Forged Cavity Back?

[USA 79S]

DISCLAIMER: This post may not make sense because I have misunderstood some definitions or made poor assumptions:

If forged blades are for skilled players, and cast cavity backs are designed to offer technology that helps the higher handicapper by increasing forgiveness, launch angle, etc. - then where does a forged cavity back come in? Do they play the same as cast CB's, and just feel different at impact; or do they in fact play like forged blades? What is the skill level these are best suited for/designed to be used?

[drglew]

Forged vs cast manufacturing has nothing to do with playability/forgiveness. Many (including me--even though i'm currently playing cast) do like the feel/feedback of a forged iron vs. a cast one...my old Hogan Apex-FTX's felt like butter when struck well--which i was unable to do consistently enough!

Many magazines break irons up into general categories of "Game Improvement" (and some further subdivide this category to include a "Super Game Improvement") vs "Players" irons. Note you will find cavity backs in both categories, although players irons usually have shallower/smaller cavities and more "blade-like" construction, i.e. thinner topline, less offset, slightly higher center of gravity to make it easier to work the ball. Game improvement irons typically have deeper cavities, and lots of other tricks like multimaterial construction make them as high-launching and forgiving as possible (which i'm guessing you can't easily add to a forged iron compared to cast).

Your confusion does make sense though, as few game improvement irons are forged while lots of players irons are, so it's natural to associate the manufacturing with the design.

As to what suits what player is personal preference, although most high-handicappers are better suited to a game improvement iron as they're more forgiving on mishits and usually have a lower center of gravity making it easier to get the ball airborne without tour-level swing speeds.

[kennay92]

cast and forged has no impact of playability. Its just much much easier to make a cavity back iron that is casted. If its forged it either has to be a two piece forge or they grind/cut out a cavity out of the iron.

[Titleist_ProV1x]

My new AP2's make a range ball feel like butter LOL , can't wait till monday to hit the course and test these baby's out!

[GaijinGolfer]

Forged cavity backs give you much of the feel of a forged blade but with a lot more forgivness. A lot of people simply dont have the swing to hit a forged blade well, but they still want the feel and thats where forged CBs come in.