Golf Test Dummy

That's a good question. I guess it's different for everybody. I'm new to the "playing vintage golf" thing, so I can only speak for me. But I'm drawn to the 70's and 80's. It's just a coincidence that I was kid then, because I didn't start playing golf until the mid 90's. I think it's because a lot of the clubs prior to then had a tendency to be built with sharp, square leading edges. That doesn't suit my brain. That said, I can find clubs I would love to get my hands on in all eras.

I don't know that I'm to the point where I'll sell my moderns, but I can see a point in the near future where I do. I don't want to be a cliche, but there is just something about the old gear and the days before Trackman. Haha! I just bought a leather bag in great shape for 10 bucks for my current vintage set, and just bought 2 more sets of irons. Not the oldest of clubs, but a set of the Cobra mild steel blades and a set of what I think is the first line of Maxfli Australian Blades. Looking at a set of Hogan Speed Slot woods next.

I'm fairly new to vintage clubs.... kinda. My first set was a beat up blob of irons, mainly comprised of 4 Sam Snead Blue Ridge (I believe), with aluminum shafts and that now illegal grip with the flat spot built in for the left hand. Last year, I found a set of 1980 Hogan Directors and 3 Titleist Tour Model persimmons. All were in surprisingly terrific shape. A few months went by and I took them on the range very briefly for the last 5 balls of the bucket. Then a few months back, I used the 7 iron and the 5 wood a few times. Recently, I posted a video on YouTube, with what I THINK is the first modern day black and white video using vintage clubs. I had the most fun in years and the resulting score wasn't bad for me, a 40 for 9. The woods were fantastic, the irons weren't bad, and the sand wedge was awesome. Now, I think I will be playing vintage clubs far more than my moderns. The question is..... How in the hell do you go about knowing what will be the best for you, when you're not in a shop or on a range testing them, likely because you're buying from eBay? Hogan's are always forged and a safe bet. I don't prefer a very sharp leading edge and I usually measure for a stiff flex. I don't have unlimited amounts of money, and I don't want to have an entire garage full of old clubs, but I wouldn't mind hearing your TOP 3 of all time. Based on feel, feedback, performance, and maybe some consideration as to how rare they are. Not holy grail level, but something fairly uncommon. Thanks in advance!