Equipment
At what point is playing blades an advantage? – GolfWRXers discuss
In our forums, our members have been talking blades. WRXer ‘Douglsss’ poses an intriguing question, “at what point is playing blades an advantage?” and kicks off the thread, saying:
“All things being equal – loft, lie, etc. – If I have a level of ballstriking to where playing blades vs player distance vs GI irons clubs each have similar average distances, why wouldn’t you play blades? IMO – easier to work multiple trajectories, easier to remove spin, better consistency( no hot faces ).
Another argument could be made that in this scenario – what are you losing in the scoring clubs, say 8i – PW, by not using a bladed club?”
And our members have been responding in their numbers.
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.
- Thebiles: “Considering that the majority of pros are moving away from pure blades, I don’t think there is an advantage given today’s technology.”
- llewol007: “Your argument is watered down because you ultimately got rid of the big differences in playing a blade versus a player distance and game improvement. That is the main reason most would or would not play a blade. So the comparison is really not comparing. If all things are equal as you say, it just becomes personal preference.”
- AsianGolfer1995: “It’s mostly personal preference at this point, but for most of the blade users I’ve played with, they want their mishits coming up short of the target instead of flying 3-5 yards longer so they know what a true ‘miss’ feels like so they can work on it in practice to hit the center more.”
- Red4282: “Advantages of blades would be thinner soles and generally less bounce. Flighting becomes a little easier. Distance control is more consistent on good to slight misses. You really don’t see much advantages from GI irons until you get to the mid and long irons and on bad misses.”
Entire Thread: “At what point is playing blades an advantage? – GolfWRXers discuss”
More from the Forums
- Moving from blades to P790s…Lazy? Will my scores go down? – GolfWRXers discuss
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- Kris Kim what’s in the bag accurate as of the CJ Cup Byron Nelson. More photos from the event here.
Driver: TaylorMade Qi10 (9 degrees @7)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Tensei 1K White 60 TX
3-wood: TaylorMade Qi10 Tour (15 degrees @13.5)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Diamana WB 73 TX
Irons: TaylorMade P770 (2, 4), TaylorMade P7MB (5-PW)
Shafts: Mitsubishi Tensei 1K White 80 TX (2), Nippon N.S. Pro Modus3 Tour 120 X
Wedges: TaylorMade MG4 (50-09SB, 56-12SB, 60-11TW)
Shafts: Nippon N.S. Pro Modus3 WV 125
Putter: TaylorMade Spider Tour
Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet Cord
Check out more in-hand photos of Kris Kim’s equipment here.
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TaylorMade is continuing its UDI/DHY series with the successor to the Stealth UDI and DHY utility irons: PUDI and PDHY (which the company styles as P·UDI and P·DHY). TaylorMade is folding the designs in with its P Series of irons.
TaylorMade outlined the process of developing its new utilities this way. The company started with the data on utility iron usage. Not surprisingly, better players — i.e. those who generate more clubhead speed and strike the ball more precisely — were found to gravitate toward the UDI model. DHY usage, however, covered a wider swath than the company might have expected with six-to-18 handicappers found to be bagging the club.
TaylorMade also found that the majority of golfers playing UDI or DHY utilities were playing P Series irons at the top of their iron configurations.
Can you see where this is going?
Matt Bovee, Director of Product Creation, Iron and Wedge at TaylorMade: “As we look to the future, beyond the tech and the design language, we are excited about repositioning our utility irons into the P·Series family. P·UDI is an easy pair for players that currently play P·Series product and P·DHY is an extremely forgiving option for players of all skill levels. It is a natural fit to give these players the performance in this category that they are looking for.”
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TaylorMade PUDI
TaylorMade PUDI technology cutaway (via TaylorMade)
Crafted with tour player input, TaylorMade sought to develop a confidence-inspiring utility iron that blends with the rest of the P Series irons. Also of note: Interestingly, the PUDI has a more compact head than the P790.
In comparison to past UDI products, the PUDI has a more traditional iron shape, slimmer toplines, and less offset with a little of the backbar visible at address.
TaylorMade PDHY
TaylorMade PDHY tech cutaway (via TaylorMade).
Larger in profile than the PUDI, the PDHY seeks to position center of gravity (CG) lower in the club for ease of launch. The toe height is larger and the profile is larger at address — roughly five millimeters longer than PUDI — the sole of the club is wider for improved forgiveness.
Club Junkie’s take
Golfers who feel like they are missing something at the top of the bag could find the PUDI or PDHY a great option. The look of the PUDI should fit the most discerning eye with a more compact look, less offset, and a thinner topline. If you want a little more confidence looking down the P-DHY will be slightly larger while still being a good-looking utility iron.
