"THAT'S INSANE..." Blade 5-iron vs Game Improvement 7-iron (SAME LOFT!) This Will Open Your Eyes...

[@davelong1139]

I want to say thank you for using an average golfer for these tests. Its refreshing and shows why you're Club Champion.

[@jackedge5681]

Thanks so much for doing this Ross - always wanted someone to do this test and you’ve done it justice as always. Such an interesting result I did not expect it to be so similar

[@lancesedevie548]

Great video. Said this for years. Loft is the most important component in distance. Thanks for the video

[@abstractavltd.9571]

Love the way you set this test up pal! It was your testing of the dark speed driver and commenting how forgiving they seem to be that led me to try them and embrace a lighter swing weight! Keep the cool idea coming

[@WestGolf164]

Love that you make tinkering videos like this, dont see stuff like it very often on YT. Probably wont affect my game much, but it makes for a fun watch.

[@ruggerboy600]

Absolutely nailed it again. Love it when people on the tee with a game improvement iron say i hit my 7 iron just as far as you hit your 5 iron blade. 😂

[@N_Els]

Love this, thank you! 🙏 Always said this in my head. It gets to a point where you say to yourself, even as a decent player ‘I shouldn’t be playing blades’ but actually, most of the times I’ve played with them, vs my low handicap distance irons, I’ve actually played better.

[@phillarrowsmith3195]

Great video, one of your best yet! I think it was most fascinating that the cut down 5 iron gave almost identical results to the full length 5 iron! As for the game improvement, it just shows the role that confidence plays eh?! Everything else is just smoke and mirrors! Keep up the great work in 2025, I hope you get the subscribers that this great channel deserves! 👍

[@RichLeahy]

As a marketer I guess I should be careful what I say 😂...but marketing and aesthetics seem to be the big difference when it comes to iron sets. If the marketing and appearance of an iron brings you confidence and you then hit it well in a test, that's the one to go with. Love the video - our very own golfing mythbusters

[@paulkellygolf3671]

Good test. The ultimate test would be to test a set of blades against a set of modern low lofted GI irons at specific distances. Find the club from ach set that hits the ball 130-150-170-190 yards. Then look at ball flight (launch, accuracy and stopping distance). This would be the true test as it would put to rest the argument that it's just a 5 iron marked as a 7. Great channel.

[@jaybee7890]

he just proved it actually. The 7 iron in the test is a 5 iron , and the 5 iron blade is equivalent to a 7 iron GI. Loft and length determines how far it goes.

[@paulkellygolf3671]

@@jaybee7890 that's not the test I was talking about. If that golfer was tasked with 175-185 yards he would still be hitting a GI iron but would be into a hybrid or wood in his other set. That's when the real difference is seen. I've been Professionally Fitting for 35 years I can say without hesitation I have seen many many golfers hit controlled distances with GI irons that they can't with Blades or "traditional" lofts.

[@zazhou]

Good test conducted. The laws of physics are universal with no exception and certainly applies to ball trajectory and speed in golf.

[@peterbuzz7279]

Great video. Goid to see the numbers for the different setups. I've spent a bit of time experimenting with the Srixon zx7, zx5 and zx4 and was surprised that i could play all of the sets well. I found it difficult to choose between them paticularly once i was warmed up. In the end the zx7 was the winner in the hitting bay but on the first hole on a cold Sunday morning it was the Zx4s.

[@davidm7031]

Brilliant video, nice one! I wish there was more of these types of videos rather than people spouting marketing or cliches!

[@Chaingolflinks]

I have played the same cobra irons since 1997 and now at 45 and making a comeback to golf after a major back injury I might be ready to get some help in iron distance these have peaked my interest

[@justinstephenson9360]

Great video. Loft is king will be my new mantra. Seems to me that game improvement irons are simply a marketing con, the only issue is the length of the shaft

[@btsdksn]

Loved the workshop footage! Thanks for the vid as always. Might be time for me to try some modern lofted players style irons like the Maltby TS4 or look for some used.

[@anthonycollins9758]

That was a great video! Never seen anything like it, showing how loft is the biggest determinant of distance, and that technology is not so impactful as the manufacturers like to tell us.

