So I tried blades today...

[Range King]

Hi,

finally I got to try my Titleist blades (695MB) on the range today.

I was expecting balls all over the place and frustration, but what shall I say....
Mishits weren't worse, but the good ones were better than the AP1s. Ok, I used only 6i - 9i, but I was really surprised. It was the first time I tried blades.
Better trajectory, and no distance loss, even though the 695MB have 3° weaker lofts.

So how can I explain this?
Either I was focussing more, or my mishits are really only 'vertical', meaning mostly thin and sometimes fat.

Any other hacker like me with this experience?

[RocketSauce]

see, they're not as hard to hit as most people say they are.

[Damien45]

see, they're not as hard to hit as most people say they are.

I think when they are described as unforgiving people cringe away. I hit the Mizuno MP 52's and LOVED it. I am heading to a Demo Day next weekend to test out the rest of the models.

[JetFan1983]

Upon reading this thread, I am thoroughly disappointed in my past self for buying game improvement!

[NickB]

I just bought some Mac Pro-M's and I'm really excited about them, now if I can just cure my case of the shanks..this may spell trouble..

[misty_mountainhop]

see, they're not as hard to hit as most people say they are.

Exactly. Been saying this for ages as well. If you have a reasonable swing they'll work well for you.

As for the 3° weaker loft etc, I guess they have a higher CoG than a lot of other irons so they'll launch low enough even with +3° on other GI-type irons. Maybe....

[Range King]

Lets see if I just had a good ball striking day, or if I can repeat the experience tomorrow.

I will definitely keep them for lessons and range sessions.

On the course, this is still a different game for me. Much more tension, swaying, swinging to hard,.....

[laconic517]

I play blades and had never really noticed them being difficult to hit.

What I have noticed however, is that if you are toeing the ball you are screwed with blades since there is 0 weight there. Also if you hit it high on the face at all its pretty much dead as well.

Lastly, I had NEVER shanked a ball prior to getting blades. That was approx 6 years of playing golf. I shanked balls for the first time ever last year. Its much easier to do it with blades with the clubhead being smaller basically leaving no room to hit shots off the heel.

After going to blades, when my game is pretty shitty ive gone back to cavity backs for a week and its amazing how easy it is to hit them. Im definately tempted to get a pro combo or forged type deal next time.

[nykfan4life]

Exactly. Been saying this for ages as well. If you have a reasonable swing they'll work well for you.

I wouldn't go that far. But I do agree that the 'blades are impossible to hit' thing is mostly mental.

[Ken Smith]

Agreed! I love blades. I played game-improvement irons for years, but after transitioning to musclebacks, I could never go back. Every time I even look at a game-improvement club, it looks like a boat anchor. By the way nykfan4life, I love your avatar - Kramer is my hero!

[alcorn]

Lets see if I just had a good ball striking day, or if I can repeat the experience tomorrow.

Good luck man. I hope things go well.

[goblue107501]

The biggest thing I have always notice with players clubs v. GI is that the mishits don't go anywhere. Anything will hit the ball fine if you hit the sweet spot. The problem most people have is hitting the sweet spot. The 695's will be great clubs if you hit them in the center. If you hit them high on the toe you will get about half the yardage. Where a GI iron hit high on the toe you won't be quite so bad off.

They are not any harder to hit, they are just harder to hit well.

[Range King]

The biggest thing I have always notice with players clubs v. GI is that the mishits don't go anywhere. Anything will hit the ball fine if you hit the sweet spot. The problem most people have is hitting the sweet spot. The 695's will be great clubs if you hit them in the center. If you hit them high on the toe you will get about half the yardage. Where a GI iron hit high on the toe you won't be quite so bad off.

When I say mishit, I mean mishit.

80% of my mishits with the irons are sculls that roll 50 yds. (I am not watching my tempo enough and do not properly follow through on these mishits) Thats why I really did not hit the blades any worse than the GI. Unfortunately, I did not have the chance to play today. On wednesday I will go on vacation and hopefully get to play every day, while I send my wife to the spa (I am gonna play 'Germany's only Links course' according to their website.) I will let ya'll know if I have thrown the 695 into the big pond when I am back.

Good luck man. I hope things go well.

Thanks!

[SasQuatch<3]

Good for you, trying out something and purchasing something that wasnt a 100 percent guarentee and, to have it turn out good, awsome!
Blades are probably underated if anything, but are a little harder for someone who has an inconsistant swing...

[nykfan4life]

Agreed! I love blades. I played game-improvement irons for years, but after transitioning to musclebacks, I could never go back. Every time I even look at a game-improvement club, it looks like a boat anchor. By the way nykfan4life, I love your avatar - Kramer is my hero!

Haha, thanks. Made him my avatar because my swing is probably about as coordinated and graceful as I imagine his to be.

[pachardos]

I worked at a golf course in the Islands and we got to hit free balls at the range so I got back into golf. I would get hours of practice in but the only clubs that were left handed were some old mizuno blades. They weren't as hard to hit as I thought. They felt so good! especially on off center hits. They just fly out to the exact spot that you're aiming at. I'm sticking to cavity backs for now until my game gets better from the rough but I can't wait to hit blades again. Gotta keep on working hard.

[Range King]

Good for you, trying out something and purchasing something that wasnt a 100 percent guarentee and, to have it turn out good, awsome!

scored a really good deal on ebay, so risk is close to zero

[JetFan1983]

I just told myself that the day I break 80 is the day it becomes a priority for me to buy a set of blades, used or new.