Walking into a golf store and gazing upon rows and rows of club options while searching for blade/muscle back irons might make you feel like a kid in a candy store. On the other hand, if you’re like most amateur golfers, it feels a lot more like choice overload.
With so many different Drivers, Fairway Woods, Putters, Wedges, and iron selections, where do you even begin?
Do you listen to the guy behind the counter just because he has a golf match on the TV behind him?
Do you just get the cheapest set?
How about the most expensive one?
Before we whip out the credit card and buy whatever the guy behind the counter is selling, we’ve gotta pump the brakes.
There’s a process for buying blade/muscle back irons and it requires a wee-bit-o-self reflection.
Who am I?
??? Who are you, who, who, who, who??? Oh, the wonderful song by The Who. Really gets stuck inside your head, doesn’t it?
Start by being candid about who you are as a golfer. Are you just starting out and need some forgiveness in your irons? Are you getting up in age and find that you’ve lost a pinch of swing speed? Have you been playing a while but seem to be lacking distance in your irons? Do you struggle to shape your shot? Are you a golfer with a low handicap and would like a tour-style club?
We have to know who we are and where we are at in our golf journey before we can decide on what irons we need.
Notice I said need and not want. What we want is a lower score. In order to get a lower score, we must buy the clubs we need!
It is not just about going to the golf store and getting a set of Mizuno or Srixon Irons.
Those brands are fine. The brand name has little to do with which irons you should purchase. The type of iron is decided first, then brand.
For this article we will be discussing Blade/Muscle Back Irons.
What are Blade/Muscle Back Irons?
Blade/Muscle back irons are tour style irons typically forged.
They are designed to give exceptional distance with workability.
They give you the best feel with precision shots.
Overall, they give you the ability to work the ball with maximum distance.
Blade/Muscle back irons are known for having a forged clubhead. This helps distance and feel with perfect shots. Equipped with steel shafts ranging from X-Stiff, Stiff, or Regular flex to give you the best performance with ball flight.
What Do These Irons Help You With?
1. Blade/Muscle back irons help increase distance and feel from the forged club-head.
2. Blade/Muscle back irons give instant feedback on all shot types. Forged heads with thin toplines help focus your eye on what matters, the string of the ball! In my opinion, this is the best feature on all blade/muscle-back irons.
3. Ball flight is another benefit that is produced with blade/muscle-back irons. Launching the ball in the air with more power and extreme workability.
Who Makes the Best Blade/Muscle Back Irons?
This last question is really a tough one. It will come down to your personal preference. Most club manufacturers make blade/muscle-back irons. So when you set out to purchase yours, narrow your selection by asking yourself the following three questions.
1. Do I like the design?
Look at the clubs and how they are manufactured. Do you like the way they look in your hands? Do you like the way they look when addressing your ball? Looks are important in this process. Seeing is believe in golf!
2. Do I like the type of shaft?
Blade/muscle back irons can be equipped with steel shafts. However, their flex can range from X-stiff, stiff, and regular. The right flex for you will depend on your swing speed. If you have a slower swing speed it is recommended to equip a regular flex shaft on your clubs. Likewise, it is most recommended to equip a stiff or X-stiff flex shaft if you have higher swing speeds.
3. Do I like the way they feel?
Hopefully, by this time you have it narrowed down to three different club manufacturers. Swing each one and decide on the one that has the best feel to you. Grab the 7 iron of each manufacturer and head to the virtual golf machine or the golf cage. No need to hit every club, the 7 iron will give you all you need to know in that sweet swing.
Parvelous Top Picks
3. Titleist T100 Irons
Perfectly balanced irons with high quality, high-density tungsten in the heel and toe of the mid to long irons to control center gravity and create the perfect progression and the most stable, solid feel possible. Faster, smoother turf interaction is achieved with more sole chamber and improved blended pre-wear design.
2. Mizuno MP-20 Irons
The ultimate Mizuno muscle back! Heavily influenced by the most revered blades of Mizuno’s past. Grain Flow Forged HD from a single billet of 1025E Pure Select Mild Carbon Steel, then layered with soft copper plating beneath a protective nickel-chrome for legendary feel and feedback. Tour-ready profile and refined toppling give this club ultimate sex appeal. But don’t let that fool you. This club is packed with time-tested technology that gives golfers the intent feel and feedback they are looking for.
1. Ben Hogan ICON Irons
A modern classic is born. The best money can buy from the ultimate golf company. Ben Hogan ICON irons are superior to all others. Two different finish options to choose from. Nickel chrome as well as a darker and sultry DBM (Diamond Black Metal).
The progressive center of mass weighting system provides precision on all iron types. More weight is positioned higher in the short, scoring irons to generate a lower ball flight for better control while eliminating any ballooning.
Long to mid-irons the weight is located progressively lower to help generate a higher shot trajectory with more spin. These ICON irons lofts are set to Mr. Hogans standard…gapping each iron set by exactly four degrees from the next. Modified sole shapes independently designed for each club. V-SOLE technology gives a high bounce leading edge and soft, lower bounce trailing edge.
Perfect for all lies. And these are manufactured right here in the states, Fort Worth, TX. They only sell directly from their website. But don’t worry, this is a good thing. This helps keep the unnecessary costs to a minimum. Cost like advertising, marketing, and retail mark up. Plus they give you a “try before you buy” option. Check them out here.
Closing Thoughts on Blade/Muscle Back Irons
Blade/Muscle back irons are truly an amazing iron type. These tour-style irons are perfect for the golfer that is looking for instant feedback on all shots. Best in look, feel, performance, and perfection. These irons will make your friends want them as well.
Let’s golf! And remember to have a Parvelous round!
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