Right chaps, a mate bought me a couple of old blades from acharity shop last week, a 5 iron with abamboo shaft and a 1 iron?

So anyway I hit the range today, (1st time I've swung a club for three weeks due to injuries picked up at work) and I had to try them both, the 5 was just as good as a graphite, and I hit it further than I can hit with my cavity 5 and just as accurate re positioning.

The 1 iron it hit like an absolute dream, straight every time, swung at it like i would my driver as its the same length, couldn't get a read of the distance cos the range had a net up due to reconstruction, but I'll be using it on Monday when I play 18 at Birchwood!

Anyway, having hit two blades as good or even better than i hit with my set of cavities, I'm thinking of taking the jump over to blades when i buy my new set of irons next year, what do you lads reckon?

Also, hasanybody ever seen a 1 iron before? It actually hasa 1 on the bottom and everything.

Hehe, ALL clubs have a trick of working for you for the first week... then you suddenly can't hit them any more

The question with blades is WHY? There's almost no need now as cavity back clubs are so much more forgiving. Blades are best for low h/cappers who lead themselves to believe that they need more 'feel' although the ball only touches the club for about 1/100th of a second. If you don't hit a blade perfectly (eg: catch it high on the face) then it's basically going nowhere, if you thin one your fingers will be stinging for hours

Tour pros are even doing away with longer irons altogether as hybrid clubs are easier to hit.

Horses for courses mate but years ago you would use a blade for the quality of the steel but now you can have forged CB with a smaller head so best of both worlds.Also remember a golf club is only as good as the shaft thats in it and that it suits you.

A lot of it depends on your handicap, swing, stature, age....? and even though I am one for using whatever works, I feel that I can´t promote the use of clubs with bamboo shafts in this day and age! I am sorry, but it just doesn´t compete with modern technology!

Secondly, yes 1 irons do exist. They are rather on the old-fashioned side now and not necessary due to having hybrids/rescues etc....

In relation to blades, if they work for you go for it...but....you need to be playing a lot to make these clubs work, and as @James mentioned above if you do mishit them, you are in for a world of pain and the ball will go anywhere other than where it is supposed to!

I say stick to cavity - if they are good enough for Westy...they are good enough for you. Hope this is of some help ....

P.S. I´m a qualified Golf Pro!

Well in that case.........

Welcome to my small corner of the web

Regards
James.


(ps: Are you a pro anywhere worth bragging about?.... with freebies? LOL)

haha I am (unfortunately for you) a golf Pro who moved out of the industry last year. I was at a rather nice resort before hand and then I moved into Tournament management last year and for now I am on yet another adventure in different area of the world!

However, my jobs did have me mingling with Darren Clarke and the Claret jug for a while which was cool! What´s your handicap james? Where you playing?

Haha!... my h/cap is a shocking 6.0, that'll teach me for taking a 7yr break!

I just joined a new club (yesterday in fact!) in Crawley, near Gatwick Airport, and I'm looking forward to (hopefully) a really productive golf year. I'd like to knock 4 shots off my h/cap this year... should be no problem if I can make myself spend a little time on the practice ground.

Hey 6 is pretty damn good. Trust me, I have seen and coached a lot worse! What course is it? Nice?

Actually James I saw something yesterday that may be of interest to you...I remember you mentioning that if I saw any good deals worth a look I´d best send them on. Well, although non of my previous colleagues or graduates within golf have got back to me: one of my friends from school did.

He forwarded me on this offer to see if it was any good and whether worth booking, well it is pretty good - grande for the money anyway....so if you know anyone who would be interested, it´s probs worth a shout! Nice course and you can´t argue with the price!

Groupon Golf Swindon - bit of a trek I know, but you could make a day or even night of it!

Just hope the sun comes out a bit...I´m not fancying this weather we are experiencing atm.

Heh, I don't consider 6.0 to be good enough for me, it's been lower, injury has plagued me for the past 18 months and I haven't been on a practice ground for 10 years!! Hoping to resolve all that soon.

I just joined a course called Ifield Golf Club (in Crawley), it's apparently a tough par 70, I've not played it yet, 4 inches of snow here at the moment (the rest of the Country probably has more), I reckon the course will be closed for at least another 4-5 days.

Thanks for the heads up, there's heaps of groupon stuff to be nabbed across the Country. Given the choice I'd rather play in some Open competitions.... need some practice first though

Yeah injury is a bad nut. I´ve had a couple of minor injuries, and I find it to be no coincedence that all of these injuries happened whilst I was playing the best golf of my life. But, you get through it.

Looks like a nice track, I think I may need to head down there for a game at somepoint. Yeah, four to five inches is sure to close the course, and then you have the thawing of the grass and then it gets soaked. But, it´s best to leave it be rather than ruin the course for the summer - that was always my opinion. But are rare voice at my home course.

Yeah, well I had never used it until the other day and there are heaps of Groupon bargains to be had. I´m trying to plan a cheap little trip for me and a few mates so it could be a good saver.
Oh and if you are looking for a good open competition then check out this link: The Eden Trophy, it´s held up at St Andrews and it costs 120 quid. Even if you miss the cut on day two...you are guaranteed minimum of 6 rounds (inc practice rounds) you usually get a free waterproof jacket, bbq and finishing dinner. It is a really good event. I played twice a few years ago when an amateur. Entry opened a few days ago and it will be full up now, but people drop out closer to the time, so its good to get on the reserves. I have a few friends who got through on the reserve list.
Good luck
It is a GREAT week!