Equipment
Forum Thread of the Day: “When did you start playing blades?”
Today’s Forum Thread of the Day comes from GolfWRX member Lamb, who asks fellow members who play with blade irons, just when they began doing so. The thread contains an interesting mix of those that have always played with blades and those who have made the change at some stage.
Here are a few posts from the thread, but make sure to check out the entire discussion and let your voice be heard at the link below.
- High Plains Driver: “In 1987 when I started playing. Everyone either played blades or Eye2’s. I didn’t switch to a cavity back until after I had been playing for 4 or 5 years.”
- RayGorman: “Those of a certain age all started playing blades. I started playing blades in 1974, played those for 10 years when I went to the original Hogan Edges. Played those for several years until they were stolen. moved on to various Cast GI clubs, Moved back to blades this spring when I moved into the new Hogan Blacks.”
- Lamb: “The comments have def motivated me to get blades. The problem is this forum shouts at anyone who does not use GI clubs. I complained that I needed traditional lofts and someone said I wouldn’t make progress and missing out because I am not using Game improvement clubs. I am sticking to my guns – traditional lofts and then blades in 2020.”
- 11forgedblades: “I think the earlier you start with blades, the more comfortable you will be with them. I can’t imagine playing game improvement irons for my whole life and then looking down at scary blades. The same is true for me when I look at anything with a wide sole. It just seems completely unplayable from anything but a tee or fluffy stuff. Start NOW and come over to the dark side!!!”
Entire Thread: “When did you start playing blades?”
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Whats in the Bag
WITB Time Machine: Rory McIlroy’s winning WITB, 2015 Wells Fargo Championship
Then-No. 1 player in the world Rory McIlroy began the week at the Wells Fargo Championship at 3-1 odds, if that gives you any indication of how well the Ulsterman was playing at the time. All he did at Quail Hollow was set the course record during his third round (61) and win the tournament by seven strokes.
Check out the gear Rory had in play nine years ago below.
Driver: Nike Vapor Pro (8.5 degrees) Buy here.
Shaft: Mitsubishi Diamana S+ 70 X
3-wood: Nike Vapor Speed (15 degrees) Buy here.
Shaft: Fujikura Rombax Pro 95 X
5-wood: Nike Vapor Speed (19 degrees) Buy here.
Shaft: Fujikura Rombax Pro 95 X
Irons: Nike VR Pro Blades (4-9) Buy here.
Shafts: Project X 7.0
Wedges: Nike VR Forged (46, 52, 56) Buy here, Nike Engage (58 degrees @59) Buy here.
Shafts: Project X 6.5
Putter: Nike Method 006 Buy here.
Ball: Nike RZN Black
WITB Time Machine is presented by 2nd Swing Golf. 2nd Swing has more than 100,000 new and pre-swung golf clubs available in six store locations and online. Check them out here.
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Equipment
Rickie Fowler’s new putter: Standard-length Odyssey Jailbird 380 in custom orange
Editor’s note: This is an excerpt from a piece our Andrew Tursky originally wrote for PGATour.com’s Equipment Report. Head over there for the full article.
…The Jailbird craze hasn’t really slowed down in 2024, either. According to Odyssey rep Joe Toulon, there are about 18-20 Jailbird putter users on the PGA TOUR.
Most recently, Akshay Bhatia won the 2024 Valero Texas Open using a broomstick-style Odyssey Jailbird 380 putter and Webb Simpson is switching into a replica of that putter at the 2024 Wells Fargo Championship.
Now, Fowler, who essentially started the whole Jailbird craze, is making a significant change to his putter setup.
Fowler, who has had a couple weeks off since the 2024 RBC Heritage, started experimenting with a new, custom-orange Jailbird 380 head that’s equipped with a standard 35-inch putter build, rather than his previous 38-inch counter-balanced setup.
According to Fowler, while he still likes the look and forgiveness of his Jailbird putter head, he’s looking to re-incorporate more feel into his hands during the putting stroke.
He told GolfWRX.com on Tuesday at the Wells Fargo Championship that the 38-inch counterbalanced setup “served its purpose” by helping him to neutralize his hands during the stroke, but now it’s time to try the standard-length putter with a standard-size SuperStroke Pistol Tour grip to help with his feel and speed control.
Although Fowler was also spotted testing standard-length mallets from L.A.B. Golf and Axis1 on Tuesday, he confirmed that the custom Odyssey Jailbird 380 is the putter he’ll use this week at the 2024 Wells Fargo Championship.
Head over to PGATour.com for the full article.
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Whats in the Bag
Akshay Bhatia WITB 2024 (May)
- Akshay Bhatia what’s in the bag accurate as of the Wells Fargo Championship. Bhatia is deciding between drivers. More photos from the event here.
Driver: Callaway Rogue ST Max LS (9 degrees @7.2, 2 grams lead tape heel, 4 grams toe)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 7 X (44 7/8 inches, tipped 1 inch)
Driver: Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Max D (9 degrees @7)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 7 X
3-wood: Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Max (15 degrees @13.9)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 8 X (43 inches, tipped 1.5)
Hybrid: Callaway Apex UW Prototype (19 degrees @17.8)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 10 X
Irons: Callaway X Forged UT (21 degrees) Buy here, Callaway Apex TCB Raw (5-PW)
Shafts: KBS $-Taper 125 S+
Wedges: Callaway Jaws Raw (50-10S @49, 54-10S, 60-08C @61)
Shafts: KBS Hi-Rev 2.0 135 X
Putter: Odyssey Versa Jailbird 380
Grip: SuperStroke Zenergy Split
Grips: Iomic
Ball: Callaway Chrome Tour
More photos of Akshay Bhatia’s WITB in the forums.
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Blade Buyer
Nov 30, 2018 at 10:08 pm
First set of clubs: 2-PW Wilson Super Stroke. To this day the smallest head I have ever seen.
2nd set of clubs: 1-PW Ben Hogan Apex PC.
3rd set of clubs: 1-SW Cleveland Byron Nelson 68.3
I finally played a set of DCI cavity backs in the middle 90’s and they were actually really solid… unlike most thin faced cavity backs of the day.
Scheiss
Nov 29, 2018 at 2:16 am
When I was born
Adam
Nov 29, 2018 at 12:04 am
RAM TW 276 Frequency Matched Tour Grind…. 2 – PW… breasty beauties… 😀
Jamie
Nov 28, 2018 at 8:01 pm
1975 MacGregor Silver Scots. Why? Tom Weiskopf was and still is a personal hero.
stevek
Nov 28, 2018 at 6:55 pm
Definition: Blade irons do not have a cavity-back… they only have a muscle-back. Now, go ahead…..
stevek
Nov 28, 2018 at 7:13 pm
Additional Definition: Hollow-back irons are not true muscle-back irons… which are solid.
Ken
Nov 28, 2018 at 3:02 pm
From the beginning. 1979, Wilson Staff tour blades
Jamie
Nov 28, 2018 at 12:52 pm
Are we talking butterknife blades? Real blades? Few people here have ever played a real blade. Were TM Tour Preferred blades? No. Blade is just a cool kids word now who have never seen a real blade. God I hate the groupthink epidemic. MacGregor VIPs, Muirfield 20th, and Silver Scots (1975 – my first) are blades.