Most unforgiving classic blade?

[Ironmaster Oddities]

The hardest vintage irons for me were (god, forgive me. I am a heretic) MacGregor Tommy Armours, especially the 945's. the double flange style puts more weight toward the center/ top of the face.
So you rally have to hit down and dig 'em out, which doesn't fit my swing too well.The more of a sweeper you are, rather than a digger, imo, the harder most of the older stuff is to hit.

[Wknd_Warrior]

Ironmaster, how long have you been using the handle iron master? I think I've played with you before in Ottawa.

[HoldenCornfield]

[quote name='ScooterMcTavish' timestamp='1401227999' post='9376769']
Couple of tips:
- Give 'em a good clean with saddle soap - it has moisturizers that soften them up. Plus it gets the oil and eccch off them
- Spray 'em down with leather conditioner; it has oils that are absorbed by the grips for long term rejuvenation
- [b]Dampen part of your golf towel when you are playing them. A slight wipe with water on the leather makes it super tacky[/b] - wearing a cabretta (not synthetic) glove also helps with this

[/quote]

Thanks for the tip, this helped a good bit tonight as I took them out on the course for the first time. I'm still getting used to the leather grips but I'm definitely starting to dig these clubs. I was really happy with the way I hit them.

I neglected to mention that the iron set also came with Hogan Precision woods, including driver, 2 1/2 wood, and 4 wood. They're in pretty bad shape so I wasn't expecting much but I threw them in the bag anyway, and Wow! The Precision Driver is really a cracker. The insert sounds and feels like some kind of plastic (cycolac?) but it went real straight with a nice medium trajectory and a lot of rollout. I only missed 2 fairways with it but both were because the ball ran through the dogleg.

I also hit the 4 wood 3-4 times with pretty good results. The odd thing about it is the head size -- its very small for a 4 wood, looks more like a 5 wood or utility wood. I never did hit the 2 1/2 wood, which seems to be a bit of an oddity itself. I've seen Spalding 1/2 woods before but never a Hogan. It has the loft of a 3 wood (16*) but the length of a 2 wood (43"), hence the 2 1/2 wood.

It wasn't my best scoring round tonight but it was one of my best ball-striking rounds... Hmmm, have I found my Set for All Seasons?

BTW, on the 15th hole I caught up to the threesome in front of me and they invited me to play out with them. After we putted out on the 16th (with my bullseye) the old guy in the group, who was probably pushing 70, looked at me with a big grin and said, "Say, where'd you get all them old clubs?"

[farmer]

I had a set of some MacGregor diamond back irons, don't remember the model, that had no sweetspot. None, did not exist.

[BIG STU]

Please forgive me Wilson fans but to me anything Wilson or Haig Ultra except the wedges

[ScooterMcTavish]

[quote name='BIG STU' timestamp='1401452057' post='9395183']
Please forgive me Wilson fans but to me anything Wilson or Haig Ultra except the wedges
[/quote]

Big Stu, don't be too hard on the whole line ups.

Unfortunately, Wilson Staff clubs are kind of like having a super hot model girlfriend. You need to pay constant attention to her, you need to handle her on an almost daily basis, and if you do, you end up with one of the sweetest relationships you can have.

However, if you ignore her, stick her in the corner of the garage, and don't giver her any attention, she gets cold in a real hurry, and sometimes it is near impossible to win her back.

[oldschoolrocker]

Out checking the local thrifts and ran across a couple of Palmer Peerless blades. If they had more than a couple I would have picked them up for a minimalist set. Holy Cow...I haven't seen anything that skinny in years. Now those look like a challenge. Really nice clean looking lines.

[super20dan]

yesterday while shopping i saw 71 wilson buttonback in near mint 75$ for the whole bag(woods +putter )and mac fc4000,s . a whole set of diamond backs . didnt buy either.

[majic]

You want some nice blades. Ebay the Tad Moore Maxfli TM-1 set that is on there. These are TRUE Tour clubs. i made the heads for a pro so they are gram weighted perfectly and custom all the way. Sweet sticks. Tad

[rileyj]

Macgregor Split Sole blades are notoriously difficult to hit. The split sole makes the center of gravity go up (harder to elevate the ball) and the lip on the sole means it digs like crazy with no bounce. Low point has to be perfect in order not to hit it fat or thin. Good luck with these ones:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/like/321237903524?lpid=82

[HoldenCornfield]

Looks like a nice long hosel, too

[Ironmaster Oddities]

[quote name='Wknd_Warrior' timestamp='1401395373' post='9391393']
Ironmaster, how long have you been using the handle iron master? I think I've played with you before in Ottawa.
[/quote]
Not unless it was Ottawa, Illinois in about 1971. never been to the original Ottawa.

