Iron Byron

[mattdavis11]

What a great human being. He will be truely missed.

The Nelson Classic is where my roots are. I grew up a few blocks from where it is now played. TPC Las Colinas was not my home course though.

I really want to know who plays with what clubs and why. I'm a naturalist. I love the sound of persimmon off a deep faced Hogan driver, and the fluid feel from a 1973 staff iron.

I have hit newer clubs, and IMHO, a line has to be drawn. But where? It isn't the ball.

Nicklaus says it is a combination of club and ball. He may be right, newer clubs are longer inch wise and are turned down degree wise compared to what I refer to as standard. I haven't had but a +/- 2 yard change in distance on my 7 iron for years. I digress, I'm stuck in the stone age sporting S300 dynamic gold at a D2 with what I mentioned above.

This newer stuff is cheating if you ask me.

[H.G.P.]

Originally posted by mattdavis11
What a great human being. He will be truely missed.

The Nelson Classic is where my roots are. I grew up a few blocks from where it is now played. TPC Las Colinas was not my home course though.

I really want to know who plays with what clubs and why. I'm a naturalist. I love the sound of persimmon off a deep faced Hogan driver, and the fluid feel from a 1973 staff iron.

I have hit newer clubs, and IMHO, a line has to be drawn. But where? It isn't the ball.

Nicklaus says it is a combination of club and ball. He may be right, newer clubs are longer inch wise and are turned down degree wise compared to what I refer to as standard. I haven't had but a +/- 2 yard change in distance on my 7 iron for years. I digress, I'm stuck in the stone age sporting S300 dynamic gold at a D2 with what I mentioned above.

This newer stuff is cheating if you ask me.

Age of "Long Ball." Can't stand it. 320. Neutered the great courses. Still have my same woods, Titleists Acushnets.

(Ever compare old phonograph records (with the needle and all on an old stereo), with today's recordings?

[Nathans_Dad]

Agree that technology has made the game simpler for the masses, however it isn't any different than what has happened in the past.

Your persimmon woods were a huge technological leap over feathery balls, spoons, niblicks, mashies, etc.

I think the USGA will start putting limits on balls as they have on clubs. I don't see the 460 cc limit going away anytime soon.

For me, I play a Taylormade R5 Dual 425 cc Driver, a Cleveland Launcher Comp 3 wood (carbon fiber embedded in the head to save weight), a Hogan CFT hybrid 1 iron, Cleveland HALO hybrid 3 iron, Ping I5 irons (4-PW), and Ping wedges, 52 and 58 degrees. My putter is an Odyssey blade style putter. I play several balls, my father in law sometimes gives me Titleist Pro V1s that he gets through his work, if I'm not playing those, I usually play Nike Super Softs (great ball and only $12 a dozen).

[widgeon13]

The technology is certainly changing the game and for the averge golfer it is for the better. Perimeter weighted irons have made a huge difference for the average Joe. I play them but still remember the days I could draw an 8 iron when I was playing my Wilson Staff's w/ fluid feel. I just gave up my persimmon woods a few years back (Mac Gregor MT w/ aluminum face insert). Still have them and can hit the 4 wood 240 on the fly w/ a slight draw. It feels so pure as well. I really can't get much added distance from the clubs today but I do get more accuracy and more consistently straighter shots. Still play small headed driver (Callaway steelhead 3 w/ stiff rifle shaft) and Titlest irons. I remember playing years ago when you could hit a Tiltlest Black and if you looked at it crosseyed you could cut the cover. You can't mark them with a chainsaw these days.

Byron Nelson's record of 11 consecutive PGA tour victories and 18 wins in one season is truly remarkable considering the equipment they all played with and the fact that these guys were driving in cars from event to event not riding on their private jets.

I love the game but in my mind there are no rivals to guys like Nicklaus, Palmer, Hogan, Nelson, Player, Snead etc. They were (are) true sportsman, gentleman and professionals. And they didn't make 50 mil a year, they did it for the love of the game.

[nostatic]

I rarely play these days, but will probably start up again when I find some time. I used to play alot...when I was a kid I spent untold hours chipping in the back yard.

I have Wilson Staff persimmon woods that my dad gave to me when he couldn't play anymore. 1-2-3 wood with stiff steel shaft. My irons are the original Titlest DCI with stiff steel shaft including a 1-iron. No oversize. No metal woods. No plastic shafts.

[sammyg2]

Golf digest payed for a scientific study a few years back comparing an old steel shafted persimmon driver, a regular stainless steel driver, a ss driver with graphite shaft, a big bertha, and a couple other clubs.
All were hooked up to a mechanical golf machine and were swung with the same club head speed. results? the difference between the persimmon and the longest driver was less than 13 yards IIRC and most of that was attributed to the graphite shaft.
The toaster on a stick drivers have a much larger sweet spot but really aren't that much longer.
If you can hit a persimmon well you can be competitive.

[Don Plumley]

Originally posted by sammyg2
If you can hit a persimmon well you can be competitive.

That's because you consistently hit the ball in a very small, unforgiving sweet spot. Same is true with good old forged player blades (I used to swing a set of Titleist blades that resembled Wilson Staffs) that I could never hit well. But when you hit one sweet, the feedback was priceless.

This could easily parallel a discussion about driving a 73 RS on the track instead of a new 997. It's easier to drive a higher HP, PASM, ABS, car around the track and get a less embarassing lap time than someone piloting an older Porsche. And a driver that can post a good time with the older car, will smoke with a newer electronics enhanced vehicle. Does it make it any less fun? It certainly makes it safer and opens up to a wider range of driving skill.

There will always be something very raw, very visceral and infinitely rewarding about striping a drive down a long narrow fairway with piece of tree lashed to a steel stick. (hmm, did I just talk myself into buying an older car one day?)

Byron Nelson - RIP