I use them. No big deal except for the fact they are more consistent in terms of dispersion. Mishits are just as bad CB's and hollow body irons. However i would never recommend them to someone who is always swinging out of their shoes.
I haven't seen Mark this excited before. A real treat to watch him enjoy hitting those gorgeous BluePrints. I don't currently used blades, but am considering it. Not because of this video, btw. Moreso because I like the idea of "playing up" a club from my capability. Meaning, playing a blade well will require me to improve my striking.
I started playing in 1970, all we had were blades so everybody used them! Nobody knew the long irons were scary & if you wanted to go longer, pick a longer club no faffing with lofts! I mostly played blades, finishing with S59’s 3 months ago now on i210’s but.......🤔
This video was great! I love watching what a pro can hit with new clubs to show what they are capable of, but I like it even more when they let mid-high handicappers show how they preform for with them. I’m no James Robison so seeing someone more my level still doing well with them gets me more excited. Top notch review video James!
Thanks Mark, appreciated you’re mid-handicap commentary and content. I am someone that gains confidence on look and feel. You convinced me to try the blueprint. I normally play Titleist. Currently play AP2 718 and have played CB in the past. Have tried the i500 but did not like the cast feel and went back to my 718s. Thanks again.
Of course - will always want to have blades 7 in as they tend to be scoring clubs which you can ‘feel’ and shape - below that I am more relaxed as long as they fit in!
Ok I tried our trial iron this morning. Just like Mark I would take a set into a medal tomorrow. Amazing and it had a stiff shaft where I use soft reg So I need to get fitted ! I tried it against a P790 and found I couldn’t tell where I hit the face. The Blueprint was a more controllable feel. What a club !!! I’m off 13 and not a special ball striker so don’t be afraid to give it a go. Happy golfing 😃
This is always such an interesting topic! Can a mid handicapper play blades? Well, I tihnk it depends on how they player gets to said mid handicap doesn't it? My thoughts: GOOD CANDIDATES 1) A once low to NO HCP player who doesn't play as much as he or she once did but are still good ball strikers with good swings! 2) A once scratch player who has kids, doesn't play as much as he'd like, practices a lot, has an OK swing but GOOD ball striking skills and solid Swing Speed, is getting online lessons from James Robinson and is improving! (ahem...cough) 3) improving newer players with good ball striking skills 4) long time players with solid, consistent swings who don't mind being punished a bit when they strike the ball poorly because they feel the reward and feeling of a well struck shot from a blade is worth it! BAD CANDIDATE: 1) Players who have no idea whee the ball is going most of the time and don't plan to work on getting better! (ie. MY BROTHER) :0) 2) Players who strike the ball all over the face! 3) Anyone who for whom distance, including on mishits, is a priority in club selection.
I've only ever played blades and would never tell anyone to shy away from them. Even a poor ball striker will naturally improve through the feedback blades give you. And everyone is so fussed about dispersion left and right but no one talks about dispersion back to front. On 10 well struck blades that dispersion will be tight, while with some modern "distance" irons it will be pretty poor. At least I always have gotten those odd few balls that fly miles like a flier from the rough. Put them in the bag! Get feedback from your strikes, improve, and gain control. Your game might suffer short term but I promise, you will be a better player for it.
Brian Schaper - How so? Any golfer with experience can tell you where he missed a shot on the face, I don’t care what club you’re swinging. If you’re ever unsure, just look at the face. The more forgiving irons fly a little straighter and lose a little less distance on a bad swing. That little bit of distance can get you over the water instead of in it or on the green instead of in the bunker. Feedback tells you where you missed it but it doesn’t make you a better golfer. Blades are not a training aid. You have to practice and develop a solid repeatable swing then move to the blades. Not the other way around. If there’s a question of feedback vs forgiveness, most golfers should go for forgiveness. I don’t see anyone upset with their giant titanium drivers with nano infused graphite shafts and movable weights. They just keep wanting higher MOI. Same goes for high tech mallet putters. So why embrace technology on some clubs and avoid it on others? It really comes down to looks and trying to impress your playing partner. Blades are pretty, but they don’t suit everyone’s game.
@@sloebone7399 If you really want to get into it, again I disagree with most of what your saying. Let's use the clubs in this video for arguments sake. If you hit the blueprint say 10 mils on the toe you are going to feel it in you hands, the face will deflect, and the ball will come up short. Every part of the experience of the shot tells you that you hit it poorly on the toe. Do the same with the I series and the shot will feel slightly toe sure, but it will fly nearly the same distance. So this is going to register in your head as only a slight toe strike when in fact it was a poor strike, and you'll never adjust properly to hit it on the button. I believe without a doubt we are constantly adapting to the feedback a club gives us. It all depends on what you want out of a golf club. If you are a very casual golfer who doesn't get out much sure get CBs. Make your life easier and have more fun when you do get the chance to play. But that's not the person I'm telling to not be afraid to play blades. Anyone who is actually trying to improve their game, and actively working on it, should have 0 fear of them. You may struggle for a while coming from cavity backs but your ball striking WILL get better. And they are somewhat a training aid. A club that does nothing but give you exact feedback on your strike, with nothing to mask it. How is that not? You feel what a perfect strike is and what isnt. How do you not learn and improve from that? Listen to the guy in the video. He hits the blade and most time responds with that went exactly where it felt like it should have for that swing. Your telling me he won't learn and progress from feedback like that? You're right, blades are for the better player, but with time they will make you a better player. And this is all without me getting into the improve shot making ability, distance control, and ability to cut through the rough blades provide.
Brian Schaper - And I completely disagree with what you’re saying. If hitting bad shots leads to hitting good shots then everybody would be scratch. Improper technique doesn’t heal itself. Hand eye coordination varies among people. No golfer hits every shot solid, most are lucky to strike a few solid shots per round Bad shots become obvious instantly. Where the club meets the ball is only one factor. It doesn’t tell you your swing path, club head speed, angle of attack, if the face was opened or closed and golfers wouldn’t know what to do with that information if they had it. Golfers might know where they missed it, but they don’t know why and they don’t know how to correct it. Every golfer knows you’re supposed to hit the ball with the middle is the face, right? So why would you ever miss it in the first place? It’s because golf is hard and a consistent swing is earned through practice, and lots of it. Like Hogan said, you have to dig it out of the ground. You only get one chance. You don’t get to toss down another ball and try to correct a bad shot, you have to find your misses and play them. If a club can help you get away with a bad swing that’s a godsend. The goal is still to get the ball in the hole in the fewest strokes. Blades aren’t tools that turn bad golfers into good golfers, they’re tools that highly skilled players can use to control their golf in ways most golfers wouldn’t even begin to try. And I’m guessing you disagree with all that. Lol!
I'm a high handicap golfer. I've been playing near blades (haven't played much recently, but before recently) for 6 years. It has made no difference in my scores (as in, I haven't lost anything over game improvement stuff), but I enjoy the ability to do things with the irons that better golfers would do - they work left to right so much better than game improvement stuff and you can do more to control height with them and learn about angles that you're hitting because they don't just skid. Since I'm not shooting a great score, I'm also thinking about dumping my modern driver and 3 wood and going to an older driver or driving iron to improve my contact and resist the urge to get quick at the top and try to blast the ball.
Everything seems a bit more legitimate and proper with a British accent. It really does. I really enjoy the Mark video's too.I'd really like to see a video on game improvement wedges. Most wedges seem to be just blades. Thanks for the fun videos.
I tested these in the store today, my dispersion in the 6i-4i were minimal. Felt like a purpose built tool for striking the ball. ......... I. MUST. HAVE.
