Equipment

Why a blade isn’t “just a blade”

Published

6 years ago

Jun 9, 2020

Saying “a blade is just a blade,” is like equating all coupes to just two-door cars because of their similar design characteristics, when in fact, just like cars, every line and transition along the body is as important as what’s under the hood.

To define a “blade,” it is a club design that features a solid mass behind the hitting area, with a thinner sole and higher center of gravity to create greater workability. Blades are less forgiving than cavity backs and were given their name thanks to their thin look resembling knives.

Blades are easy to recognize even from a distance, although there are irons on the market that resemble blades by appearance but offer a lot of technology and forgiveness.

If we’re going to stick with the car analogy, it’s the equivalent of rolling up to a red light with a “sleeper”—it looks docile but is packed with horsepower.

Most OEMs do not replace blades in their lineups as frequently as other models because of the lack of technological advancement compared to game-improvement clubs. Instead, blade models are generally replaced as player preferences change and are a reflection more of playing conditions than technology.

If we compare older blade irons to modern ones, for example, the easiest difference to spot is the sole profile. Older clubs have flatter, less cambered (radius from the leading edge to the back of the head) soles compared to modern clubs that are much more rounded to help improve turf interaction. These are the other key design elements that make up the profile of an iron.

Topline: The topline of a club plays one of the biggest factors on how the club looks from address. The general rule of thumb is thick toplines inspire confidence since there is more “mass” behind the ball, but in some cases—like Rickie Fowler’s new irons, thinner is the winner.
The topline of Rickie Fowler’s 7-iron
Sole: Over time, sole profiles have become more homogeneous compared to other design elements because they have evolved as turf conditions have improved. As mentioned earlier, modern blades with more bounce and camber are much easier to hit in varying conditions.
1960s Hagen (left) vs. 2020 Mizuno (right)
Toe profile: Similar to the topline, the toe profile will drastically change the look of a club. Although each one of slightly different they generally fall into three categories; square, rounded, and teardrop. Square toe irons are less common and the result in a sharper angle where the toe meets the topline. Round is the most modern style that you see on most irons today, and two of the best examples are the Mizuno MP20, and the Titleist 620 Blade. The teardrop profile is more commonly found in JDM (Japanese Domestic Market) clubs but a good representation of this would be the Ping BluePrint.
Address profile of the Ping Blueprint

The toe profile also plays a big part in how long the blade length appears from the address position, with the square toe making the club look the shortest.

So next time you are looking at a set of blades, pay close attention to the small details around the head to help you figure out the ideal clubs for you.

You can also find discussions on blades, among many other topics in our GolfWRX General Equipment Forum

Equipment

Interesting clubs at top of bag – GolfWRXers discuss

Published

14 hours ago

Jun 3, 2026

Will Schube

In our forums, users are talking about top of bag setups that are non-traditional or thought-provoking in some way. Original poster @SuperSpurs106 inquired about other members who might use unorthodox set-ups to help with gapping issues or weak spots.

They wrote:

“I currently have a PING G430 driver, TM Qi35 3W and a TM Qi4D 7W. Driver and 7W are fine but can’t get on with my 3W and have always struggling with this club over the years. Thinking of adding a 2H which I know would look odd. Just wondering if anyone else had a weird set up at the top of their bag?”

Our members in the forum have offered up their thoughts and personal experiences with non-traditional top of bag set-ups, and their reasoning for thinking outside of the box to begin with. Here are a few posts from the thread, but make sure to check out the entire discussion and have your say at the link below.

BowMain42: “Don’t worry about what “looks” odd. If the club does what you need it to do, it’s the right club.”
scooterhd2: “I cant hit 3 woods either. Thats why I roll with a unicorn XL Hibore 2 wood. 400 cc head at 16 degrees of loft and its just a monster 3 wood off the tee. Off the deck, we are playing the f6 baffler. 5 wood at 41.75 inches and its easy to control.”
phizzy30: “I had driver, 3 metal, 2/4 hybrid once upon a time as a higher ss player. 4 hybrid is gone and in place is a driving iron nowadays. I don’t think what you’re proposing is weird in anyway, however the yardage gap might be glaringly huge between driver and 2 hybrid. What is it about your 3 metal that has got you all messed up? You could always go 4 metal with shorter shaft and see if that works.”

Entire Thread: “Interesting clubs at top of bag”

If you aren’t a member, join us in the GolfWRX forums today!

Equipment

Members of the Mini Driver Club – GolfWRXers discuss

Published

14 hours ago

Jun 3, 2026

Will Schube

In our forums, one user has gone searching for fellow users of a mini driver. In a post, @TightFade asked for other mini driver users to chime in with their weapon of choice, the reason for employing a mini, and what club follows it in the bag.

@TightFade asked:

“What mini are you playing? What spot in the bag did it take over? What’s the next club after it? For me: Elyte mini 13.5. Replacing 3w. Next up club looks like it’ll be 5w.”

Our members in the forum have been sharing their own bag setups featuring the mini driver, and the various reasons they purchased one in the first place. Here are a few posts from the thread, but make sure to check out the entire discussion and have your say at the link below.

RCGA: “Ping G430 Max 12* ‘Thriver.’ Next club is a 4w and 2i (I play a weird course).”
JMB3: “R7 at 12.75 with Diamana BB 63s. 3w replacement. Next Club: Elyte Ti 5w at 17*.”
ColdOkieGolf: “R7 15.5 turned down to 13.5 It replaces the 3w. I found it surprisingly easy to hit off the deck, and it’s very rare that I need or want to hit something beyond 250 from the fairway, so next club is my 7w.”
ChaosTheory: “I’m sub-90 MPH with driver. But I’m able to hit DOD. I have been wanting something like the R7 15.5, so I just ordered one. I have a spot in the bag so nothing has to go. But I could see it replacing my trusty 4 wood, which I never use for approach shots. Just tee shots and lay ups. If I drop the 4 wood, I will turn my 7 wood down to ~20 degrees and will have good gaps. I recently tried a thriver build: 12 degree driver turned to 14, with a heavier 44 inch shaft and added head weight. I hit it great. Very accurate and not overly high, but the problem was that it sometimes went as far as a typical drive. And that’s not what I needed. So I will probably turn the 15.5 up to 16.5 or even 17.5. It’s all theoretical at this point. ?”

Entire Thread: “Members of the Mini Driver Club…Check In.”

If you aren’t a member, join us in the GolfWRX forums today!

Whats in the Bag

Chris Gotterup WITB 2026 (June)

Published

14 hours ago

Jun 3, 2026

GolfWRX Staff

Chris Gotterup had >14 clubs in his bag when photographed prior to the Memorial Tournament.

Drivers: TaylorMade Qi4D (8 degrees), Ping G440 LST (9 degrees @8), Ping G440 LST (7.5 degrees)
Shafts: Project X HZRDUS Smoke Grey 6.5 TX 70 g, Project X HZRDUS T1100 Handcrafted 6.5 TX 70 g, Project X HZRDUS Smoke Grey 6.5 TX 70 g