Semi - Blades AKA muscle cavities

[NCGolfer]

Dave, NM got you on one thing - I noticed your (still very impressive!) handicap index lost a little bit...

You're right...and there is a good reason. My club likes to put the tee markers well ahead of the plates during tournaments. I have three scores where the differential is like +3 and +4. That's nuts because I had to post a 69 from the blues when we were playing pretty much the whites.

This year I've stuck to playing from the plates...tee markers be dammed. My index is starting to settle back down a bit to where it should be. I think it will probably end up right around 0...which is fine with me. Good catch Rafi...

[Guest]

I've been reading TST for a few weeks and have really enjoyed the reviews and conversations. Long time reader, first time poster.

I'm thinking about getting new irons and have been doing research on what to get. I'm looking at getting clubs that will improve my game. (Note: I'm just getting back into golf after a 8 year hiatus.) After talking to a few individuals and now this post, I seem to have fallen into one of two camps: 1) getting better clubs will force me to improve or 2) improve, then get players clubs. I'm honestly leaning towards camp one. I have recently hit the MP-32s, MP-60s, and 690.CBs, but only at the golf store. I have yet to hit any of them on the grass range or in play. However, I LOVED the way they feel. I'm currently playing with old school Tommy Armour SilverScott 855s which are very forgiving. I shoot anywhere from the low 80s to the low 90s.

Okay, lay it on me. What do you think?

[Old Tom]

jodash:

First of all, welcome on board.

My wisdom on this subject can be distilled to a single point: what percentage of your current disposable income is represented by the purchase of a new set of golf sticks?

If you're kicking through loose piles of cash to get to your bedroom, sure...go get yourself custom fitted for a set of Pings. I would.

If, on the other hand, you have it carefully worked out for your wife to eat on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays and you to take Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, then, no, the Pings aren't worth it ( everyone eats on Sundays...)

(Ditto if you're planning to buy them on credit, by the way. None of my business, really, but you did ask for opinions)

I think if you want a new toy and can afford it, treat yourself.

But how much of a difference will new clubs make to your game? Based upon my observations of pretty much all the guys at my local club...none whatsoever. The sad truth is, we get better through practice and taking lessons. That is, through EFFORT. If we could buy the game we want we'd all be playing the PGA Tour.

[sole wolf]

I've been reading TST for a few weeks and have really enjoyed the reviews and conversations. Long time reader, first time poster.

you ever think about the LT2's? They are right up there with the clubs you are looking at IMO.

I think though that you should start a new thread and discuss all the options. And Tom let the guy decide for himself what he can spend on clubs. I assume he has some intelligence and has already determined a budget.

[muskegman]

Welcome super jo. I've already sounded off but would say again that I enjoy looking down at a more compact head, like the ones you commented on. It would be worth it for me to play a "feel" club over a giant shovel but that's just me. I suppose I'd benefit from added forgiveness of other clubs but I really enjoy playing with these 690's and I'm glad I have them.

Golf is such a personal game when it comes to equipment that its really up to the individual to decide what he wants to invest in and play. There's no way I should be playing a blade, but the 690's still offer lots of forgiveness compared to the butter knives of twenty years ago. The main thing for me is I'm playing clubs that I really enjoy swinging and looking at. I'm more confident in them as a result.

Are we on topic here? Maybe not.

[Old Tom]

Oh, yeah...let me add some more wisdom to this discussion.

While I truly believe that a guy who practices a lot and swings a set of rusty 20-year-old Tommy Armours will beat a guy who never practices but sports the latest/greatest ultra game improvement gear with engraved portraits of Tiger Woods on diamond-studded platinum weight inserts, it is also true that if you buy yourself those shiny new toys the next thing you'll want to do is go out and play with them.

So you might actually find yourself playing and practicing more with a new set of sticks, which are both good things.

[Old Tom]

And Tom let the guy decide for himself what he can spend on clubs. I assume he has some intelligence and has already determined a budget.

