First things first. People who play blades irritate me. It’s bold. It’s kinda cocky. And it’s somewhat intimidating. I mean, why, with all the game-improvement, “bigger sweetspot” technology that’s out there, would anyone want to subject themselves to the pin-point precision that’s necessary to be a good blade player?
But then, when you put in your hands a clean, sleek, well-weighted blade, and you make a good pass, feeling that pure, nothing-but-solid-steel-on-ball union, it invokes a sentiment, an emotion, that transcends all other types of clubs. And, I guess for some, that “feeling” is worth its weight in gold.
That said, blade-lovers will want to take note of a new entry into the market. The S59 Irons are the first traditional blade from Ping since the 1960s. With a thin top line, sandblasted face, buffed, narrow, and cambered sole, these sick puppies are about as fine a looking blade as I’ve seen. And, what’s interesting, they come from a company who pioneered cavity back irons.
With a little arm-twisting, I stashed a few S59 irons in my quiver during a recent round and smacked a couple of shells with them. The verdict? Three out of five shots gave me that warm, all-over tingle that blade-lovers relish – and a great, penetrating ball flight to boot. The other two? Ever felt those “painful, I suck bad, I don’t want to play anymore, ice-cold vibrations that get you blowing on your hands to restore blood flow?” Thought so. Play ‘em at your own risk.
