Interesting video from Mark Crossfield on youtube comparing 4 irons: blade/semi cavity/game improvement, with trackman launch monitor.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XuCIrd3kcTk

I currently play blades (taylormade TP MB's) and I feel as though I may have bit off more than I can chew. I agree that when you/I hit them good and am having a good ball striking day they are wonderful, but it is the day when I am not striking the ball good that makes me doubt blades. Thus I am in the market for a new set of clubs (Mizuno MP 59's).

The other thought might be forged vs. cavity irons, the Mizzy's are forged and seem to have a tighter dispersion (according to launch monitor numbers, and I dont trust them unless I am hitting off of grass and outside) I like to see ball flight and workability.

I dont know if you would call the mp59 blades but, I think I am going to give them a try...should have them in about three weeks and I will try to give an update on them after a few rounds.

I just switched over to Titleist 710MB's 3-PW and a 690MB 2 iron because they didn't make them in the 710's. I have them all bent upright 2 degrees with KBS tour stiff shafts and would never turn back. I find myself on the green much much more with these compared to my old R7's. And I absolutely love my 2 iron!

So I took my new MP-33's out for a spin today at a local 9-hole exec course after putting in some range time with them over the weekend. Of course, the 3-iron is a bit of a challenge, but the short irons were like throwing darts and I didn't realize how bad the offset on my prev clubs was throwing me off. I finished par,par,birdie,par,par after hitting the final 5 greens off the tee. The short irons are straight as an arrow, none of my shots deviated more than a few feet off the flagstick. It helped that my putter was working too.

I confess I'm a gear nut.

I got a few clubs to try out, in 6i thru PW. The lofts are about 2 degrees weaker than other modern irons it seems. That's fine with me.

The heads are m510 from gigagolf, one of those clone type companies but not sure if this head is a copy of anything particular. I went with dynamic gold R300. The S300 I had in some mizunos before and thought they were a little stiff feeling, so I wanted to try something lighter. Feel pretty good.

They are easy to hit and feel great. Really the only issue if you totally miss the sweet spot you loose distance and if you catch one heavy they will dig. (That's the same for any club I suppose.) This seems to promote an effort for better contact, hit on the mark and they are soft. I only tried them a bit yesterday in a practice round and day before on the range, but seems accurate and repeatable on distances.

Earlier this year I tried a few super game improvement irons for a while, the G15's. These feel so much better at impact its not funny. The G15's felt harsh to me. Sounds odd I guess, but I suppose it is the different metal construction, the forged vs cast (carbon vs stainless)?

I put them in a little "sunday bag" type setup to use for practicing. With a used cleveland classic driver, one hybrid, a wedge and putter.

Duke of Hazards wrote:

So I took my new MP-33's out for a spin today at a local 9-hole exec course after putting in some range time with them over the weekend. Of course, the 3-iron is a bit of a challenge, but the short irons were like throwing darts and I didn't realize how bad the offset on my prev clubs was throwing me off. I finished par,par,birdie,par,par after hitting the final 5 greens off the tee. The short irons are straight as an arrow, none of my shots deviated more than a few feet off the flagstick. It helped that my putter was working too.

You have made a stride in the right direction my friend. Mp-33's are classic. Too much offset in an iron is gross and who needs it. Said it before I'll say it again--blades are the real game improvement clubs.

jfurr wrote:

They are easy to hit and feel great. Really the only issue if you totally miss the sweet spot you loose distance and if you catch one heavy they will dig. (That's the same for any club I suppose.) This seems to promote an effort for better contact, hit on the mark and they are soft. I only tried them a bit yesterday in a practice round and day before on the range, but seems accurate and repeatable on distances. Earlier this year I tried a few super game improvement irons for a while, the G15's. These feel so much better at impact its not funny. The G15's felt harsh to me. Sounds odd I guess, but I suppose it is the different metal construction, the forged vs cast (carbon vs stainless)? I put them in a little "sunday bag" type setup to use for practicing. With a used cleveland classic driver, one hybrid, a wedge and putter.

