Blades to improve ball-striking

[shredfit]

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

They can be felt the same as a blade? What clubs are you refering to??? Part of the feel of a blade IS also penalization of the slight miss-hit. Perhaps one works harder... or "PRACTICES" more with blades... In my case, I've seen improvement in my ball striking, probably because improvement is required to hit them well.

I guess, what I'm saying is blades won't make you a better ball striker... Blades force you to be a better ball striker.

[tjy355]

They can be felt the same as a blade? What clubs are you refering to???...

I play Ping i5's and I can tell when a shot is not on the sweet spot. I can feel it and know immediately before seeing the ball flight if it was thin or fat or out on the toe.

... Part of the feel of a blade IS also penalization of the slight miss-hit. Perhaps one works harder... or "PRACTICES" more with blades... In my case, I've seen improvement in my ball striking, probably because improvement is required to hit them well.

Or else make golf a miserable slog for the vast majority of amateur golfers who have not the physical skills, time or inclination to put in the hours of practice needed to develop the consistent ball striking skills needed to be effective with blades.

You said it yourself, your ball striking has improved by hard work. Choosing a club that "penalizes" you for a slight miss-hit seems masochistic. It may motivate you to practice more or it may make the game unenjoyable. I stand by my assertion that the "choose blades, they'll make you a better ball striker" advice is absurd for most amateur golfers.

[deronsizemore]

I guess, what I'm saying is blades won't make you a better ball striker... Blades force you to be a better ball striker.

I just can't agree.

That's like saying that you're not a good basketball player, but playing pickup games with NBA players will force you to get better. What is likely to happen is you'll go out there and get beat up by bigger, stronger guys. Now, if you get blades with the intention of practicing more then yes, it may seem that your ball striking improved after you got blades, but that's just a direct result of practice. If someone continues to play once a week after they get blades and don't put in the time to get better, then no, blades will not do anything for you.

[NM Golf]

I have blades but I did not get them until I was scratch and even then I went through a progression of irons each being slightly less forgiving than the last before I bought the blades.

IMHO blades are too difficult for the average player to use. You can become just as good a ballstriker using cavity backs. I do not buy into the get blades to become a good ballstriker arguement. I believe your ballstriking should be good enough that you can reap the benefits of using a blade before you switch.

Remember that less than half of the PGA Tour players use blades and they are the best ballstrikers in the world. Get blades because you like the way they feel and they perform better for you. Getting them for any other reason especially to try and elevate your game is kinda stupid. My $0.02

[thr33]

My current irons are the titleist 735's, but the only reason i bought them was because I thought they were sexy! They replaced a set of r7 TP's which are still in the closet and i love them almost as much!

[iacas]

IMHO blades are too difficult for the average player to use. You can become just as good a ballstriker using cavity backs. I do not buy into the get blades to become a good ballstriker arguement. I believe your ballstriking should be good enough that you can reap the benefits of using a blade

I disagree. I learned using blades and am thankful for that (not that anyone planned it). It taught me to value good ballstriking and it taught me to learn to interpret the feelings the clubhead provides (either for a small in-round change or when practicing).

[st0wgolf08]

I disagree. I learned using blades and am thankful for that (not that anyone planned it). It taught me to value good ballstriking and it taught me to learn to interpret the feelings the clubhead provides (either for a small in-round change or when practicing).

Yeah, my r7s just feel way too good, when i hit them even off center, they still feel quite solid, only until i toe one do my hands actually feel it/sting.

[iacas]

Yeah, my r7s just feel way too good, when i hit them even off center, they still feel quite solid, only until i toe one do my hands actually feel it/sting.

Exactly - I couldn't stand the r7 TPs that I had. I played well with them for a round or two and then my ballstriking started to suffer.

[shredfit]

I play Ping i5's and I can tell when a shot is not on the sweet spot. I can feel it and know immediately before seeing the ball flight if it was thin or fat or out on the toe.

Actually, I thought I could tell when I didn't hit the sweet spot in my CB's (X-16's)... That is, until my teaching pro used impact tape... Obviously, you can tell a really bad strike... but as other have said about the r7's. They may make you think your hitting it solid... but really your not(or at least not as solid as you feel your hitting them). Your i5's may be different... Do you use impact tape?

