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

[Bigmean]

16 hours ago, nzio said:

Ever since you showed me that site, i'm constanly on there searching for the next thing 🤣

 

My only problem being 6"2 tall so irons will have to be reshaftet everytime, and I can't do it myself just yet..

Yeah, 6’2 doesn’t jive with Asian clubs too much lol.

 

bro, I got my ai smoke mini driver from Japan, I probably saved like $30 said and done and brought a shaft with it, I don’t use eBay at all anymore outside putters.  

On that note just got back from playing (work has been slow so I have been playing a ton), I am Sooooo on board with my mini driver intent funny.   I have been shaft changing in course and I think I am landing in the loop CL shaft I played today again mostly.   I am playing it at 10.5* and full length 46”.   Basically it’s an old school driver, and my first 2 rounds with it I didn’t score well (like 81/84) but today I also didn’t score well but shot a 78 with no birdies and legit 7 putts that had the cup alter the line of the putt they were so close.  I never expect to make any putt while also expecting to make them all, but man today felt like 78 going on 73.   
 

Anyone here long enough knows how I have struggled with driver and I LOVE  how I have this thing is setup.  I haven’t seen anyone using a mini with a full shaft, but holy crap.   I’m like 250-295 conditions (wind/strike/fairway) depending and I feel like my driver is finally playing similar to my handicap.   Played the last 6 with another single and he commented on 18 how “automatic” it was after I just smoked another one up the gut, and I was just like automatic and driver and me aren’t usually in the same book let alone sentence, but he was right, it had to look automatic toward the end.   If you like smaller clubheads, an 11.5 mini turned to 10.5 and a 46” shaft is sooo sooo good.   Its like a new age old school driver and I love it so far.  I hit 9 fairways today, and 2 that were close enough and only one drive cost me a bogey from the drive itself.   That’s crazy for me to be +1 from driver.    

[Bigmean]

This is the shaft I have in it, I can’t remember the last time I caught myself thinking about how well I drove ball, I had to google it.  
 

https://shop.torquegolf.com/products/loop-shaft-prototype-cl?srsltid=AfmBOoqXpIzuFZpPrHNE1O4hSSORYAHfE4sU4uFazwzyL23Do7vZYy5m&variant=31192932122726

 

Of course the only quick info I can get on it is lame at best but I’m pretty sure on the Japanese syncagraphite site or somewhere I interpreted that it was anti left with more clarity than “athlete  .  Now that I am drawing a lot of drives I can tell you I can hook it badly, but the trajectory is awesome.  I got this thing on a whim cause I was doom scrolling auctions and saw it sitting at like $105.  It’s pretty awesome, and the drives I am hitting with this thing are driver trajectories and it was windy today and just won the club with how well it handled it.   I took out the gogo after 2 drives and never looked back.   So, a very positive review for syncagraphite.  

[Kingcat990]

Sounds like the A Grind classic 350cc was the driver for you if the Mini's never worked out. Glad you're finding the short grass. 

[NRJyzr]

On 6/27/2025 at 8:39 AM, Kingcat990 said:

Sounds like the A Grind classic 350cc was the driver for you if the Mini's never worked out. Glad you're finding the short grass. 

 

The Legend

 

[NRJyzr]

Blade updates!

 

My long dormant 986 Tour shaft project is underway.  I've now assembled 7-pw, the others are lying in wait.  Its a bit longer process, the hosels are taking some extra cleaning (bit of oxidation).

 

My Maltby TS4 set will be reshafted.  The stiff Rapid Taper shafts have been giving me issues.  Lower than expected trajectory, the profile is largely opposite of what I've had success with for years, and flex is a bit strong for my olde self.  I reshafted the 3i with Modus 105 stiff, took it to the course yesterday.  Hit it four or five times and it was amazing.  Hit it over a tree, stuck an into-the-wind second shot, and found center contact much easier to achieve.  FWIW, D5 swingweight, 39" length.  Excited about these going forward.

 

Mizuno MS-11s have been pulled, theyare ready for the Modus 120 stiff pullouts I have lying in wait.  Excited about these also.  

 

Now just to do the work

 

Edited June 29 by NRJyzr

[NRJyzr]

Took my reshafted TS4 3 iron on the course today, along with the 7-pw 986 Tour.  Used those for every shot where something of that distance was needed.  Couple things were apparent.

