Equipment
2 veteran blade-iron users shockingly switch to cavity-back irons at the Wyndham Championship
Remember when the majority of PGA Tour players used a full set of blade irons?
Those were the days.
Unfortunately for fans of blade irons, those are days are quickly fading. Many of the top golfers in the world – even veterans who have played blade irons throughout their career – are switching into more forgiving options either through the set…or, at least, they’re using combo sets featuring blade short irons and cavityback long irons (such as Rory McIlroy).
More now than ever, golf equipment manufacturers are designing smaller, more compact cavityback iron heads that combine blade-style looks with cavity-back forgiveness.
Rickie Fowler, for example, used blade irons in college, and for more than a decade as a PGA Tour player. He even collaborated with Cobra on an ultra-custom set of shockingly small-and-thin Rev33 blade irons.
Now, in 2023, Fowler uses a full set of CB’s by way of the Cobra King Tour irons. And he’s arguably playing the best golf he has in the last five years.
This week at the 2023 Wyndham Championship, two longtime blade users have also switched into full sets of cavityback irons: Webb Simpson and Adam Scott.
Just recently, back in November 2022, Simpson switched into an ultra-custom set of Titleist 682.WS blade irons. And for years he relied on Titleist’s classic 680 models. This week, however, Simpson changed into Titleist’s new 2023 T100 irons, which are made with a dual-cavity construction.
Simpson spoke with GolfWRX.com briefly about the switch on Wednesday at the Wyndham Championship:
“I’ve been practicing with [the new T100’s] at home and I feel like, out of the rough, they’re a little better. Mishits are a little better. Just a little bit. I’m still getting used to them.”
We spotted Simpson on Wednesday with a full set of T100’s in the bag, but since he’s “still getting used to them,” the situation may remain fluid during the transition process. On Thursday during competition, though, Simpson was photographed using at least one T100 long iron.
Like Simpson, Scott used the Titleist 680 blade irons for years. He’s also recently used custom Titleist 681.MB irons, and, most recently, Miura’s custom AS-1 blades.
Ahead of the 2023 Wyndham Championship, however, Scott conducted extensive iron testing that included various head models from different brands. On Thursday, it was confirmed that Scott used a set of Titleist 620 CB irons to grab the first round lead.
Adam Scott has been a blade guy for most of his career, but you can’t really blame him trying @Titleist CB’s. Same irons Wyndham Clark and Brian Harman used to win majors this year. pic.twitter.com/DHKT9SGjgo
— Jonathan Wall (@jonathanrwall) August 3, 2023
Even Adam Scott – who is known to use the bladiest of blade irons – switched into cavitybacks.
That leaves me with just one question for amateur golfers who still use a full set of blade irons: Why?
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.
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
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
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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...
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Driver: TaylorMade Qi4D (10.5 degrees) Shaft: Project X Titan Yellow 60 TX 3-wood: TaylorMade Qi4D Tour (15 degrees) Shaft: Project...
Eimert
Aug 24, 2023 at 4:09 pm
Because i play golf for fun. I grew up playing blades. Playing anything else feels like cheating.
Mike
Aug 25, 2023 at 10:17 am
Still playing persimmon woods? How about those (old) balata balls? If you’re gonna “not cheat”, you might as well go all the way.
Jc
Aug 6, 2023 at 8:12 pm
Because I can, and you can’t… and that’s cool.
BladesfortheEgo
Aug 21, 2023 at 3:57 pm
Doubtful, more like your ego writing checks your swing can’t cash.
Steve
Aug 6, 2023 at 10:41 am
New irons are a trivial purchase
R
Aug 5, 2023 at 9:37 pm
Getting paid to play, so they’re walking adverts
D
Aug 6, 2023 at 9:43 am
Adam Scotty is not on staff with any company right now.
Rich
Aug 5, 2023 at 3:01 pm
Webb and Adam both major disappointments this year. Just entirely unable to put 4 good rounds together.
Devlin
Aug 5, 2023 at 12:46 pm
Because I can still hit the sweet spot and new fancy clubs make my swing worse.
C
Aug 5, 2023 at 11:46 am
Must be nice to be walking advertisement billboard with a nice cheque
Ya
Aug 5, 2023 at 11:45 am
Getting paid to play. Must be nice to be a walking advertisement billboard lol
Paulo
Aug 5, 2023 at 1:20 am
It’s not my fault those hackers on the pga tour need cavities
PJ
Aug 5, 2023 at 7:36 pm
Haha good one
Rascal
Aug 4, 2023 at 9:08 pm
Cause