Wow, glad this threads still alive. Nice move. I looked up Ping G15. What were you thinking? I'm sure they make fine clubs, for certain people. Ping blades, s58 or whatever, those look interesting. They are ugly for a blade but I'm sure they perform great, have you ever tried?

Speaking of blades, I should mention my friend Dr. T plays these ridiculous Miura "Baby Blades" equipped with these futuristic stepless brushed steel KBS shafts. Probably the fanciest golf clubs I've ever seen. I don't know how he brings these things out to NYC munis. I'd be nervous to take a divot. He gouged the 7-iron on a Marine Park pebble, and I think it caused him a small ulcer. He uses iron covers but I don't blame him. Its okay though, he's an MD, he works extremely hard and deserves nice stuff, plus he has the game to play them.

legitimatebeef wrote:

I looked up Ping G15. What were you thinking? I'm sure they make fine clubs, for certain people. Ping blades, s58 or whatever, those look interesting. They are ugly for a blade but I'm sure they perform great, have you ever tried?

I have not hit the S56's but actually my normal club is the i20. Check those out. Not your type of club I suspect but much better than the bulky G15. The i20 feels pretty soft for what it is and yet has all that perimiter weighting stuff. I think Ping did a great job with the i20 irons.

My new 'lil blades' though are fun to use and feel good in a different way. Used them yesterday and plan to run out after work today for another nine with them. It is rewarding to hit them well. They were cheap too. Looked around but used name brand sets were still kinda expensive - this way I ordered something as I wanted and just got a few clubs to try. Not sure I would like the long irons however.

legitimatebeef wrote:

Speaking of blades, I should mention my friend Dr. T plays these ridiculous Miura "Baby Blades" equipped with these futuristic stepless brushed steel KBS shafts. Probably the fanciest golf clubs I've ever seen. I don't know how he brings these things out to NYC munis. I'd be nervous to take a divot. He gouged the 7-iron on a Marine Park pebble, and I think it caused him a small ulcer. He uses iron covers but I don't blame him. Its okay though, he's an MD, he works extremely hard and deserves nice stuff, plus he has the game to play them.

Sounds very fancy. I have heard of the Miura's but haven't seen a set in person.

Yesterday on the course a guy in my group made kind of a fuss about my irons. It had been a while since anyone had mentioned them but it reared its ugly head again. Just had to make a stink about how difficult they are, along with some dripping with attitude "compliments" on my swing. Lame.

Well, while I'm in this thread might as well sing the praises of my irons again. I really am fond of them. I used to say "Ohh they're great...except for the 3 iron" but now I don't even feel that way anymore. I don't get that "uh oh here goes nothing" feeling anymore when I have to draw the 3i from the bag.

I don't know what it is about the f-ing 3-iron. I'm in the same boat that you were. For whatever reason, there's seemingly only a slight incremental increase in precision required in hitting the next longest club going from the PW down through the 4i, but then there's like this precipitous spike in difficulty between the 4 and the 3. It's only 3 degrees of loft difference and a slightly longer shaft, but while I can hit the 4i quite consistently, the 3i is kind of a crap shoot. It's a pretty large gap. Oh well, I guess I'll just have to practice till my hands bleed to get that thing down.

Duke of Hazards wrote:

I don't know what it is about the f-ing 3-iron. I'm in the same boat that you were. For whatever reason, there's seemingly only a slight incremental increase in precision required in hitting the next longest club going from the PW down through the 4i, but then there's like this precipitous spike in difficulty between the 4 and the 3. It's only 3 degrees of loft difference and a slightly longer shaft, but while I can hit the 4i quite consistently, the 3i is kind of a crap shoot. It's a pretty large gap. Oh well, I guess I'll just have to practice till my hands bleed to get that thing down.

There is some sort of threshold beyond the 4-iron. I think its to do with the small sweet spot along with the low loft. You can't just hit the sweet spot, you have to do it with some speed.

3i and I are on pretty good terms lately. I still sweat a little when hitting it off a tight lie but off the tee I'm actually getting confident. Yesterday on the last hole of my round, a par 5, I teed off with it and put a pretty good spank on it and today, I'm still thinking about that one shot.