Persimmon vs Metal

[TheGolfer]

Who here has used persimmon, and do you like it more than metal or not?

[lamebums]

Clearly metal. Although it's a departure away from the tradition of golf for the past 790 years, the past 10 or so years has seen good solid increases in driving distance with modern clubs. It must be a macho thing - just about everyone wants to hit long ball, which was a near impossibility with persimmon, but is much more achievable with metal clubs.

Although the old-timey look and feel of them can't be beat... the feeling that you're playing golf as it was meant to be played, tradition? I suppose.

[Golf4life]

I still have my Karsten PING persimmon driver. before the titanium days, thats what I loved using. I would hit it just as far (carry only, with no roll ) with great control.

[supercow]

I still have my Karsten PING persimmon driver. before the titanium days, thats what I loved using. I would hit it just as far (carry only, with no roll

What's the loft on your old persimmon driver? I'm wondering whether launch monitors have really had that much of a difference...

[Golf4life]

What's the loft on your old persimmon driver? I'm wondering whether launch monitors have really had that much of a difference...

I believe the lof is 11*

[Guest]

Ping used laminated maple wood for their woods ,not persimmon.Their is not much of a difference in performance between the woods, but persimmon has a much more pleasant looking finish. That is why Ping woods were always black until the Ping Zing.

[RickCarpenter]

Who here has used persimmon, and do you like it more than metal or not?

I miss the sound of a wood wood.

[sandtrap]

I've got my Titleist and Spaulding Tour Edition persimmons from back in the day and they sure are pretty and make a nice display piece.

I put a fairway wood in the bag every once in a while and everyone ohs and ahs and they want to give it a shot. you can get a real deal on some nice ones. I think you could put one in your bag as a "Hybrid" because a 5 persimmon with a steel shaft is not the same as a 5 titanium.

[dbornack]

I love Heavy Metal!! \m/

[Vanstonica]

I bought a Spaulding Tour 3 wood when I was in college from Play it Again Sports. It lasted me for about 5 years (until I would out of school with a REAL job, and could afford to buy somethig nicer).

I still have it, and it's a really pretty looking club, but I couldn't hit it worth a crap.

[TommyD69]

I really hated to hit balls with my "wood" woods, because I didn't want to hurt them. They were just so pretty, and they did feel sweet when you hit them right. But, what we forget, is when it rained, you really have to take care of your "wood", that is why I prefer "metal" woods, they are virtually no maintenance. It's kinda the same way with kids, you miss them (cause you forget what a pain they were to take care of), and you love them.

[mybloodinvt]

I voted for persimmon. If you've ever hit persimmon and balata, you'd understand. There is nothing like the feeling of putting one on the screws. Back in the day, there were actual screws in the clubfaces of woods. Of course, if you didn't flush it, you'd pay a hefty price. Still have some persimmon in the old staff bag. They'd make great paperweights now. Both Tiger and Phil have said that persimmon will go as far as metal, it's the mishits and lack of forgiveness that are the difference.

[packerfan1]

Persimmon:
Nice looking, almost artistic when shiny and newly finished.
No better feeling than when you hit one "on the screws" (a rarity for a golfer like me)...no better sound in golf than persimmon, either. If you have never hit a persimmon driver just right, you are missing out on one of the major pleasures of golf, in my opinion.
No worse feeling than not hitting it 'on the screws'...you were guaranteed a 70 yard worm burning drive that sliced like you wouldn't believe. And this happened A LOT for most of us.

Metal:
Big an ugly, period. At least the finish on the top of the head is shiny.
Very forgiving, even mishits travel far and much straighter than mishit persimmon ever did. Makes golf a pleasure to play from the tee, at least in comparison; less frustration, anger and tears.

Persimmon was great when you hit it right, but I would never go back, metal is much more forgiving and a joy from a playing standpoint.

[deakanutz]

Perimmon feels awesome when hit right but not as much forgiveness as the Metal woods.

[Bluenoser67]

I also prefer today's Golfball over the feathery and Today's graphite over the hickory shaft. Just to save you the next two surveys in this theme.

[Lefty39]

i use the modern day 460 driver but i love my persimmon ping eye2 3 wood made before i was even born



Driver R7 460 ti
3 Wood Eye 2
Hybrids 2 and 3 torch hybrids
Irons 4-pw Sliver scot
Wedges deep red 54 degree cg11 60 degree
Putter getting a new one either odyssey or rossa
Ball

[Voiceontapex]

haha bringing back a dead thread here, but anyone have a wooden putter?

I really want a new putter and the louisville golf site has some nice lookin stuff you can have customized, i think it would be awesome to have one of those but are wooden putters like that actually good?

[GaijinGolfer]

I used to have an old set of Ram persimmon woods: a driver, 3-wood and 4-wood. I hit those clubs way better than I do the metalwoods that I have now. I think it has to do mostly with the fact that my Rams had steel shafts. For some reason Ive never really been able to hit graphite-shafted clubs all that well.
While Im sure that metalwoods do perform better, I still like persimmon better.
For me, its all about tradition. Woods should be wood. Im all for hitting the ball farther and straighter, but there is also something to be said for tradition.