[@ricd4950]

Really good video again Ross. Some of the very best content on KZbin and always consistently high quality and very informative 👌

[@krisdale5472]

fantastic content. Its amazing the smoke the manufactures put out about their clubs

[@ryanthorp7662]

Really enjoyed seeing this Ross. One thing that really bugs me about the golf industry is the snake oil marketing that the manufacturers put out. If they were honest and told us that the offset and shaft length made the most difference for a higher handicapper. And that mostly they are making incremental gains year on year, instead of these big bold claims and then just loft jacking, people wouldn't be so but hurt when their new clubs don't change the world. Ultimately they mostly just change aesthetics. Thankyou for creating massively valuable content mate !

[@CamSutton75]

Great video. Loft jacking is getting ridiculous. I have seen sets with 6.5* between short irons and 2.5* between long irons. It makes no sense. I have seen sets with 42* PW, that don't include a gap wedge. My irons are 18 years old now. It's a cavity back set with a 48* pw. It has 5* between long irons and 4* between everything else. I get good, predictable gapping. I've always said if I want more distance from my 7 iron I'll take a 6 iron. Only problem is, as a get a little older the shafts are probably a little heavy and stiff. I could reshaft but it's pretty much just as expensive as getting new irons. I don't want to spend heaps of money on a 4 to PW set only to put the 4 and 5 iron in the cupboard and have to buy 2 more wedges on top. Combo sets are an option like you say, but it can be hard to find the right combo where there's not a big gap somewhere, without like you say having 2 six irons for example. Which is an option. It doesn't really bother me what numbers are on the clubs as long as the lofts make sense. But then you have to find a combo where there's 4 degrees between the 2 six irons, and be really conscious about which six iron you're pulling out of the bag. They give so many bullshit reasons for the low lofts and you hear them all the time. But the reality is they do it because they know you're going to try all the 7 irons at the range and buy the one that goes the longest. They're pulling your leg.

[@lawaynekimbro8179]

i actually play the Cobra DarkSpeed irons. I club fitted several brands (Taylor, Miz, etc etc) and once i hit the DarkSpeeds i knew these were want i wanted (along with the shaft that fitted me). i was playing the Ping G425's which i loved/enjoyed.. but these new DarkSpeeds are beautiful and my confidence and game have made a great leap forward. (60yr old senior golfer getting back into the game about 2 1/2 years ago.. currently about a 10 hdcp'er with typical scores 79-85)

[@IanWilkinson-vl9qt]

Back to golf this year, after a long hiatus! My lower back is fused now, so golf is quite different and looking at anything that will make the game easier. After being fitted for irons, I now know why I hit left. So for me, drivers in 2025. I’m really interested in the DS-ADAPT, as I feel that will have some longevity, as you dial in changes as your swing improves / changes. Interesting to do the opposite on the hosel to correct your current swing type. I am also interested in trying the new TaylorMade and Ping Drivers. Specifically their HL versions. Great video, I hope everyone subscribes 👍🏻 Have a good Christmas and hope your back feels better. 🎉🎅🏼🎄

[@SteveTurvey-d6x]

Finally a comparison that makes sense. Thx

[@KennethFitzpatrick]

Ross keep the videos coming as they help golfers of all ability to better understand the confusing world of golf club build.

[@awshucks37]

As always great content brother.

[@billburbank4314]

Great vid. Loft is king. I mean when Bryson says 5 iron...loft prob closer to 3 iron loft. New ping adds 3-4 degrees per club from 10 yrs back. Fun

[@andreaswestman2365]

GREAT content!! I did the same kind of test myself with my cobra aerojet one length irons vs my old pinhawk single length irons (classic cavity backs) with traditional lofts. My conclusion is exactly the same! I could not see any difference in ball speed, launch or distance at all. Loft is all that matters when it comes to irons! I prefer game improvement irons though, they are a little bit more forgiving and give me more confidence. It would be very interesting with a comparison between blades and hybrid irons like Cleveland halo XL (or even hybrids!) with equivalent lofts!!