 

First, the choice of Modus 105 stiff appears to be a good one.  I'd tested it with a couple of the 986 Tour short irons, so not a blind choice.  The weight is suiting me, I'm getting the improved trajectory I was seeking, shots are directionally solid.

 

Second thing is how spoiled I've gotten with the soles of the TS4s.  I used the 986 Tour PW for most of my chips (where SW wasn't the play), had it stick in the turf a bit, something that largely never happens with the TS4 PW or GW.

 

[BallHooker]

Been looking at clubs on eBay. Interesting blades are always with S200 shafts. Why?  Weight is important and good clubs are ruined with light shafts. 
 

Wedges are only acceptable with S400 shafts and irons would then need either X100 or S300/400. I don’t really see any sense in exceptions. 
 

 

Edited June 30 by BallHooker

[Yoshifan151]

2 hours ago, BallHooker said:

Been looking at clubs on eBay. Interesting blades are always with S200 shafts. Why?  Weight is important and good clubs are ruined with light shafts. 
 

Wedges are only acceptable with S400 shafts and irons would then need either X100 or S300/400. I don’t really see any sense in exceptions. 
 

 

Gotta be looking at some JDM blades, they always seem to have S200. Also likely shorter than the "standard" 36.75"/37" for a 7i depending on loft/age.

[nzio]

33 minutes ago, Yoshifan151 said:

Gotta be looking at some JDM blades, they always seem to have S200. Also likely shorter than the "standard" 36.75"/37" for a 7i depending on loft/age.

Yes this.

 

All from over there seems to be s200, and also shorter in length which is a bummer. 

[NRJyzr]

6 hours ago, BallHooker said:

Been looking at clubs on eBay. Interesting blades are always with S200 shafts. Why?  Weight is important and good clubs are ruined with light shafts. 
 

Wedges are only acceptable with S400 shafts and irons would then need either X100 or S300/400. I don’t really see any sense in exceptions. 
 

 

 

Its only 4g (per specs) between S200 and S400

 

[Bigmean]

On 6/29/2025 at 6:54 PM, NRJyzr said:

Took my reshafted TS4 3 iron on the course today, along with the 7-pw 986 Tour.  Used those for every shot where something of that distance was needed.  Couple things were apparent.

 

First, the choice of Modus 105 stiff appears to be a good one.  I'd tested it with a couple of the 986 Tour short irons, so not a blind choice.  The weight is suiting me, I'm getting the improved trajectory I was seeking, shots are directionally solid.

 

Second thing is how spoiled I've gotten with the soles of the TS4s.  I used the 986 Tour PW for most of my chips (where SW wasn't the play), had it stick in the turf a bit, something that largely never happens with the TS4 PW or GW.

 

Modus 105s are awesome.   I’m loving them in the kyoeis and currently high bidder on a set of pulls to put in my small blades (That was a carbon shaft experiment gone bad) or I’m really thinking about getting these:

 

https://buyee.jp/item/jdirectitems/auction/w1190135422?conversionType=mypage_watch_list

 

I just know they are what I want in a CB and I hate the Vega cbs and I’m over not having a cb set that I can use 3 times a year to mix it up.   This all makes a ton of sense since my iron play this year is maybe best it has been in years and I’m in love with kyoeis so I’m for sure not just relapsing on ho things and just making it cheap to justify it…those really are a sleeper set though, probably dollar for dollar the best clubs you could buy I am aware of. 

 

 

[Bigmean]

15 hours ago, nzio said:

Yes this.

 

All from over there seems to be s200, and also shorter in length which is a bummer. 

This is why I learned how to make clubs.  At the end of the day even if dg200 didn’t suck, it’s rare to get a used set of irons that is also a deal that also has your preferred shafts in them.

Edited July 1 by Bigmean

[Bigmean]

16 hours ago, Yoshifan151 said:

Gotta be looking at some JDM blades, they always seem to have S200. Also likely shorter than the "standard" 36.75"/37" for a 7i depending on loft/age.

Don’t sleep on measurement's from over there. I have made that mistake, the carbon shafts I put in my small blades were 1/4” short and I think that is what ruined them in the set for me.   Never felt right.

[wsagolfer]

Any blade users struggle hitting a hollow body/utility long iron?

