Blades to improve ball-striking

[st0wgolf08]

So now I currently have r7 and my ball-striking is a little above average I'd say, but not where it would want to be. I'm pretty sure i fit into the "players" or at least close to the profile of player. So what i am asking is, for suggestions on thinner irons than my irons and less offset, I really like the titleist ZBs but do not know if their too much club. Also, I would like to know if people think that blades improve your ball-striking ability. My drives usually find the fairway, and it's my approaches that usually keep me from more par/birdie situations.

[tonyy]

I think blades will definitely improve your ball striking. As long as you strike consistently right now, I'd say go for it.

I recently switched to MP-33's for about $200 and my game has been raised to a whole new level. It might be a little bit discouraging at first but as long as you keep at it, you'll be hitting the ball better in no time.

[rebby]

I just went though this battle myself. If you look around you'll see a thread where I talk about comparing the Project X to the DG shafts. I get into the AP2 vs ZB vs ZM a little bit as well.

I've only had the ZM's for a couple of weeks but so far I really like them. I wouldn't say that they're to much club either. I did have a hard time finding them though. It seems a lot of guys don't want to hit a full set of blades anymore. The jury is still out but my initial impression is that I won't be going back to cavity backs anytime soon.

The change from PING i3 blades to ZMs has helped my game a little bit. I find that my iron game has been a bit more consistent, especially on days that I'm hitting the ball well.

[verse214]

So now I currently have r7 and my ball-striking is a little above average I'd say, but not where it would want to be. I'm pretty sure i fit into the "players" or at least close to the profile of player. So what i am asking is, for suggestions on thinner irons than my irons and less offset, I really like the titleist ZBs but do not know if their too much club. Also, I would like to know if people think that blades improve your ball-striking ability. My drives usually find the fairway, and it's my approaches that usually keep me from more par/birdie situations.

If you're honestly a 6.2 handicap, I don't see how you could even be asking this question as your ball striking must be "a little above average" in order to maintain such a low handicap.

[shredfit]

That is why I have blades in the bag. The hope is, I'll improve my ball striking. Actually, I've found that the short iron blades are easier to control(distance) that CB's. For me anyway.

[st0wgolf08]

Well as i said, my 6.2 is due to the fact of my couple errant iron shots. My short game usually saves me(thats how my 6.2 is a 6.2) but I'm confident if i improve my irons i can drop some strokes.

Edit: Also i checked the Mp-33s and they don't look crazy thin, are they really closer to blades than r7s?
I also have trouble find ZMs i love them, i just can't find any, and when I do the prices are unreasonable.

[Long_Ball_Bogey]

Edit: Also i checked the Mp-33s and they don't look crazy thin, are they really closer to blades than r7s?

It's not a question of MP-33s being "close" to blades. They are true blades. The topline of a "blade" doesn't have to look like a razor blade--it has more to do with the lack of perimeter weighting or cavity back design. --LBB

[st0wgolf08]

Alright well if anyone wants to sell some ZMs give me a shout.

[deronsizemore]

Some say yes and some say no, but in my opinion, blades will not improve your ball striking. If you don't possess the knowledge and skill neccessary to strike the ball solidly with a game improvement iron, then you're not going to magically groove swing that produces solid ball striking with blades. Unless you're a very good golfer (and even good golfers have trouble) you'll likely not be able to diagnose a swing problem and fix it yourself, so you'll continue to make contact off center and continually lose 5 - 7 yards because of it.

Just my .02

[tjy355]

PRACTICE will improve your ball striking, not the type of clubhead.

[st0wgolf08]

Some say yes and some say no, but in my opinion, blades will not improve your ball striking. If you don't possess the knowledge and skill neccessary to strike the ball solidly with a game improvement iron, then you're not going to magically groove swing that produces solid ball striking with blades. Unless you're a very good golfer (and even good golfers have trouble) you'll likely not be able to diagnose a swing problem and fix it yourself, so you'll continue to make contact off center and continually lose 5 - 7 yards because of it.

I agree with what you said, but i think i was reading the CG RED review Iacas did and he said that when he mis hits the ball he wants to feel it. This is what i want. I don't want a iron with a huge sweet spot reward me for a less than solid hit. I agree with you, i just think blades would help with giving me feedback on my swing.

[shredfit]

While certainly "PRACTICE" is required for better ball striking... so is feedback from that practice... Blades typically(at least mine) will let you know, by feel, if you missed the sweet spot slightly from the toe or the heal.

It's the feedback from the blades that helps... This feedback at least gives you a starting point to work on your ball striking. (ie I typically miss hit on the toe of the club... etc etc)

[Doctorfro]

PRACTICE

Amen, brother

[rebby]

Alright well if anyone wants to sell some ZMs give me a shout.

It may be worth looking for some 695MBs as well. They are very similar to the ZMs. I actually stumbled across the set of ZMs that I have while looking for 695MBs.

[tjy355]

While certainly "PRACTICE" is required for better ball striking... so is feedback from that practice... Blades typically(at least mine) will let you know, by feel, if you missed the sweet spot slightly from the toe or the heal...

Miss-hits with a perimeter weighted club can be felt just the same.

The assertion that using a blade will improve ones ball striking is a fallacy. It is absolutely true that success with a blade requires more precise ball striking. Playing with blades does not improve ball striking.

[tonyy]

Of course buying a set of blades won't make your swing better over night. I think that using blades will let you know if you're striking it pure. Then, once you know where the fault is in your swing, you can go from there to correct it.

Using a CB, it feels good all around and a less than perfect hit would go unnoticed. I agree that blades won't make you a better hitter over night, but it will over time if you have the right fundamentals.

[deronsizemore]

I agree with what you said, but i think i was reading the CG RED review Iacas did and he said that when he mis hits the ball he wants to feel it. This is what i want. I don't want a iron with a huge sweet spot reward me for a less than solid hit. I agree with you, i just think blades would help with giving me feedback on my swing.

Yeah it's true that with a blade you will know without a doubt where you made contact. But, I've used game improvement irons before my MP32's and really, it wasn't at all hard to tell where I made contact with them. A lot of people make it seem like with game improvement irons that you can catch it on the extreme toe or heel and feel like you hit it sweet. That couldn't be further from the truth. You can definitely tell. The thing with this whole "blades = better ball striking" philosophy isn't the fact that you can better tell where you hit the ball with a blade. You probably can tell a little (a very little bit) bit easier with a blade, BUT just because you're armed with the knowledge of where you made contact on the club face, doesn't mean that you know how to fix the problem to not do it the next time.

[meat]

I have changed to blades this year (Titleist 660's) and must admit I love them. Seriously though, if you are anything other than a pure ball striker, I would go for a combo set rather than full blades. They might look good in the bag, but the long irons are a lot more difficult to hit than a cavity.