We're often told that golf technology is not improving, particularly with blades. So, equipment expert and PGA Professional Ryan Rastall has put that to the test.
We took Ryan's own Ping Blueprint Blade Irons and tested them against some Walter Hagen Ultradyne 2 blades, which we believe are from the late 1970s.
As a club builder, Ryan was able to spec the Ultradyne as closely as possible to his Ping Glide Blades to give it the fairest test.
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I play with 44-45 year old Eric Brown Blades which I bought 2nd hand in very early 80’s. Late last year, I tried out the very latest blades on the market. I hit the new blades on average 5 to 8 metre longer but all of them with a distinct draw something I do not with my Eric Browns. Summary; could not see the justification in purchasing today’s new blades over my Eric Browns. I generally only play 3 to 4 times a year if I’m lucky. I average around 7 to 12 handicap level.
Right off the bat a comparison between your own club fitted for you and an off-the-dustiest-rack club is not comparing apples with apples. Get a new iron that isn't fitted for you.
The old clubs are much more fun to play than than the new techno AI hit it for you clubs. And! I can buy the whole 1-SW for less than price of one new iron. Does the new stuff go further-Yes! Does it go $1200 further? Hell to the No! YMMV:-)
What are the lofts of the clubs? You can't compare directly if the lofts are different. You swung the new blade substantially faster, so if course it goes farther..
Is Blueprint $1500 better? Certainly not to me…also appeared to me Hagen had tighter dispersion. You’re in biz to sell clubs. So…
In 1982 Calvin Peete led the PGA tour in greens hit in regulation at 72.3% using old school blades, persimmon woods and liquid center wound balls. 40 years later, Scottie Scheffler led the tour at 72.2% using modern balls and clubs. It's all marketing, folks.
I had a set of Ultrdyne 2’s that I played all through middle and high school. The woods I had were Johnny Miller Signature, 1,3 and 5. The putter I had was a bullseye. I really learned allot about golf in those years.
The higher Center of gravity accounts for the increased spin and less distance. Accuracy is what you will gain with the old blades.
Before watching would expect similar distances but maybe more forgiveness in the new one
I have a set of Mizuno T-Zoid Pro irons that would be from about the mid 90s. Bought them off eBay just for a lark during COVID and now I can't find anything I hit better. I've tested T100s, T200s, P790s, P770s, Apex, you name it, plus purchased other more modern irons, and for some reason I just hit the old Mizuno irons better than anything else.
You were more accurate with the walters
I just found a set of 70s George Nicoll irons at a recycling store and have been hitting them so well I am selling my newer cavity backs. Distance is maybe 10 yards less that the cavity backs on off centre hits, but when that old blade strikes true it feels SO good. That feels way better than an extra 10 yards feels!
You hit more of a draw with the Pings. The draw is what is causing the distance differences
I play Callaway Mavrik Pro's and 33 year old Mizuno TP2000 Irons, I'm trying new tech clubs with an open mind but biggest issue with the mavriks is dispersion, miss hits go much further off line, seriously thinking of letting them go and sticking with the TP2000 blades. ????
I would have loved to have seen the same shaft as the new one club, installed on the Hagen Ultradyne iron. And we never got to find out what flex’s were on each iron. Shafts make a huge difference.
My high school set (1973-77) were the Walter Hagen Haig ultra, which were basically Wilson Staff's with Haig Ultra stamped on them. I believe the Ultradyne was their cheaper club but I'm not sure. Yes, I still have them, no, I don't play them.
Love the old irons. Can buy five or eight sets of them for what a new set costs. I like trying different ones. Tech schmeck, I need the feel of a blade behind the ball.
I always heard that if you hit a blade right in the sweet spot it goes just as far as a cavity back iron.. herein lies the problem.. tour pros can find it, average golfers cannot..but you can probably get away with blades as long as you aren’t hitting 4 or 5 irons into the greens. They are the toughest ones to hit on the button
I don't play old blades for distance – I play them for the feel – 8 sets of Hogans (60s to 90s), 2 sets of Staffs (50s & 60s) and 2 sets of Tourneys (50s)