[Blade Junkie]

[quote name='rileyj' timestamp='1401477960' post='9397965']
Macgregor Split Sole blades are notoriously difficult to hit. The split sole makes the center of gravity go up (harder to elevate the ball) and the lip on the sole means it digs like crazy with no bounce. Low point has to be perfect in order not to hit it fat or thin. Good luck with these ones:

[/quote]

Got a set similar to those (stamped 'Tourney by MacGregor') festering in the garage somewhere - will have to "dig" them out and take them for a spin. They came with a staff bag I wanted - I've never hit them !

I will put myself through 9 holes of potential pain one evening next week, and report back

[Wknd_Warrior]

[quote name='Ironmaster Oddities' timestamp='1401481652' post='9398317']
[quote name='Wknd_Warrior' timestamp='1401395373' post='9391393']
Ironmaster, how long have you been using the handle iron master? I think I've played with you before in Ottawa.
[/quote]
Not unless it was Ottawa, Illinois in about 1971. never been to the original Ottawa.
[/quote]

same handle (almost), tx for the reply.

[Jaylasvegas]

Get a set of Maxfli Australian blades

[JShaw]

Macgregor Tourney Custom 985 for me. I've played and enjoyed Wilson FG-17s and Hogan Apex PCs and find them much easier to play. My standard miss is toward the toe though and I just can't make myself set up with the ball on the inside of the face thanks to a year long bout with the snap fades about 10 years ago.

[Kirasdad]

[quote name='rileyj' timestamp='1401477960' post='9397965']
Macgregor Split Sole blades are notoriously difficult to hit. The split sole makes the center of gravity go up (harder to elevate the ball) and the lip on the sole means it digs like crazy with no bounce. Low point has to be perfect in order not to hit it fat or thin. Good luck with these ones:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/like/321237903524?lpid=82
[/quote]
[quote name='JShaw' timestamp='1401501490' post='9400145']
Macgregor Tourney Custom 985 for me. I've played and enjoyed Wilson FG-17s and Hogan Apex PCs and find them much easier to play. My standard miss is toward the toe though and I just can't make myself set up with the ball on the inside of the face thanks to a year long bout with the snap fades about 10 years ago.
[/quote]

+2 The spilt soles were pretty awful I think. As I remember they came out in about '70 maybe, and all the Macgregor guys (and there were a bunch of them at the course I grew up on) went out and got a set for the "innovative sole". Let's just say this innovation was not well appreciated. I had just started playing then, a little kid that sat around and listened to the big guys talk golf. There was a lot of bitching about those irons..The 985's were my first vintage set. Got them a couple of years ago for 25 bucks at Play It again Sports. Good clubs, great feel, but pretty demanding. If you didn't have your low point dialed in, you could dig to China. My wrists are still protesting, and I haven't gamed them in a year or so.

[Pigems]

[quote name='Mitchell' timestamp='1401246171' post='9379183']
I once tried a set of Powerbilt Scotch Blades that were particularly difficult for me to hit with any consistency- went back to my set of Golden Ram Tour Grinds and joy immediately returned to iron play.
[/quote]

I almost bought a set of those a couple weeks ago for $20, kind of glad I didn't now

[Ironmaster Oddities]

[quote name='Kirasdad' timestamp='1401522093' post='9401439']
[quote name='rileyj' timestamp='1401477960' post='9397965']
Macgregor Split Sole blades are notoriously difficult to hit. The split sole makes the center of gravity go up (harder to elevate the ball) and the lip on the sole means it digs like crazy with no bounce. Low point has to be perfect in order not to hit it fat or thin. Good luck with these ones:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/like/321237903524?lpid=82
[/quote]
[quote name='JShaw' timestamp='1401501490' post='9400145']
Macgregor Tourney Custom 985 for me. I've played and enjoyed Wilson FG-17s and Hogan Apex PCs and find them much easier to play. My standard miss is toward the toe though and I just can't make myself set up with the ball on the inside of the face thanks to a year long bout with the snap fades about 10 years ago.
[/quote]

+2 The spilt soles were pretty awful I think. As I remember they came out in about '70 maybe, and all the Macgregor guys (and there were a bunch of them at the course I grew up on) went out and got a set for the "innovative sole". Let's just say this innovation was not well appreciated. I had just started playing then, a little kid that sat around and listened to the big guys talk golf. There was a lot of bitching about those irons..The 985's were my first vintage set. Got them a couple of years ago for 25 bucks at Play It again Sports. Good clubs, great feel, but pretty demanding. If you didn't have your low point dialed in, you could dig to China. My wrists are still protesting, and I haven't gamed them in a year or so.
[/quote]