[@cameronloveless1751]

Brilliant stuff. Merry Christmas Ross 🎅🏻🎄🍻

[@mitchellconley2112]

going from my 02 nike forged blades to callaway apex pro 2019s was such a big difference XD love the vids

[@edge21str]

Interesting point about the shaft length. I did something a bit unorthodox with my set. I have the standard 0.5" difference in length up to the 7 iron, but with my 6 and 5 iron, it's only 0.375". Also my 3 driving iron, 5 wood and driver are shortened 0.5", 1" and 1.5" respectively. All swing weight adjusted to be around a similar swing weight, within 2 points. I feel it makes quite a bit of difference when it comes to how well I hit my longer clubs. Especially my 3 driving iron has become and absolute laser weapon off the tee.

[@Golfzilla70]

good vid, but one thing i don't think i heard mentioned --- do you know how many BAD shots got removed on the blade vs the game improvement? I know all i could see was what you showed us, but it seemed like he had an easier time making decent contact with the game improvement vs the blade.

[@StevenDietrich-k2w]

This was interesting. At the same loft the shots went essentially the same distance, with the same spin and launch, pretty much irrespective of head design. Even shortening the shaft on the blade an inch didn't affect the numbers much. I suspect shaft selection, getting the proper weight and flex so that you can better time your delivery, matters more. Loft jacking is just a marketing ploy that we all are influenced by to some degree.

[@jasondavis6831]

Very cool test with interesting results. One variable would be the 5 iron although matched in length and swing weight would play more flexible. A 5 iron shaft would have 1” more at the tip.

[@louispounds7486]

I need help with driver, and irons, and…. Thanks for doing this, Merry Christmas!

[@joshhill3010]

I wonder if the game improvement benefits maybe come in to play more on real turf? Does sole design/depth play a role in forgiving a higher handicap players swing faults etc? Just thinking out loud!

[@dustintitterington1856]

I 100% understand people will enjoy golf more when they play better. However some of this marketing is about selling magic bandaids more than actual improvement. Enjoy the content! I just went from Mavrik Pro’s to Miura MC 501’s so this comparison is quite interesting to me. I had a massive gap between the P wedge (150yrd carry) and my 50° with the Mavriks.

[@aaronlee753]

Awesome video and interesting results. With your previous videos and similar ones, I’ve been coming to the realization that there isn’t much of a distance drop off difference between blades and GI. I thought there would still be a bit more forgiveness on launch, but I guess that rear weight mass location just isn’t enough to really create significantly different launch conditions. Extrapolating this, does it make any sense to play a utility/driving iron vs a standard 3 iron? Also across generations of clubs, irons across the decades probably don’t make too big of a difference either

[@golfnut6129]

Interesting test. Enjoyed that. Maybe using Tom with his speed and ability makes it more relatable to the masses. We had this conversation on the course the other day where the three of us hit 3 different irons (numbers on the bottom) with similar results. Three different brands and all different types of clubs from different years of manufacture. After a quick google of the spec (and to drive the point home) all were similar loft (within a degree). It doesn’t matter what you hit (number on the bottom of the club) as long as you know your distances and have the right gapping. Just no point in asking ‘what did you hit there?’ as there are too many variables when it comes to the number on the club verses the loft. Should we just have loft instead of numbers, as we do for wedges?

[@shaunbarta7990]

Great content !! Keep it coming

[@neverlandradio9458]

I would love to see a similar test but vs a max improvement iron set like the cleveland launcher xl halo or irons grom eleven, which both are more similar to hybrids.

[@aryluyendijk9112]

Interesting results..... I have P-9-8-7 MB + 7-6-5-4 in 923forged, the forgiveness on longer irons is relevant to my game. Plus, i do feel i need MB's to stop the ball on the greens and have a tighter dispersion

[@icetrey2468]

I've seen these results from other testers as well. Loft is king. You can't really have laugh differences until you get into something as big as a hybrid or fairway wood it seems like.

