After 20 years I upgraded my Taylor Made 360 cavity irons to a set of fitted Callaway Apex CF19s. At the fitting I got an extra club distance with the Apex.
When I got on course I struggled with the distances. I figured I was just getting used to the new clubs. But this struggle never really went away. On some shots I would fly the green and on others I would be WAY short (50% distance). I was a 17 handicap at the time with fairly poor strike consistency but good speed. I tend to hit off the toe and I found that the new Apex irons really disliked toe strikes. I was able to score with these irons on a good day but most of the time I couldn’t hit my distance. I was getting very frustrated with the Apex irons.
And then I found this video: https://youtu.be/nnIR2oCRWYM where Mark Crossfield tests distance consistency of game improvement vs bladed irons. He found that the blades were far more consistent with distance than the cavity back irons.
Had a few beers one night and ended up buying some Srixon Z-forged blades to my specs (4-PW) having never hit a single bladed club in my life. Everything was closed and I was done with my Apex irons. I didn’t trust them.
It’s been nearly 3 months and I’m down to a 13 handicap. The blades don’t go far. I am back to my 7 iron going 150 instead of 165. But from my experience Mark’s data is correct. Even on poor strikes on the toe, or thin shots, I can hit my distance and make it onto the green. I don’t have any more long flyers or shots that feel completely dead off the toe of the club. Sure, a poor hit feels like garbage, but my shots are going the same distance regardless.
I feel like we’re all being lied to so they can sell clubs that feature “technology” only so you don’t keep playing those same old blades 40 years on.
