No new acquistions...?

[bcstones]

I went back to thrift store & bought the H&B PowerBilt Citation Light 3 thru SW set w/bag and odd woods (Matzie 1 & 3 plus 5&7 metal woods) & the Wilson Reflex set w/Callaway S2H2 Big Bertha 5 wood. There was also a extra PowerBilt SW. And a very weird Maltby 32* Slippery Frog wood (?)

 

Checked Maltby's - the Citation Light irons came out in 1985 & aren't mentioned again, the shaft bands are "Stiff Flex Power Flex SLW5" (guessing here the "SLW5" might indicate a Ladies shaft)...there is an owner's band indicating that a Lady last played these. The 3 iron has an old cracked black/green victory grip, the rest have been regripped w/Avon Chamois grips.

 

The Maltby 32* Slippery Frog is a weird one...I checked out the YouTube on the PowerBilt (Maltby) Slippery Frog, once you get past the music & James Kaiser (son of chief designer Bill Kaiser when H&B was still owned by family???) tells of the design - supposedly a modified 3 wood w/a bent putter shaft, to allow for 3 wood putts from fringe & trouble areas. I have no idea of what actual 32* wood is equilevant - and 8 or 9 wood??? Listening to the video, I wondered if this conception came out around the time of the Lovet wedges.

 

The Matzie laminated 1 & 3 woods support that - the shafts, EZ-Swinger, began in 1978 (I think) and the Matzie site says they were "flexible" & aimed at the Senior & Ladies market. I've contacted Matzie to see if they could give any more information. The Matzie also have Avon Chamois grips.

The Wilson Reflex 3 thru PW set were available '79 thru '83 w/Wilson Dynapower R Flex shafts & Tacki-Mac grips. 

The extra H&B PowerBilt SW had surface rust on the sole, once cleaned that up - Scotch Blade can be seen, no shaft band (no owners band either) & a Tacki-Mac grip...I have no idea of age. 

 

 

 

 

 

Matzie 1 wood on left, Slippery Frog on right

 

 

shaft band for the Matzie (fiberglass shaft????)

 

 

top to bottom Scotch Blade SW, Wilson Reflex 7 iron, Citation Light 7 iron

 

 

L-R: Citation, Reflex, SW

 

 

well used Scotch Blade SW

Edited January 6 by bcstones

[No_Catchy_Nickname]

9 hours ago, Maine Golfer said:

 

I love the description "The Computer Age Approach to Golfing Perfection". The cover design looks anything but "computer age"😁

[No_Catchy_Nickname]

2 hours ago, bcstones said:

Saw these in a local antique store - a box of Hogan Golf Balls (AMF) Apex 90.
Not sure when AMF owned Hogan Golf Co....
Does the Apex 90 mean 90 compression....

Are these playable? All the containers are intact....
 

Tho, 65 bucks seems a wee bit steep.....

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

AMF owned Hogan from 1960 to 1984 or 5.  LINK

 

Based on the dimple pattern, I'd say those balls are older than the Eighties at least.

 

I am certain that the 90 refers to the compression. 

[Swingingk]

10 hours ago, Maine Golfer said:

I'd love to get a copy of this.  Old lag was "the man" when it came to old skool persimmon and blades applied to the modern game.  There is good information in there!  

[Shallowface]

22 hours ago, bcstones said:

I went back to thrift store & bought the H&B PowerBilt Citation Light 3 thru SW set w/bag and odd woods (Matzie 1 & 3 plus 5&7 metal woods) & the Wilson Reflex set w/Callaway S2H2 Big Bertha 5 wood. There was also a extra PowerBilt SW. And a very weird Maltby 32* Slippery Frog wood (?)

 

Checked Maltby's - the Citation Light irons came out in 1985 & aren't mentioned again, the shaft bands are "Stiff Flex Power Flex SLW5" (guessing here the "SLW5" might indicate a Ladies shaft)...there is an owner's band indicating that a Lady last played these. The 3 iron has an old cracked black/green victory grip, the rest have been regripped w/Avon Chamois grips.

 

The Maltby 32* Slippery Frog is a weird one...I checked out the YouTube on the PowerBilt (Maltby) Slippery Frog, once you get past the music & James Kaiser (son of chief designer Bill Kaiser when H&B was still owned by family???) tells of the design - supposedly a modified 3 wood w/a bent putter shaft, to allow for 3 wood putts from fringe & trouble areas. I have no idea of what actual 32* wood is equilevant - and 8 or 9 wood??? Listening to the video, I wondered if this conception came out around the time of the Lovet wedges.

