Re: ShopTalk: Blades

[Bernie Baymiller]

Graham,   I agree with you that forged blades are over-rated. Have played what are essentially blades for 60 years...from Spalding Bobby Jones Tournament Model irons, Wilson Staffs, etc., to Chicago 944C irons (semi-blade) the last four years. I like the smaller size, which seems to concentrate the head weight in a smaller area and, to me, seems easier to control. I can play a draw or a cut shot that works most of the time. In the last two months, I'm using delofted 8-SW (44� PW) in a smaller, heavy-soled Catapult STS cavity back. I can work these as well as I can the blades of the same lofts...in fact, probably because of the offset, I find them easier to draw than the blades, though their offset makes the cut shots more difficult. And, frankly, I don't see any difference in the feel or the performance between the cast soft stainless in the 944C heads and my forged Wilson Staffs of yesteryear. It's kind of amusing that when investment cast heads first came on the market, they were considered the preferred head...forgings were cheap and considered inferior.   Back in the 1980s, I remember talking with dad about what he thought were improvements in equipment design (clubs) since he left Spalding as Director of Golf Research in 1941. He said he thought there was only one meaningful advance, and that was the cavity back.   This combo (Chicago 944C/Apache PM-30i in 3-7-iron and delofted Catapult STS/Supreme Gold stepless steel in 8-SW) is working well for me right now...had a 69 yesterday with 4 birds and one bogie...the best round this year. Of course, a new putter made the biggest difference...out of sheer desperation, I made a belly putter out of an old Balistik iron shaft and an old brass Mars putter head. Found it really works for me with a claw grip on the right hand...27 putts all day, and NO 3-putt greens. That was a "best this year," too.   Bernie Writeto: [EMAIL PROTECTED] ----- Original Message ----- From: Graham Little To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Saturday, June 15, 2002 5:32 AM Subject: ShopTalk: Blades Gentlemen   I hear this story often. It's easier to "work" the ball with a forged blade. Personally, I've always thought forged irons were overrated. However, I can see some advantages for a better player. ie less off-set (is this the key?), power for on centre shots and being able to adjust loft and lie. I've never been convinced about the "feel" thing. Now, I realise that there's two issue here: ie blades and forgings   Can some of you better players explain why you think it's easier to work the ball? When they come in to see me I'd like a better explanation than the one I have now   Thanks Graham