The nearest to a blade I have tried in the last 20 years is the 919 Tour 7i and was very surprised at how easy it was to hit. I think I could play them from 6i - PW and replace the 4i & 5i with hybrids.
Those Ping Blueprints are gorgeous. I used to play some old school blades...no technology and very unforgiving. Wish I could afford those Pings. I'd play them...probably PW-6 or 7. Great review. I wonder when we start seeing them on the tour with their staff players...
Having watched your vlogs for about 8 months, its good to see the trees with leaves, and subscribers up by about 30K. Best looking Pings I've seen, but won't be trying as only been fitted for new irons in December. 🏌️♂️
Just the sound on the blades, makes you want to go and get a set, i've used the Titleist MB blades 710 and as long as you have a good swing, there's nothing like it when you flush them, if its on the heel or toe you will definitely about it.
Always makes me laugh at the thought of being scared of a club. For me a more compact head makes me focus more on strike and get far better touch and feel with them that matches the workability of the club. All of that inspires confidence for me over a bulky low center of gravity distance iron. In the event of a mishit I feel like I can get out of whatever trouble I get into because of aforementioned reasons. I also find that the compact heads don't get tangled up in the rough nearly as much. Great review and great looking set of clubs. Going to have to put these up against the Apex Pro!
Ross Lillebo. You're gonna have to put these up against the the Callaway Apex MB. Not the Apex Pro. The Apex Pro are not real, true blades like the Blueprint. The Apex MB are blades.
I enjoy watching your videos Mr. Robinson but I feel and maybe it's the coach in you but you seem to be a bit negative leaning towards adamant about anyone playing blades other than scratch. I play blades and I'm in my late 50's. I no longer practice like I used to and for sure don't play as good as I used to, but I say if you want to play blades play blades and don't let anyone tell you you can't. I know when I first started playing blades my game actually got better because it forced me to hit the sweet spot more often. Mark play those sweet looking PING blades and be happy! Isn't that what golf is all about? Sorry to ramble. Keep up the good work Mr. Robinson.
The idea that there is a lot of game correction in any irons is not true as far as the idea of cavity vs blades; The important factors, are the shafts, loft progression; degree of hosel offset, if any; and adjustability of lie as required; If the design of the cavity was so important, they wouldn't all look different, and essentially look contradictory over time, and between the brands. If there is game correction in your set, is it the type that suits your game, your courses, and the type of golf you play from business best ball to tournament play? If there wasn't any difference in heads, or the claimed difference, there is still a lot that can be done with clubs in honest tests to make it look as though there was a difference. You can got out and get clubs by different manufacturer's and just by choosing Iron Byron's swing speed, optimize the carry and accuracy of a particular brand's clubs.
Have to agree with you squire. I used to be off 12, had a few bad years with hip trouble and work curtailing my golf. I've gone from 19 to 15 in 2020 and I'm fancying some Pings that are for "cat1 only". Reg flex is the only stumbling block with some Shops
Being a PING iron user since I started playing golf.(20-25 years or so)..starting off with the classic PING ZING irons..then the EYE 2 irons and eventually working my way up to what I'm using now the G400's..when it comes to irons..all I know is the PING brand..so being a mid handicapper (about a 11-13)..and the videos "Can a mid-handicap player use the BLUEPRINT irons?"..I answer that question easily with a resounding YES!!..cause at address they dont look difficult to hit like a traditional blade iron usually does..but unfortunately the cost of those beautiful sticks from what I've seen online from the golf shops..4-PW..averaging $1300 -$1500 ..ouch..and a yikes..thats pricey expensive..being a quality and beautiful looking club..I guess that price tag shouldn't suprise me...oh well..maybe Santa Claus put a set under my tree one year...ha))
They look great and seem to perform really well. However I think the modern cavity back irons are exceptional as well, guess it comes down to personal preference and what suits your game better.
Mark's swing is so drastically different from last year.. He is striking it well and his face lit up like a kid on Christmas morning holding the Blueprints... Time to give Mark the Blueprints to test for the season James.... Great Vlog and great idea to make it on the course...🍻
I honestly think Mark would play better over time with the blue prints. Sometimes you can just get a large amount of confidence when you LOVE the look and feel of a club. I think as you progress as a player, the wide sole clubs become a hindrance. Mark has progressed greatly this past year. The better you get, the more consistent you are, the more wide sole clubs don't allow you to work the ball or be as creative with shots and they will spin more, so he'll have more control on the scoring irons.. I think Mark has a lot of confidence with these because he loves how they look. "Go get them Mark!!"
The question for me is when should a golfer change to blades? Would a combination set come 1st then eventually full set. I play of 10 and will change my irons ready for next season
Whenever you want to. It’s all in the mind. Play what makes you feel comfortable and confident. I personally can’t stand the look of chunky CB irons with fat soles and leading edges and would therefore never play them.
James you should review the Wilson Staff Blades. They are the best out there. Thanks for the Video. Every one think they cant hit blades but they are not that hard to hit. I am a 10 handicap and have a set of the wilson staff blades ordered.
Well done Mates!! I love Mark's reaction with the Blueprint on the first tee.....he hid the club behind his back like 'Sorry mate, I don't know where the club went...'...lol! I respect Mr. Solheim's (sp?) story; mid life engineer with a goal/dream and making it happen! I just wish these came out a little bit sooner!! I just ordered Ben Hogan PTx Pro irons on Sunday!!! Don't get me wrong, the Hogan's are $770 US and the Blueprints are $1700, that's a HUGE deciding factor. Financially I could have made it work...but seriously?! James, can you do a PTx Pro review in the near future? Would REALLY appreciate Mark hitting those too!
Karsten’s greatest contributions were perimeter weighting and investment casting. Two things these irons don’t have. He wouldn’t even recognize the clubs Ping puts out right now.
The perimeter weighting principle is a lot more effective with a center shafted putter (where it was first found) than Irons. With Irons you run into problems making the center and top line too thin, By the time you deal with all that you have pretty much destroyed what perimeter weighting could have achieved. And those theories are based on the hosel not existing, or the shaft. There are other issues like when you make the clubhead really large to emphasize the perimeter effects the sole drags. To counter that, often the sole is curved a great deal, which raises the center of gravity, and undermines the perimeter effect. And on and on. The perimeter fixation is based on ideas like high handicappers having trouble getting the ball up. What if that isn't your problem? And if it is, hybrids are a better solution for many. Most people already play blades in their wedges. Blades have inherent benefits all their own. These often favor "real" golf courses, and players. Better feel is good feedback for beginners. Blades are often equipped with straighter soles for better aiming. The clubhead size is often more reasonable for better play off hard lies, or out of rough. A lot easier to see the face for chipping. Fancy cast sets are normally designed to flatter your belief you hit a long high ball with those clubs so you will buy a new set, rather than helping you play golf, which is not a game of who hits a 6 iron the furthest at the cost of scoring with the shorter clubs. Some of these issues are fiaxable in cavities, if the fashion favored them. The reality is fluff aside you want clubs that have the correct shaft, the correct loft progression, and are forged so that the lie can be adjusted to whatever degree is required. So of course it is all marketing where abrupt changes in the terrain on the back of the club actually make a difference from the branding perspective. And cast clubs are far cheaper to make, and a lot cheaper to bring out new versions of. Blades are good for all levels of golfer, but only if they are designed and outfitted appropriately. And the things that mater the most are not eye candy.
If the best looking clubs hit the best shots, these would go in my bag. I’m a low hcp and play i25s. IMO, play what gives you confidence and helps you enjoy the game. No right answer here....
It's hard enough adjusting to a different set of irons of the same size, but to adjust that quickly to blades was a top effort. Phenomenal results and I think they might improve his game. Now, where can I find £1200...........