Sole:

I've walked the Earth for quite awhile, and I wouldn't assume that about ANYBODY. I didn't mean to insult the guy, but his question was NOT "what clubs would you recommend me to buy?". He was asking whether he should buy or not. I think I addressed the question that he actually asked of us, whereas you're basically hawking Taylor Mades.

[cold]

I'm using Dunlop prototype irons and it's apparent to me the head is to help get the ball in the air because I hit my shots very high and I'm sure there's not a whole lot of backspin on them. I carry my 8 iron ~ 150 yards and hit them pretty solid now but think I might benefit from a bladed or half-bladed set.

I'm thinking about one of these, does anyone have any experience with them?

http://www.golfsmith.com/products/SE2661

http://www.golfsmith.com/products/SE2660

http://www.golfsmith.com/products/G2460

[Old Tom]

cold:

I'm not really in the market for a forged blade (or 'semi-blade') iron, but I do love the do-it-yourself thing. Have you checked these out?

http://www.golfworks.com/product.asp_Q_pn_E_1005

They look like they have a really nice blade-style topline with the advantages of a cavityback.

[cold]

cold:

I almost forgot about those - I saw them in the catalog. Golfsmith probably distracted me because they're more specific etc.. I think I'll try a couple heads out as a 5 or 7 iron to make a decision, including that one.

I'm a big fan of the price and I don't see any negative consequences to that route.

[Old Tom]

However, I don't think you're going to get much feedback about components on this forum. Judging from everyone's signatures, they're all pretty much disciples of the Big Three...

Not that there's anything wrong with that, and I'm not looking to start a flame war or anything. But for me club building is a newly discovered hobby and I truly believe most mid-to-high handicap players (such as myself) carry more club than they have game and would be better served by a good quality set of components. As to the better players, you guys can tailor a set to your own exact specs for half what you'd pay for "pro-line" stuff and get just as good quality. Besides which it's a lot of fun to do something yourself and have it work right.

Anyway, good luck making your pick. The great thing is, you can order, say, a 5 or 7 iron from each of those sets, put some clubs together and compare them for yourself for not all that much in cash.

[sole wolf]

Sole:

mayhaps you should keep on walking then Tom. You really have nothing ever to add to a conversation besides "you spent to much". You have no idea what my bag costs.

[Old Tom]

mayhaps you should keep on walking then Tom. You really have nothing ever to add to a conversation besides "you spent to much". You have no idea what my bag costs.

That's real nice. You started this with a personal attack and now your feelings are hurt. If "Jodash" was offended by anything I said he can tell me that himself...nobody made you a board mod.

But I don't think it's fair to say I have nothing to add to a conversation. And I never once speculated as to what your bag costs. If you think my new sig refers to you specifically, get over yourself. I'm not going to add anything else to this thread, because I don't want to participate in a name-calling session, which is what this is rapidly devolving to become. I'll just say this: I would like for Iacas or one of the other moderators to review this thread and tell me if in their opinion I've said anything out of line. I started out by trying to give Jodash a healthy perspective as to whether he should buy a new set of golf clubs, and I tried to use a little humor in doing it. You jump down my throat for that, and now you're taking everything I say as a personal affront. I'm done here.

[muskegman]

cold... I've never hit snake eyes irons but I really like the look of one of the irons you linked to . They are a more forgiving blade like iron. The only reservation is that they might hit the ball high if you are a high ball hitter with all that mass near the sole.

Of the four sets that have been mentioned those looke the nicest to me. I think they would perform nicely and look great to boot. Hopefully you get a chance to play with each before you make a decision.

[iacas]

That's real nice. You started this with a personal attack and now your feelings are hurt. If "Jodash" was offended by anything I said he can tell me that himself...nobody made you a board mod.

