Why is shaping the flight of your ball harder when swinging cavity-back vs. blade irons?

Answer 1

The weight distribution of cavity back clubs is meant to reduce side spin (which is needed to work the ball left or right) and promote back spin (which is needed to get the ball in the air).

Also, cavity back clubs tend to have a more offset as compared to blades. This means that the clubhead is set back a little to promote square contact.

Blades are designed for better players who have no problem getting the ball in the air (through quality contact and hitting down on the ball) and allow players to impart spin to hit a draw or a fade.

High handicappers usually have problems with blades becaue most don't hit down on the ball and are unable to control the club to impart sidespin.

Better Players are able to shape the flight of the ball with cavity backs, but not to the degree if they were using blades.

Answer 2

This question comes up frequently and there is always a very loud contingent out there that insists blades have helped their games. The facts just don't bear that out. While forgings feel very nice and soft, there is truly no reason not to have irons with some sort of a cavity feature. Even your mp-60s have a little bit of cavity, and they are still pretty tough to hit. The fact is today's golf ball does not spin very much at all, so the "workability" of a blade club disappears. Yes I know Tiger plays pure blades. Tiger also plays a golf ball (not available to the public) that has a much higher spin rate so that he can work the ball the way he wants to. Believe it or not, he sacrifices a fair amount of distance to play a ball more like the ball from 15 years ago. The point is that's Tiger, not us, and the golf ball we buy bears no resemblance to his anyway. Our golf ball has a low spin rate, so it doesn't curve much, but it needs help getting up in the air. Where does that help come from? Cavity back irons with a low center of gravity! This was a long response to give a short answer, which is play what works the best. Hopefully now you know a little more about why.

Answer 3

it has to do w/ the design of the club. cavity backs are designed to get away w/ mis hits. they have perimeter weighting & drop all the weight to the bottom on a wider sole so the trajectory of the ball is set to go high on ur mis hits. if the ball stays up higher longer, the more distance, thus more forgiving. blades have all their weight in the middle so the sole is real thin to cut out of the rough and the trajectory of the ball reflects more at ball impact and swing. if a test robot swung the exact same w/ both clubs, there would be a significant difference in the ball flight. thats why if u mis hit even by a 1/4'', even if it felt like a flush, its usually short 15-20 yards.
same goes w/ shaping ur shots too. its harder to do it w/ a cavity back because of the different weighting and also the amount of offset. they are a degree or two more closed to prevent slices

Answer 4

Because cavity back irons are DESIGNED to be easier for beginning players to hit - to be straighter with less spin.