I have a question about these types of videos.... Shouldn't the golfer hit the same loft when comparing instead of the same number? I keep hearing about distance being a factor but they are not the same loft. Would seem a better route to grab the club for the distance you want compared to exact same iron in both clubs. Thoughts? I'm new to golfing.
for me on these blade's I would compare with Mizuno . mp20 . these look good i am nearly single figures . i use a mizuno 4 iron and i love it.. but cleveland cbs make the rest of my set up to 8 and i use blade mizuno 9 and pw
I play p790. Interesting idea, compare a different club with same loft. How would that club look if you picture in your mind a triangle with a 30 degree face angle (left side)? 🔼 Assuming the base is slender (blades) versus "chunky" wouldn't that make it smaller with a different CG?⏏ I'm not an engineer but I would be more curious as to club gram weight and swing weight (feel and "easy to swing") being a "feel" player. 🏌️♂️ Being a smaller head might help you focus and the weight is "just right". 🔥 Curious thought, why the sudden RUclips discussion on blade-type clubs? 🤔
AP2’s are more of a players iron as several tour pros game them, one I know of right off hand is Jordan Spieth. But that said, they still have a lot more forgiveness built into them than what these blades would. There’s just not that much you can do with a bladed iron to make it forgiving or “easier” to play. They are all about feel and playability and being able to feel and know what the club head is doing at impact. They put it all in the hands of the player. Your AP2’s are great irons and are aimed more towards the lower to mid handicappers, but they still are quite a bit more forgiving and have a lot of features designed to help you that any blade is not going to have. Like I said, a blade is a blade, and there’s just not very much you can do with one to make it more forgiving while still keeping it a blade. lol if that makes sense? 😂
@@theoutdoorsman9726 That being said, you think maybe the i210 are closer to the AP2? I'm actually looking to get a full fitting because I became pro a couple of weeks ago. I like PING products and I could go for a mix bag of Blueprint from P-7 and i210 from 6-3.
Javier Nunez I’ve not seen a lot about the i210’s from ping but from what I have seen and read, I would say yes they are much more comparable to your AP2’s than the blueprints are. I do know that the older model, the i200’s, were placed in a lot of videos of different golf instructors on RUclips doing head to head comparisons against the AP2’s. And since the i210 is basically you could say, the new updated version of the i200’s, I would say they fit right into that same class as your AP2’s. These irons were brought out by ping last year, so I’m not sure if ping had an even newer model or not. Maybe not yet because I do know the i200 was around for a good while before they came out with the 210’s and I don’t keep up with it ping a whole lot but I other way they look like a great set of irons, the look of them is very nice to me as they look like more of a players iron without being as intimidating as a blade, and the pros in RUclips that I’ve seen do reviews for them all said they perform really nicely. I may just have to check into these sticks for myself to be honest. I’ve never owned a set of ping irons because honestly I’ve always found most of the different models of irons they send to market to be really ugly and so I’ve just never been able to see myself gaming anything they offered. But I really like these and they really seem to fit my eye. Thanks for bringing them to my attention Lol!! And good in luck making your decision on what irons you decide to go with but honestly you should just put any brand loyalty aside and go get fit and use whatever set it is that gives you the best numbers but I know everyone doesn’t have that option. So good luck to you my friend.
Mark is remarkable for a mid-handicap player because he liked the look of the Blueprint Irons he responds positively and hits them like a Pro. But before he rushes off and puts them in his bag, he may just need to ask a few questions. Namely; 1. What shaft was in the Blueprint Irons and was it something about the shafts weight, flex, flight profile that he was responding to rather than the Irons themselves? 2. He clearly was having an excellent Ball striking day, but how well would he play with the Blueprint's when he was having an off-day with his swing? Either way, I wish him well and secretly I hope that he does put them in his Bag because I would love to game them, but unlike him, I need all the help that I can get from my Irons.
I play golf with a plus 1 handicapper who is sponsored by ping and is out in college in America. He tried them when he went to Gainsborough for a fitting yesterday. He has used the iblade after switching over from Titleist mb irons for years. He said that he wouldn’t have the confidence in using the irons as they are the smallest irons that he’d ever seen. Says a lot that as he is the best ball striker I’ve ever played with. There are only two tour pros using them oousteheizen and sully in full sets with pavon using 8-W in the blueprint. Why make golf more difficult when your pros are using i210s and iblades If you’re not the purest of pure strikers. They’re not for you.
Very interesting! Any sub 15 handicap should be able to play with blades, certainly 7 iron and up, they'll definitely help you to concentrate on your contact!
Pretty good ball striking for a mid-capper if you ask me. I'm willing to bet Mark could hit with any vintage blades :). But damn those Blueprints do look lovely!
Awesome video love it on the course sick of watching them on launch monitor tests and crunching numbers. Seeing it on the course is the real deal. Also love you proving a mid handicap can play these irons which are blades! It's kinda like me or a nascar driver in a ferrari my results won't be like Jeff Gordon's but i can still drive the car lol! Great video im so sick of hearing that these irons are for the elite pros only which account for less than 4% of the golfing population yet retailers are carrying them around the country sounds like a lot of inventory for 4% of golfers but as you can see they are not just for elite players just different results. I'd love to see him take a whack at the Mizuno MP 20 MBs muscle backs if you have an opportunity.
Little late in commenting but I had the opportunity to hit these today at a Demo day after playing a round at one of my local courses. 1st time ever hitting blades and man was I hooked especially after smashing the 2 Iron!! Wow. I'm right around a 10 Handicap player at the moment and am using X-Hot 2 Callaway irons and at 1st when I look down hitting Blades I'm a bit ehhh nervous it was just something about them that made me feel like a better golfer. The weight of the club head too really helps swing down and through the ball for me and I just struck them well. I scruffed a few shots here and there but all in all I was pretty sold on them. Do I have $1500 to snag some at the moment that is a hard no, however I would be interested to see of other options out there to move into blade irons. For me I think the small strike face actually made me focus on my shots more as the larger face of my current clubs made me sometimes hit lazy.
Elijah Nagel so I woukd ask how long you've been playing and if you plan to play for life regardless of skill level. I think anyone can buy a club and learn on "that" club and get better with time. I'm 33 and have playing since I was about 10. I made my first set of clubs, had Taylor made R7s after that and about 5 years ago got Callaway X2 hots. I'm no way near being a scratch golfer but about a 10 handicap and always improving but it depends on how often I play. I try to hit the range 2 tines a week and play once a week or st least once every two weeks. If I were to purchase these iron they would be a purchase that would last me a long long time or life. So you have to have to look at that investment. Sorry for the long winded comment that's sort of just how I go about things like this.
@@jdpst20 I am 14 and have been playing for about 3 months; however, I practice daily with a hitting net for 2 hours. And within those three months I have reduced my handicap from probably shooting in the 100s, to around 14 over par. I am very focused on becoming better, and I plan on playing for a very long time. however, the reason I asked you is not to buy these irons, but more or less to figure out what clubs would fit me best. I do think though that when I upgrade, I will go to something more forgiving😅. thanks for the advice! btw thank you for taking the time to reply to me.
@@elijahnagel5399 I would either reccommend buying something used for 300-500$ and working on your game from the time you are 14 till 20/22 ish or in collage ect. You are still growing in probably height and in strength and the clubs you get now you will outgrow in 4-7 years. Find some nice used name brand forgiving irons that are comfortable to hit and you can learn to work the ball with them draw and fade. Then once you are done growing and have built up more of some strength, get a professional fitting for some pro-am by then mid to low low handicap clubs that will last you 10-15 years.
