Blade users thread (NO DEBATING CLUBHEADS! NO Buy Sell Trade!)

[lefthack]

Here are the specs of my trial set.  They look good.

 

 

 

[Bigmean]

Just checking in here and I missed a bit since last time I did.

 

@Christen_The_Sloop, nice rounds man, awesome stuff!

 

@lefthack holy crap dude, I mean those are absolutely stunning, love the green accents with that dark finish, like probably the hardest I have sweat an iron posted here in a while.  Sick!

 

@LionGolfer always loved those, never got a set but they always stop me for a closer look when scrolling auctions.  How do they play compared to a traditional blade/mb?  I had vfoils but honestly hated the blade length and offset and the shinigawa always seemed like the way those should have been.

 

@Moarbutter BIG props on breaking 80, it is probably more exciting than losing your virginity!  Just don’t expect for it to happen all the time and get down on yourself with expectations.  If I could go back to when I first did it with my current mentality I think I would have got over the consistent hump of doing it a lot faster(more on this in my comment below). As far as putting goes, give my putting practice routine a real try with your new mentality.  The 2 balls at random distances and bouncing around at random really prepares you for real game situations.  Also, as always, the golden bears words not mine, putting is an attitude…not a motion, not a setup, not a calculation, it’s an attitude, BE a putt MAKER!

 

Whats new with me?  Good things golf wise.  Shot a 75 Saturday and I think (Remember I keep it really not stat obsessed) I may be at 50% of my rounds this summer under 80 which was a rough mental goal.  I also think (or feel like) I am averaging a touch over 2 birdies a round which for the rounds I have put in being a summer member again is just so big for my confidence.  I have finally reached a point where I believe I can birdie any hole from even not the best setups after the first shot or second from actually doing it enough.  I had a 3 week stretch where my putter was meh, but I never wavered in confidence, they just weren’t falling and that didn’t last long.  Confidence breeds results.  My confidence loss in driver made it more crippling than it needed to be for many years.

 

Driver….ah yes driver.   I just stopped thinking about it, threw technique out the window, and I am moving more laterally which is supposed to be bad but I don’t care I’m just “being my own athlete” and on my current hot streak I am embracing drawing it and once I did that with no hook fears things really changed.  Still worst part of my game but good enough to score and that’s good enough for me and confidence is building slowly but in a solid way that isn’t lightning in a bottle.   My game right now feels like it is a tad ugly for my scores but I am managing it well and scoring honestly best I have since years ago when I had it down to 5/6 cap and actually cared about that crap.
 

What I learned this summer and my big takeaway this year.  One shot at a time.  Bogeys will happen, but so will birdies.  Bad shots are only bad if the next one is bad as well.  I accept my rounds, I feel like I was seeking more perfection when scoring worse.    accepting that I am going to make more mistakes than good shots is huge mentally.   I still put way too much pressure on my putter, but I don’t feel like I am grinding my way to an 81 and instead am shooting 77 leaving a lot of shots out there.  It’s my same golf, but the approach is shaving strokes for me by getting more out of myself.
 

You don’t have the game you woke up with that day, I used to believe that… In truth, you have the game you bring to each individual shot.  Sounds simple but believing it is not.    @Moarbutter this is my best advice for you after breaking 80 for the first time.  Don’t have expectations for the round, just have them for the shot at hand.  I failed this on Saturday.  I was 1 over with 4 left and par 5 to finish, started thinking I have a birdie or 2 left in me, this can happen……went +2 to finish.  It was a good lesson.   You can’t mail in any shots or holes.  You don’t deserve to par an easy hole cause you are “good”.  Just because I am good at putting or chipping or with a 8 iron doesn’t mean it will just happen for me.  You have to both want it and commit while simultaneously accepting a lot of imperfection is a likely result and being good with that.  If the old me played with the new me, they would think “I’m as good or better than this guy” all while carding an 83 in the same round new me cards a 78.  When the new me shoots 83, I had fun and the score didn’t happen.  I truly dgaf in a good way.   The disappointment just isn’t there because my  expectations shifted to each shot, not each round. I have heard this and thought I applied it, but this summer I lived it and for me it was a breakthrough in itself and really came together the last month.
 

