Review of Maxfli Aust. Blades
Paul Baylis
I have repeated the review as printed in the Australian Edition of Golf
Magazine's "Clubtest 99". I hope no one pings me for copyright
infringement!!
First a little background on the test.
A group of Aussie golfers of various ages & handicaps were selected to test
a wide range of clubs. They were asked to comment on the clubs in four
areas; cosmetics, playablilty, accuracy and distance.
Here is what they had to say about the Maxfli Australian Blades:
Maxfli Australian Blades - The latest generation features muscle-back design
with soft nickel inner compound with a hard chrome outer layer.
Cosmetics
Richard Simkiss (22, 10) - They are a professional looking club. The
reputation of blades makes you question why a high handicapper would even
pick them up but these look a bit meaty.
Rory Hilton (19, 15) - Nice uncomplicated blade look. Thin along the top but
there's a step halfway down which suggests a bit of meat. Good to see the
word "Australian" on the club.
James Wong (72, 23) - The blades look nice and uncomplicated and
traditional.
Playability
Simkiss - It's a nice weight. I middled the first five and I was hooked but
once I started missing the middle I was in trouble. The feedback was
perfect.
Hilton - It was a pure feel off the middle but the feel wasn't as bad as
other blades I've tried in the past on off-centre shots.
Wong - There is a bit of extra weight around the base which gets the ball up
easily. You can feel mishits.
Jason Perry (27, 0) - Certainly forgiving for blades. The ball feels soft.
Accuracy
Simkiss - The feedback from the club was such that I could tell you where I
hit it without looking.
Hilton - It does deviate if you don't get it out of the middle.
Wong - Average.
Perry - They were reasonable to work the ball both ways.
Distance
Simkiss - Out of the middle there was a few extra metres.
Hilton - You hit them in the middle and they go really well.
Wong - I lost a few metres.
Perry - I lost a few metres.
Tester Info
Richard Simkiss
Age: 22
Height: 178 cm
Handicap: 10
A sales representative with a flat swing, generating a lot of club-head
speed through impact. He plays a full set of Taylor Made Burner Bubble irons
& driver. Average 240-250 metres, with 5 iron travelling 170 metres.
Rory Hilton
Age: 19
Handicap: 15
A professional AFL footballer with Richmond. Hilton has a best round of 82.
A tallish athlete with a full backswing, high hands with a great deal of
clubhead speed through the ball. Loves to hit the ball hard with a stock
draw, although he lacks some finesse around the greens. He plays a full set
of Cougar irons, drivers and fairway woods. Average drive of 220-230 with
ability for extra. Five iron 160-165 metres.
James Wong
Age: 72
Handicap: 23
Retired and still reasonably flexible for his age. He takes the clubs back
three quarters and shortens his follow through but strikes the ball
consistently. He plays with a full set of Top Flite Tour irons and driver.
His five iron travels between 135-140 metres and the driver can reach the
180 metre mark.
Jason Perry
Age: 27
Height: 183 cm
Handicap: 0
A commercial Real Estate agent who was the scratch marker for the test. He's
solidly built and uses a nice easy swing to send the ball a mile. Lowest
round of 66f at Royal Melbourne's West course. His mixed bag includes a
Callaway Biggest Big Bertha driver, Top Flite Intimidator three wood with
two iron to pitching wedge by Dynacraft. Driver 250 metres and five iron 165
metres.
Well there you have it!!
Sorry about the delay in posting the review.
Paul B.