Don't DO this to me!!! After your review I was convinced that these were definitely not for me, and would only be "ego" clubs. But seeing mid-handicapper Mark hit them well, I'm getting twitchy! 🤪 I think I need to dig the MP-67s or MP-59s out of the closet and play a round with those in order to restore a sense of reality!
Very interesting James. I have seen a couple of reviews on these now.plus one on the Wilson staff blades. Do you think we have been pushed away from blades by clever marketing. Mark seemed to love them as did the guys on Rick shiels review of the Wilson staff blades,with some of those guys playing off fairly high handicaps.
The perimeter weighting principle is a lot more effective with a center shafted putter (where it was first found) than Irons. With Irons you run into problems making the center and top line too thin, By the time you deal with all that you have pretty much destroyed what perimeter weighting could have achieved. And those theories are based on the hosel not existing, or the shaft. There are other issues like when you make the clubhead really large to emphasize the perimeter effects the sole drags. To counter that, often the sole is curved a great deal, which raises the center of gravity, and undermines the perimeter effect. And on and on. The perimeter fixation is based on ideas like high handicappers having trouble getting the ball up. What if that isn't your problem? And if it is, hybrids are a better solution for many. Most people already play blades in their wedges. Blades have inherent benefits all their own. These often favor "real" golf courses, and players. Better feel is good feedback for beginners. Blades are often equipped with straighter soles for better aiming. The clubhead size is often more reasonable for better play off hard lies, or out of rough. A lot easier to see the face for chipping. Fancy cast sets are normally designed to flatter your belief you hit a long high ball with those clubs so you will buy a new set, rather than helping you play golf, which is not a game of who hits a 6 iron the furthest at the cost of scoring with the shorter clubs. Some of these issues are fiaxable in cavities, if the fashion favored them. The reality is fluff aside you want clubs that have the correct shaft, the correct loft progression, and are forged so that the lie can be adjusted to whatever degree is required. So of course it is all marketing where abrupt changes in the terrain on the back of the club actually make a difference from the branding perspective. And cast clubs are far cheaper to make, and a lot cheaper to bring out new versions of. Blades are good for all levels of golfer, but only if they are designed and outfitted appropriately. And the things that mater the most are not eye candy.
The idea that there is a lot of game correction in any irons is not true as far as the idea of cavity vs blades; The important factors, are the shafts, loft progression; degree of hosel offset, if any; and adjustability of lie as required; If the design of the cavity was so important, they wouldn't all look different, and essentially look contradictory over time, and between the brands. If there is game correction in your set, is it the type that suits your game, your courses, and the type of golf you play from business best ball to tournament play? If there wasn't any difference in heads, or the claimed difference, there is still a lot that can be done with clubs in honest tests to make it look as though there was a difference. You can go out and get clubs by different manufacturer's and just by choosing Iron Byron's swing speed, optimize the carry and accuracy of a particular brand's clubs. So, you can't trust scientific claims, there is always a house advantage possible, even with a straight test.
reminds me of a Leadbetter video where he took a pro as a guinea pig, presenting him as an almost beginner so to make us think he was an outstanding teacher (which he is without a doubt, intriguing) Honestly what is the true handicap of your guinea pig, who plays more than decent !!
I have tried them on the range and they strike unbelievably well. I will own them but the price is slowing me down. They will be my Christmas, Birthday and whatever other excuse that I can drum up to pay for them. I might be keeping them in the gun safe. But, you usually get what you pay for and this is one of those cases. They hit so well at the range that I cannot wait to play them. I smell a drop in the handicap here. Who said it is the Indian and not the arrow? They just haven't tried these arrows.
A bad shot is a bad shot regardless of what iron you’re playing. Too many people try to get so technical about irons. Playing golf is supposed to be fun. Most of us will never be on tour. Play what makes you feel good and have fun! Don’t let anyone tell you that you can’t/shouldn’t hit blades!
James Robinson Golf. I would really genuinely like you to make a video with a blade and a cavity back of exactly the same loft and show us all in the numbers why the golf industry says us mid to high handicappers shouldn't play blades. Prove to us FORGIVENESS.
You make a good point, but.... There is the fact that most game improvement clubs do a better job of holding on to distance on shots that miss the center. whether or not they have a tighter left to right dispersion is definitely something worth testing.....with SIMILAR LOFTS.
I play p790. Interesting, same loft. How would that club look if you picture in your mind a triangle with a 30 degree face? Assuming the base is slender (blades) versus "chunky" wouldn't that make it smaller with a different CG? I'm not an engineer but I would be more curious as to club height weight and swing weight (feel and "easy to swing") being a "feel" player.
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Would you use blades??? Let me know!
James Robinson Golf yes use the mp-4
I use tzoid pro 1
I use them. No big deal except for the fact they are more consistent in terms of dispersion. Mishits are just as bad CB's and hollow body irons. However i would never recommend them to someone who is always swinging out of their shoes.
Used (mostly) blades up to 3 months ago and might just go back due to the Blueprints!😍
Yes I would ....and I have for most of my life.
Hogan Radials
Hogan Apex
Hogan Apex Plus
Mizuno MP-32
Titleist 731 PM irons
I love them. I think I may have said this before James but I think using blades helps you focus on your swing as they don't hide the miss hits.
I haven't seen Mark this excited before. A real treat to watch him enjoy hitting those gorgeous BluePrints. I don't currently used blades, but am considering it. Not because of this video, btw. Moreso because I like the idea of "playing up" a club from my capability. Meaning, playing a blade well will require me to improve my striking.
I’ve just moved from ping i20 to Talyormade P730 Irons and I’m loving them
I started playing in 1970, all we had were blades so everybody used them! Nobody knew the long irons were scary & if you wanted to go longer, pick a longer club no faffing with lofts! I mostly played blades, finishing with S59’s 3 months ago now on i210’s but.......🤔
Egg zachary!
This video was great! I love watching what a pro can hit with new clubs to show what they are capable of, but I like it even more when they let mid-high handicappers show how they preform for with them.
I’m no James Robison so seeing someone more my level still doing well with them gets me more excited.
Top notch review video James!
Dynamic duo! Love when you two get together. Another great one!
Thanks Mark, appreciated you’re mid-handicap commentary and content. I am someone that gains confidence on look and feel. You convinced me to try the blueprint. I normally play Titleist. Currently play AP2 718 and have played CB in the past. Have tried the i500 but did not like the cast feel and went back to my 718s. Thanks again.
Elaine Freeman. The i500 irons are not cast. They're forged. You have no idea what you're talking about.
Of course - will always want to have blades 7 in as they tend to be scoring clubs which you can ‘feel’ and shape - below that I am more relaxed as long as they fit in!
Ok I tried our trial iron this morning. Just like Mark I would take a set into a medal tomorrow. Amazing and it had a stiff shaft where I use soft reg So I need to get fitted ! I tried it against a P790 and found I couldn’t tell where I hit the face. The Blueprint was a more controllable feel. What a club !!! I’m off 13 and not a special ball striker so don’t be afraid to give it a go. Happy golfing 😃
WAYNE PADLEY did you get the blueprint? If so, do you like it?
Steven Carrier Fantastic !
Yes !! Ages to go I started with Wilson Staff!! Ping looks like they have hit a home run!!
This is always such an interesting topic! Can a mid handicapper play blades?
Well, I tihnk it depends on how they player gets to said mid handicap doesn't it?
My thoughts:
GOOD CANDIDATES
1) A once low to NO HCP player who doesn't play as much as he or she once did but are still good ball strikers with good swings!
