I play decent with modern weighted clubs.
I tried to play a round with my dad’s old blades and was all over the place. But he could “feel” the ball better with the blades.
My skill level has not advanced to the point that I can ‘feel’ the ball. I’m more of a ‘swing and pray’ type golfer.
Last 2 years I was playing with Callaway’s high end irons with graphite shafts...$1400 retail price (I got them on sale from Dallas Golf for a fraction of that). The clubs hit straight as a rifle, very long, but like your dad says, I had little feel for distance. Feedback to my hands was minimal. I was flying over the green or ending short.
Now I am playing CObra hybrids 7-6-5 irons, and Cobra irons 8-9-P-G with steel shafts. My distance is less but it is more accurate. Who looks for distance with short irons? I can hit a 9 iron instead of the PW.