Bought a used MP 20 HMB 3 iron, turns out I hit my MP 32 3 iron better. Sometimes it ballooons and the distance becomes shorter than my 4 iron. Misshits are pretty similar on both, so I don't think I get the advantage of the HMB's more forgiveness.

[DCCarpenter]

1 hour ago, wsagolfer said:

Any blade users struggle hitting a hollow body/utility long iron?

Bought a used MP 20 HMB 3 iron, turns out I hit my MP 32 3 iron better. Sometimes it ballooons and the distance becomes shorter than my 4 iron. Misshits are pretty similar on both, so I don't think I get the advantage of the HMB's more forgiveness.

Yes , I had this experience. I bought an Gen 1 pxg hollow body 3 iron to pair with my 0211st 4 to pw set. 
 

I had a ns pro 950 shaft in to get speed up but had  lots of high balls and some ballooning with it. Launch monitor shows I was swinging it plenty fast to get good impact conditions. 
 

Thinking of pulling the shaft and putting a blade 2 iron on there.

[nzio]

5 hours ago, Bigmean said:

This is why I learned how to make clubs.  At the end of the day even if dg200 didn’t suck, it’s rare to get a used set of irons that is also a deal that also has your preferred shafts in them.

I kinda wanna get into it as well. Here in my country you don't even have a proper fitting studio. 

[No_Catchy_Nickname]

5 hours ago, wsagolfer said:

Any blade users struggle hitting a hollow body/utility long iron?

Bought a used MP 20 HMB 3 iron, turns out I hit my MP 32 3 iron better. Sometimes it ballooons and the distance becomes shorter than my 4 iron. Misshits are pretty similar on both, so I don't think I get the advantage of the HMB's more forgiveness.

 

I just got rid of my hollow-bodied 4i. I had four clubs that filled that gap, now I only have three:

 

1) 23° hybrid: most versatile and easiest to hit of three. Out of the four options, this is the one I use the most.

 

2) 24° 9w (V-steel): don't use this much as it balloons, but fun to play and surprisingly good in fairway bunkers.

 

3) Mizuno 2021 Fli-hi 4i (Hollow-bodied): just got rid of this. Worst of the four. not particularly forgiving, and poor dispersion.

 

4) Mizuno MP4 4i: After the hybrid, this is the second best option for me. Best dispersion, but it requires a good swing. Advantage is that poor hits tend to go short but straight, unlike the other three options.

[SnowbirdTom]

Oh, yeah. Forgot how good these feel after not playing them for a month.  Just crushing the ball today and even in the right general direction. 😍 The rumors that they're unplayable are greatly exaggerated by people who shouldn't have blades in their hands. 

 

[NRJyzr]

On 6/28/2025 at 9:00 PM, NRJyzr said:

Mizuno MS-11s have been pulled, theyare ready for the Modus 120 stiff pullouts I have lying in wait.  Excited about these also.  

 

Now just to do the work

 

A fair bit of the work has been done.  The 986 Tours have cured, are awaiting butt trimming, gripping, and lead tape.

 

The MS-11s are assembled and gripped, just need swingweighting.  Will be in the bag for the next round I play.

 

Decided to finish these two before doing the TS4 project, to be sure I had at least one Nippon-shafted set for the bag this upcoming weekend.  Quicker to assemble already pulled clubheads, after all.  😉

 

[Bigmean]

17 hours ago, nzio said:

I kinda wanna get into it as well. Here in my country you don't even have a proper fitting studio. 

It really isn’t hard.   I mean I have a blue collar background, but it just isn’t that hard.   It can be frustrating sometimes for sure but it’s so nice to be able to do.   I did win my auction this morning, but holy cow it went to about my limit at around $150 for them.  Still happy to get factory black modus shafts, they should be sick.   

I have accumulated a lot of tools over the years but you can do it with a SW scale only.   I did get a proper shaft puller and that is I would say also worth it because you need it for carbon shafts and it makes life awesome for seating ferrules and in general.    Air compressor and grip tool would round out all you need to save grips and swap shafts as you please.   

