You have arrived: you are finally shooting scratch handicap. You just played in your first pro tournament. You were excited. You learned what it really means to work the ball left or right. Your coach tells you it's time to look at new golf clubs, specifically, new irons, and that blade or muscle irons should be in your future golf bag. You ask, "But coach, am I ready to hit blade irons?" "Yes, yes, you are," he says.

So, off you go to a club fitting. The shop welcomes you with shiny new golf stuff everywhere with irons, woods, and wedges galore. There are some Mizuno (grain flow technology), Titleist, Callaway, Wilson Staff, Cobra, and TaylorMade irons. Over on the other wall are the game-improvement irons. The wall closest to you has the cavity-back irons you're familiar with playing. Then you see them: muscle-back, thin top line, classics, with hardly any offset. These are the best blade irons, and you even notice some high-end combo sets. Intriguing, you think. The best of both worlds.

How Advanced Players Approach a Club Fitting for Blades

It's interesting watching advanced players or professional golfers try different clubs and golf irons. Most beginners, weekend warriors, or the average golfer test the clubs by trying to hit the ball as far as they can. However, a more advanced player or low handicapper doesn't do that. Doing a club fitting outside with a Trackman or Flightscope is my favorite way to conduct a fitting. The best atmosphere is when there is a swing analyzer to see the ball flight on the range. The best players are going for a particular flag or distance, looking for accuracy and distance control.

During a particular fitting with a scratch golfer, I saw them going for a 142-yard target and the golf balls were landing within 4 feet of the target. Then on the short shots, the target was 35 yards away, so they tested the wedges. Again, distance and accuracy were the objectives. Feedback included how the irons feel, how they look at address, and how repeatable the swings were for particular yardage. Other observations were the weight of the clubs, choosing between steel and graphite shafts, and the ball used during fittings. Again, there was never a time that they tried to hit the ball as far as they could with the best blade irons. It was all about accuracy and consistently swinging the club toward the different yardages consistently.

Who Are Blades Designed For?

Not many golfers have the swing or ball speed needed for the best blade irons set. For help making that decision, check out Blades vs. Cavity Back Irons: Which is Right for Your Golf Game? or chat with a Golf Expert here on Curated.

The best blade irons have a small sweet spot which means hitting them properly is earned through dedication and practice. The sole of blade irons is thin, not offering much forgiveness. Shots are executed out of necessity, not just for fun. At this level, workability is the name of the game, and feedback is important for each set of blade irons.

The long irons at this level are just as important as the short irons. Turf interaction means something, as does spin, spin control, hitting fairways, and perimeter weighting. Bunkers are your friend and grooves matter. You are ripe for MB (muscle-back) irons!

Top 5 Blade Iron Recommendations

The following are my five recommendations for the best blade irons:

1. Mizuno Pro 221 Irons

These are traditional classic irons. The best irons feel so good. They are made for the purist, and they look fantastic. The sweet spot is not that big, but if you hit this correctly in the center of the clubface, they will reward you with a smooth buttery feeling worthy of the Mizuno name.

Players with this club look for accuracy, playability, the right launch angle, and consistent ball flight. They aren’t looking to hit the ball as far as they can; rather, as advanced players, they are looking for a good grip and then repeatable swings and consistent distance. For example, when going for a 144-yard approach fade shot, Mizuno makes these clubs for lower handicap golfers so they can hit their target time and time again.

Give these irons prime consideration when trying the best blade irons. If you're playing at this level, these are worth the money.

Considerations:

• Exceptional feel and looks.
• The exhilarating feeling when the sweet spot is hit flush.
• They're not cheap but worth every penny.

2. Wilson Staff Model Blade Irons

When a set of irons is used to win a U.S. Open event, they get attention. Gary Woodland did this by using these irons at the 2019 U.S. Open and winning. Wilson Staff model blade irons were designed for the clubs with a more rounded sole radius, making turf interaction easy and smooth. The forged steel allows for the soft feel of the clubs. Lightweight irons afford the golfer consistency and accurate strikes. As with any blade iron, Wilson Staff model irons are among the best blade irons and were not made for distance alone—these are for the better player who is looking for accuracy.

Considerations:

• Designed by Brendan Steele—a PGA tour player—to demanding specifications.
• Rounded sole for smooth turf interaction.
• Not for the budget-conscious.

3. Callaway Apex MB

"Player, player!" is what you hear screaming out of these clubs when you hold them for the first time. They are a nice set of blade irons by Callaway with forged 1025 carbon steel, a thin top line, and minimal offset. You can work these clubs all you want from left to right and vice versa. The grooves have been optimized for enhanced spin control, especially out of the rough. Removable weights on the back of the blade allow customized settings for each golfer. Precision hitters will appreciate the level of detail put into these irons.

Considerations:

• Fine-tune to your specifications with adjustable weighting.
• Improved grooves control spin, especially from the rough.
• Great to look at from the address position.

4. Srixon Z-Forged II Irons

Srixon has signed Tour Player and Masters champion, Hideki Matsuyama, and he is playing these irons. Designed for the advanced player, made with 1020 carbon forged steel and tungsten weighting, these clubs offer a soft feel and compact head shape that better players desire.

Considerations:

• Tour V.T. Sole allows turf interaction to be smooth and easy
• Maximum workability, with left or right shots easily executed
• Thin topline, minimal offset, and a compact head shape
• The finish is eye candy to the most discerning of golfers

5. TaylorMade P770 Irons

TaylorMade's entry in this category is impressive. The key technology in the irons is the speed pocket and the forged hollow body construction that provides hidden forgiveness. As is the common denominator in the blade irons category, the P770s also have a thin topline and little offset.

The highly skilled player wants to work the ball at every angle, and these irons are ready for the challenge.

Considerations:

• Forged hollow body construction for forgiveness.
• Speed pocket technology.
• The thin 4140 steel face offers distance and consistency.

Final Thoughts

There are several blade irons available on the golf market. Check these out if you're looking for a new set of irons and you can benefit from a muscle back iron. If your next purchase is among these clubs, you are a more advanced player or you're one of the few low-handicap players with fast swing speeds.

You're demanding the best from these irons, and it usually comes down to personal preference. If you have any other questions or want to chat about the best blade irons, reach out to me or one of my fellow Golf Experts here on Curated and we would be happy to help you find the perfect fit!