[@rufussthoo4083]

Thanks Ross. Everyone talks about it, but no one has tested it this way and shown definitively that GI irons are just jacked lofts. The bit that might be eye-opening for many, is the similarity/consistency of outcomes from off-centre strikes. I didn't see much 'forgiveness' advantage in the DarkSpeed results. I suspect the only golfer to really benefit from GI irons might be those with very low-speed swings, but we know that loft is their friend, and they need more, not less. So, do we just have a need for these clubs because manufacturers invented a way to sell more clubs?

[@epgolfstudios]

Yeah I’d agree, I don’t see any need for the category of “game improvement” irons at all.

[@krusher74]

I like to hear a Cobra club designers feed back on this. Are they seeing more difference on robot testing. They must be validating that these different design do something more than we see here some how?

[@epgolfstudios]

Yeah it’s a bit like shafts really isn’t it…”high launch” “low launch” etc. I’ve never seen shafts make much difference to launch and spin and I’ve done a hell of a lot of fitting. So again maybe on a robot there is a little difference but I’d guess would have to be unbelievably consistent and even then it would be small differences, same with this. I’m sure it is higher moi etc but the main thing they sell them for is distance which is simply loft jacking.

[@nevvanclarke9225]

It's strange. I got down to a six handicap in my 40s and I was playing with blades. I had a set of cobra blades and they were beautiful regular shafts and I just hit them so sweet. I've come back to golf after about a 10 year gap and I'm playing cavities..... But they just don't feel right and I can't seem to get it where I want it to go. It doesn't make any logical sense to go back to blades but something is telling me to. I actually found a set of Mizuno blades online regular shaft for 400 bucks cheap in very good condition. I'm gonna grab them and it's more of an experiment than anything else. I don't live near a fitting centre at all in fact I'm miles and miles away from any fitting centre. We do have a beautiful golf course though.

[@derbananenliebendepavian8721]

Thanks mate. Would be nice to see the "bad data set", i.e. numbers compared with all the good shots removed. So see more if there is any more "forgiveness"...?

[@markwertschnig8766]

So what you are saying is one length is a great way to go…

[@jaybee7890]

not what he said at all. he's saying a blade 5 iron and a game improvement 7 iron head are the same. do what you want with length.

[@markwertschnig8766]

More referring to the consistency of strike with the shorter 7i shaft in that 5i

[@rayford7319]

Love the content keep it up

[@Doc_MU]

Great content! Love to watch….❤🎉

[@bodynfocus]

Interesting experiment. Regarding player ability and iron type: at what point should the player graduate UP out of the GI irons and WHY would they take that step?

[@kooijbas]

So what if I just put 8 iron shafts in my 5,6,7? Wouldnt that make life a lot easier without any obvious downsides?

[@PepeSylvia36]

Your best video to date well done.

[@epgolfstudios]

Thanks 🙏

[@01devilboy]

Always wondered if there much difference between the two what about the extreme end of the scale like the rf cobra irons vs super game improvement

[@carloshonaker2854]

I would love to see him hit a blade 3 iron against a game improvement 5 iron

[@william_hartman]

Very interesting test. I am very surprised the GI doesn't have higher launch seeing as they have extra weight low in the club to do just that. Perhaps all the lead tape you added to the blade gave it that ability as well?

[@epgolfstudios]

Well the first time around it didn’t have any lead tape on it. Ok slightly different shaft length but the difference in CG between those heads will be very minor. Irons just aren’t really big enough to make a huge difference, I even did the P7MC vs Stealth HD (big massive chunky one) also at the same loft and again the numbers were basically the same. That’s on here somewhere but it was a while ago I did that

[@drmdr1]

I was one of the guys asking for this test and you absolutely nailed it! Thank you! I don't think anything could have been done better on this video! BTW I am a Chiropractor over across the pond and you said that your lower back was bothering you. I don't know how much caffeine you consume but if you consume any try a six week period with no caffeine. It is a diuretic which will dry you out and dehydrate you leading to back pain. I don't know if this information will help you but I thought maybe I could give back a little from all of the golf information you have provided to me. Merry Christmas! Dr. Matt Robinson

[@declanmurphy2594]

Loving the videoing and help

[@peterhammer4644]

I have about same club speed (85 mph) and hit my 6-iron (28 degrees) around 180 carry. Smash factor is really low in this video. But great video as always from you guys!