For being small packages both models pack a pretty good punch with fast ball speeds, even off-center. The feel is soft and you get a solid feel of the ball compressing off the face when you strike it well. Your ears are greeted with a nice heavy thud as the ball and club come together. The PDHY will launch a little higher for players who need it while the PUDI offers a more penetrating ball flight. Both utility irons could be the cure for an open spot in the top end of the bag.
PUDI, PDHY, or Rescue?
TaylorMade offers the following notes to assist golfers in filling out their bags:
- PUDI has mid-CG right behind the center face to create a more penetrating mid-to-low ball flight
- PDHY has a lower center of gravity to produce an easier-to-launch mid-to-high ball flight.
- Both PUDI and PDHY are lower-flying than the company’s hybrid/Rescue clubs.
- PUDI is more forgiving than P790.
- PDHY is the most forgiving iron in the entire TaylorMade iron family
Pricing, specs, and availability
Price: $249.99
At retail: Now
Stock shafts: UST Mamiya’s Recoil DART (105 X, 90 S and 75 R – only in PDHY)
Stock grip: Golf Pride’s ZGrip (black/grey)
PUDI lofts: 2-17°, 3-20°, 4-22° in both left and right-handed
PDHY lofts: 2-18°, 3-20° and 4-22° in both left and right-handed
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Equipment
Coolest thing for sale in the GolfWRX Classifieds (5/3/24): Scotty Cameron Champions Choice 2.5+ putter
At GolfWRX, we are a community of like-minded individuals that all experience and express our enjoyment of the game in many ways.
It’s that sense of community that drives day-to-day interactions in the forums on topics that range from best driver to what marker you use to mark your ball. It even allows us to share another thing we all love – buying and selling equipment.
Currently, in our GolfWRX buy/sell/trade (BST) forum, there is a listing for a Scotty Cameron Champions Choice 2.5+ putter
From the seller: (@wwcl): “Has been gamed as pics show. 33.5 includes original h/c and grip. $575 includes shipping and PP fees.”
To check out the full listing in our BST forum, head through the link: Scotty Cameron Champions Choice 2.5+ putter
This is the most impressive current listing from the GolfWRX BST, and if you are curious about the rules to participate in the BST Forum you can check them out here: GolfWRX BST Rules
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Michael Sarijoen
Sep 18, 2022 at 6:01 am
If you want to fine-tune your swing to the highest degree, blades can help
Paulo
Sep 17, 2022 at 8:24 am
If golf clubs were cars the blades would be a 911. Beautiful to look at , probably going to make you look sexier but utterly impractical if you have a couple of kids and can’t practice every day . If there’s even one of the worlds
Too 1000 golfers using cavities then everyone reading this should be too
Brandon
Sep 17, 2022 at 8:13 am
In my experience my score doesn’t fluctuate based on what irons I have in the bag at all. Keeping my drive in play and not having any disasters around the green are all that matters. I can just as easily shoot 70 or 90 with blades or SGI clubs depending on how the other parts of my game go.
S
Sep 16, 2022 at 10:38 pm
It’s so laughable what has become of golf. All that manufacturers want to do is sell you expensive clubs. They don’t even care if they fit you, because they know that if it doesn’t work, you’ll just buy another one.
One of the most glaring problem with modern golf is general, is actually not the equipment but the courses. There’s literally barely any rough at most courses these days, and that makes it seem like you don’t need small heads in irons. As soon as there is some ankle high rough and the ball is sitting down in it, I dare you to try to hack it out of there with a shovel headed club. You can’t. You won’t be able to.
Barney
Sep 16, 2022 at 1:21 pm
I’m glad we can finally address this topic! Well done!
Prime21
Sep 16, 2022 at 10:56 am
This is the 4,167th time this has been a “subject” on this sight. Regardless of the situation, pick the club that allows you to score the best, period. Can we please stop using this topic?!
Bhickey
Sep 16, 2022 at 9:30 am
Please ban this tired old subject.
Hogan
Sep 17, 2022 at 7:06 am
Why ban this subject! This is the kind of stuff this site was built on. So what should we talk about? How the newest driver gets you 30 more yards, or maybe how the new irons hit every green.. no I got it how the new putters never miss putts. Don’t read the topic if you don’t like it… easy!!
Bhickey
Oct 11, 2022 at 5:34 pm
Seriously get a life and use another name besides Hogan.
Holden Tudiks
Sep 15, 2022 at 7:45 pm
They become an advantage when people gather around your bag in awe of blades. Men will do most anything to another man just to hold them.