I made myself an administrator (duh), so you're dealing with one now. I'm not taking sides, but I did go back and look at your claim. Sole Wolf's apparent personal attack boils down to this:

And Tom let the guy decide for himself what he can spend on clubs. I assume he has some intelligence and has already determined a budget.

That's not a personal attack. You then insulted everyone by calling us all stupid. Sole then said "shove off," basically, and hardly an egregious issue.

Lectures on managing your finances so that you can afford to eat a meal every day of the week aren't really what a golf forum is about. C'mon, Tom... the guy asked for advice on clubs and you started telling him how to be fiscally responsible. He didn't ask if you thought they were worth the money, he asked what others thought of those clubs and what he should do re: buying clubs. A lecture on how to spend money was not warranted.

But I don't think it's fair to say I have nothing to add to a conversation. And I never once speculated as to what your bag costs. If you think my new sig refers to you specifically, get over yourself.

I think that, given this thread, your sig is probably targeted at him. But hey, you're the guy who thinks you can beat someone on the Asian Tour, so...

I'm not going to add anything else to this thread, because I don't want to participate in a name-calling session, which is what this is rapidly devolving to become. I'll just say this: I would like for Iacas or one of the other moderators to review this thread and tell me if in their opinion I've said anything out of line. I started out by trying to give Jodash a healthy perspective as to whether he should buy a new set of golf clubs, and I tried to use a little humor in doing it. You jump down my throat for that, and now you're taking everything I say as a personal affront. I'm done here.

I've looked into it. I don't think there's been a lot of name-calling going on.

I think the financial lecture was out of place. I think it was unwarranted. I don't think it helped the fellow who asked the question to care what you have to say. You could have said "instead of spending more on brand-name stuff, have you considered..." In other words, you needed to employ more tact. And I'm the last person to lecture anyone on tact, or to care if someone fails to use it. But you asked my opinion, so there it is: lecturing someone on finances when they ask an unrelated question is crossing over a line. Enough people are sensitive to being lectured on stuff of that nature that you probably shouldn't have done it. In the end, I'll offer no warnings, no bans, no anything except one prescription to each for a chill pill. The end.

[sungho_kr]

Stop arguing in my thread, start a new thread.

If your budget is around 5 hundred dollars for irons, get a "not rusting" set of mp 30's from mizuno, regular flex. That is about 200 dollars. Then get 4 lessons from golf galaxy to establish some fundamentals. now you have about 150 dollars left, then get shafts from true temper of rifle and get them installed,(the golf galaxy pro will tell u all bout wut 2 get).

If you have about 700 dollars, then your real lucky. Get a set of mx 23's, used. Get some lessons, and then get custom shafts.

If you have only about 200 dollars, then just get some wilson staff irions from 2005, they're solid equipment.

Hint: Mp30's will require some lessons, MX 23's will require some lessons, but is easier to hit. The wilsons are solid clubs and very easy to hit, also powerbuilt, tommy armour, and kasco make some decent clubs for low prices.
HINT2: DON'T get blades unless ur ben hogan and u cant find semiblades.

One more thing, I would put a hundred dollars down that ben hogan or bobby jones would use forged cavity backs over blades anyday. Besides tigerwoods and a few others, everyone will get an advantage using cavities.(TigerWoods is amazing, I bet he hits his blades better than the slingshots, lol, jk)

[sungho_kr]

i love the proII's, use 2 have them until i broke them, they scar real easily, very weak clubs, but this has club has one of the best feels to it.

[iacas]

Stop arguing in my thread, start a new thread.

You don't tell the administrator what to do, buddy.

One more thing, I would put a hundred dollars down that ben hogan or bobby jones would use forged cavity backs over blades anyday. Besides tigerwoods and a few others, everyone will get an advantage using cavities.(TigerWoods is amazing, I bet he hits his blades better than the slingshots, lol, jk)

Uh, I'm quite sure he does. There's no "kidding" about it. And, had you read the above, you'd see that even some "non-Tiger" folks feel that blades are better for their games than cavities, too.