You said it yourself, your ball striking has improved by hard work.

I cannot say I'm working that much harder than I used to work on my game. I do go to the range 2-3 times a week and play 2 or 3 times. I also still enjoy the game... For those that don't know, there is absolutely NOTHING like the feel of a pure shot with a blade.

That's like saying that you're not a good basketball player, but playing pickup games with NBA players will force you to get better. What is likely to happen is you'll go out there and get beat up by bigger, stronger guys.

Lets keep it in perspective... If say, you play basketball with guys slightly better than you... and you start to play "pickup games" with world class players(NBA)... Isn't it reasonable to assume that you may pick up(no pun) some moves or strategies that may help you when you play the guys only slightly better than you??? Assuming you have the physical ability to improve.

Now, if you get blades with the intention of practicing more then yes, it may seem that your ball striking improved after you got blades, but that's just a direct result of practice. If someone continues to play once a week after they get blades and don't put in the time to get better, then no, blades will not do anything for you.

As stated, I'm not really practicing more, however, I can say that I'm concentrating on shots more... as I know(perhaps subconsciously) that I have little to no forgivness on poorly struck shot. It may be a mental thing that is not for everyone.. but it seems to work for me.

IMHO blades are too difficult for the average player to use.

Just what do you define as being average for a player?

[tjy355]

Exactly - I couldn't stand the r7 TPs that I had. I played well with them for a round or two and then my ballstriking started to suffer.

I was once at the driving range and the guy next to me was using game improvement clubs and I felt my ballstriking start to suffer.

[st0wgolf08]

I was once at the driving range and the guy next to me was using game improvement clubs and I felt my ballstriking start to suffer.

lol. i also find my game improvement clubs result in a couple pulls/pushes a round, when i tried a friend's blades I never had any. Might just be good shots with the blades though. Anyway i was looking at the new TP irons from Taylormade, and think im gonna get those, not the MBs the CB ones, but I really like the MB look, idk what to do. I want a good solid MB for like under 500. I just don't know if i can find it.

[DDBowdoin]

I'm 50 / 50 with my blades... I have weeks when I can't miss a flag and others where I'm happy just hitting a green (which just doing isnt an accomplishment to me)

as for making you a better player I'd have to disagree with that philosophy. Yes it makes you concentrate more but its a beast many people just can't handle. I feel that at my handicap I'm on the fence with blades but I'm happy with how my Pro M's have performed. My misses are at the toe (mostly) but I am pleased with my ability to control the trajectory (somewhat)

[whip_it_out]

I switched to blades,a nd I think I am still in the transition mode. the weighting of blades is completely different than players cavity backs. the head is much lighter, and the shafts a bit heavier, so it feels about the same through the entire club.

I hit em great when I first got them, but the difference caught up with me. now i'm struggling to break 85 I can't stop chunking the ball, and when I hit it solid it goes right. I've found I have to become much more aggresive with blades to make decent contact.

Just be prepared to go through a long transitional period. When you strike it good though, it's all worth it.

[st0wgolf08]

Any ideas on muscle backs, or tiny cavity backs for like under 500? Idc about being new as long as they aren't hacked up/rusted. Im under the impression that most blades play similar. Of course i will hit whatever you guys say first.

[tjy355]

Paula Creamer just won the Samsung World Championship playing R7's. Wonder if she knows those will degrade her ballstriking skills.

[DDBowdoin]

I wonder how many women play blades? I wouldnt think many do...

[shredfit]

I wonder how many women play blades? I wouldnt think many do...

I wonder how many men that are NOT seniors play a 7 wood and a 9 wood? I wouldn't think many do... perhaps for the same reasons many women don't play blades.

[golf_n_ma]

I'm around a 15 handicap and I'm playing 695 MBs. I'm always looking at options for new hybrids, driver, 3wood, etc. but I don't even think about changing these irons.

I only started playing a few years ago but I wanted to become a ball striker instead of letting the clubs improve my game. With a handicap around 6, I bet the feel of a true blade would help you with your ball striking.

Nothing beats the feel in these irons of a perfectly struck approach shot. And you will get much better feedback on your misses instead of not being sure what went wrong.

Good luck finding a good blade!