Anyway, that’s my summer breakdown on strides made.  Playing a lot certainly helps a lot.   I have a Vega CB build going on but only 4 weeks left of summer membership so probably saving any cool ho stuff to share for the off season.  

 

 

 

[Bigmean]

31 minutes ago, lefthack said:

Here are the specs of my trial set.  They look good.

 

 

 

Meant to ask, what are these? They look very much like my irons.

[NRJyzr]

Adding a short comment about my Maltby TS4 set...

 

They continue to produce quality, in spite of my part of the equation.  Really quite accurate, and yet offer a surprising level of help on less than quality contact.  An example from yesterday:  hit the ball a little high on the face on a lie with the ball sitting on top of the grass.  Managed to get pin high on green in spite of that.  My Golden Rams aren't often quite that good with that miss.

 

Edit:  repeating any earlier comments about the sole grind on these.  Really outstanding turf interaction.  They're generally very clean through the turf.  Sole reminds me of the front to back rounding of the Maxfli Revolution irons, which I've always appreciated.

 

Something else regarding the set, which I just posted about in the Maltby TS2 thread...  I assembled these with parallel XCaliber Rapid Taper 95 shafts.  They're standard "descending weight" graphite shafts.  I've felt the short irons were feeling a bit light.  Decided to use a bit of lead tape on the shafts in an effort to make the weight of each shaft equivalent.  Added a hint over 1g to the 4i, increasing each until I got to the PW and GW, which each had 7.5g added.

 

So far, I feel it's doing the job.  I've not had the chipping issues with the GW that I previously had, and feel like my full swings with the shorter clubs are better.  What's not to like?

 

And a fun driver comment...  decided I would pull out the Cobra Deep Face driver for some 90s retro golf.  I've seen considerable better tee game with smaller drivers, even persimmons, and like to trot out the older sticks from time to time.

 

My tee game has been quite a bit better with the Cobra than with my 440-460cc clubs.  I'm not as long with the 25 to 30 year old clubhead, but I'm in play quite a bit more.  Even had a round recently where a random single in the group just assumed I always hit the ball down the middle.  He learned the reality eventually, but it was a stark contrast to the average tee game over the 25 years I've played golf.

 

I also have a TZoid Forged 275cc club that has shown similar results.  I need to reshaft it, but I think that will be coming this week, so I can put it in the bag for the next few weeks.

 

Edited September 29, 2024 by NRJyzr

[g_nw]

On 9/23/2024 at 6:19 PM, Moarbutter said:

navel gazing

 

preach!

 

I switched to staring at the hole or a spot on the green during my putting stroke and I (delusionally) believe I’m an elite putter now — every putt is tracking. Prior to doing so, I was completely in the wilderness, trying to perfect a stroke with my eyes staring at a static ball. As you inferred, there’s tremendous learning feedback happening with each putt as well… like improving at darts or throwing a baseball over time (eye on target).

[lefthack]

On 9/25/2024 at 6:58 PM, Bigmean said:

Meant to ask, what are these? They look very much like my irons.

 

They are an open mold made by some random company I found online. It was $300 for a "sample" set of heads. They are like $180 a set of you order 10 or more sets. They offer laser engraving for logos and a few different finish options. I just ordered blank black heads. 

[Nard_S]

Played two rounds, expectedly shot high 80’s and low 90’s in other. Short game technique is fine but radar is not. That’s just reps. Full shots suffer on front of tempo and reality of post surgery weakness but I had many good holes in both. Sort the rhythm, low 80’s easily doable.

 

Tried out a set TM 300’s I bought 3 years ago. Gave mid irons a work through at range. These are the Tom Lehman grinds w/ Nippon shafts. Made by Miura too. 
 

Shocked at how good feeling these are, as solid as any full MB I’ve hit. Puzzled how flat trajectory is, would have expected a higher window, can certainly tell they launch things with a lower spin but these do not have a floaty aspect to them. Did not bag them but I’m happy to own and may someday give them a more bag time. TM offered some good stuff in early 2K, theses were a home run. Cheers.

 

[Bigmean]

3 hours ago, lefthack said:

 

They are an open mold made by some random company I found online. It was $300 for a "sample" set of heads. They are like $180 a set of you order 10 or more sets. They offer laser engraving for logos and a few different finish options. I just ordered blank black heads. 