I also forgot about the bi-level sole Macs. I haven't hit any in eons. But the memories are not the best. I think the theory was that the shorter level was supposed to act as a way to keep the clubheads from digging more. But it worked just the opposite way. Created a very thin blade which kind of acted like a plow. Also the weight was moved up the back of the club, which I think would effectively make it harder to get the higher ball flight. So perhaps the were great for windswept hard pan many tracks in Texas. But they were not a good choice (for me, at least) here in the lush fairways of the Midwest.
I have a set of VIP/Nicklaus that were from the Niles circus. Maybe I should give them a second chance at life. After yesterday's rain, I could probably excavate a small basement on the practice tee.

[tembolo1284]

[quote name='Blade Junkie' timestamp='1401185112' post='9372647']
The only classic blades I've ever hit that gave me stinging hands were the Hogan PCs. Having said that, some of the best shots I have ever hit have been with the same set
[/quote]

I'd say hogan pcs also!

[tembolo1284]

[quote name='majic' timestamp='1401477494' post='9397911']
You want some nice blades. Ebay the Tad Moore Maxfli TM-1 set that is on there. These are TRUE Tour clubs. i made the heads for a pro so they are gram weighted perfectly and custom all the way. Sweet sticks. Tad
[/quote]

wow just stunning!!!!!!!!

[swinglikeben]

when i first ever played golf at 13 my dad bought me some pinseeker blades, i actually still have em in my garage and i tried to hit them about a month ago to see what there like after all these years, holy sh!t!! i felt the vibrations in my teeth!

im sure he bought them on purpose so i wouldnt beat him!

[sunofsand]

THey all do

Get the easiest hitting blade and if you're not used to hitting them you will hit corkscrews down the fairway
nasty physics-defying golf shots


then hone in and hit them well and you'll be ok


i have collected sets for the past year only
up to 14 sets/near completes of flatback thin soles to lower profile to elongated to muscled to blade
they all become as easy as the others with some time

[sunofsand]

regarding the split-soled irons

does anyone remember the Dunlop 65 musclebacks? they were a sort of split sole design. thick triangular muscleback with the old dunlop globe logo in the corner

I wondered if they were out before the macgregors. Not sure of the timeline of the 65's as they used that moniker for a long time for a lot of differeing styles of irons

dunlop did so with many of their brandings


I picked up a beated 2 iron to mess around with

[tembolo1284]

I love this thread!

[oldschoolrocker]

I want forgiveness from my God, and my wife, not from my irons.

[Ironmaster Oddities]

[quote name='sunofsand' timestamp='1402375962' post='9464731']
regarding the split-soled irons

does anyone remember the Dunlop 65 musclebacks? they were a sort of split sole design. thick triangular muscleback with the old dunlop globe logo in the corner

I wondered if they were out before the macgregors. Not sure of the timeline of the 65's as they used that moniker for a long time for a lot of differeing styles of irons

dunlop did so with many of their brandings


I picked up a beated 2 iron to mess around with
[/quote]
The original Dunlop 65 was a golf ball. It was sold for decades. I think it was a tribute to Henry Cotton, who shot a 65 in the Open back in the 1930's.

[HoganApexBlades]

[quote name='oldschoolrocker' timestamp='1402557241' post='9478645']
I want forgiveness from my God, and my wife, not from my irons.
[/quote]

Amen Randy, Amen!

[jmck]

[quote name='oldschoolrocker' timestamp='1401463939' post='9396485']
Out checking the local thrifts and ran across a couple of Palmer Peerless blades. If they had more than a couple I would have picked them up for a minimalist set. Holy Cow...I haven't seen anything that skinny in years. Now those look like a challenge. Really nice clean looking lines.
[/quote]

I have a set and I find them more forgiving than they look. A few of the sets that I've had over the years that I think of when someone mentions really unforgiving.....MacGregor SS1, Mac Kolochrome wingtips, Hogan +1, Hogan Bounce Sole, Ram TW282 & TW276 Grinds, most every Wilson Staff iron before the '76 bullet backs, early Ausie blades, most every Titleist blade before the 6xx series.

[NRJyzr]

I may be repeating myself, but I've never found the assorted Rams unforgiving (I have a set of TW276, among other Ram Tour Grind sets). In fact, I found them just as forgiving on toe hits as a player's CB I had available to me at the time. Tested it a few times on course, balls would wind up within feet of each other.

It can be hard to intentionally hit one way out on the toe. LOL