[@bryanfederico8931]

If you look at the delivered loft, he is typically around 26* so not really delofting as much as he would like. That delofting with the same swing speed would lead to a higher smash, higher ball speed, and greater distance. I think the end result would still be that both clubs would show the similar results.

[@peterhammer4644]

@@bryanfederico8931 yes exactly. He has zero shaft lean.

[@alexanderuesugi1]

Great video!!!!!

[@stevo22222]

So am I getting this right - there simply isn't much difference between the two heads? In that case what is exactly the benefit to GI irons? Is it that the loft jacking and thus shortening of the shafts makes the longer irons easier to hit, making everything slightly easier throughout the bag?

[@markelliott6571]

great test

[@kourt2469]

Clubhead speed makes a big impact as well. Higher swing speed players will see a noticable difference in an iron with a high cor. The high speed creates much more face flex, average and slower speeds wont see much

[@michaelsands708]

Would you make up a one length iron set?

[@barrydesmond9288]

Do you have any left hand drivers for sale going cheap out of your demo clubs you have

[@barracatcher6466]

Soooooo get a set of blades from 5-pw and start your 5 iron at a standard 7iron length and work your way down from there?

[@hypeNT500]

Forgiveness irons is more for average dispersion average distance. Not for peak performance

[@yvesleroy5740]

interesting test !!

[@pauledroyer]

this proves ONE LENGTH efficacity

[@hypeNT500]

My cavity back 20 degree t350 iron gives me over 15 feet more height than my 20 degree titleist t100 Same total distance for both 220-235yards same length shaft

[@williammiller6715]

I guess best to fit by loft, ball speed and spin rates to get the right distances, would be more helpful if the company’s just put the loft on as iron numbers can be two clubs different!

[@epgolfstudios]

It would but I can’t see that ever happening. But that info is very easy to find out on their website tbf

[@freddym6643]

So everyone might as well play bladed irons and go all the way to hybrids/woods at the point when the long irons don't gap/fly as they should?

[@davidorr5402]

You are ruining the illusion that manufacturers are trying to create! Stop! It is interesting how differently and iron, hybrid, and 7 wood of the same loft perform. Not so between two different types of irons in same loft as this test shows. Kind of surprising, since these hollow body game improvement irons seem quite a lot deeper than the blade iron of the same loft. I thought maybe a hollow body would have slightly more face flex and spring with higher COR. This test proves my assumption incorrect

[@zahimiibrahim3602]

Absolutely right, an illusion. Back when COR became a thing in the early 2000's and USGA/R&A were considering setting limits, a lot of debate went on and evidence showed that COR is relevant for low lofts such as on drivers and a lesser extent fairway woods due to the straight-ish face-to-ball impact. For effective trampoline you need a big face area (such as on a driver) that is thin at the hitting zone and it needed to be titanium because steel had a lower rebound speed that didn't trampoline effectively. An iron face is higher lofted, usually made of steel with a much smaller in surface area. Simple physics but marketing has always found a way to gaslight us into ignoring reality.

[@nathansmardenka5208]

At the end of the day, does this game improvment iron really have a high COR face? I know that there are companies that have real high COR faces approaching .83 in their irons. One example is Wishon's EQ1-NX single length irons where the 7i to 5i heads have the real deal .83COR faces. I know for a fact those will give a decent swing speed player 6 to 9 extra yards on the fly.

[@orlandogolfguruogg5382]

Interesting. My big takeaway is the blade was exactly the same with the inch shorter. One length a good idea? Just base differences on loft and yardage?

[@epgolfstudios]

That’s a video I will be doing shortly I think if you do it well with the right heads and the right shafts and right swing weights yes I think it could work 👌 but in the current cobra offering it doesn’t work imo

[@orlandogolfguruogg5382]

@ I’d love to try it - a real custom fit with perhaps ascending shaft weights along with head weight for correct swing weights. Would even be cool to have bigger heads at the top of the bag and get progressively smaller toward the bottom. Fun!