Oh I couldn’t be more subscribed on this…..excited for the feedback. Wouldn’t be shocked at all if they are indiscernible from $1000 sets

on feel and quality of fit and finish.   

[RolandofGilead]

36 minutes ago, Bigmean said:

Oh I couldn’t be more subscribed on this…..excited for the feedback. Wouldn’t be shocked at all if they are indiscernible from $1000 sets

on feel and quality of fit and finish.   

Not sure if this is the same company @lefthack worked with but here’s a similar offering

 

https://www.instagram.com/cory.justgolf?igsh=MWhqOWcxeDFmcDZrNg==

[AN1982]

Speed is up, SOME. Spin is way up. I need a lesson. For now I’m just going to work on 8’s 🤣🤣🤣….5 and 7 iron for reference.
 

Tomorrow I’m going to hit a few dozen more with both the 588s and 221s. I’m curious if my angle of attack needs some improvement or possibly its my mevo setup. I’m about -1.5-2* on the 7 iron and -.5-1 on the 5 iron. 

[Bigmean]

I like my shop tools like my golf clubs.  Forged, prototype stamped, minimal offset, and overpriced……As a putter collector this $110 (used) wrench always cracked me up with the “proto” stamp.   Collectors item for sure to increase in value.   
 

In fairness it was worth every penny for what I got it for, I use it every day to change tools on a cnc machine.   Ok, no more dad jokes, I will see myself out….

Edited September 30, 2024 by Bigmean

[lefthack]

3 hours ago, Bigmean said:

Oh I couldn’t be more subscribed on this…..excited for the feedback. Wouldn’t be shocked at all if they are indiscernible from $1000 sets

on feel and quality of fit and finish.   

 

This is exactly why I bit. A lefty blade side hustle for less than $300 a set built with DG300 shafts and knock off tour velvet grips is damn tempting. Too bad I'm lazy, but I could go for a sample set. 🤣

[Bigmean]

@lefthack while it’s still almost anticipated that they are not going to be the best  fit/finish and feel, I agree, your only risk is to the upside.  I bet they will be fine, maybe not great or maybe you mentally click with them (I would be drawn to a no name club I scored like that) but probably just fine and great value.  

 

I’m 2 years playing again since last time off and I am such a ho.   I sold my 2 wood cause I just couldn’t get with it and someone here wanted it (I forget the username, but shoutout to him, nice guy I hope it works for him) so why delay the inevitable eBay listing in a year.  
 

This prompted me to buy 3 putters that of course cost way more than my new paypal balance and that of course got a comment from the wife upon her Amex text alert……I can’t help it,  I am a degenerate golf club and especially putter ho and I just can’t help myself.   
 

 

[Christen_The_Sloop]

4 minutes ago, Bigmean said:

@lefthack while it’s still almost anticipated that they are not going to be the best  fit/finish and feel, I agree, your only risk is to the upside.  I bet they will be fine, maybe not great or maybe you mentally click with them (I would be drawn to a no name club I scored like that) but probably just fine and great value.  

 

I’m 2 years playing again since last time off and I am such a ho.   I sold my 2 wood cause I just couldn’t get with it and someone here wanted it (I forget the username, but shoutout to him, nice guy I hope it works for him) so why delay the inevitable eBay listing in a year.  
 

This prompted me to buy 3 putters that of course cost way more than my new paypal balance and that of course got a comment from the wife upon her Amex text alert……I can’t help it,  I am a degenerate golf club and especially putter ho and I just can’t help myself.   
 

 

I just had a 3 wood built that I fear will suffer the same fate.

 

As far as degenerate putter hoing is concerned - I think I am up to seven putters now. Still, only take one for tournament rounds - a white hot rossie that just works. It's got to be close to 20 years old now. Enjoying rolling the ball with a Scottie Cameron "the Reason" M-100 Mizuno now and then, and I have another Mizuno blade 9001 that is really fun, maybe because of the leather grip.

 

Going out tomorrow in Okinawa at the PGm course... Psyched.

