do vary but not by 15 yards, apples to apples.

Maybe Erik can comment?

Jeff