 

The Matzie laminated 1 & 3 woods support that - the shafts, EZ-Swinger, began in 1978 (I think) and the Matzie site says they were "flexible" & aimed at the Senior & Ladies market. I've contacted Matzie to see if they could give any more information. The Matzie also have Avon Chamois grips.

The Wilson Reflex 3 thru PW set were available '79 thru '83 w/Wilson Dynapower R Flex shafts & Tacki-Mac grips. 

The extra H&B PowerBilt SW had surface rust on the sole, once cleaned that up - Scotch Blade can be seen, no shaft band (no owners band either) & a Tacki-Mac grip...I have no idea of age. 

 

 

 

 

 

Matzie 1 wood on left, Slippery Frog on right

 

 

shaft band for the Matzie (fiberglass shaft????)

 

 

top to bottom Scotch Blade SW, Wilson Reflex 7 iron, Citation Light 7 iron

 

 

L-R: Citation, Reflex, SW

 

 

well used Scotch Blade SW

The Citation Light had a brief run because they were part of the very brief "featherlite" craze.  The swingweight may be as light as B8, which would make them easy for a lady to swing, but if the shaft band says stiff I'd guess it's not a ladies shaft.

 

The Slippery Frog is a chipper and was brought out when chipping with a fairway wood became popular on tour.  I don't know how many lofts they came in but the very first one was 16 degrees as I recall.  Tiger gets credit for inventing that shot but I saw Dave Hill chip with a wooden Cobra Baffler at a senior tour event back in the 90s, and even he may not have been the first.  In fact I'm sure he wasn't.  The first was probably a shepherd in Scotland hundreds of years ago! 

 

I've got one of those Matzie drivers.  I believe the shaft is fiberglass or something other than graphite.  For some reason "Aramid Fiber" is rattling around in my head.  It's another of those concepts that resurfaces from time to time, that being that if one could time a super flexible shaft they would hit the ball a lot further.  Matzie touted up to 50 yards in its 70s ads, but of course that was hype.  There is a fellow in the club tech section of this site that says flex doesn't add propulsion and I believe him.  The super expensive Autoflex shaft is the latest example of the theory.  It seems to work for some and not for others, just like anything else.

 

The USGA asked Wilson not to make a Reflex one iron because they were concerned about the distance potential.  Of course, that's the same bunch who banned the Grip Rite putter grip because it had a small waist at the top and missed the boat on the modern ball because they tested it with a wooden driver after the industry had moved on to titanium.  

 

Wilson did make a low profile Reflex driving iron called "The Long Iron" but I believe it came in at 20 degrees, which was the standard for a 2 iron at the time.  Being low profile of course I had one of those.  Fine but nothing special.

 

I believe the Powerbilt sand wedge is the 1976-77 model.  The matching irons were a flat back model, one of the most simple looking clubs you'll ever see.     

Edited January 7 by Shallowface

[NRJyzr]

30 minutes ago, Shallowface said:

missed the boat on the modern ball because they tested it with a wooden driver

 

This comes with apologies, I'm nitpicking a small point in your post that's not particularly related to the main point...

 

The modern ball is not a problem in the game, regarding the "distance issue."  It never has been a problem in the game.  They're not illegally hotter.

 

The problem is the clubs.  And, it always has been.

 

Saw a graphic on a Tour telecast when the proposed rollback was announced, that I felt was telling.  A dozen years ago or so, avg ballspeed on tour was 10+ mph slower than it is now, in spite of the avg swingspeed being only marginally lower then.

 

COR has been capped for a couple decades.  Doesn't that seem even a little suspicious?

 

Edited January 6 by NRJyzr

[Shallowface]

3 minutes ago, NRJyzr said:

 

This comes with apologies, I'm nitpicking a small point in your post that's not particularly related to the main point...

 

The modern ball is not a problem in the game, regarding the "distance issue."  It never has been a problem in the game.  They're not illegally hotter.

 

The problem is the clubs.  And, it always has been.

 

Saw a graphic on a Tour telecast when the proposed rollback was announced, that I felt was telling.  A dozen years ago or so, avg ballspeed on tour was 10+ mph slower than it is now, in spite of the avg swingspeed being only marginally lower then.

 

COR has been capped for a couple decades.  Doesn't that seem even a little suspicious?

 

No problem my friend.  It's something we've discussed before and on which we're never going to agree.

 

Doesn't mean I don't respect and appreciate you.

[NRJyzr]

1 minute ago, Shallowface said:

No problem my friend.  It's something we've discussed before and on which we're never going to agree.

 

Doesn't mean I don't respect and appreciate you.

