Master "Forged vs. Cast" or "Blade vs. Game-Improvement" Iron Thread

[iacas]

Hmm, I don't agree. I can feel a difference, and yes the shaft will have something to do with the "feel", but both sets were shafted with DG S300 shafts. I don't know about head design, but what I DO know is that they felt a little different on the hit.

The head shape, weight, etc. was different too.

[youngskip40]

Hmm, I don't agree. I can feel a difference, and yes the shaft will have something to do with the "feel", but both sets were shafted with DG S300 shafts. I don't know about head design, but what I DO know is that they felt a little different on the hit.

The shaft has a huge amount to do with the feel. Unfortunately, unless both sets of shafts were frequency matched and tipped the same way, it's probably not a safe bet that the shafts were providing identical feel.

I feel like I could feel the difference between cast and forged, but I've never subjected myself to one of these tests, so it could just be in my head. Whether it is or it isn't, I love the feel and the look of my forged clubs, and that's good enough for me.

[pal51961]

All of your comments make sense to me. Playing forged clubs has always had a mindset of being a "better" players clubs, and hard to hit. I play Macgregor PCB Tour's. I offer my clubs to anyone who wants to try it when at the range. Most people hit it very crisp, then quickly comment on how much purer it felt at contact. To better players this is the feel they speak about. This indicates that all is well with your swing. Cast clubs do not have the buttery feel when pured, and therefore, less feedback. They are also crafted from much softer steel and wear out faster. Fitting and flighting the irons makes all the difference in the world. I fit at least 5 golfers a month, and every one of them require several adjustments to optimize their performance (not to mention irons out of specs from the factory, common). If you play forged clubs, every other season you should check your loft and lie angles as well.

[James_Black]

I've got a sam snead 3-iron blade.
I can strike it well 60% of the time.
That 3-iron is from the 80's
Technology in irons these days must mean blades are easier to hit.

Why do people say that blades are so hard to hit?

[groovezilla79]

I've got a sam snead 3-iron blade.

I don't think blades are hard to hit. I think it's because I started out with blades at age 9 and learned to play with them. There wasn't really much of the "Game Improvment" around those days as metal woods were just starting to come on the market. Now-a-days new golfers can get some irons that are way easier to hit. The draw back is that these newer clubs cover up swing flaws you may have. So, when said new golfer tries a blade for the first time, he hits it poorly, stings his hands or wrist and vows never to play them again. That being said, I think the main reason people have a hard time with them is bacause they don't have the time to devote to the game. This is the reason I don't play them anymore. Once I got out of college and got a real job, I lost time to devote to the game and had to go more of the forgiving route. I haven't played blades for about 5 years now. But, I still hit by buddies MP32s and his brothers 690mb's every once in a while and I hit them well, just not as consistant.

[kfowler]

IMO, no. Are they less forgiving on off center hits? Sure. Are they harder to hit? Not to me.

[sean_miller]

I've got a sam snead 3-iron blade.

They're not hard to hit - on the driving range. Some blades are harder to get airborne (the shaft has a big role too) if the COG is higher. You have to be a bit more precise as they do tend twist a bit more on off center hits (like most hits are) and it's easier to mysteriously come up 2 clubs short or go 2 clubs long. If you're willing to accept that you're probably not going to be knocking down as many flagsticks, they're not hard at all.

BTW - post a pic of your 3 iron. I didn't realize they were still putting out equipment with Sam Snead on it in the 1980s.

[atrapasuenos]

I don't think they're not that hard to hit, in my case I find it easier. I think some people find them hard to hit, cause they don't hit down on the ball, they try to help the club to put the ball in the air, so they can't hit them.

Cheers!

[Fourputt]

I don't think they're not that hard to hit, in my case I find it easier. I think some people find them hard to hit, cause they don't hit down on the ball, they try to help the club to put the ball in the air, so they can't hit them.

If your signature is correct, you aren't really playing a blade. You are playing the same club I have, the Titleist AP-2, which is a forged player's dual cavity. It isn't a GI iron, but it also isn't a blade.

[James_Black]

They're not hard to hit - on the driving range. Some blades are harder to get airborne (the shaft has a big role too) if the COG is higher. You have to be a bit more precise as they do tend twist a bit more on off center hits (like most hits are) and it's easier to mysteriously come up 2 clubs short or go 2 clubs long. If you're willing to accept that you're probably not going to be knocking down as many flagsticks, they're not hard at all.

Wow it's actually from the 60's/70's

A friend gave it to me when he was cleaning out his shed. I looked it up and thought it was from the 80's turns out it's a lot older. I can't give a picture of my one because I don't have a camera. It's in great condition though. No rust. My friend didn't play golf. Here's a pic of one exactly the same. When I say I hit it well I mean it doesn't sting my hands! But I notice that it goes very straight when I hit it well. I think blade clubfaces nowadays aren't the same size as the ball! EDIT: It's actually from 1962, has the original grip too.(brilliant condition) Wonder if it's worth anything?

[wmiller]

What's your take on this? Do you play clubs that are "better" than you? Do you play clubs at your current level? Maybe you've managed to use game improvement irons to get to a really low handicap. What's your philosophy on choosing equipment?

I learned this game with forged blades, as did most my age. When I stopped playing/practicing as much, I made the switch to a helper club. Ping i3 blades I think. Had almost a 7 year layoff from golf (been back almost 3 now), and as I started to 'find' my swing again, thought I needed a better helper club. Bought the S57s about a year and a half ago, and played them fairly well. But I was having trouble hitting a couple of my old go-to shots: a low/stinger fade with a long iron, and the high soft fade with a short iron. Also, controlling trajectory took (what I though) was way too much effort.

Last Sunday I played my third round with my new MP68s and still have this stupid grin on my face. High, low, left, right now requires only minor changes to hands/club face, and I'm discovering that I can still work the ball fairly well for a weekend hack. Sorry, but I digress... To answer your question, I think you should play whatever allows you to achieve your golfing goals. I think people who want a better swing, should be playing clubs that will tell them when and what they are doing wrong so that they can improve. People who for whatever reason want to play the best with their existing swing should play whatever helps in the pursuit of that goal. Your mileage may vary.

[bogeyhitter25]

I'm somewhere in between blade and game improvement. Probably leaning more towards game improvement. I love my 690s to death. When you hit any Titleist club pure it feels like butter! Titleist FTW (yeah, I just said FTW).

[bogeyhitter25]

I don't think they're not that hard to hit, in my case I find it easier.

So you do think they are hard to hit. Double-negative. Sorry, I just had to say it.

[James_Black]

So you do think they are hard to hit. Double-negative. Sorry, I just had to say it.

no?

He said he didn't find them hard to hit. Then he said he found hitting blades were easier than GI irons

[bogeyhitter25]

no?

I'm pretty sure he said he didn't find them not that hard to hit.

[Blades4me]

The head shape, weight, etc. was different too.

I spine all of my shafts and weigh heads so they are 6-8 grams apart, but you are correct. The 2 set were different; Maxfli A-10's and MacGregor VIP 1025's. I believe the A-10's were a little heavier.

Bias as I am, when it comes right down to it I prefer forged.

[pal51961]

You may have the right clubs but the wrong wife.

[atrapasuenos]

If your signature is correct, you aren't really playing a blade. You are playing the same club I have, the Titleist AP-2, which is a forged player's dual cavity. It isn't a GI iron, but it also isn't a blade.

Yeap, but I've been playing some rounds with a friends 690Mb's and I find them easier to hit and to shape shots. I'm seriously thinking of buying the ZM's or try out the new Mb's.

Cheers!