Blades or cavity backs

[OldTom]

Whoever it was, it must have been a long time ago. The vast majority of Tour Pros play, and win, with some form of cavity back irons these days.

You're right. I think it may have been the South African David Frost.

The thought is that the metal drivers brought the field closer to the likes of Norman, whose ability with persimmon was head and shoulders above the majority.  Do you think cavity/game improvement irons are doing a similiar thing these days?

[golfbarefoot]

I've been playing forged blades my entire life.  Been playing the same Titleist 690.MB blades since 2003.  I love em, but I gotta tell ya...

The new technology in the cavity backs is real...  I'm probably breaking down and getting a set of 714 AP2 Forged soon...

by the way..

Although there is a lot more variety of cavity backs and they are out there. Their technology is wonderful.

However, many still play forged blades too, like Rory McIlroy who just won the Open Championship and #1 in the world Adam Scott...Tiger Woods.. You will find all kinds...  heck I think Ben Curtis plays Titleist AP1's!  To each his own..

[vangator]

I haven't played blades in years. I think cavity backs irons help shot dispersion much more than blades.

[golfbarefoot]

[VIDEO][URL=http://youtu.be/QA_Ui1mBCvY]http://youtu.be/QA_Ui1mBCvY[/URL][/VIDEO]

[jamo]

I've been playing forged blades my entire life.  Been playing the same Titleist 690.MB blades since 2003.  I love em, but I gotta tell ya... The new technology in the cavity backs is real...  I'm probably breaking down and getting a set of 714 AP2 Forged soon...

What's "new" about the technology in the 714 AP2s?

[golfbarefoot]

I'm not sure to be honest with you.. I just know I hit the AP1 and AP2 2014 iron models and was stunned with the performance. Very forgiving clubs, consistent trajectory/length with nice feel and not huge shovels.. Like I said, I'm not one to run out and buy the newest clubs every year, ive been playing my current irons for over 11 years, so anything is an upgrade in technology for me!

[DwightC]

good decision.

I've heard it cynically suggested that one reason the equipment companies flog CB instead of MB irons so hard is that once a guy finds a set of MB irons that he likes, they're awfully hard to pry out of his hands.

[WUTiger]

Why would dispersion be better with a blade?

SKOR Golf CEO Terry Koehler talks about this in the following column:

http://www.oobgolf.com/content/the+wedge+guy/golf+equipment/5-2032-Blades_Versus_Cavity_Backs_A_Golf_Club_Epiphany.html

Koehler says that tests on Iron Byron showed that center hits on blade irons were much more accurate than center hits with cavity irons. His idea: Blades reward your good hits much more than cavity irons do.

He says that good ballstrikers can benefit from blades, not just great ballstrikers. If you rarely work the ball, however, he doubts you would get much benefit from blades.

I suspect that because blades have smaller heads than SGI cavities, you could get better feel on impact with blades - less metal to absorb the vibration. I have split the distance and play GI Callaway X20 Tours, I can tell on impact what quality of shot I have with the X20 Tours; with the SGI, larger-headed X20s, I could only tell if it was a bad shot.

Also, some of you might hunt around in the Tom Wishon video clips. One segment shows a physically fit senior player who gets better launch monitor data with blade heads + lightweight steel shaft than with GI or cavity heads.

[Valleygolfer]

I just recently made the switch from MP33'S to AP2's and I didn't really have a problem with the MP33's but made decision to change based on longevity of play. I wanted to use something for a few years and decided that a little forgiveness would be nice, mostly for toe hits which is my miss occasionally. If you are happy with the MP's stay with them. I am mainly switching to end any more iron changes.

[dbuck]

Loft and lie modification is something that is quite common and relatively inexpensive, especially on forged blades. At your handicap, though I think you would notice if there was a problem. Your gaps would be off if your lofts had slipped, and you would notice your ball flight if your lies were off significantly. Still, it is relatively inexpensive to get these checked and modified if necessary. As others have said, if you intend getting fitted and changed for shafts, it would probably be more economically efficient to change clubs.

[golfbarefoot]

[video]http://youtu.be/QA_Ui1mBCvY[/video]

[Jaywun]

From personal experience, I would say no. The MP33's are fine, assuming shafts and lie angle are right. If you are a 10, you should have a good idea of where your lost shots are coming from. Fairways, Greens, putting Etc.. I don't think you will see a significant difference in switching to Game Improvement irons. Plus, MP33's are sexy as hell!