Equipment
Are blades really ‘punishing’ or do people swing too hard? – GolfWRXers discuss
In our forums, our members have been discussing blade irons. WRXer ‘ChunkItGood’ questions whether blades are actually overly punishing, and kicks off the thread saying.
“I just heard a guy on tv quote John Anselmo (?) who apparently taught Woods to the effect that ‘you can hit the ball as hard as you want as long as you hit the center of the face and stay in balance.’
If people followed that rule, would they have to worry about punishing’ mishits? Shouldn’t they, instead of getting more forgiving clubs, just stop swinging so hard they cannot hit the center of the face?”
And our members have been sharing their thoughts on the matter in our forum.
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.
- BagOfToast: “I find that a lot of the time I’m not hitting the center I’m just swinging too fast, so I’d agree with swinging too hard.”
- iknowbagu: “It’s not mutually exclusive. Yes, blades are more punishing on off-center strikes. Yes, people swing too hard.”
- jomatty: “Blades are punishing. I’m not sure that most players do better when they try to swing easy. As long as my tempo stays good and I don’t get quick from the top, my most consistent strike, with everything wedges, is one that is very close to as hard as I can swing. If I try to make that same hard swing and my tempo is bad, or if I try to make an easy swing and my tempo and sequencing is bad then I have lots of problems.”
- Phabs: “Believe Tiger’s dad said that to him, not a coach. Swing speed had nothing to do with contact point. I can swing slow and hit a ball like crap, or I can swing out of my shoes and have the same result.”
Entire Thread: “Are blades really ‘punishing’ or do people swing too hard? – GolfWRXers discuss“
More from the Forums
Equipment
Interesting clubs at top of bag – GolfWRXers discuss
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
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)
- 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


Mini driver: TaylorMade BRNR (13.5 degrees)
Shaft: Project X HZRDUS Black TX 80 g

5-wood: TaylorMade Qi4D (18 degrees)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Chemical Diamana WB Wood Shaft 83 TX

7-wood: TaylorMade Qi4D (21 degrees)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Diamana WB Wood Shaft 83 TX

Irons: TaylorMade P770 (3), Bridgestone Tour B 220 MB (4-9)
Shafts: KBS C-Taper 130 X


Wedges: TaylorMade MG5 (46, 52, 56, 60)
Shafts: KBS C-Taper 130 X, True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100

Putter: TaylorMade Spider X Tour
Grip: SuperStroke Zenergy Pistol 2.0

Grips: Golf Pride Z Grip Cord
Ball: Bridgestone Tour B X Mindset
Check out more in-hand photos of Chris Gotterup’s clubs here.
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Jean Fryer
Aug 4, 2022 at 4:14 am
I learned to play with a set of Jack Nicklaus blades. I was at best a 6 handicap in my early twenties. Stopped playing golf shortly thereafter. Decided to give it a go again aged 48. Went to a pro shop and tried out different second-hand irons. Decided on the Mizuno MP69s with extra stiff shafts. The guy behind the counter said I am f&cking crazy. I went back out again and tried other irons again. Came back with the Mizunos. He laughed at me, called his mate in the workshop, told him that he moved the f&cking Mizunos after 5 years, and rang it up. As I am playing with my mates, they give me grief, I try their irons, and tell them their irons suck. I am slowly getting better. My last 5 scores have been 91, 90, 90, 90, 89. Mizuno MP69s are not blades like the old Nicklaus irons were blades. And yes, the better my rhythm and tempo (even fast) the better the shot.