Re: Bladed Clubs

The big difference is going to be your ability to hit the sweet spot, and get all the distance out of the club. Blades have a smaller sweet spot, but that spot is sweeter then any cavity-back which have a bigger sweet spot, however not as sweet. (if any of that makes sense)

This is from my site that talks about the differences:

CLUBFACE OFFSET
This is the amount of distance that the impact faceplate of the club is placed at or behind the shaft entry point to the clubface. (Phew!) Offset clubs allows the ball to be struck with the hands and shaft more ahead of the ball which is a good thing since you want to use all the mass accumulated during the swing to be used at impact. The minute you flip the hands closed to cause the face beat your hands to the ball, you loose the mass of your hands and shaft that you could have had because the face is the only thing making contact with the ball. Putters are the most common clubs to use this benefit. You always want your hands in front of all shots, especially putts. Flip those hands and who knows how far that ball will go. Players with incurable slices benefit from offset irons and woods because they slice by flipping the hands and the offset "offsets" this and helps the slice.

CLUBFACE TYPE
There are 2 basic types: Perimeter weighted cast iron, and forged blades. I have seen forged perimeter clubs, but not cast iron blades. What perimeter weighting gets you is a bigger hitting area by putting more weight on the outside part of the club face and take away that weight from the middle. Your missed shots are more solid and go farther because there's more weight in the missed area to hit the ball with. Forged blades are less forgiving for the missed shots, but the solid shots are better then the solid shots of a perimeter-weighted club. Better players tend play blades and beginners tend to play perimeter clubs. But that is all up to your preference and style. If you like to move the ball left to right and right to left a lot, it is harder to do the with perimeter clubs because they are designed to counter that action."

Re: Bladed Clubs

I'm currently playing a combo set, and loving it.

Mi****s hurt - literally. A bad shot causes some serious vibrations - and cold hands don't help.

But like Greg said, when you catch the sweetspot, it sure is sweet.

I would suggest some cavity backs to start with, then once you're confident in your ballstriking, move to some blades.

Re: Bladed Clubs

I've recently switched over from Callaway's Steelhead X-14 cavity backs to the Titleist 690 MB blades. I notice a really "BIG" improvement in my swing. 9 out of 10 shots are dead straight to very slight draw, which is the trajectory I aim for every time.

Withy my Callaways, I'd get a more pronounced draw/hook. I think this is primarily due to the offset on the clubs. The Callaways were great when I was a beginner but as I progressed further into the game, I learned more on the mechanics of the swing and realized how the shaft, the clubhead, and the hands work in producing the proper swing path. Bottom line is, if you "know" how to swing the right way, blades are the way to go. They feel lighter and are very accurate.

As someone mentioned earlier, the golf swing can only be taught so much, the rest of the knowledge and the ability to produce good shots comes from within - practising the "correct" way and getting the "feel".

Re: Bladed Clubs

I think i might get a combo set sometime soon. I have perimeter weighted right now and i like my blade 52*.....sweet money!!

Re: Bladed Clubs

I'm perfectly capable of blading my current clubs, several times a round in fact, so don't see a reason to get new ones.

Re: Bladed Clubs

I switched from Ping I3's to Mizuno MP37's. Best thing I ever did. They may be a bit harder to hit but they almost make you try and swing properly. I don't regret it one bit. Go on yo know it makes sense.

Re: Bladed Clubs

David, Im pretty positive you CAN'T play better with blades.
Callaway wouldnt be on the bags of so many tour Pros if that was the case. Most pros these days play with Combo sets (3-6 Iron Cavity Back, 7-PW blade)and I would recommend that you check these out first.

I think the whole thing about Blades is mainly an Ego thing. I know a lot of single figure guys that play blades cos they think thats what being a single figue handicapper is all about.

I play regular with a +1 Handicap guy who uses cavity backs and 9 out of 10 guys I know playing off 5 or less play with cavity backs the other 1 plays a combo set. For a long time I was the only guy in my group (24 guys all 5 or better) playing blades. Blades are only the best choice for guys like Vijay and Tiger who practice so much that they have perfect control of the ball and want to be able to manufacture shots.

Try a set of blades and then try a set of combos, I think you will find the difference surprising.

D.

Re: Bladed Clubs

I agree about blades being an ego trick, About 14 months ago I brought a set of club from a guy who was on an 11 handicap, they were cavity back, he said cause he was improving he was going to blade cause that what better players use. I ran into him about 2 weeks ago and he said he made the biggest mistake of he golf game by going to blades. His handicap is now 14 and he cannot hit a straight ball. I lent him his clubs back as I have new ones now and last weekend he won the saturday comp.