Titleist dci oversize, probably because they were my first set! Getting new irons this year, what’s your top 3 favorites for an 6hndcp with speed mark?
Probably old Callaway X 14/16 Pro series. Could put those up against modern Callaway irons. They have become a brand I just don't associate with irons these days.
BOTH ARE JUST LOVELY!!! MP-33 still going strong in my bag. Old clubs must be at least one club weaker in loft. I do love the way the old blades feel in the hands. The modern one certainly looks like it’s got more sole. The old ones have more “soul” though.
I’ve played since 1952! Dozens of sets, probably 100 putters, fewer “woods”. Played college golf, scratch for a year or two, always just amateur golf. Favorite of all were Cleveland 588 muscle-back blades, pure ecstasy thru the set, but I always liked Wilson PW and Ping Eye 2 SW. These were Cleveland HE? steel shafts. Then later in life I settled on Ping ISIK graphite regular shafts. For me, my test was the 3 iron. If I could flush the 3 consistently, then the set would work. Also, I wanted to close down the 8 iron for low draws. Both sets worked well for these 2 irons. But…grips over the years…leather wrap gave way to early rubber/composition to the variations today. So grip and shaft play big parts in workability and feel. Today my bag is a mixture. Age changes your body, so it’s 2 hybrids, mixed cast and forged irons. Cleveland Launcher driver head, special shaft, Adams 5 wood. Putter, take your pick!
This was hilarious. I have learned so much from you over the years about clubs and what to actually look for in clubs to actually improve and stop worrying about the number on the bottom and marketing hype. I have a completely different set in my bag than I would have thought just 3 years ago. Great stuff Mark. Would love to see some old fairway woods vs new. Like old callaway warbird vs epic for example.
Back when I used to game MP33s, I think the 2i off the tee was one of the most satisfying shots in the bag. When you pure it off a tee it was like hitting a marshmallow with a hammer.
Regarding the numbers on the bottom of the clubs, the statistician I am (who did study a bit of physics in the old days) thinks from data, tests, and logic that regardless of the marketing spiel, the only thing that counts in a ball trajectory is loft (and a bit the CG placement... but that can't be moved enough to really matter much even between blades and game improvement "power" bats)... I just wish everyone would agree to produce clubs with just loft on the sole, not a "number"... I mean last I played with an old friend whose 7i was at 27.5° or something... almost my 5i !!! and when I tried, lo and behold, I hit the ball at a 5i distance !
I like the lofting of the old. I quite like hitting a flush 4 iron it sound better than a 5 in modern day. Also not needing 4 wedges makes a set more of a set, with consistency through more clubs. Always need to buy a GW with modern sets now 😞
These honestly are my favorite kind of videos you make. I have played with old irons recently more than once for fun. You just have to change your expectations as far as yardage goes per club and off you go....
Mizuno MP 60 . All time fave. Cannot find anything better. Have tried all the latest offerings and the MP 60 and Mizuno MP 69 are tops. When are manufacturers going to understand that just dropping lofts to increase distance is no longer a secret. I have been in actual fittings when a "fitter" was trying to sell me how much farther the new iron is, but when I mentioned loft difference he had no reply. Irons are about feel and dispersion. Loft can be your friend!!. Great video Mark !!
I have a set of Wilson FG51 blades that were custom made for me. I will still game them occassionally. Can't get rid of them! The new clubs they strengthened the lofts. Cobra/Greg Norman started that if I recall correctly. Those were the same loft and length, they just stamped a different number on the bottom!
Great video! I play my old Mac Gregor Jack Nicklaus blades from late 80s now and then. Often I have forgot the difference compared to the moder blades and get the idea to start playing them again. Remembering how good and clean they were. Thing is that the difference I get to new blades are in the bottom. The turf interaction. The Mac Gregor's are razor sharp and any tendency of fat shots will digg in to the ground in a way modern blades doesn't. Not that noticable indoor on a mat, but even there I've made holes in the mat because of the sharp leading edge. In clean shots with modest divots it's just like ripping the grass with a scythe. Lovely feeling, but punching in everyday playing.
