Haig Ultra question

[Robert L.]

I have a set of 1963 Haig Ultra irons which I played for a couple of rounds last summer. The clubheads are showing their age - some of the plating is chipping off, they could stand a regrooving, but the faces aren't too beat up. The shafts are fine, but a regripping is in order. The clubs play well as a rule, but the lofts are weak compared to more modern clubs, in other words a 7-iron is actually an 8-iron, and so on. My question is, is it worth it to make the lofts stronger, more like a modern club, and will the old plating withstand it or will it crack and chip off? I'd like to play them again this year.

[dlygrisse]

I would say no.  What’s the point?  By bending then strong what are accomplishing besides stroking your own ego, and changing the playing characteristics of the club.  You will reduce bounce, increase offset and the club will not perform as designed. Just embrace the nostalgia and appreciate the classics design. Great clubs, and carry the long irons because they will have enough loft to be playable. 
 

Also, yes regrip them if you are going to play them.  Having good grips is key, but if they are just going to be wall hangers leave the originals on. 

Edited February 27, 2021 by dlygrisse

[TommyRam]

I second everything dlygrisse said. Just figure out your distance with a proper strike on each club, and play accordingly.

[Christen_The_Sloop]

I  have a set of Haig Crenshaw grinds. Love the classic lofts, means I can carry the 2-iron. Great clubs. Not that difficult to hit.

[Robert L.]

Guess I'll just keep them the way they are. They're wonderful irons, easy to play and with a sweet feeling once you hit it on the sweet spot. One thing I did do was measure them, and they measure one club shorter, so a 5-iron is really a 6-iron, and so on. I'll just have to remember that next time I take them out to play. If it's a 7-iron shot, I'll take out the 6-iron. I will regrip them however, before the season begins.

[Foozle]

8 hours ago, TommyRam said:

I second everything dlygrisse said. Just figure out your distance with a proper strike on each club, and play accordingly.

I will third that. I have never worried about the number on the sole of the club; if it ends up on the dance floor I'm a happy man! 😁

Vintage of this era are shorter length and softer loft but if you can play a modern 6, a vintage 5 (or 4) shouldn't be that different......apart from looking and feeling better that is!

[raggal62]

You can consider lengthening them since you'll already have the grips off. No harm or foul doing that.