As I get on in my golfing life and watch the advances in manufacturing and technology I really do wonder (a) why manufacturers keep making blades and (b) why amateurs keep playing them.
Maybe major winners like Adam Scott, who currently plays the Titleist 716 MB irons, could benefit from the feel, feedback and the ball shaping options blades give, but surely something like the Titleist CB 716 irons are hardcore enough these days even for him?
However when you look at works of art like the Titleist 716 MB irons then you realise why they still make them and why people still play them. They glint and tempt you to take them on and master them like a rodeo horse standing calmly in the pen before being released into the ring.
Having grown up playing blades, but long since gone to forged cavity backs, old timers like me still feel that you can saddle up and reach for that butter knife long iron and nail that stinger.
So donning my battered Stetson I moseyed on over to the bag holding the set of Titleist 716 MB irons and looked them straight in the eye.
The 716 version features a higher, more curved muscle back that not only increases the material behind the sweet spot but also gives a fresher, more stylish look than the straight line muscle on the previous 714 MB irons.
The toe is also a little squarer to enhance the look at address, which can only be described as compact.
The length of the heads is not drastically different to the CB 716 irons, but the real difference is that the CB has perimeter weighting and the tungsten in the toe to make them more forgiving.
That is really the deal here, because really unless you are a full time amateur or professional then the CB irons should give you all the blade style and performance you need.
The 716 MB irons feel as good as most forged blades in the market, but there are couple that use other materials and design features to enhance the standard blade a little more.
However if you are old school and like your blades pure then the 716 MB irons are worthy challengers for one more duel before you ride off into the cavity back sunset.
Because us old cowboys still have it. Oh yes.