I have a set of 1973 Ben hogan Apex blades that I occasionally try on the course. I have literally never seen another club that looks as beautiful. They are “true” like you say and feel light. I love them but can’t possibly play my best with them. That is the choice :)
I bought the Tp-9's recently for a laugh, because my mate was collecting old Mizuno blades, but I was blown away with them, compared to my T100S (2021) that I had just bought. So much so that I sold the T100S. Yeah, crazy. With a bit of speed (88-90mph swing speed), those blades fly high, but they look like the ball comes down with a parachute, and because it's ( I think) S300's, the initial flight is dreamy. Aye, so it put me into a bit of a crazy spin. Just so easy to hit. I think the issue with clubs like the T100S, is that because they are strong lofted, they come off the face like a rocket because it's modern tech, but also there's a finer line for disaster. The slightest bit offline at impact, is turning into being 20 yards left or right, whereas the older blades (37 degree 7 iron) just keep a great dispersion pattern, and breed confidence. After 30 years, and they keep up with modern clubs. Fantastic.
Love this mate. I've recently got a set of heads from a mate that are mint but I haven't shafted them up yet. Gonna pair them with my favourite iron shaft (Nippon Super Peening Orange) and stick them in a baf with some old RAM persimmons for a laugh. I might end up with them in the normal bag like you have!!! Great stuff.
@@Cornwall1888 There's more than just loft jacking going on in a T100S head. CoG placement, Tungsten weights and it all has to look right to sell. So yeah, CAD designs, research, models, prototypes and all that stuff using tech to get there.
@@TenPester the cog placement and weights may help with forgiveness but I’ve yet to see a club go further than any other club of the same loft when they are both hit well. People say certain irons have a “hot face” I don’t see it, does a 30 degree p790 go further than a 30 degree blade? Maybe a little but ball speed and spin seem to me to be 90% a product of the loft on the club
I love Hogan blades. So much so I recently bought a set of 1972 Apex irons. They are surprisingly forgiving. Hitting them feels so pure. Getting the reshafted over winter. Can't wait until Spring!
I love these videos Mark. It’s so true about the number printed on the bottom. Personally I like the older lofts, the sets these days are making it so that the Pitching Wedge is 42 degrees or so and then there is a massive gap between that and your 52 degree wedge. In my older sets the loft on my PW was 46 degrees and it blended into my wedges so much better.
I play TP9s now and previously had a set of mp33s. I don't think better blades have ever been made. The best thing about them is the predictability. You just don't get the random rockets that you get from bigger irons.
Great video - Recently put my Callaway Apex forged CF-19s on the shelf and am rotating Mizuno MP-14, -33, and -32’s thru the bag. Preferred so far are the -33’s. Looking forward a demo of the new Pro series.
I was working in Warrington many years ago and encountered the (apparently) original AG store. They had a set of TP9s there that I bought with the intention of using to improve my ball-striking (from better/more feedback. Feel of first shot (7i) surprised me and by the 3rd I was hooked! CBs still superior for consistency, especially longer irons, but the feel of a centred blade strike is just magic!
Great video, really enjoyed this one! I love old blades, I buy second hand all the time just to get my hands on some of my favorites throughout the years.
Superb comparison Mark. Proving 1. that technology cannot really push blades that much further other than softness possibly, 2. that elite golfers like yourself can play/ adapt to any iteration of a blade, and 3. that music then was probably better! The challenge is to move from blades/ more "players" irons (all relative) and find the best more forgiving option so that we can can play until we drop, and where tech plays with your melon man, e.g. stronger lofts, speed slots, inserts etc. Would love to know what to replace my Mp60s with as they are fantastic for distance control and amazing from 8-PW. It strikes me that the new era of distance irons can lead to too much front to back drop off with ball speed jumping. Any thoughts please?
