Old Clubs vs New Clubs

I'm pretty much split on this one. I prefer the design and playability of older irons, smaller and thinner heads. There are certainly modern options for that type of club but typically it comes with a higher cost so the older irons make sense for me. I paid just $37 for the iron set I currently play and I wouldn't trade them for a newer game improvement set. But I appreciate what the modern hybrid and woods bring to the game. I live in CO so the altitude advantage often takes driver out of play for men with half respectable distance. At least it does for those that want to play the course strategically and not hit through fairways or into trouble. As a high handicapper I'd say it's less about trying to manage distance than being able to consistently hit a hybrid out of rough/bad lies with better results than I would achieve with a long iron. That's where I save strokes. But I'm just 44, that could change in the near future.

I would think that you'd get a lot of benefit from newer irons.  Same with the wedges.  I can't imagine the grooves on a 23 year old wedge being in very good condition.

Thanks for sharing, i enjoy reading the old and new development in golf equipments and their designs all this years.

Myself started golf in 2002 and i started with a 300cc driver to today a Nike VR_S 9.5 degree driver. But i still enjoy my old Callaway Big Bertha irons alot. As a social golfer and trying not to make a fool of myself during company of charity golf. I guess having a pro to teach me is very  important.

Good read ! Cheers ! 

Hey dfreuter,

You have 10 years on me but we are basically from the same era as far as golf technology. I started playing as a junior in 1975 and played MacGregor MT blades in the 1970's through the mid 1980's, Titleist Pro-Model blades through the mid 1990's, Mizuno MP blades from late 1990's-late 2000's, then back to MacGregor MT blades from 2008 to 2011.

Woods: I played MacGregor Persimmon from most of the late 1970's until about 1987 when I went to the steel shafted Taylormade Tour Preferred metal woods. Back then for me the difference between metal and wood had very little to do with adding overall distance. I hit them both about the same overall distance. But the metal woods for me flew higher and carried farther with less roll than the Persimmon. What that meant was more accurate drives that didn't get into trouble.

The biggest Tech-Boost I've ever experienced with woods in my game was in 1993. I purchased my first graphite shafted driver. A Lynx Boom Boom 9* monster. I instantly gained over 20 yards with that thing. That was 20 actual real yards, not the extra 20 yards all the manufactuers tell you you will get every single year they release something new,,,lol. I was never a short hitter and I went from hitting 3w or 5w into par5's to hitting long irons and making a lot more eagles.

Irons: As far as irons go I'll just compare my MacGregor MT blades I bought in 1978 to the MacGregor MT blades I bought in 2008. To keep it simple I'll say the 1978 model had a sweetspot about the size of a dime, and the 2008 model has a sweetspot about the size of a quarter. What does all that mean, about 3-6 shots per round,,,lol! There is no doubt in my mind that the forged blades of today have greatly improved over the standard blade models of the 1950's, 60's, and 70's! That doesn't mean your average hacker can easily hit today's blades, but to a scratch or better player it most definitely makes iron play easier.

Hybrids/Wedges: Obviously these have developed over time and made the game much much easier. Back when I started playing you basically found a good 5wood and sandwedge that you liked and held on to it! Funny I played all through highschool with a ratty old Walter Hagen sandwedge that I bought out of the bargain used barrel at our home course. I pulled it out and this thing had seen better days but it was cheap and I needed a SW. I noticed the shaft was slightly bent on it but I figured what the heck, if I like it I''ll get that replaced down the road. Well, I loved that club and it stayed in my bag from around 1977-1996, bent shaft and all,,,lol!  Anyways, today I carry one hybrid and two Vokey wedges so I guess I finally bought into the hype!!

Putter: Although I've owned more than three putters, the bulk of my 38 years of playing have been done with just three. A Wilson 8802, a Taylormade T.P.A.III, and today a Scotty Cameron Newport 2. I loved both the 8802 and the TPA, but I have to say that the SC Newport2 is on a whole different level. The balance, weight, and overall feel of the SC is unmatched to any other putter I've ever used.   

I like keeping up with technology for a couple reasons. Playing in stroke play events against the 20-somethings is hard enough,,lol! In other words I would never go back to equipment from the 70's/80's/90's for nastalgia alone. I play whatever gives me the best oppertunity to score!

See my sig I have a mix of old and older!

Occasionally for fun I will trot out my Joe Powell persimmon driver and 3 wood with my 1979 Wilson Staff Tour Blades.