Equipment
At what point is playing blades an advantage? – GolfWRXers discuss
In our forums, our members have been talking blades. WRXer ‘Douglsss’ poses an intriguing question, “at what point is playing blades an advantage?” and kicks off the thread, saying:
“All things being equal – loft, lie, etc. – If I have a level of ballstriking to where playing blades vs player distance vs GI irons clubs each have similar average distances, why wouldn’t you play blades? IMO – easier to work multiple trajectories, easier to remove spin, better consistency( no hot faces ).
Another argument could be made that in this scenario – what are you losing in the scoring clubs, say 8i – PW, by not using a bladed club?”
And our members have been responding in their numbers.
Here are a few posts from the thread, but make sure to check out the entire discussion and have your say at the link below.
- Thebiles: “Considering that the majority of pros are moving away from pure blades, I don’t think there is an advantage given today’s technology.”
- llewol007: “Your argument is watered down because you ultimately got rid of the big differences in playing a blade versus a player distance and game improvement. That is the main reason most would or would not play a blade. So the comparison is really not comparing. If all things are equal as you say, it just becomes personal preference.”
- AsianGolfer1995: “It’s mostly personal preference at this point, but for most of the blade users I’ve played with, they want their mishits coming up short of the target instead of flying 3-5 yards longer so they know what a true ‘miss’ feels like so they can work on it in practice to hit the center more.”
- Red4282: “Advantages of blades would be thinner soles and generally less bounce. Flighting becomes a little easier. Distance control is more consistent on good to slight misses. You really don’t see much advantages from GI irons until you get to the mid and long irons and on bad misses.”
Entire Thread: “At what point is playing blades an advantage? – GolfWRXers discuss”
More from the Forums
Equipment
Neal Shipley, AKA, the “Big Fridge’s,” custom stamping
Neal Shipley was the first to admit that he enjoyed his food while in college. But since his days at Ohio State, he’s slimmed down and earned a PGA Tour Card.
That hasn’t stopped him from having fun with his wedge stampings, though it’s led to some misunderstandings.
On the 54 (degree), we have ‘Big Fudge,'” Shipley told GolfWRX. “It was supposed to be ‘Big Fridge,’ so this happened a little while ago. ‘Big Fridge’ was a nickname between my college teammates and I, with ‘fridge’ meaning stomach, a big stomach.

“We told the Ping guys to put … ‘Big Fridge’ on it, and I think maybe some bad cell service or something, and they thought I said ‘fudge,’ so they put fudge on it.”
On Shipley’s 50-degree he also continues the food theme, this time with his go-to order at the “Golden Arches,” and his stamping “DONS 7.”
“The number 7 meal, the two cheeseburger meal, that was my McDonald’s order, back when I would have McDonald’s frequently,” Shipley shared.
Equipment
From the GolfWRX Classifieds: L.A.B. Purple DF3 with Masters cover
At GolfWRX, we are a community of like-minded individuals who all experience and express our enjoyment of the game in many ways.
It’s that sense of community that drives day-to-day interactions in the forums on topics that range from best driver to what marker you use to mark your ball. It even allows us to share another thing we all love – buying and selling equipment.
Currently, in our GolfWRX buy/sell/trade (BST) forum, @raw10628 has a L.A.B. DF3 putter and Masters putter cover up for grabs.

From the listing: “Some great items here today, time to thin out and make room for next set of gear. All prices include shipping.
LAB DF3 Purple 33.5” 68° lie with TPT – $725. LAB Masters release DF3 cover – $150.”
To check out the full listing in our BST forum, head through the link. If you are curious about the rules to participate in the BST Forum, you can learn more here: GolfWRX BST Rules
Whats in the Bag
Maria Torres WITB 2026 (June)
Driver: Ping G440 LST (9 degrees)
Shaft: Accra TourZ Green 5-M4

3-wood: Ping G440 Max (15 degrees)
Shaft: Accra TourZ Green 6-M4

5-wood: Ping G440 Max (19 degrees @18)
Shaft: Accra TourZ Green 6-M4

Hybrid: Ping G440 (23 degrees)
Shaft: Oban Isawa Red Hybrid Shaft 04 Flex 70 Gms

Irons: Srixon ZXi7 (5-P)
Shafts: Aerotech SteelFiber Private Reserve i80

Wedges: Cleveland RTZ (50-MID, 54-FULL, 58-MID)
Shafts: Aerotech SteelFiber Private Reserve i105

Putter: L.A.B. Golf OZ.1i
Shaft: ACCRA Putter Shaft

Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet

Michael Sarijoen
Sep 18, 2022 at 6:01 am
If you want to fine-tune your swing to the highest degree, blades can help
Paulo
Sep 17, 2022 at 8:24 am
If golf clubs were cars the blades would be a 911. Beautiful to look at , probably going to make you look sexier but utterly impractical if you have a couple of kids and can’t practice every day . If there’s even one of the worlds
Too 1000 golfers using cavities then everyone reading this should be too
Brandon
Sep 17, 2022 at 8:13 am
In my experience my score doesn’t fluctuate based on what irons I have in the bag at all. Keeping my drive in play and not having any disasters around the green are all that matters. I can just as easily shoot 70 or 90 with blades or SGI clubs depending on how the other parts of my game go.
S
Sep 16, 2022 at 10:38 pm
It’s so laughable what has become of golf. All that manufacturers want to do is sell you expensive clubs. They don’t even care if they fit you, because they know that if it doesn’t work, you’ll just buy another one.
One of the most glaring problem with modern golf is general, is actually not the equipment but the courses. There’s literally barely any rough at most courses these days, and that makes it seem like you don’t need small heads in irons. As soon as there is some ankle high rough and the ball is sitting down in it, I dare you to try to hack it out of there with a shovel headed club. You can’t. You won’t be able to.
Barney
Sep 16, 2022 at 1:21 pm
I’m glad we can finally address this topic! Well done!
Prime21
Sep 16, 2022 at 10:56 am
This is the 4,167th time this has been a “subject” on this sight. Regardless of the situation, pick the club that allows you to score the best, period. Can we please stop using this topic?!
Bhickey
Sep 16, 2022 at 9:30 am
Please ban this tired old subject.
Hogan
Sep 17, 2022 at 7:06 am
Why ban this subject! This is the kind of stuff this site was built on. So what should we talk about? How the newest driver gets you 30 more yards, or maybe how the new irons hit every green.. no I got it how the new putters never miss putts. Don’t read the topic if you don’t like it… easy!!
Bhickey
Oct 11, 2022 at 5:34 pm
Seriously get a life and use another name besides Hogan.
Holden Tudiks
Sep 15, 2022 at 7:45 pm
They become an advantage when people gather around your bag in awe of blades. Men will do most anything to another man just to hold them.