I've always played blades then went to cavity back and that was a big mistake. I hated them. So I went back and bought the mp-32's and will never look back. I've had the mp-14's and 32's and will never play a different iron than Mizuno. Simply nothing compared IMO.
Hitting blades in the 80's was a lot different than todays. If you didn't hit the sweet spot you knew it. The hardest blades I ever hit were the Hogan Apex. I think the sweetspot was the size of a pin.
I do miss the balata ball because it felt so good hitting with a blade against one of those balls.
While I'm not a low handicapper, I have used blades since I began in 1976 and love the way they feel when hit on the sweet spot. I have tried cavity backs on the range and don't like the feel even when hit on the sweet spot. Feels dead to me.
Everyone who has tried my Hogan Musclebacks love the feel when hit right. Of course, you have to hit it right.
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Kevin
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Thomas Edison knew 1800 ways not to build a light bulb.
When I started playing(1970)I was using mass produced cast irons like the Wilson Sam Snead Blue Ridge. Drifted away from golf for a while but when I returned in the early 90's I played Hogan Redline's, BH Grind's and Titleist Tour Model's (bulletbacks). I now play Mizuno MP37's, SWEET. Once though I had a set of Hogan Edge's for a back-up set. I liked them but something was just missing. I find blades just force you to not get sloppy. You got to give them your full attention.
As I was reading thru the various posts on the pros and cons of blades vs. cavity backs, a thought struck me. I know, I know, a rare occurrence indeed! In looking at the average handicap over the past 20 years, it would seem that there is really only an insignificant improvement.
That said, if the so called game improvement irons were really that much better, then wouldn't it stand to reason that the average national handicap should have decrease significantly?
I know that there are a lot of factors other than just the clubs that figure into this, but, and I am serious here, are game improvement irons really that much better for the mid to high handicapper or have we just become victims of the club manufacturing industry's advertising hype? Sometimes I wonder.
Although, I currently play a set of Armour 855s, I have a set of Burke blades, circa 1960, that I occasional play and other than the more harsh feel on mishits, the only real major difference between them and the 855s is that the 855s are about a club to a club and half longer due in part to the stronger lofts.
So my question to the group is, "Are the game improvement irons really that much better that the blades, or is it as it has always been the Indian and not the Arrow?
I have played everything over the years from butter knife blades to cavity back graphite shafted clubs. It seems to me, if you can get you right forearm on plane you can hit anything. I currently play a 1956 set of Spalding "syncrodyned" irons--2 thru 9. I did bore them out and install 6.5 rifle shafts. they are the softest irons I have ever played. I am not gifted by any means, but playing the blades has only helped my game.
Hi brobert,
I also started with syncro-"Topflite" dished-back blades circa '50.These were underrated,advanced blades.
I retired them when distance became an overriding issue.
I tried delofting the 'Flites but it destroyed their look and created a "digger" front edge.( I reset them) The shafts were 3/4 " shorter than our current models.Also destroying perfect original slip-on leathers in order to lengthen the shafts was an esthetic no-go for me.I generally don't mess with Classic's,but
I wish I had the vision ,as you did,boring the hosel to suit Rifle shafts,because those heads are that terrific.
I strongly feel yours will play level to most current blades.
After playing "in the desert" for several years with a slew of cavity's(Burners,Armours,Pings)I stumbled across a complete set of mint Macgregor MUIRFIELDS 20th,including Persimmon woods.
I died and went to Heaven. Haven't looked at another since.The Best!
"There's no sting if you can swing".
Enjoy!
For those who love the look and craftsmanship of the blades of old, check out this site. I found out about from a neighbor who let me try his Wilson Bullet-Back Irons...I was just taking up the game so I had no appreciation for the clubs but they were very sharp looking.