Having both TP 5s and MP 20, the newer ones are easier to hit, more forgiving, particularly with modern balls (and the lower lofted irons). The downside is the cost new at £160 per club versus £80 per club second hand, reshafted, regripped and rechromed.
Mark, a great video! I still play my set of Jack Nicklaus Muirfield Irons 1-SW, not well mind you but... when I do hit them well, the feeling is very euphoric. (chasing the dragon, LOL)
Still love my Maxfli Revolution Black Dots (red was the midsize version). They had a nickel coating that made for such a beautiful feel on impact. It was cast but felt forged. I have a set of Ping G25’s that I can play well with, but they never feel like the Maxflis. I will always keep that set. I keep them in covers and polished.
Its mostly about clean looks and price for me, if I can find something older but well kept I have no problem playing it depending if the price is considerably lower then the almost new
Love your comparison videos bruh. Modern blades in my humble opinion are more forgiving than older blades, mostly due to better soles and CG placement. I love blades myself and play blades currently 4-PW. I used to play 3-PW but elected to carry an extra wedge. I love the videos where you compare blades versus cavity backs.
Good video. I've got a set of TP-9s and they're lovely irons. Picking a favourite set is hard as there are so many great sets. I'm going to cheat and pick three: 1962 Slazenger Gary Player, these are spot on my favourite lofts, 52 deg PW and 4 degree gaps up and down. 1957 Dunlop Peter Thomson 1972 Slazenger Plus International But ask me in a month's time and I might give you three different sets. As for how far I hit a 1 iron, I'm much more erratic than you and would say between 150 and 225 yards.
Oh for my old loft & lie machine I used back in the 1970’s & 80’s, back then there was a ‘standard’ loft for each iron in a set, forged irons were known to bend with much use, usually delofted little by little during use/impact therefore they required regular testing on the loft & lie machine, was amazing how many sets had 5 & 6 irons and 7 & 8 irons the same loft so required the necks bending back to standard, by the way the old Mizuno Ferrules easily fixed by pouring boiling water on them and sliding them back flush, then a wipe with acetone or cellulose thinners to make them black and shiny again👌old pro here PGA qualified in 1967 🙈
My favourite vid to date, featuring my all-time favourite irons. I've been playing TP9s since the noughties. I've often thought I'm missing out against modern irons but nothing I've demo'd can replace them. Easy to hit, easy to shape, beautiful feel. Thanks for the excellent video Mark
The thinner the top line and more challenging the iron head appears to hit, it forces me to make a good swing. I’ve been gaming some 1972 Wilson Staffs.
Although I love my set now, I played a set of mizuno quads, the old 80s ones that just say "QUAD" on the back, one of my all time favs but I love mizuno also
Thank you so much for that video. I just ordered my first set of blades (221 p-7 and 223 6-4). Can’t wait for my clubs to come in and the snow to melt.
Loved my hogan blades for years. Moved to mp-20mc, which look bigger, rounder, and stronger lofted. Both feel good, look good. Id have no problem playing either club
Nothing feels sweeter than hitting a 40 year old Wilson Staff Tour Blade 7-iron. Most Pros nowadays would never lower themselves to use the old clubs but if they did they would be surprised.
Titleist DCI 990s vs Titleist T100! I'm biased because I'm using the prior waiting for my new set that is on order :D Love these videos! Keep em up Mark!
When I started playing there were blades and a choice of stiff or reg shafts. Started with PGF Billy Dunk Course Record blades. Moved to PGF Status Tour (cavity) then made a leap to Mizuno T Zoid Pro. They're the best and still use 3&4 with MP64 5-PW.
