Nolan, you are right in that Titleist doesn't drastically change the playing characteristics of their irons 716MB to 718MB or 716CB to 718CB. Usually more subtle changes. On your question of shaping shots, you should have control with the traditional forged blade over a cavity back cast club like XR Pro. That said, you should consider doing a professional fitting and maybe even take out a test set of blades to make sure you are comfortable with the pros and cons of that change. Best of luck and hope you convert over to one of the Titleist irons.

As a 5 I would think you still lack a bit of consistency to play blades? When I was fitted for my first set of AP2's I was also hitting a Mizzy blade and just striping it. Fitter was saying I should consider the Mizzy blade, but I also wanted a bit of forgiveness. I can work my AP2's and get a little help on off-center shots. At each of my fittings I went in with some questions as to things to try, different shaft combinations, etc., and while the fitter knows best, he let me try my suggestions. Those didn't work so well and I ended up hitting best what he fitted me into. As Dale said, get fitted. You'll be glad you did.

Nolan:

Get fit at your authorized Titleist account. There's no way to tell without going through your options...and you might be pleasantly surprised at how workable other models (besides the MB) are.

WW

Any MB clubs are hard to change a lot. Maybe small reshape. Classic blade irons. 714 MB are my present but when I see a more pronounced muscle back comes out I may change

The type of club you use should match your swing not a hcp.

If you sweep the ball then you'd probably be best off with low cg wider sole clubs, if you hit down and thru then you might be better off with blades.

working the ball is more than draw or fade, however.........

If a club is made to hit the ball straight then it will take more adjustment to make it curve the ball, if a club is made to make it easier to get the ball up then it will take more adjustment to hit the ball low........so on and so forth

No matter you switch from non-blades to blades or blades to non-blades you game is going to hurt until you learn to swing the new clubs.

I have the 716MB... the only advantage of changing for me is some of the new shafts, but alas my fitting gave me the same end result for 718 as my 716

If you are a consistent striker of the ball and can work it either way then BLADES are way superior to what you have...

I also have a 716CB (2 iron) and find that equally as effective to fade, draw, drill or float.

If I had my way again I may just do an entire set of the 716/718 CB

AP2 are a great club as well

YMMV

I should add, I found the COG for the CB to be a little closer (mm) to the actual "center" of the face whereas most blades tend to be a bit heel centric (if that makes sense)