2) A once scratch player who has kids, doesn't play as much as he'd like, practices a lot, has an OK swing but GOOD ball striking skills and solid Swing Speed, is getting online lessons from James Robinson and is improving! (ahem...cough)
3) improving newer players with good ball striking skills
4) long time players with solid, consistent swings who don't mind being punished a bit when they strike the ball poorly because they feel the reward and feeling of a well struck shot from a blade is worth it!
BAD CANDIDATE:
1) Players who have no idea whee the ball is going most of the time and don't plan to work on getting better! (ie. MY BROTHER) :0)
2) Players who strike the ball all over the face!
3) Anyone who for whom distance, including on mishits, is a priority in club selection.
Lefty SoCal Golfer - PGA Tour players would be the ultimate candidates for blades, you’d think, but only 25 to 35 percent of them play them.
Blades rule 👍 Nothing to fear but fear itself.
Mark is excellent and his comments are incisive and helpful
I've only ever played blades and would never tell anyone to shy away from them. Even a poor ball striker will naturally improve through the feedback blades give you. And everyone is so fussed about dispersion left and right but no one talks about dispersion back to front. On 10 well struck blades that dispersion will be tight, while with some modern "distance" irons it will be pretty poor. At least I always have gotten those odd few balls that fly miles like a flier from the rough. Put them in the bag! Get feedback from your strikes, improve, and gain control. Your game might suffer short term but I promise, you will be a better player for it.
Cavity back irons give you the exact same feedback as blades, they just don’t punish you as much for the mishits.
@@sloebone7399 Couldn't disagree more. And your statement borderline contradicts itself.
Brian Schaper - How so? Any golfer with experience can tell you where he missed a shot on the face, I don’t care what club you’re swinging. If you’re ever unsure, just look at the face. The more forgiving irons fly a little straighter and lose a little less distance on a bad swing. That little bit of distance can get you over the water instead of in it or on the green instead of in the bunker.
Feedback tells you where you missed it but it doesn’t make you a better golfer. Blades are not a training aid. You have to practice and develop a solid repeatable swing then move to the blades. Not the other way around. If there’s a question of feedback vs forgiveness, most golfers should go for forgiveness.
I don’t see anyone upset with their giant titanium drivers with nano infused graphite shafts and movable weights. They just keep wanting higher MOI. Same goes for high tech mallet putters. So why embrace technology on some clubs and avoid it on others?
It really comes down to looks and trying to impress your playing partner. Blades are pretty, but they don’t suit everyone’s game.
@@sloebone7399 If you really want to get into it, again I disagree with most of what your saying.
Let's use the clubs in this video for arguments sake. If you hit the blueprint say 10 mils on the toe you are going to feel it in you hands, the face will deflect, and the ball will come up short. Every part of the experience of the shot tells you that you hit it poorly on the toe. Do the same with the I series and the shot will feel slightly toe sure, but it will fly nearly the same distance. So this is going to register in your head as only a slight toe strike when in fact it was a poor strike, and you'll never adjust properly to hit it on the button. I believe without a doubt we are constantly adapting to the feedback a club gives us. It all depends on what you want out of a golf club. If you are a very casual golfer who doesn't get out much sure get CBs. Make your life easier and have more fun when you do get the chance to play. But that's not the person I'm telling to not be afraid to play blades. Anyone who is actually trying to improve their game, and actively working on it, should have 0 fear of them. You may struggle for a while coming from cavity backs but your ball striking WILL get better.
And they are somewhat a training aid. A club that does nothing but give you exact feedback on your strike, with nothing to mask it. How is that not? You feel what a perfect strike is and what isnt. How do you not learn and improve from that?
Listen to the guy in the video. He hits the blade and most time responds with that went exactly where it felt like it should have for that swing. Your telling me he won't learn and progress from feedback like that?
You're right, blades are for the better player, but with time they will make you a better player.
And this is all without me getting into the improve shot making ability, distance control, and ability to cut through the rough blades provide.
Brian Schaper - And I completely disagree with what you’re saying.
If hitting bad shots leads to hitting good shots then everybody would be scratch. Improper technique doesn’t heal itself. Hand eye coordination varies among people. No golfer hits every shot solid, most are lucky to strike a few solid shots per round Bad shots become obvious instantly. Where the club meets the ball is only one factor. It doesn’t tell you your swing path, club head speed, angle of attack, if the face was opened or closed and golfers wouldn’t know what to do with that information if they had it. Golfers might know where they missed it, but they don’t know why and they don’t know how to correct it.
Every golfer knows you’re supposed to hit the ball with the middle is the face, right? So why would you ever miss it in the first place? It’s because golf is hard and a consistent swing is earned through practice, and lots of it. Like Hogan said, you have to dig it out of the ground.
You only get one chance. You don’t get to toss down another ball and try to correct a bad shot, you have to find your misses and play them. If a club can help you get away with a bad swing that’s a godsend. The goal is still to get the ball in the hole in the fewest strokes.
Blades aren’t tools that turn bad golfers into good golfers, they’re tools that highly skilled players can use to control their golf in ways most golfers wouldn’t even begin to try.
And I’m guessing you disagree with all that. Lol!
I'm a high handicap golfer. I've been playing near blades (haven't played much recently, but before recently) for 6 years. It has made no difference in my scores (as in, I haven't lost anything over game improvement stuff), but I enjoy the ability to do things with the irons that better golfers would do - they work left to right so much better than game improvement stuff and you can do more to control height with them and learn about angles that you're hitting because they don't just skid.
Since I'm not shooting a great score, I'm also thinking about dumping my modern driver and 3 wood and going to an older driver or driving iron to improve my contact and resist the urge to get quick at the top and try to blast the ball.
Everything seems a bit more legitimate and proper with a British accent. It really does. I really enjoy the Mark video's too.I'd really like to see a video on game improvement wedges. Most wedges seem to be just blades. Thanks for the fun videos.
I tested these in the store today, my dispersion in the 6i-4i were minimal. Felt like a purpose built tool for striking the ball. ......... I. MUST. HAVE.
yep Play em ....I am refurbishing a nice set of MP68 Mizuno irons....love blades
The nearest to a blade I have tried in the last 20 years is the 919 Tour 7i and was very surprised at how easy it was to hit. I think I could play them from 6i - PW and replace the 4i & 5i with hybrids.
This honestly shows the importance of club fitting more than anything
Those Ping Blueprints are gorgeous. I used to play some old school blades...no technology and very unforgiving. Wish I could afford those Pings. I'd play them...probably PW-6 or 7. Great review. I wonder when we start seeing them on the tour with their staff players...
Love this most channels jus hit 7 irons nice to see mid handicap hit 4 iron
Having watched your vlogs for about 8 months, its good to see the trees with leaves, and subscribers up by about 30K. Best looking Pings I've seen, but won't be trying as only been fitted for new irons in December. 🏌️♂️
Just the sound on the blades, makes you want to go and get a set, i've used the Titleist MB blades 710 and as long as you have a good swing, there's nothing like it when you flush them, if its on the heel or toe you will definitely about it.
Always makes me laugh at the thought of being scared of a club. For me a more compact head makes me focus more on strike and get far better touch and feel with them that matches the workability of the club. All of that inspires confidence for me over a bulky low center of gravity distance iron. In the event of a mishit I feel like I can get out of whatever trouble I get into because of aforementioned reasons. I also find that the compact heads don't get tangled up in the rough nearly as much. Great review and great looking set of clubs. Going to have to put these up against the Apex Pro!
Ross Lillebo More music to my ears! Thanks.
Ross Lillebo. You're gonna have to put these up against the the Callaway Apex MB. Not the Apex Pro. The Apex Pro are not real, true blades like the Blueprint. The Apex MB are blades.
