Muscle Back vs. Cavity Back

[rwebber3]

I know this is an age old question at this point. With the introduction of the blended sets of irons like the Titleist 735s and PINGS system of allowing you to create your own set, I wonder is there an advantage to playing blades and who should or should not be playing them.

I recently purchased the 735s and I know know that when I strike my 8 iron (blade) well the feedback is immediate and there is not better feeling. What are our thoughts on this? I know I think about going to a full set of blades all of the time to take advantage of the maximum performance but I still need the forgiveness of the cavity back long irons.

I wonder if going to blades would take away that need, with loads of practice obviously?

 

[mrodock]

If you are a good ballstriker already I believe blades will make you a better ballstriker out of necessity (with enough feedback [practice time]). The case can be made for having an old Ben Hogan or Wilson Staff forged blade 2 iron and working with that some on the range, yet taking advantage of forged cavity backs, perhaps with blade short irons on the golf course.

Matt

 

[rwebber3]

Ive definitely thought about an old school 2 or 3 iron blade just to hit at the range and see just good a ball striker I am. Not bad advice. I think youre right though. A good ball striker can play just about anything.

 

[mrodock]

From what I understand the technology that the newer blades have is so far superior to the old blades it's ridiculous. Current blades are the new cavity backs to use fashion parlance.

 

[rwebber3]

Honestly I think youre right. Prior to me purchasing my 735s I fiddled around with Ernies 695 muscle backs. The clubs that gave me the most trouble were the 3 and 4 iron but they give me just as much troubl in my current set. I think blades are as intimidating as bethpage black the first time. After a few times theyre like any other set of irons. Obvioulsy theres an adjustment period but in the end its all the same. If anything it would make me practice so much harder to truly hone my ball striking rather than getting away with bad shots at the range.

 

[Jim Kobylinski]

More pros are going to CBs and even game improvement clubs and you should too.

I play Titleist 775s the only thing i have problem doing with those that i could do with more "players club" is hit them lower. Other than that they hit higher, fly farther, and i can shape them.

If Kenny Perry can play RAC LTIIs, so can you!

 

[jbm47]

Blades: Muscle Back vs. Cavity back

I use Ben Hogan Red Line Blades(old school) and I practice with them all the time. I had them adjusted to my spec. Everyone should get fitted for lie angle.(small investment) If, you can't hit your Irons then try that. I get instant feel back when I miss hit the ball. I like that because it makes me work harder with my Swinging Pattern. I love my Blades and I have another set of Tileist Tour Models in my closet when I ware these babies out. (just my opinion) Both sets rechormed.

Regards
JBM47

 

[Jimmy A.]

From what I understand the technology that the newer blades have is so far superior to the old blades it's ridiculous. Current blades are the new cavity backs to use fashion parlance.

I play with Mizuno MP-33's and I don't see a difference on mis-hits from when I hit my sister-in-law's big ass Calloway CB's. In fact, the mis-hits with my Mizuno's just tend to come up a little short.

Why is it said that CB's are so much easier to hit, anyway? Is it just that the sweet spot is a lot larger? When I went to the MP-33's, by all accounts, I probably shouldn't have been playing blades. It could probably be said now, for that matter, though I do strike the ball much better than back then. However, even then, I noticed that when I hit a bad shot with the blades, it was a bad shot. When I hit a bad shot with my old CB's (PowerBuilt), it was still a bad shot! It wasn't like the CB's were turning my bad shots into good ones. Not to mention, when I stand over an iron that has a ton of offset, like most CB's do, they look really awkward and I feel fairly uncomfortable. Although, I know there are some newer, forged CB's by Mizuno, and I'm sure others as well, that don't have as much offset as most of the other CB's on the market. I've been considering one of these models or, perhaps, a progressive set like others in here have mentioned.

 

[rwebber3]

I totally agree. A bad shot is a bad shot no matter how you slice it. I think CBs give a slight advantage bc the center of gravity is a little lower so its easier to get the ball up and misses are not as magnified as with a blade where the center of gravity is usually alot closer to the face.

Just to clarify im talking about tour quality cavity backs as opposed to game improvement cavity backs with heavy offsets like ping G2s.

I just feel like the feedback of a muscle back is unparalleled but for now im sitting tight with my blended set.