 

Keep being awesome, my brother 😊

 

Hope all is well with you and yours

 

[bcstones]

9 hours ago, No_Catchy_Nickname said:

 

AMF owned Hogan from 1960 to 1984 or 5.  LINK

 

Based on the dimple pattern, I'd say those balls are older than the Eighties at least.

 

I am certain that the 90 refers to the compression. 

hmmm....thanks - still wondering if the price is worth it....and I'd sure be tempted to play (not a collector of golf )balls....no place to display with all the clubs I've acquired 🤣

[ezgoer]

48 minutes ago, bcstones said:

hmmm....thanks - still wondering if the price is worth it....and I'd sure be tempted to play (not a collector of golf )balls....no place to display with all the clubs I've acquired 🤣

Idk…especially for a high price tag. They just deteriorate over time. If there’s rubber bands in there like an old Titleist it’s gonna dry up and really break down every impact. Kept in a humidor entire life possibly???
 

 When brother Robot Doctor shows his stash of Professional’s and Balata’s I’ve been curious how long they hold up. As all his stuff they look like they’re fresh out of the Proshop. Back when they were new they’d only last a half dozen holes. Wonder how long he notices them last now? Gotta be 25 years old. 

[Hickory4ever]

A few buddies and I made a trip to Fore Golfers Only, a real treat. I managed to find another Otey Crisman putter ($20) and picked it up. Also picked up a set of three left handed Accuform laminated woods in near mint condition for $5 each. My friend thought I was losing it (I am right handed). I wanted a LH set for friends trying classic.

 

[FloggingOkie]

Came across a full set 2-pw, of 73-75 Wilson Staff Dynapowers at a local goodwill today for $25.

[The Aspidistra in the Hall]

7 hours ago, FloggingOkie said:

Came across a full set 2-pw, of 73-75 Wilson Staff Dynapowers at a local goodwill today for $25.

Are you going to pull the trigger? Shaft flex and condition of faces and grips would be handy.

[FloggingOkie]

6 hours ago, The Aspidistra in the Hall said:

Are you going to pull the trigger? Shaft flex and condition of faces and grips would be handy.

Oh yeah I grabbed em.. If I post it I've bought it. They're in good shape just a little bag wear. Grips are rough but that's the case about half the time.

[The Aspidistra in the Hall]

54 minutes ago, FloggingOkie said:

Oh yeah I grabbed em.. If I post it I've bought it. They're in good shape just a little bag wear. Grips are rough but that's the case about half the time.

I have the same set, my third I think. You will be very pleased with them, the wedge is a beauty.

[bcstones]

6 hours ago, The Aspidistra in the Hall said:

I have the same set, my third I think. You will be very pleased with them, the wedge is a beauty.

I also have at least one set....and found the weight disks also.

[FloggingOkie]

56 minutes ago, bcstones said:

I also have at least one set....and found the weight disks also.

So I now have four staff sets 64,67, 73, & 84. Took the 84s to the range a couple times a few weeks back, felt pretty good. Regripped the 67s a few weeks ago so I'm giving them a test run soon as the weather brakes. So the big dig lasted Nov thru Dec, takin a look at all the gear I've brought out of it plus a few other sets at goodwill makes 12 sets of irons and a ton of wedges and a lot of persimmons and laminates, all in about 8 weeks!  Garage is getting tight! But most of them cost nine bucks on 2-PW set so whatcha gonna do? Sooo now I hope to get swings in on all of them eventually. Anyone know of a real cheap source for grips? 😄

[FloggingOkie]

1 hour ago, bcstones said:

I also have at least one set....and found the weight disks also.

Was wondering about the disk.

[ezgoer]

2 hours ago, FloggingOkie said:

So I now have four staff sets 64,67, 73, & 84. Took the 84s to the range a couple times a few weeks back, felt pretty good. Regripped the 67s a few weeks ago so I'm giving them a test run soon as the weather brakes. So the big dig lasted Nov thru Dec, takin a look at all the gear I've brought out of it plus a few other sets at goodwill makes 12 sets of irons and a ton of wedges and a lot of persimmons and laminates, all in about 8 weeks!  Garage is getting tight! But most of them cost nine bucks on 2-PW set so whatcha gonna do? Sooo now I hope to get swings in on all of them eventually. Anyone know of a real cheap source for grips? 😄

I like Karma grips. Sure there’s other options but off Amazon (or eBay) Karma Revolution standard size grip cost $25 for 13 grips. The Revolution grip has no logo basically like a GP 360 grip you often see on new wedges. There’s a more standard Velour style that’s about $30 to 35 for 13 if you really want that logo for a reminder. Karma’s aren’t perfect, it’s noticeable when you pick up a new GP gripped club but they are really good especially for 1/3-1/4 the price. 