[Bigmean]

Just got back from playing.   Driver has come down to earth some, but it is also working for me at earth level.   Went 35/40 for my best round of the summer and bagged 4 birdies.  I doubled a par 5 with 4 holes left that was just bad shot after bad decision and thank god I one putted it to save that.   Should have been a 73 save for that hole, felt like a 73 aside from that, but that’s golf, coulda missed a couple more putts too.  More important than score is I am hitting it better than I have in about 7 years and having a lot of fun wanting to hit shots regardless what just happened.
 

Driver got a little loose, but something about this club is just more manageable even when it happens.  Im bombing it (for me) too. I think my previous 3 rounds were like 84,79,81 but I really felt like I have been playing a lot better than scoring and close to good golf and today was big for confidence behind how I felt.  Aside from a chip in nothing crazy happened, I hit some tight shots and made some putts, but there is no reason that shouldn’t be as normal in a round as the bogeys that are inevitable..   

[NRJyzr]

On 7/1/2025 at 1:30 AM, nzio said:

I kinda wanna get into it as well. Here in my country you don't even have a proper fitting studio. 

 

12 hours ago, Bigmean said:

It really isn’t hard.   I mean I have a blue collar background, but it just isn’t that hard.   It can be frustrating sometimes for sure but it’s so nice to be able to do.   I did win my auction this morning, but holy cow it went to about my limit at around $150 for them.  Still happy to get factory black modus shafts, they should be sick.   

I have accumulated a lot of tools over the years but you can do it with a SW scale only.   I did get a proper shaft puller and that is I would say also worth it because you need it for carbon shafts and it makes life awesome for seating ferrules and in general.    Air compressor and grip tool would round out all you need to save grips and swap shafts as you please.   

 

I also do most of my own clubs work.  In contrast with Biggie, I am an accountant, a desk jockey, and generally don't do DIY projects around the house.  I had no trouble getting going with regripping, pulling/reshafting steel shafts, installing shafts, all that fun.

 

Don't have a shaft puller, so haven't gone down that road.  I *did* buy an air compressor in order to install grips and remove/reuse them.  Swingweight scale was a must for me, as well.

 

When I got started, I didn't take a class or any such.  Just paid attention to advice, articles written by those with knowledge, and watched a video or two.

 

It's a lot more basic than it seems.  The tougher aspect is knowing what to install.  😉

 

 

Edited July 2 by NRJyzr

[nzio]

5 hours ago, Bigmean said:

It really isn’t hard.   I mean I have a blue collar background, but it just isn’t that hard.   It can be frustrating sometimes for sure but it’s so nice to be able to do.   I did win my auction this morning, but holy cow it went to about my limit at around $150 for them.  Still happy to get factory black modus shafts, they should be sick.   

I have accumulated a lot of tools over the years but you can do it with a SW scale only.   I did get a proper shaft puller and that is I would say also worth it because you need it for carbon shafts and it makes life awesome for seating ferrules and in general.    Air compressor and grip tool would round out all you need to save grips and swap shafts as you please.   

 

Thanks that's great to hear. I can do grips and cutting lengths it's more the shafts, but I have a friend who I sent my stuff to all the time, he might just teach me after all 🙂

 

3 hours ago, NRJyzr said:

 

 

I also do most of my own clubs work.  In contrast with Biggie, I am an accountant, a desk jockey, and generally don't do DIY projects around the house.  I had no trouble getting going with regripping, reshafting steel shafts, installing shafts, all that fun.

 

Don't have a shaft puller, so haven't gone down that road.  I *did* buy an air compressor in order to install grips and remove/reuse them.  Swingweight scale was a must for me, as well.

 

When I got started, I didn't take a class or any such.  Just paid attention to advice, articles written by those with knowledge, and watched a video or two.

 

It's a lot more basic than it seems.  The tougher aspect is knowing what to install.  😉

 

 

 

Yeah same guy here. Marketing at a desk, no handyman at all. So it's good to see it's even possible for us non-mortal 😂

[No_Catchy_Nickname]

I think I am approaching that mythical WRXer who claims to be a scratch with his irons, but a hacker with his putter...

 

OK, so while I don't claim to be scratch with my irons, they are definitely the best part of my game this year, closely followed by driver/woods & hybrids.

 

But my wedges--including bunkers-- and putting are horrendous. Last year, it was sort of the other way round. I was fighting an early release in my long game, but managed to pull off some pretty good escapes with the wedges.

