Feedback coments ???

[kregan]

When reading all of the Blade vs Cavity back threads I see a common theme
over and over that I honestly don't understand...

I keep seeing people recomend blades for "feedback if nothing else".

Honestly I don't get it... I have played RAC os2's, 2005 Forged TP's, and now LT2's and I get feedback from all of them. If I hit it on the toe it is obvious by the feel that I have mis hit it. Same with if I hit it fat or thin. Ball flight, the sound, the grass marks, all the signs are there.

So what exactly is the feedback you guys are talking about ?

[Titleist Man]

Id have to agree w/ you. A week ago i wouldnt have but after hitting the TP irons(a CB) I am very impressed w/ the feedback i get.

[iacas]

I keep seeing people recomend blades for "feedback if nothing else".

To be fair, that's not the only reason I play blade-like clubs (frequently).

The difference in feel is substantial. And I hope you don't take it rudely, but I'm not sure as a bogey+ golfer that you've quite developed all the feel you get as a low single digit handicapper. To you, center contact may feel like center contact, but so too does a shot 1/4" to the heel, toe, or half a groove low. Maybe 1/2" or a full groove low... all kind of feels the same. Sure, a miss way out on the toe or heel is gonna feel bad regardless. Case in point, I could hit an r7 TP iron darn near anywhere within a quarter-sized spot on the clubface and had a hard time feeling much of anything. My Nike VR blades, not so much... more like 1/8".

[Shorty]

So what exactly is the feedback you guys are talking about ?

It's what you do and don't feel.

A well struck blade-style club will almost feel as if you haven't hit the ball. A slightly off centre one will feel a bit dull and a well off-centre one will jar. With game improvement clubs, a well struck ball feels very much like a reasonably well struck ball. I will take the liberty of saying that a lot of the players who prefer blade-style clubs appreciate the fact that GI clubs can make you a bit lazy and you can develop poor swing habits without even knowing it. Blade-style clubs let you know what you have done, what to keep doing and what to stop doing. The biggest mistake I ever made was going from blades to cavity backs. My game went backwards. The "forgiveness" is a wolf in sheep's clothing.

[billm408]

Personally, I think a well struck ball feels pretty much the same with either. As others have said, it's the mis-hits where it shows most.

A perimeter weighted cavity back club is weighted at the toe and sole to;
1) help the avergae golfer get more airborne ball flight
2) provide forgiveness to off center hits.

Most mid to high hcprs will have an impact pattern the spreads around the face of the club. As Erik stated, most low hcprs will have a pattern the size of a quarter or smaller. What's considered "off center" with a blade is a much smaller margin of error.

I play blades because it gives me more control. I can move the ball L & R and control trajectory better. Also, mis-hits with a blade will generally cost me accuracy but not distance (unless I'm way out on the toe). Miss hit shots with a cavity back will go straighter, but lose distance. And there's generally more trouble in front of the green (bunkers, water, etc...) than there is to the sides. YMMV.

[Danattherock]

If you are an 18 handicapper, you likely need forgiving irons. I know I do. When my handicap gets into the single digits, maybe I will go for some blades. But for now, I want the most forgiving irons I can find. The "feedback" I would get from a set of blades would be painful at this point.

[lumpuckeroo]

I agree with everyone's comments but for one exception. I don't think handicap is the issue, I think ball striking is the point. You can be a good ball striker and have a high handicap and a marginal ball striker and have a low handicap.

[iacas]

I don't think handicap is the issue, I think ball striking is the point. You can be a good ball striker and have a high handicap and a marginal ball striker and have a low handicap.

Yeah, you can, but it's rare, unlikely, improbable, etc.

[Leftygolfer]

I agree with everyone's comments but for one exception. I don't think handicap is the issue, I think ball striking is the point. You can be a good ball striker and have a high handicap and a marginal ball striker and have a low handicap.

This is not accurate. The size of your impact pattern is a very good determination of your handicap. This is straight from Pelz's short game bible and is true through the entire bag. Not saying there isn't some variance, but I never met someone who is a really good sub 5 player who wasn't a good ball striker. Might not be the best but you can not solely count on getting up and down 15 times a round. It will catch up to you. Same goes with a mid handicapper. You don't have to be a great ball striker, but you can't hit terrible shots and shoot an 80. You can a hit a few, but you have to be in play and hit some greens. But back to the thread. I recently got my irons and went from a GI iron. My handicap has went up and up. I miss my shots of the toe and with the GI irons, it felt good, hit greens and it was fine. It felt very close to a pured shot. Man is this not ok now. I am missing greens worse, hitting less greens, and getting punished for my swing flaw. And anything towards the toe feels bad. I am talking about a quarter to 1/2 inch. These shots felt good with my last irons, but they do not with my current set. What I have realized is how much I need to improve. I am lost right now, nothing on this forum or I read will help. I have to get a lesson, fix my problem which I have a really good idea what it is, and improve. With my old irons I might not have realized that. (I have a lesson with a local pro next wednesday) If I don't get better I will get new GI irons next winter.

[golfbarefoot]

The biggest advancements I have seen through the years:

#1- Balls. (Prov1 changed golf)
#2- Drivers ( the technology in the heads and shafts is amazing now)
#3- Grooves (looks like this was so good they eliminating)
#4- Yardage devices (Skycaddie, Rangfinders and iPhone apps shave a least a couple strokes)

Irons...the advancements are minimal at best. Go with what you like. If you play a lot, blades will improve your game.

Just remember, people always tend to nay say equipment they don't like or are not able to play with their skill level. Choose for yourself. I have and will always play forged blades. Ernie Els actually was quoted recently saying he gave into all the hype of cavity backs but he is back to blades and it is noticeable better now. There is a reason why Phil, Tiger etc use them. It aint to look cool, and in Phil's case it definitely aint what Callaway wants him playing..since they dont even make his model for lefthanders..its what helps them win. Period.

[kregan]

OK, thanks for the replies. I am not looking for irons, i like the LT2's, just wanted clarification to all the feel comments I read in other threads.