I enjoy watching your videos Mr. Robinson but I feel and maybe it's the coach in you but you seem to be a bit negative leaning towards adamant about anyone playing blades other than scratch. I play blades and I'm in my late 50's. I no longer practice like I used to and for sure don't play as good as I used to, but I say if you want to play blades play blades and don't let anyone tell you you can't. I know when I first started playing blades my game actually got better because it forced me to hit the sweet spot more often. Mark play those sweet looking PING blades and be happy! Isn't that what golf is all about? Sorry to ramble. Keep up the good work Mr. Robinson.
TheBigEasy Music to my ears. Two years ago I gave away my Spalding blades I’ve been playing since the ‘80s and regret it bitterly.
The idea that there is a lot of game correction in any irons is not true as far as the idea of cavity vs blades; The important factors, are the shafts, loft progression; degree of hosel offset, if any; and adjustability of lie as required; If the design of the cavity was so important, they wouldn't all look different, and essentially look contradictory over time, and between the brands.
If there is game correction in your set, is it the type that suits your game, your courses, and the type of golf you play from business best ball to tournament play?
If there wasn't any difference in heads, or the claimed difference, there is still a lot that can be done with clubs in honest tests to make it look as though there was a difference. You can got out and get clubs by different manufacturer's and just by choosing Iron Byron's swing speed, optimize the carry and accuracy of a particular brand's clubs.
Have to agree with you squire. I used to be off 12, had a few bad years with hip trouble and work curtailing my golf. I've gone from 19 to 15 in 2020 and I'm fancying some Pings that are for "cat1 only".
Reg flex is the only stumbling block with some Shops
Being a PING iron user since I started playing golf.(20-25 years or so)..starting off with the classic PING ZING irons..then the EYE 2 irons and eventually working my way up to what I'm using now the G400's..when it comes to irons..all I know is the PING brand..so being a mid handicapper (about a 11-13)..and the videos "Can a mid-handicap player use the BLUEPRINT irons?"..I answer that question easily with a resounding YES!!..cause at address they dont look difficult to hit like a traditional blade iron usually does..but unfortunately the cost of those beautiful sticks from what I've seen online from the golf shops..4-PW..averaging $1300 -$1500 ..ouch..and a yikes..thats pricey expensive..being a quality and beautiful looking club..I guess that price tag shouldn't suprise me...oh well..maybe Santa Claus put a set under my tree one year...ha))
They look great and seem to perform really well. However I think the modern cavity back irons are exceptional as well, guess it comes down to personal preference and what suits your game better.
Mark's swing is so drastically different from last year.. He is striking it well and his face lit up like a kid on Christmas morning holding the Blueprints... Time to give Mark the Blueprints to test for the season James.... Great Vlog and great idea to make it on the course...🍻
I honestly think Mark would play better over time with the blue prints. Sometimes you can just get a large amount of confidence when you LOVE the look and feel of a club. I think as you progress as a player, the wide sole clubs become a hindrance. Mark has progressed greatly this past year. The better you get, the more consistent you are, the more wide sole clubs don't allow you to work the ball or be as creative with shots and they will spin more, so he'll have more control on the scoring irons.. I think Mark has a lot of confidence with these because he loves how they look. "Go get them Mark!!"
A nice straight shot will get the job done 99% of the time.
I could see these coming my way!
Ping demo day in a few weeks
(I am already a blade user)
The question for me is when should a golfer change to blades?
Would a combination set come 1st then eventually full set. I play of 10 and will change my irons ready for next season
Whenever you want to. It’s all in the mind. Play what makes you feel comfortable and confident. I personally can’t stand the look of chunky CB irons with fat soles and leading edges and would therefore never play them.
beautiful clubs, but i'll be sticking with my Ping iBlades --- you get the feel and the look, but with some forgiveness too!
I finally got them after 16 weeks. They are gems
James you should review the Wilson Staff Blades. They are the best out there. Thanks for the Video. Every one think they cant hit blades but they are not that hard to hit. I am a 10 handicap and have a set of the wilson staff blades ordered.
Well done Mates!!
I love Mark's reaction with the Blueprint on the first tee.....he hid the club behind his back like 'Sorry mate, I don't know where the club went...'...lol!
I respect Mr. Solheim's (sp?) story; mid life engineer with a goal/dream and making it happen! I just wish these came out a little bit sooner!! I just ordered Ben Hogan PTx Pro irons on Sunday!!!
Don't get me wrong, the Hogan's are $770 US and the Blueprints are $1700, that's a HUGE deciding factor. Financially I could have made it work...but seriously?!
James, can you do a PTx Pro review in the near future? Would REALLY appreciate Mark hitting those too!
Karsten’s greatest contributions were perimeter weighting and investment casting. Two things these irons don’t have. He wouldn’t even recognize the clubs Ping puts out right now.
I’m a mid handicap and I use blades. If I could I’d use the blueprints
But I have ping s56 which are kind like blades. I use to use titleist zm blades
185 with a 7 iron. Even downwind. Poor guy must have no short game.
The perimeter weighting principle is a lot more effective with a center shafted putter (where it was first found) than Irons. With Irons you run into problems making the center and top line too thin, By the time you deal with all that you have pretty much destroyed what perimeter weighting could have achieved. And those theories are based on the hosel not existing, or the shaft.
There are other issues like when you make the clubhead really large to emphasize the perimeter effects the sole drags. To counter that, often the sole is curved a great deal, which raises the center of gravity, and undermines the perimeter effect.
And on and on. The perimeter fixation is based on ideas like high handicappers having trouble getting the ball up. What if that isn't your problem? And if it is, hybrids are a better solution for many. Most people already play blades in their wedges.
Blades have inherent benefits all their own. These often favor "real" golf courses, and players. Better feel is good feedback for beginners. Blades are often equipped with straighter soles for better aiming. The clubhead size is often more reasonable for better play off hard lies, or out of rough. A lot easier to see the face for chipping. Fancy cast sets are normally designed to flatter your belief you hit a long high ball with those clubs so you will buy a new set, rather than helping you play golf, which is not a game of who hits a 6 iron the furthest at the cost of scoring with the shorter clubs.
Some of these issues are fiaxable in cavities, if the fashion favored them.
The reality is fluff aside you want clubs that have the correct shaft, the correct loft progression, and are forged so that the lie can be adjusted to whatever degree is required. So of course it is all marketing where abrupt changes in the terrain on the back of the club actually make a difference from the branding perspective. And cast clubs are far cheaper to make, and a lot cheaper to bring out new versions of. Blades are good for all levels of golfer, but only if they are designed and outfitted appropriately. And the things that mater the most are not eye candy.
Yes I will. Nice one Mark ! 👍
You guys are having too much fun. Good job 👍
If the best looking clubs hit the best shots, these would go in my bag. I’m a low hcp and play i25s. IMO, play what gives you confidence and helps you enjoy the game. No right answer here....
It's hard enough adjusting to a different set of irons of the same size, but to adjust that quickly to blades was a top effort. Phenomenal results and I think they might improve his game. Now, where can I find £1200...........