 

 

[JungleJimbo]

On 9/26/2024 at 2:54 AM, lefthack said:

So these happened, should be here in a couple weeks. No name open mold, should be fun. I was offered a sample set and I couldn't say no. 🤣

 

 

 

@lefthack Is there a righty version? Source please i.e. "sharing is caring" 🙂 

[lefthack]

14 minutes ago, JungleJimbo said:

 

@lefthack Is there a righty version? Source please i.e. "sharing is caring" 🙂 

 

There are so many right handed, OMG. These are the folks I've been talking to. They have quite a few different head designs.

 

https://x.alibaba.com/AxfG57?ck=minisite

 

These look damn good.

 

 

Edited October 1, 2024 by lefthack

[PARETO]

A few notes as our Calgary golf season winds down. Sigh. 😔
 

I took almost a full summer to keep MP69 in the bag. I Never keep an iron set in the bag that long but something about the MP69 that kept me interested. The rounded lines, the leading edge, the non razor thin top line. They just felt like home in a weird way. I learned that they like a bit of a heel side strike, they love the Srixon Diamond ball, Nippon 950’s are the perfect shaft for these heads, 6-P is my jam, 5 hybrids are fun, and…..it’s true in my case that a well executed swing results in golf happiness. One day I may not have the speed to make a blade work as it should, but while I do, I’ll continue the journey. 

[Kingcat990]

1 hour ago, lefthack said:

 

There are so many right handed, OMG. These are the folks I've been talking to. They have quite a few different head designs.

 

https://x.alibaba.com/AxfG57?ck=minisite

 

These look damn good.

 

 

I like the constant face progression. Cool find. Hope you like em

[Bigmean]

So I went through their stuff.  This has to be a company that does oem stuff.  The double spindle cnc for multiples of same irons simultaneously is probably not that niche in metal fabrication, but also the kind of thing that only a production company with work would have.

The pricing seems in line with quality parts as well (remember that new set of $1000 titliest irons costs them like probably $250 plus distribution, their sponsorships are a higher percentage of club costs than clubs and why I love boutique jdm)

 

Really curious on this, the min orders also add validity to them imo.   I would have sprung for the forged cnc finished irons just cause assuming they have a quality files from oem work for the heads and good forged steel, you could end up with a legit $1500 set.  Still at quantity a big risk and not sure what to do with 8 sets of clubs but I’m sure you could assemble and flip on eBay but for the effort for no name that won’t move even if good seems like a leap.   
 

Have they been responsive?  Do they seem willing to work with you on quantity/price?

 

In my experience with buying industrial things from China 

They will negotiate.  They will screw up orders (not always in their favor) and it really comes down to the factory but they will cut any and all corners not discussed before hand.  It’s not scummy there, it’s just business, if you don’t clarify that is on you.

Edited October 2, 2024 by Bigmean

[lefthack]

3 hours ago, Bigmean said:

So I went through their stuff.  This has to be a company that does oem stuff.  The double spindle cnc for multiples of same irons simultaneously is probably not that niche in metal fabrication, but also the kind of thing that only a production company with work would have.

The pricing seems in line with quality parts as well (remember that new set of $1000 titliest irons costs them like probably $250 plus distribution, their sponsorships are a higher percentage of club costs than clubs and why I love boutique jdm)

 

Really curious on this, the min orders also add validity to them imo.   I would have sprung for the forged cnc finished irons just cause assuming they have a quality files from oem work for the heads and good forged steel, you could end up with a legit $1500 set.  Still at quantity a big risk and not sure what to do with 8 sets of clubs but I’m sure you could assemble and flip on eBay but for the effort for no name that won’t move even if good seems like a leap.   
 

Have they been responsive?  Do they seem willing to work with you on quantity/price?

 

In my experience with buying industrial things from China 

They will negotiate.  They will screw up orders (not always in their favor) and it really comes down to the factory but they will cut any and all corners not discussed before hand.  It’s not scummy there, it’s just business, if you don’t clarify that is on you.

 

Very responsive and helpful. They were willing to do a short run of 10 sets either head only or built. The quote was about $2400 for 10 sets built with stiff graphite shafts and tour velvet style grips. A set of blades for $240 is pretty incredible. 