I collect older clubs, and I enjoy how you talk about the "modern-day" preference because I prefer hitting razor-thin irons. I have no idea why, but I do... I also like a smaller head on the iron too... My top two favorites are the Nike vapor and the more recent Cobra REV33. I only tested the Cobra irons because a friend bought a set thinking he would be excellent or good enough to use them and failed miserably, but fell in love with those irons. I currently use the JPX 900 irons. They are soft and, so far, after 4ish years, still look really good.
I have a set of lefty TP9s that were made in 99/00. They are in excellent condition. On good strikes they feel so great. On misses the feed back is instant. I have thought about selling them but they are so sexy. Now playing Mizuno 900 forged, performance with the latter is so much better, not a fair comparison. But on looks the blade wins in every way.
Some feel better than others but nothing will improve your game more than a set of blades! I switched from a set of hand me down game improvement chunkers to an old set of Yonex blades and I'm SO glad I did. It's a grind at first but before long, you will be hitting those irons so much more consistently and squarely. Butter knife blades... The original game improvement irons!!
Mark, I love these old vs new series. I‘m currently playing with several old sets of irons, one of them being a MacGregor VIP Tourney 1025CB with a 2 iron (18 degree loft). I’ve never been able to hit 3 irons with any consistency. The top line on this club is scary as hell but the bottom of the club is heavily weighted and it’s really easy to get the ball off the ground. This 20 year old club is replacing my M6 hybrid.
I bought 3-SW in 1997 custom fitted 2 degrees upright and +1”. Half cord grips and Dynamic Gold S400 shafts. All in £500. I later added a 2 iron but couldn’t hit it so switched to a Ping eye 2.
My best iron set when I consistently played to my lowest hcp was about 25 years ago playing Yonex Tournament SP blades with S400 DG shafts. I’m sure almost impossible to find nowadays; but I am very much enjoying my Yururi blade irons that I play - and upgraded the old DG to the Tour Issue of the same - still like the weight and feel of the S400’s in the Tour Issue shafts. And at 51 I still play the blades irons. I grew up on old Mizuno blades as a teenager - I’m just sucker for the heavier weighted club heads and thinner top lines
The difference is 3 degrees (if they're both 7 irons) Interestingly enough the wedge in TP9 is 50 degrees, thats the biggest change i see to now . I used to own a set of Slazenger "seve" blades (circa 1990), very similar to TP11's beautiful irons
I have been playing Mizuno MP 32's for the last 15 years or so. Love them!! would consider newer but it looks like all I need to do is club up to match lofts.
My first set of irons was a 1970s set of Wilson Staff irons. . .but my favorite blades from mid-1980s Haig Ultra (Crenshaw Grind) irons. Beautiful clubs.
I grew up playing an ancient set of 1979-80 titleist tour blades my father found in a shed and cut down. Always chasing that feel though the 716MBs weren't far off. No blades in the bag anymore, not missing that 37deg 7 iron.
My brother played TP9s back in the day. With a 1- and 2- iron and a 3-wood but only 2 wedges. We played links golf all the time. It was a surprise to see that differences from the old to the new as I had assumed it was be the same club (number). I get the loft thing though - if I need to hit the ball further I take more club.
I play a set of Titleist Tour Models from the late 80’s that my uncle gave me, and absolutely love them. Always been curious how newer blades would compare. Great video!
just because you were mentioning if there was a difference in loft but the same loft I thought it must be a little twist. there you go: an old 7 and a new 8 but same loft. I have the old (new) Ben Hogans with only loft mentioned on the club. it took some time to learn the loft of which club it actually was. Who cares: you learn the distance of a specific club and then you play it. I like that idea. I have a set of blades which I never thought I would be able to hit but i play it. and I love it. If I want to hit the ball further well then I take another club.
