Hickory Shaft on Modern Day Putters???

Has anyone had any experience with a hickory shaft on a modern day putter or even just used a hickory shafted putter and can explain the feel??

I came across a company that sells a hickory shaft on ebay for $17 (obviously they need to be stained, varnished, and gripped)

website: http://www.oldmasterputters.com/

ebay link: http://www.ebay.com/itm/HICKORY-PUTTER-SHAFTS-MADE-IN-AMERICA-York-SC-/360483538090?pt=Golf_Clubmaking_Products_US&hash=item53ee7e44aa

It is a cheap investment that i might have to try.

I have the one my father-in-law used to use before he passed. I putt with it from time to time. I would describe the feel as semi-soft. Not like the soft insert putter feel, but softer than metal putter with steel shaft. Weight-wise, it feels somewhat lower balanced than steel. This one is in an old blade putter (looks more like a 1 iron). I installed it for him and the tough part was working the taper down. I used a wood rasp and files as opposed to a belt sander. I was concerned that I might get a little heavy with the sander and take too much off somewhere. Yeah, it takes some time, but man does it look good.

BT

[quote name='Ri_Redneck' timestamp='1346435117' post='5566637']
I have the one my father-in-law used to use before he passed. I putt with it from time to time. I would describe the feel as semi-soft. Not like the soft insert putter feel, but softer than metal putter with steel shaft. Weight-wise, it feels somewhat lower balanced than steel. This one is in an old blade putter (looks more like a 1 iron). I installed it for him and the tough part was working the taper down. I used a wood rasp and files as opposed to a belt sander. I was concerned that I might get a little heavy with the sander and take too much off somewhere. Yeah, it takes some time, but man does it look good.

BT
[/quote]

Thanks for the reply! do you know where you bought the shaft?

Last year I sent Tad Moore my SC flanged bullseye and asked him to build one of his hickory Chicopee putters to the same spec in an attempt to make the change between hickory and modern as seamless as possible. Now I find myself playing the Chicopee more often that the Scotty. The hickory feels much smother and It seems that I'm better and gliding through ball rather than hitting it. The hosel opening on hickory clubs are much larger than modern clubs, nearly 3x, so if your thinking of shafting a plumbers neck with hickory you may have structural issues leading to the hickory cracking quite easily. If your accustom to playing a blade like putter look into the Louisville remake of the Spalding HB or a 1950's Spalding Blue Chip.

The ebay shafts say .370 at the hosel, but I looked at the sellers other items and he had shafts that are cone-tipped and are more expensive. I have a scotty SS newport 2, so maybe I would need the coned?? Or sand it to fit properly?

[quote name='Adam23' timestamp='1346456580' post='5568311']
The ebay shafts say .370 at the hosel, but I looked at the sellers other items and he had shafts that are cone-tipped and are more expensive. I have a scotty SS newport 2, so maybe I would need the coned?? Or sand it to fit properly?
[/quote]

I would recommend talking to [url="http://www.louisvillegolf.com/ContactUs.aspx"]Mike Just at Louisville Golf[/url] or [url="http://www.tadmoore.com/contact/"]Tad Moore[/url] about the feasibility in doing this. If your putter had a long hosel them you may have more success, with the small space in a plumbers neck hosel your liable to crack the shaft just by leaning on the putter. The cone shaped tips are standard for hickory irons and most period putters.

[quote name='Adam23' timestamp='1346437239' post='5566831']
[quote name='Ri_Redneck' timestamp='1346435117' post='5566637']
I have the one my father-in-law used to use before he passed. I putt with it from time to time. I would describe the feel as semi-soft. Not like the soft insert putter feel, but softer than metal putter with steel shaft. Weight-wise, it feels somewhat lower balanced than steel. This one is in an old blade putter (looks more like a 1 iron). I installed it for him and the tough part was working the taper down. I used a wood rasp and files as opposed to a belt sander. I was concerned that I might get a little heavy with the sander and take too much off somewhere. Yeah, it takes some time, but man does it look good.

BT
[/quote]

Thanks for the reply! do you know where you bought the shaft?
[/quote]

That was back in '97. I'm pretty sure I got it from either GS or GW, but I don't think they carry them any longer. You can find several with a Google search. Try to find one that has the proper tip, because turning down the tip without a lathe, it's nearly impossible to keep it round and centered.

BT

[quote name='Ri_Redneck' timestamp='1346766027' post='5583451']
[quote name='Adam23' timestamp='1346437239' post='5566831']
[quote name='Ri_Redneck' timestamp='1346435117' post='5566637']
I have the one my father-in-law used to use before he passed. I putt with it from time to time. I would describe the feel as semi-soft. Not like the soft insert putter feel, but softer than metal putter with steel shaft. Weight-wise, it feels somewhat lower balanced than steel. This one is in an old blade putter (looks more like a 1 iron). I installed it for him and the tough part was working the taper down. I used a wood rasp and files as opposed to a belt sander. I was concerned that I might get a little heavy with the sander and take too much off somewhere. Yeah, it takes some time, but man does it look good.

BT
[/quote]

Thanks for the reply! do you know where you bought the shaft?
[/quote]

That was back in '97. I'm pretty sure I got it from either GS or GW, but I don't think they carry them any longer. You can find several with a Google search. Try to find one that has the proper tip, because turning down the tip without a lathe, it's nearly impossible to keep it round and centered.

BT
[/quote]

Good point. I think i might be able to use a lathe locally, but i tried searching for .355 shafts and there were only hickory shafted putters, not the shafts themselves.

Started making wood shafts to test with modern putter heads. I am currently trying different shafts with a nike ignite 001 head. 5/8" birch, tapered to 3/8" to fit the hozzle was too lightweight and slightly flexible. Would have been great if I needed a tool to slow down my putting tempo. I just finished up a 5/8" Oak shaft, that will go onto the same head. The taper is only done at the bottom of the shaft for an aesthetically pleasing transition to hozzle, rather than the length of the shaft. The feel is great, similar to pool cue, where 10% firm and 90? soft/bouncy blend. Great feedback. My goal is to make a putter that gives better feedback to make more detailed adjustments. Walnut arrives on Monday for the next one.

The feel of a hickory putter is difficult to describe as the shaft feels heavy and solid, but can torque a great deal which I think leads to a perception of softness. (I should note this torquing does not seem to affect the putts themselves, just the feel.) It is a very unique effect which is worth trying out.

As far as mounting to a modern putter, it depends on what the putter is designed for. I would expect most modern hosels to be too small as the original hickory ones approach 1/2" diameter. Start reducing the diameter too much and you'll wind up with a whippier (and more fragile) club