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Do Blades Provide More "Workability"?

Have you ever stood over your ball, 7-iron in hand, wondering whether a sleek blade or a forgiving game-improvement iron would help you shape that perfect shot? You're not alone. The debate over which type of iron offers better "workability" has been around as long as the clubs themselves. Recently, a fascinating study by Sasho MacKenzie, Erik Henrikson, Cory Bacon, and Jonathan Shepherd came out, and the findings might surprise you.

The Age-Old Question: Blade vs. Game-Improvement Irons

Traditionally, blade irons are favored by tour players and low-handicap golfers for their perceived ability to shape shots more easily. On the other hand, larger, game-improvement irons are designed to offer forgiveness, helping amateur golfers hit straighter shots even on off-center hits.

But is the belief that blades are more workable than game-improvement irons backed by science? Let’s find out!

The Study: Putting Irons to the Test

The research team recruited 15 skilled players, all single digit handicaps (or better). Each participant was asked to hit a series of draws and fades using both the Ping Blueprint (blade iron) and the Ping G710 (game-improvement iron). To keep things consistent, players used a fixed setup and the same grip for all shots. Motion capture technology was used to record club kinetics, and ball flight data was analyzed.

The goal? To see if the type of iron truly affects a golfer's ability to shape shots and to understand the underlying mechanics involved.

Surprising Findings

Contrary to popular belief, the study found that both irons offered similar levels of workability when it came to the amount of shot curvature achieved. Whether using the blade iron or the game-improvement iron, golfers produced an average face-to-path difference of about 6.5 degrees between their draws and fades.

So, if both clubs are equally workable, what's the catch?

The Bias Factor: Draws vs. Fades

While the overall workability was similar, each iron exhibited a distinct bias:

• Blade Iron: Tended to favor draws. Golfers found it slightly easier to close the clubface relative to the path, making draw shots more accessible.

• Game-Improvement Iron: Leaned towards fades. The design made it a bit more challenging to fully close the face, causing shots to veer more to the right (for right-handed golfers).

This means that while you can shape shots with either iron, the inherent design of each club can influence the ease with which you can hit certain shot shapes.

Digging Deeper: The Role of Club Kinetics

The larger head of the game-improvement iron required golfers to apply more torque around the shaft to manipulate the clubface. Essentially, golfers had to work a bit harder to close the face when trying to hit draws with the game-improvement iron compared to the blade.

This increased effort didn't necessarily make the game-improvement iron less workable, but it did affect the feel and the physical demand on the golfer. For fades, the game-improvement iron’s natural tendency to keep the face open relative to the path made it feel more effortless.

What This Means for Your Game

• For High-Handicap Golfers: The forgiveness of game-improvement irons can be a significant advantage.

• For Low-Handicap Golfers: If you enjoy shaping shots and prefer a draw, a blade iron might feel more intuitive. The club's design allows for easier face closure without requiring extra effort. Interestingly, Dr. MacKenzie was recently on the Golf Science Lab Podcast and chatted about this study. He stated low handicap players tend to hit the center of the face more often with smaller blade irons and sprayed it more around the face with larger game-improvement irons. So with a blade, you might make center-face contact more often!

• For Club Selection: It's essential to recognize that while equipment plays a role, your personal swing mechanics are crucial. A club's design can influence shot tendencies, but it doesn't dictate them entirely.

Takeaways: Balancing Forgiveness and Workability

The study sheds light on the nuanced relationship between club design and shot shaping:

• Workability Isn't Solely About Club Size: Both blade and game-improvement irons can be workable in the right hands.

• Club Bias Matters: Understanding whether a club is draw-biased or fade-biased can help you choose equipment that complements your natural swing and shot preferences.

• Forgiveness vs. Control: There's a trade-off between forgiveness and the effort required to shape shots. Larger irons may require more kinetic effort to manipulate but offer greater consistency on off-center hits.

My Thoughts

Whether you opt for a sleek blade or a forgiving game-improvement iron, understanding your clubs and how they interact with your swing will help you be a better player.

So next time you're contemplating a new set of irons or deciding which club to pull from your bag, consider not just the club's appearance but how its design aligns with your game.

As with everything in golf… Try things out. Experiment. Hit different styles of irons and figure out what works best for YOU.

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