Well, I'll put my Sethistory in an order with ratin, if you don't mind:
Head Premise (a gift from my stepfather to begin with, low hosel technology with regular graphite shafts, 2 years later all shafts were broken) - cast iron with strong lofts
Golfsmith Forged (my first fitted set, since I had little clue about fitting then I totally relied on the clubfitter, hence he suggested sensicore in the apollo stepless stiff shafts) - great look and feel, that's what I love about Blades
Ping Zing 2 (after returning from long break I thought the fryingpan technology would compensate my lack of technique, little truth there but on the other hand I had no clue what to change) - yeah, feedback is quiet little maybe due to the large sweetspot? sold them after 6 rounds again
Mizuno Pro (or TRue) - forged Iron, half cavity with MB behind the sweetspot. I couldn't feel the clubhead at all, sold again after 4 weeks.
Maxfli Revolution - forged CB, great club, very soft feel, but I bought them with regular shafts (what a mess) - they are still here
Cleveland TA-7or 5? BP
Did not like the look of the clubhead, sold immediately after 2 rounds
Taylor Made Firesole - cast Iron, no feel, strong lofts, and a hack of a distance, but I feel a little like a girl, I always miss what is not there - this time feel
Wilson Deep Red II - not that bad set of clubs, wrong shafts in there
Wilson FI5 - great set from 8-P but I prefer not to have the CB'S from 7-3
Ping I3 Oversize - another trial into fryingpan section, sold them today again
Cleveland CG-1 Black perl - what a beauty, need to re-shaft them since they have regular shafts
Cleveland TA-1 bought them for the shafts, RIFLE 6.5, to put them into the BP's, couldn't resist to try to hit a few shots with them, and now there are currently in my bag
Well, I'll put my Sethistory in an order with rating, if you don't mind:
Head Premise (a gift from my stepfather to begin with, low hosel technology with regular graphite shafts, 2 years later all shafts were broken) - cast iron with strong lofts
Golfsmith Forged (my first fitted set, since I had little clue about fitting then I totally relied on the clubfitter, hence he suggested sensicore in the apollo stepless stiff shafts) - great look and feel, that's what I love about Blades
Ping Zing 2 (after returning from long break I thought the fryingpan technology would compensate my lack of technique, little truth there but on the other hand I had no clue what to change) - yeah, feedback is quiet little maybe due to the large sweetspot? sold them after 6 rounds again
Mizuno Pro (or TRue) - forged Iron, half cavity with MB behind the sweetspot. I couldn't feel the clubhead at all, sold again after 4 weeks.
Maxfli Revolution - forged CB, great club, very soft feel, but I bought them with regular shafts (what a mess) - they are still here
Cleveland TA-7or 5? BP
Did not like the look of the clubhead, sold immediately after 2 rounds
Taylor Made Firesole - cast Iron, no feel, strong lofts, and a hack of a distance, but I feel a little like a girl, I always miss what is not there - this time feel
Wilson Deep Red II - not that bad set of clubs, wrong shafts in there
Wilson FI5 - great set from 8-P but I prefer not to have the CB'S from 7-3
Ping I3 Oversize - another trial into fryingpan section, sold them today again
Cleveland CG-1 Black perl - what a beauty, need to re-shaft them since they have regular shafts
Cleveland TA-1 bought them for the shafts, RIFLE 6.5, to put them into the BP's, couldn't resist to try to hit a few shots with them, and now there are currently in my bag
My first real set of golf clubs were Ping i3's. I loved them. Then I tried Baggers' MP14's and thought I might like a set for myself. So I bought a set of MP29's. When I went back to try the Pings for fun, couldn't stand the lack of feedback - so those got sold.
I had the MP29's in my bag for about a year and really liked them. A couple of months ago I hit some Titlest 704's on the range and liked them so much I bought a set. I sold the MP29's.
I've found the 704's to be a good mixture of feel and forgivability. I can work the ball just as easily as with the MP29's, yet they are more forgiving on mishits.
Btw, MP29's are really muscle-back forged irons, not really true blades.
In looking at the average handicap over the past 20 years, it would seem that there is really only an insignificant improvement. 
Hybrid Mode