I’m a 14 handicap and really wanna try these the mizunos P790s and the Apex pros but can’t decide which ones hahah I currently play rogue irons
James. Why do blades with Less lofts go just as far or further than game improvement irons when blades are hit well
I have a question about these types of videos.... Shouldn't the golfer hit the same loft when comparing instead of the same number? I keep hearing about distance being a factor but they are not the same loft. Would seem a better route to grab the club for the distance you want compared to exact same iron in both clubs. Thoughts? I'm new to golfing.
for me on these blade's I would compare with Mizuno . mp20 . these look good i am nearly single figures . i use a mizuno 4 iron and i love it.. but cleveland cbs make the rest of my set up to 8 and i use blade mizuno 9 and pw
I play p790. Interesting idea, compare a different club with same loft. How would that club look if you picture in your mind a triangle with a 30 degree face angle (left side)? 🔼 Assuming the base is slender (blades) versus "chunky" wouldn't that make it smaller with a different CG?⏏ I'm not an engineer but I would be more curious as to club gram weight and swing weight (feel and "easy to swing") being a "feel" player. 🏌️♂️ Being a smaller head might help you focus and the weight is "just right". 🔥 Curious thought, why the sudden RUclips discussion on blade-type clubs? 🤔
I play the 2014 AP2, how you think the forgiveness and benefits compare to the Blueprint?
AP2’s are more of a players iron as several tour pros game them, one I know of right off hand is Jordan Spieth. But that said, they still have a lot more forgiveness built into them than what these blades would. There’s just not that much you can do with a bladed iron to make it forgiving or “easier” to play. They are all about feel and playability and being able to feel and know what the club head is doing at impact. They put it all in the hands of the player. Your AP2’s are great irons and are aimed more towards the lower to mid handicappers, but they still are quite a bit more forgiving and have a lot of features designed to help you that any blade is not going to have. Like I said, a blade is a blade, and there’s just not very much you can do with one to make it more forgiving while still keeping it a blade. lol if that makes sense? 😂
@@theoutdoorsman9726 That being said, you think maybe the i210 are closer to the AP2?
I'm actually looking to get a full fitting because I became pro a couple of weeks ago. I like PING products and I could go for a mix bag of Blueprint from P-7 and i210 from 6-3.
Javier Nunez I’ve not seen a lot about the i210’s from ping but from what I have seen and read, I would say yes they are much more comparable to your AP2’s than the blueprints are. I do know that the older model, the i200’s, were placed in a lot of videos of different golf instructors on RUclips doing head to head comparisons against the AP2’s. And since the i210 is basically you could say, the new updated version of the i200’s, I would say they fit right into that same class as your AP2’s. These irons were brought out by ping last year, so I’m not sure if ping had an even newer model or not. Maybe not yet because I do know the i200 was around for a good while before they came out with the 210’s and I don’t keep up with it ping a whole lot but I other way they look like a great set of irons, the look of them is very nice to me as they look like more of a players iron without being as intimidating as a blade, and the pros in RUclips that I’ve seen do reviews for them all said they perform really nicely. I may just have to check into these sticks for myself to be honest. I’ve never owned a set of ping irons because honestly I’ve always found most of the different models of irons they send to market to be really ugly and so I’ve just never been able to see myself gaming anything they offered. But I really like these and they really seem to fit my eye. Thanks for bringing them to my attention Lol!! And good in luck making your decision on what irons you decide to go with but honestly you should just put any brand loyalty aside and go get fit and use whatever set it is that gives you the best numbers but I know everyone doesn’t have that option. So good luck to you my friend.
How are your thoughts those MCC ALIGN grips on the clubs? I'm interested to know.
Mark is remarkable for a mid-handicap player because he liked the look of the Blueprint Irons he responds positively and hits them like a Pro. But before he rushes off and puts them in his bag, he may just need to ask a few questions. Namely;
1. What shaft was in the Blueprint Irons and was it something about the shafts weight, flex, flight profile that he was responding to rather than the Irons themselves?
2. He clearly was having an excellent Ball striking day, but how well would he play with the Blueprint's when he was having an off-day with his swing?
Either way, I wish him well and secretly I hope that he does put them in his Bag because I would love to game them, but unlike him, I need all the help that I can get from my Irons.
I play golf with a plus 1 handicapper who is sponsored by ping and is out in college in America.
He tried them when he went to Gainsborough for a fitting yesterday. He has used the iblade after switching over from Titleist mb irons for years. He said that he wouldn’t have the confidence in using the irons as they are the smallest irons that he’d ever seen. Says a lot that as he is the best ball striker I’ve ever played with.
There are only two tour pros using them oousteheizen and sully in full sets with pavon using 8-W in the blueprint.
Why make golf more difficult when your pros are using i210s and iblades
If you’re not the purest of pure strikers. They’re not for you.
Go for it. Play a round with them. Check your distances first. Come back and share
Very interesting! Any sub 15 handicap should be able to play with blades, certainly 7 iron and up, they'll definitely help you to concentrate on your contact!
I think I would play these...look lovely and a proper fitting would make these totally playable. 👍🏼
Pretty good ball striking for a mid-capper if you ask me. I'm willing to bet Mark could hit with any vintage blades :). But damn those Blueprints do look lovely!
Awesome video love it on the course sick of watching them on launch monitor tests and crunching numbers. Seeing it on the course is the real deal. Also love you proving a mid handicap can play these irons which are blades! It's kinda like me or a nascar driver in a ferrari my results won't be like Jeff Gordon's but i can still drive the car lol! Great video im so sick of hearing that these irons are for the elite pros only which account for less than 4% of the golfing population yet retailers are carrying them around the country sounds like a lot of inventory for 4% of golfers but as you can see they are not just for elite players just different results. I'd love to see him take a whack at the Mizuno MP 20 MBs muscle backs if you have an opportunity.
Little late in commenting but I had the opportunity to hit these today at a Demo day after playing a round at one of my local courses. 1st time ever hitting blades and man was I hooked especially after smashing the 2 Iron!! Wow. I'm right around a 10 Handicap player at the moment and am using X-Hot 2 Callaway irons and at 1st when I look down hitting Blades I'm a bit ehhh nervous it was just something about them that made me feel like a better golfer. The weight of the club head too really helps swing down and through the ball for me and I just struck them well. I scruffed a few shots here and there but all in all I was pretty sold on them. Do I have $1500 to snag some at the moment that is a hard no, however I would be interested to see of other options out there to move into blade irons. For me I think the small strike face actually made me focus on my shots more as the larger face of my current clubs made me sometimes hit lazy.
would you recommend them to a rookie that is improving fastly?
Elijah Nagel so I woukd ask how long you've been playing and if you plan to play for life regardless of skill level. I think anyone can buy a club and learn on "that" club and get better with time. I'm 33 and have playing since I was about 10. I made my first set of clubs, had Taylor made R7s after that and about 5 years ago got Callaway X2 hots. I'm no way near being a scratch golfer but about a 10 handicap and always improving but it depends on how often I play. I try to hit the range 2 tines a week and play once a week or st least once every two weeks.
If I were to purchase these iron they would be a purchase that would last me a long long time or life. So you have to have to look at that investment. Sorry for the long winded comment that's sort of just how I go about things like this.
@@jdpst20 I am 14 and have been playing for about 3 months; however, I practice daily with a hitting net for 2 hours. And within those three months I have reduced my handicap from probably shooting in the 100s, to around 14 over par. I am very focused on becoming better, and I plan on playing for a very long time. however, the reason I asked you is not to buy these irons, but more or less to figure out what clubs would fit me best. I do think though that when I upgrade, I will go to something more forgiving😅. thanks for the advice! btw thank you for taking the time to reply to me.
@@elijahnagel5399 I would either reccommend buying something used for 300-500$ and working on your game from the time you are 14 till 20/22 ish or in collage ect. You are still growing in probably height and in strength and the clubs you get now you will outgrow in 4-7 years. Find some nice used name brand forgiving irons that are comfortable to hit and you can learn to work the ball with them draw and fade. Then once you are done growing and have built up more of some strength, get a professional fitting for some pro-am by then mid to low low handicap clubs that will last you 10-15 years.