[@dennissmith1904]

For single length the only difference from iron to iron should be the loft.

[@sixstringslinger6559]

I think the way to go is to use normal variable length 8-SW and 4-7 Iron should all be 7 iron length. If you hit a 5 hybrid better than a 5 iron (same loft), stop you bag at a 6 iron.

[@rlbjr]

How many shots were removed for each head. From the shot counter it seemed like it took way more shots by the blade to get the same # of usable ones.

[@epgolfstudios]

Yeah prob was a little more consistent with the GI iron then the 5i length but was prob fairly similar once it was shorter. We filmed a while other section in between the GI and the 7i length blade that we couldn’t use because the mic stopped working so the shot count does look high in the final set but I’m always pretty fair. I basically just take out the terrible ones with each which is all swing, mainly Tom had the fats tbh 😂 so there was quite a few fats with all of them but again nothing to do with the club that’s all swing

[@tamurzahir4754]

So what would happen if you bend the blade to the game improvement loft lie would the blade 7 and game improvement 7 go the same distance?

[@epgolfstudios]

I’m not sure that would be possible 😂 but yes it would

[@keithpanco]

I started playing at 51. After I was able to keep the ball in the air I got a handicap and joined the GCAmTour. Played in the high handicap flight 20+. Played a couple times with a young man who was all decked out NIKE. Played Tiger's blades. He was pretty arrogant. Couldn't even keep them airborne. Asked him if he ever considered GI irons. He said he would never play anything other than blades. Shot in the 100s every tournament. I moved up in flights over the next couple years. Quit that tour for a while. Came back a couple years later and saw the same guy still in the high handicap flight. Still playing blades.

[@hypeNT500]

For me it is better to practice having a more precise ball strike to be able to hit close to blade design heads rather than having a set of clubs with max forgiveness The distance dispersion of forgiveness irons with poor striking is horrendous of 25 yards for irons. dispersion for hybrids is even worse

[@FSPTulsa]

Why to prove that it comes down to what you hit each club.

[@bboness713]

I've always wondered if a cavity back would be the best club design for all golfers. No matter how good you are, a little forgiveness will help and bad golfers may benefit from the feedback of a more bladed iron. Such a cool channel, great work.

[@Bwahahahahahahahahahaha]

Blades are superior at all handicap levels. Reason: smaller dispersion and the feel you need to actually improve. Everything else is marketing.

[@zacharymilos392]

Personally I love the mb

[@sailfishjanani8854]

Why on earth is he in that shaft? Seems like he could get a lot more out of a better fit

[@The_YouTube_Critic]

Let me pet that dog!

[@bd500]

Forgiveness rules.

[@stevewhytegolf]

should just put lofts on bottom of clubs rather than a number(like wedges) but oh yeah.... marketing! not gonna happen🙄

[@Daniel-qr6sx]

It's basic physics, but in the golf industry it's not .

[@bradfortner8921]

At his speed, the spin numbers will be pretty different, and the consistency will play a role. But, these results aren’t surprising at all, as we’ve all said, it’s a 5 iron, just slightly more forgiving.

[@electricalstuff259]

I tell people all the time to play blades. Modern blades are NOT HARD TO HIT. There is literally no market for these GI shovels anymore.

[@booger65man]

The most forgiving golf club in the world can only marginally make up for a poor swing. If people understood that they would play whatever clubs they like to look down at and work on their golf swing.

[@Jhampton83]

I’m new to golf. So it would be sweet to have a new driver.

[@ericjung4991]

Well that’s quite surprising the difference. None at all really. The real eye opener would be the dark speed 5 iron vs the bladed 5 iron. Peak heights would be completely different I’m assuming as the loft would just be too low for a 5 iron and someone with that swing speed. I found something similar with the zx5 mkii. For some reason I just could not get them airborne. And I swing at 95mph 7 iron 😂😂

[@Cr1mson_Ghost]

This dudes swing path is awful. His efficiency numbers show it. His ballspeed is awful because he is hitting glancing blows. The club he uses is irrelevant with his current mechanics.

[@Handletaken4]

Quit swinging hard from the top