 

This year, I've forgotten how to hit a wedge, can't get out of a bunker anymore, and have the yips with my putting.

 

How bad is it? Two rounds ago, I missed 3 putts from within 18 inches.

 

In the last round, I had three holes where I took 5 shots to get up and down from within 10 yards of the green.

 

The worst was a par 3 where I just missed the green with my tee shot and was on the fringe within 30ft from the hole. Duffed the first chip, putted from the fringe to 8ft, then 3-putted from there.

 

To be honest, my driving needs to be a bit sharper, but the inequalities in my game right now are risible.

 

Yep, that's right. I went with "risible" over "laughable".

 

Pretentious? Moi?

 

Edited July 2 by No_Catchy_Nickname

[No_Catchy_Nickname]

But I'm really enjoying my MP4s with these ATTAS carbon shafts. High launch, but they seem to go.

 

The highlight recently was an eagle a couple of rounds ago in the monthly medal on a short par 5. Nice 5w off the tee, then a 6i to about 8ft (it was playing wind behind), and miraculously holed the putt.

[Nard_S]

On 6/30/2025 at 9:33 PM, wsagolfer said:

Any blade users struggle hitting a hollow body/utility long iron?

Bought a used MP 20 HMB 3 iron, turns out I hit my MP 32 3 iron better. Sometimes it ballooons and the distance becomes shorter than my 4 iron. Misshits are pretty similar on both, so I don't think I get the advantage of the HMB's more forgiveness.

At intervals i tried using a CB on long end and all i figured out was they fly 15 feet higher but the dispersion is less controllable. Many pro's have added higher MOI on long end and yet none of them are tearing scores with them. tried a hybrid too, see no advantage, play with a plus guy who always used one, but this year he dropped it and sticks with long irons (has Rahm's setup in bag), says he finds more fairways and prefers that even if he loses some yards.I finally found bliss with a #5W setup with 20g extra in shaft & head. May tweak it a bit more but it fills the gap at #4i and beyond quite nicely. I don't even carry a #3W nor have i even had to try using the #3i, it's that good. Key for me is the extra mass, because it now better matches iron set and that disparity has always thrown me off for decades.

Edited July 2 by Nard_S

[NRJyzr]

1 hour ago, Nard_S said:

Key for me is the extra mass, because it now better matches iron set and that disparity has always thrown me off for decades.

 

I have a Modus 105 shaft on the way to install in a hybrid adapter for this exact reason.  I am not a fan of the light shafts normally put in hybrids.  I attempted to use a 5w for a time, and it's not doing the job, so I've gone back to my 2h.  

 

Decided I needed to finally do what I've been thinking about, and order that 2 iron shaft.

 

[Nard_S]

7 minutes ago, NRJyzr said:

 

I have a Modus 105 shaft on the way to install in a hybrid adapter for this exact reason.  I am not a fan of the light shafts normally put in hybrids.  I attempted to use a 5w for a time, and it's not doing the job, so I've gone back to my 2h.  

 

Decided I needed to finally do what I've been thinking about, and order that 2 iron shaft.

 

I'm betting you'll be happier. The disparity between any long iron to any FW is just too much. A bag should have continuum of mass throughout. Standard 1990's gear had better flow than what is offered these days. You like em light make em all light, you like heavy make em all heavy. Mass is base , primal aspect of fit. Find ideal window, build to that.  Once you had #3-PW & woods with all the same shafts. Now? Light Ti, lighter graphite, hybrids, progressive gobbley gook on irons, then tour weighted Vokey wedge sets and that's supposed to be easier or better? Yeah, no thanks.

[Kingcat990]

10 hours ago, Nard_S said:

Once you had #3-PW & woods with all the same shafts. Now? Light Ti, lighter graphite, hybrids, progressive gobbley gook on irons, then tour weighted Vokey wedge sets and that's supposed to be easier or better? Yeah, no thanks.

Golf is too easy, we needed a challenging variable in there to thin the herd. That equipment aspect keeps a bad golfer down. That golfer will be buying and trading in a lot of golf clubs. They are necessary to us 😁

[stratgolf]

Every time those RF Cobra Irons pop up I nearly buy them. So beautiful and people who can't hit them love selling them dirt cheap. Awesome.

 

Can't wait until my Rors Proto arrive! I am hoping I don't have to buy a set in the meantime.