 

I didn't get into the logo costs or anything, but they offer laser engraving, so they can do pretty much anything.

[Kmagnuss]

If you guys do a group buy for $240 and stick a cool logo on there (WRX logo anyone?), count me in.

Or just the heads for even less... in again.

[AN1982]

53 minutes ago, Kmagnuss said:

If you guys do a group buy for $240 and stick a cool logo on there (WRX logo anyone?), count me in.

Or just the heads for even less... in again.

Was thinking the same thing…. Maybe a special limited blade users united logo. 🤣🤣

[Bigmean]

Hahaha…

 

”hey man what clubs are those?”

 

”these are a limited run series by a company called “blade users thread”, they are sorta a big deal, never heard of them?”

[lefthack]

4 hours ago, Kmagnuss said:

If you guys do a group buy for $240 and stick a cool logo on there (WRX logo anyone?), count me in.

Or just the heads for even less... in again.

 

I was thinking about this, but they would be all lefties. 🤣 

 

I mean, I could get the sample set (and if they don't suck) and we could do a group by of right handed if there were 10 folks willing to pitch in. The shipping was $70 for all of it, then whatever shipping was to the door ($25 or so). 

 

I don't know what shaft it is, that's why I ended up ordering heads. 

Edited October 2, 2024 by lefthack

[lefthack]

Update. They are offering to do a run of 10 right handed with a custom logo possibly at no charge. So who would I ask for permission to use the WRX logo and who can give me a vector of it?  

 

Talking $145 a set of heads shipped stateside. How hard would it be to get 10 folks willing to swing? 

 

<edit> I sent a Facebook message about the logo and permission as I couldn't find any contact info on this site. 

Edited October 3, 2024 by lefthack

[Maine Golfer]

1 hour ago, lefthack said:

Update. They are offering to do a run of 10 right handed with a custom logo possibly at no charge. So who would I ask for permission to use the WRX logo and who can give me a vector of it?  

 

Talking $145 a set of heads shipped stateside. How hard would it be to get 10 folks willing to swing? 

 

<edit> I sent a Facebook message about the logo and permission as I couldn't find any contact info on this site. 

I might be in. Would prefer 6 thru PW.

 

edit to add. If I could get them +1 shafts any make up, i'd likely be in. Could have them bent lie's myself 

Edited October 3, 2024 by Maine Golfer
what I would need

[lefthack]

13 minutes ago, Maine Golfer said:

I might be in. Would prefer 6 thru PW.

 

edit to add. If I could get them +1 shafts any make up, i'd likely be in. Could have them bent lie's myself 

 

Yeah, I wasn't going to try and do individual set-ups. They are forged, so they should bend no problem. 

 

The shafts and grips were no name offerings, so I decided not to for the samples. Not saying they would be bad, I just have no idea. 

[NRJyzr]

1 hour ago, lefthack said:

So who would I ask for permission to use the WRX logo and who can give me a vector of it? 

 

I would suggest checking with easyyy, who I believe is he who began WRX (I wasn't here then, hence the "I believe" in that sentence).  Good place to start.

 

They do have a fair amount of WRX merch, but I'm not sure of the assorted procedure involved in creating it.

 

Edited October 3, 2024 by NRJyzr

[lefthack]

15 minutes ago, NRJyzr said:

 

I would suggest checking with easyyy, who I believe is he who began WRX (I wasn't here then, hence the "I believe" in that sentence).  Good place to start.

 

They do have a fair amount of WRX merch, but I'm not sure of the assorted procedure involved in creating it.

 

 

I sent a message spilling it all out, see what happens. It's a cool idea that kinda spun out of me goofing.  🤣

[jcho01]

On 9/25/2024 at 2:19 PM, PedronNiall said:

I think it's the MB 18s that most rate as their peak offering but you can search around here as they and the 21s come up in discussion a lot. 

 

I'd also check the tendencies for all three of them. I have a different set of Tiger Nike MBs and they like the newest P7TW give up distance compared to my other blades and pretty much anything else in a similar category. Not a make or break thing but it's something I'd want to be aware of if they'd end up as my main irons. 

After a full year of searching, My journey to finding VR 2 Pros comes to an end. Many thanks to a fellow member here @Happyday_J.