   I’ve resisted trying other inexpensive brands so would like hearing others ideas on different options. 

[Stephen8802]

3 hours ago, FloggingOkie said:

...Anyone know of a real cheap source for grips? 😄

I use Mint grips, original style. You buy them straight from the factory. I buy them by the box of 48, but you can order a set's worth or a larger quantity. They feel great, I don't have to wear a glove, and they go on easily with compressed air. I don't buy them only because of price, I prefer the feel to other grips.

[bcstones]

4 hours ago, FloggingOkie said:

Anyone know of a real cheap source for grips?

 I've used Karma & really like Lamkin....will try the Mint grip when I run out of my stash of grips bought when Golfsmith was having their going out of business sales. 

Avon's Chamois are an inexpensive grip that seem to last, also.

 

 

 

4 hours ago, FloggingOkie said:

Was wondering about the disk

easy to remove....different people in ther forum have filled the space w/different stuff (like lead powder, I think someone said)

Edited January 8 by bcstones

[The Aspidistra in the Hall]

8 hours ago, FloggingOkie said:

Was wondering about the disk.

Wilson state that discs only adjust each club by 2 swing weight points.

You will find inside discs and a rubber grommet which is intended to stop the discs rattling. They perish and don't work so well.

 

I made my own discs from roofing lead sheet, cut to size with a punch. Yes, you've guessed it, I made my own punch, from a section of steel shaft cut with a diameter either a snug fit or very slighty oversize to the cavity. File an edge to the cutting surface. You are bound to have scrap golf club shafts around the place.

That way you can get more lead in and they don't rattle.

Edited January 8 by The Aspidistra in the Hall

[SnowbirdTom]

7 hours ago, ezgoer said:

I’ve resisted trying other inexpensive brands so would like hearing others ideas on different options. 

Tacki Mac is a great alternative to Karmas.  Come in three sizes and last longer than Karmas. ~$35 for a full set of 13 on Amazon.

[Maine Golfer]

thanks for the mint grip / mint wrap tip. Seems like a great price, im running out of cheaper grips that I can tolerate. 

[bcstones]

6 hours ago, The Aspidistra in the Hall said:

a rubber grommet

I wondered how to control the potential rattle...."a rubber grommet" - like I have for use in faucet repair. 

[The Aspidistra in the Hall]

56 minutes ago, bcstones said:

I wondered how to control the potential rattle...."a rubber grommet" - like I have for use in faucet repair. 

Hah, you were testing this Englishman.

I know what a faucet is; it's a tap and they have washers to stop them dripping.

Yes , anything really, you can be creative. A high density foam disc will do the same job.

[bcstones]

27 minutes ago, The Aspidistra in the Hall said:

Hah, you were testing this Englishman.

I know what a faucet is; it's a tap and they have washers to stop them dripping.

and I bet your vehicle never has a flat or that you fill it with gas.....🤣

[The Aspidistra in the Hall]

14 minutes ago, bcstones said:

and I bet your vehicle never has a flat or that you fill it with gas.....🤣

 

15 minutes ago, bcstones said:

and I bet your vehicle never has a flat or that you fill it with gas.....🤣

 

15 minutes ago, bcstones said:

and I bet your vehicle never has a flat or that you fill it with gas.....🤣

Ah, we do 'flats', but the only gas in my motor is self generated wind.

[bcstones]

1 minute ago, The Aspidistra in the Hall said:

 

 

Ah, we do 'flats', but the only gas in my motor is self generated wind.

Oh, I thought it was "punctures" 🙃 and I'll bet that the "self generated wind" in your tank helps w/KPL

[FloggingOkie]

18 hours ago, ezgoer said:

I like Karma grips. Sure there’s other options but off Amazon (or eBay) Karma Revolution standard size grip cost $25 for 13 grips. The Revolution grip has no logo basically like a GP 360 grip you often see on new wedges. There’s a more standard Velour style that’s about $30 to 35 for 13 if you really want that logo for a reminder. Karma’s aren’t perfect, it’s noticeable when you pick up a new GP gripped club but they are really good especially for 1/3-1/4 the price. 

   I’ve resisted trying other inexpensive brands so would like hearing others ideas on different options. 

Cleaned up these 73's. The two and eight both have a slight bow about mid shaft😠, I got several ideas pinging around in my head about what to do. Anyone tried fixing this, any tricks that help or any cautions to not try? Hard to believe I haven't come across this before... that I've noticed.