I just LOVE the thinness of the older one... Honestly modern Mizuno blades (and the JPX tour are even worse) look a bit "fat" on the top line. However, the kink at the hosel, I prefer on the new one. I put that evolution down to the "club reviewers" who keep on saying that slim toplines are "frightening" and that chunky clubs are "reassuring". Same goes with offset, by the way, even as a beginner I used to not be very happy looking at thick toplines and offset. Now? I just HATE these things (and to be honest, it's hard for me to find irons I like: my ideal would be compact heads, no offset, very thin topline, "classic-ish" lofts -my current 35° 7i is just spot on, 34 can do, 36° as well- and a bit of cavity... Not necessarily for me, but to reassure the guys I play with who keep on rambling on "not even pros can play blades").
Hey Mark. Back in the day (a long time back - early 1970's I would say) I played a George Nicholl 1 iron. Summer I had it going about 230 yards. Great when it was windy.
Razr x muscleback, still have them just not the game! Lol... love my current i500's.."I could get 200 out of that 1 iron..." with the just 1 more technique... been watching for years.... still love it.. thanks man..
All time favourite: the Macgregor PCB Tours I picked up new on box in a clearance store that was closing down. Feel amazing and actually pretty playable even for a high handicapper like me. It wasn’t until a few years later I found out I had got a set of legendary clubs for next to nothing.
Come on brah, sort your ferrels out! Need to send them down to Lester for a tidy up and grip change, get uncle dan to hit them as well. You lovely boys need a retro clubs match. P.S. we all want to see Coach hit that 1 iron 😀
I played TP18s and they got me from 23 to 12, changed to Ping Zing 2s and shot level par the next competition and then that was the norm getting me to 3. Had to hang the clubs up because of work. Now I play mp20 and use the TP18s in my classic bag with 3,5 persimmon Mizuno mp5 woods and a Macgregor Eye-o-matic driver… the scores would be the same if I could use the Wilson 8802 putter! I don’t think today’s blades are as hard as those of 20-30 yrs ago, and people /players should try them .
First set I was given by my pop, were a set of Wilson Sam Snead’s, looked and felt great. I appreciate now, more than ever, starting out with a set of blades! Merry Christmas Mark!! Keep swinging!!
Jpx800 pro were my favorite of all time. I actually saw Chris Voshell at a local lunch restaurant and told him they were awesome in person. Like a total dork. I love my current MP4s, but those older 800 pros shot my lowest all-time score!
There's definitely a forgiveness difference. I just retired a set of '84 Hogan Apex PCs, and before that played '72 Apex IIs. Before all the talk about game improvement irons, it never occurred to me that they were hard to hit, 1-iron excepted. I now have a set of TaylorMade P7MBs. If you hit the new blades a few groves low, you still get a decent result. The Hogans have a higher center of gravity, and weaker lofts. The sole on the new blades also go through the turf better. Zero forgiveness with the Hogan knife edge sole. Can't say for sure I won't end up playing the Hogans some days, just for fun.
Playing MP 4 and MP 5. For me golf is and will always be a challenge. Everyone wants something different. The joy of crushing a blade can’t be beaten. If you want jacked up GI with longer distances and want to lower your score all good. For me it’s about improving my ball striking.
Sorry guys I gotta say the tp19s they were virtually identical to the 11s but just tweaked to improve on an already great club. For me the ultimate mizuno blade
I always preferred the sharp edges of the older Clubs. my first set I had from my Grandfather was a set of 72 Hogans. unforgiving as you can get, but when you learned they were butter!! I may be old school, I think a 7 Iron should be 34,36 degree.
the tp-9 and tp-11's were ahead of their time. when the mp29 finally came in that gave way to the more modern muscle back and that stayed consistent for almost a decade until the mp33, mp32's came in around 2002-2004. my first set of muscle backs were mp32's. i still have them and break them out every now and then. its just a sad reminder of the ball striker i used to be vs now LOL. one thing you may have forgot to mention is the difference in lofts between the 221 and tp-9. i think the 3 and 4 irons are the same but almost everything after that is about 3/4 degrees stronger in the 221. seems like the old tp-9 can still perform!