Don't DO this to me!!! After your review I was convinced that these were definitely not for me, and would only be "ego" clubs. But seeing mid-handicapper Mark hit them well, I'm getting twitchy! 🤪
I think I need to dig the MP-67s or MP-59s out of the closet and play a round with those in order to restore a sense of reality!
what is marks handicap ? looks a very good play for a mid handicapper !
Great video James and Mark. I would try them just to see if I can hit them.
What's the spec of shaft you are testing ?
The shaft was a Dynamic Gold 120 S300, I think 😀👍
Great vid. I play blades better than cavities. Especially from the rough. 8hcp. I hope you get them Mark.
Are they released in the UK for sale now?
Very interesting James.
I have seen a couple of reviews on these now.plus one on the Wilson staff blades.
Do you think we have been pushed away from blades by clever marketing.
Mark seemed to love them as did the guys on Rick shiels review of the Wilson staff blades,with some of those guys playing off fairly high handicaps.
The perimeter weighting principle is a lot more effective with a center shafted putter (where it was first found) than Irons. With Irons you run into problems making the center and top line too thin, By the time you deal with all that you have pretty much destroyed what perimeter weighting could have achieved. And those theories are based on the hosel not existing, or the shaft.
There are other issues like when you make the clubhead really large to emphasize the perimeter effects the sole drags. To counter that, often the sole is curved a great deal, which raises the center of gravity, and undermines the perimeter effect.
And on and on. The perimeter fixation is based on ideas like high handicappers having trouble getting the ball up. What if that isn't your problem? And if it is, hybrids are a better solution for many. Most people already play blades in their wedges.
Blades have inherent benefits all their own. These often favor "real" golf courses, and players. Better feel is good feedback for beginners. Blades are often equipped with straighter soles for better aiming. The clubhead size is often more reasonable for better play off hard lies, or out of rough. A lot easier to see the face for chipping. Fancy cast sets are normally designed to flatter your belief you hit a long high ball with those clubs so you will buy a new set, rather than helping you play golf, which is not a game of who hits a 6 iron the furthest at the cost of scoring with the shorter clubs.
Some of these issues are fiaxable in cavities, if the fashion favored them.
The reality is fluff aside you want clubs that have the correct shaft, the correct loft progression, and are forged so that the lie can be adjusted to whatever degree is required. So of course it is all marketing where abrupt changes in the terrain on the back of the club actually make a difference from the branding perspective. And cast clubs are far cheaper to make, and a lot cheaper to bring out new versions of. Blades are good for all levels of golfer, but only if they are designed and outfitted appropriately. And the things that mater the most are not eye candy.
Those clubs look amazing and Mark done a fantastic job testing them 👏👏
Are you going to do an on course test with them 🙏
Ping Blueprint Irons ... can a mid handicapper use them? Ping Blueprint Irons aren't really blades but a mid handicapper can play anything they like!
I’ve ordered 789 and wedge James. Let’s see how I do !
They’re not so hard to hit. Feel is beautiful. Very, very nice clubs.
James could you do a head to head against tm rsi1 irons vs p790 irons and maybe that blueprint iron
22 h/c - would love to try them... they look goood!!
"It went where I hit it". All of my shots are like that 🙄😂
The blades look fantastic, really enjoyed the banter and the review. However I will stick to game improvement clubs and leave the blades to Pro's.
Id love a set of blades just to try now and then for a change👍
The idea that there is a lot of game correction in any irons is not true as far as the idea of cavity vs blades; The important factors, are the shafts, loft progression; degree of hosel offset, if any; and adjustability of lie as required; If the design of the cavity was so important, they wouldn't all look different, and essentially look contradictory over time, and between the brands.
If there is game correction in your set, is it the type that suits your game, your courses, and the type of golf you play from business best ball to tournament play?
If there wasn't any difference in heads, or the claimed difference, there is still a lot that can be done with clubs in honest tests to make it look as though there was a difference. You can go out and get clubs by different manufacturer's and just by choosing Iron Byron's swing speed, optimize the carry and accuracy of a particular brand's clubs. So, you can't trust scientific claims, there is always a house advantage possible, even with a straight test.
I played mp4s for a year . Just 1 or 2 shots a round they punished me . Went back to slight cavity
Maybe blueprint T in power specs?
The best thing about these new Blueprint irons is that the i500’s just got cheaper on eBay!
That's good, will wait another 6 months and buy a set. They look like blades anyway and will be easier to clean!!!!
Exactly!
Got the iBlades... now I want these! 😏
Did I miss if he has tried the g410 or 700 sets?
Does this mean that Ping is dropping the iblades? Hope not I really want a set.
Better than the mizunos Great video James🤔
Go with Mark to PING in Gainsborough and video a full bag club fitting....maybe Blueprint will become his 'go to' irons :)
Trying to get this arranged, I think James is trying to delay that until after our ‘big match’ though!
reminds me of a Leadbetter video where he took a pro as a guinea pig, presenting him as an almost beginner so to make us think he was an outstanding teacher (which he is without a doubt, intriguing)
Honestly what is the true handicap of your guinea pig, who plays more than decent !!
What a strange comment. 👍🏼 Mark plays off 13. And had been on the journey with me on RUclips from day one.
@@JamesRobinsonGolf ok we don't share the same definition of a mid handicap 😂 what do you think is the average handicap in, say, England ?
It sounds like a Therapy session 😁
perfectly playable probably just club up to adjust for distance
Mark seems like a nice guy 👍🏼
I have tried them on the range and they strike unbelievably well. I will own them but the price is slowing me down. They will be my Christmas, Birthday and whatever other excuse that I can drum up to pay for them. I might be keeping them in the gun safe. But, you usually get what you pay for and this is one of those cases. They hit so well at the range that I cannot wait to play them. I smell a drop in the handicap here. Who said it is the Indian and not the arrow? They just haven't tried these arrows.
Anyone else notice the sound difference of the clubs swinging in the air? Interesting
You have been coaching this guy for a long time and is still a mid handicap. I would think he should have improved with all of your tutelage.
Nick Trahan Whahaha
Brilliant 🙌🏽
Yes, take them out for the medal!!
You did a previous video with a mark testing blades. He loved them (so he said) and hit them well but he’s still not using them
Wonder why that is... 😂🙈⛳️
He’s not using them purely because James hasn’t arranged a full fitting video to record.......
Finally a ping iron that doesn't look like a chunk of steel attached to a shaft
Put them in the bag for medal and tell us how you do Mark
A bad shot is a bad shot regardless of what iron you’re playing. Too many people try to get so technical about irons. Playing golf is supposed to be fun. Most of us will never be on tour. Play what makes you feel good and have fun! Don’t let anyone tell you that you can’t/shouldn’t hit blades!
You were SOooo wrong to starting him with a butter knife 🤣
I was thinking the same thing....and yet, it worked out.
James Robinson Golf. I would really genuinely like you to make a video with a blade and a cavity back of exactly the same loft and show us all in the numbers why the golf industry says us mid to high handicappers shouldn't play blades. Prove to us FORGIVENESS.
You make a good point, but.... There is the fact that most game improvement clubs do a better job of holding on to distance on shots that miss the center. whether or not they have a tighter left to right dispersion is definitely something worth testing.....with SIMILAR LOFTS.
I play p790. Interesting, same loft. How would that club look if you picture in your mind a triangle with a 30 degree face? Assuming the base is slender (blades) versus "chunky" wouldn't that make it smaller with a different CG? I'm not an engineer but I would be more curious as to club height weight and swing weight (feel and "easy to swing") being a "feel" player.
Mark put them in the bag, you only live once🤩🤩