Titleist persimmon

[Stephen8802]

I grew up near Titleist, and many of us were loyal to both Titleist balls and Footjoy shoes because they were the local company, but I don't know anyone who thought much about Titleist persimmon. I picked up these two recently in my lot of 50 and I really like the heads. I expect to hit both and hit them well.

 

Does anyone have insight into the history of these clubs? I suspect they were made for Titleist, not by them, but don't know anything for sure. They are sweet looking clubs and I'd love to know more about them.

 

 

[RobotDoctor]

Joe Powell Golf made the Titleist woods.  I have a Joe Powell driver that has to the very same insert as these. 
 

Here is my Joe Powell DSP tour made driver as reference.  The font of the sole stamp is the same font.  

Edited October 14, 2021 by RobotDoctor

[elwhippy]

Glorious woods. 

[Stephen8802]

11 hours ago, RobotDoctor said:

Joe Powell Golf made the Titleist woods.  I have a Joe Powell driver that has to the very same insert as these...

 

 

 

That is exactly the answer I was hoping for; I knew someone made them for Titleist, I hoped it was Powell. Thanks for providing the evidenced. Since John Hayes bought out the Powell inventory and the NOS stuff hit the market last year, I've been intrigued with the clubs.That makes (at least) four of my lot of 50 were Powells. There are still two private label drivers that could also be from Powell...they are from someone.

 

Of the labled Powells in the lot, the Custom model looks best in my office, but I need to re-shaft it before I can play it and see for sure. I'm too old and too brittle to hit the X shaft in it now, but boy, do I like the way it looks. It feels like a war club that can really smack the ball. The PT1W is a bit on the shallow side for me, but I'll hit it and let that determine its value. Pretty soon I'm going to have to realize that I can probably get a smaller head around a little better these days. (I hit my D6, deep-faced M75 recently and I crushed it, but all with a soft fade...I couldn't put a draw on that thing to save my life).

 

Here are the other two fellas:

 

 

 

 

 

Edited October 14, 2021 by Stephen8802

[Stephen8802]

This is the Powell I picked up last year, currently on my workbench; I hope to get it finished before the cold weather makes it too late to dip.

 

What's not to like about Powells no matter what the sole plate says.

[RobotDoctor]

I have three Joe Powell drivers that I got from John after the buyout.  I am sending one back to John and have two others, including the one attached the picture of.  I have one that looks like a 945 EOM.  I am contemplating moving that one and keeping the DSP.

 

[Stephen8802]

I love that club.

[BIG STU]

Those Powell woods and the Titleist have suspicious looking butterfly sole plates and the model numbers look sorta familar too so does the swept back sole plate. Inserts look familiar too. But both of those are beautiful pieces of lumber--- Robot knows where I am coming from on the first part just a tongue in cheek joke

[Stephen8802]

I talked to John Hayes and he confirmed the Titleist woods are Powells. He has the stamps used to make the sole plates and some of the inserts.

[Hammer_Hands]

19 hours ago, BIG STU said:

Those Powell woods and the Titleist have suspicious looking butterfly sole plates and the model numbers look sorta familar too so does the swept back sole plate. Inserts look familiar too. But both of those are beautiful pieces of lumber--- Robot knows where I am coming from on the first part just a tongue in cheek joke

Fill the rest of us in on the joke!

[Forged Hack]

Old school Titleist gamer here. I’ve got a set of Blondes that I use regularly but no firing pin. I tried looking into the history years back and “heard” that JP produced them for Titleist. Mine are the typical Butterfly sole plate however, I have seen some with a more Anvil style sole plate so there’s obviously some variations on the theme. Note, my set 1,3,4,5W came with DG regular flex. Although my blades are S300’s, the regular shaft allows a nice kick. 

[BIG STU]

2 hours ago, joelco said:

Fill the rest of us in on the joke!

They look like Macgregors and the Model numbers are similar too

[RobotDoctor]

10 hours ago, joelco said:

Fill the rest of us in on the joke!

 

8 hours ago, BIG STU said:

They look like Macgregors and the Model numbers are similar too

 

Yes, they do.  LOL  😁

[BIG STU]

1 minute ago, RobotDoctor said:

 

 

Yes, they do.  LOL  😁

Knew you would get my inside quip ( smirk)

[RobotDoctor]

Just now, BIG STU said:

Knew you would get my inside quip ( smirk)

Definitely.  Go with a classic design.  MacGregors were the Cadillac of persimmon woods so why not emulate the best.  👍

[BIG STU]

1 minute ago, RobotDoctor said:

Definitely.  Go with a classic design.  MacGregors were the Cadillac of persimmon woods so why not emulate the best.  👍

Imitation is the best form of flattery

[Forged Hack]

On 10/14/2021 at 10:49 AM, RobotDoctor said:

I have three Joe Powell drivers that I got from John after the buyout.  I am sending one back to John and have two others, including the one attached the picture of.  I have one that looks like a 945 EOM.  I am contemplating moving that one and keeping the DSP.

 

It’s amazing how tight the fit is on that  soleplate. These days I seriously doubt people stare at the heads of modern drivers and marvel at the craftsmanship.

[RobotDoctor]

1 hour ago, Forged Hack said:

It’s amazing how tight the fit is on that  soleplate. These days I seriously doubt people stare at the heads of modern drivers and marvel at the craftsmanship.

Absolutely agree!  The craftsmanship to create a great persimmon wood was extraordinary. 

 

Sorry for the hijack.  While not a Joe Powell made wood, the predecessor, and possibly apex persimmon woods, were made by great craftsman who have now left us.  This skill set is, unfortunately, gone forever.  This is one reason I collect the great pro line 50s MacGregor persimmon woods.  One of my favorites is this M43T.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited October 21, 2021 by RobotDoctor

[Stephen8802]

Is that a fiber or phenolic insert? The rings look more like phenolic than fiber.

 

[elwhippy]

That M43T is amazing. 

[RobotDoctor]

3 hours ago, Stephen8802 said:

Is that a fiber or phenolic insert? The rings look more like phenolic than fiber.

 

Definitely paper fiber.  I'll bring it on Saturday.  
 

1 hour ago, elwhippy said:

That M43T is amazing. 

 Thanks!  Probably one of the best I have.  

[BIG STU]

2 hours ago, RobotDoctor said:

Definitely paper fiber.  I'll bring it on Saturday.  
 

 Thanks!  Probably one of the best I have.  

Back in the day I preferred the paper fiber inserts. 

[BIG STU]

10 hours ago, RobotDoctor said:

Absolutely agree!  The craftsmanship to create a great persimmon wood was extraordinary. 

 

Sorry for the hijack.  While not a Joe Powell made wood, the predecessor, and possibly apex persimmon woods, were made by great craftsman who have now left us.  This skill set is, unfortunately, gone forever.  This is one reason I collect the great pro line 50s MacGregor persimmon woods.  One of my favorites is this M43T.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Everything I have ever seen you post was pristine 

[RobotDoctor]

2 hours ago, BIG STU said:

Everything I have ever seen you post was pristine 

 

Not everything.  Again, sorry for the hijack but ....

 

This is the driver of the set of 693s I picked up today.  The driver is not pristine ..... yet.  😉

 

[BIG STU]

6 hours ago, RobotDoctor said:

 

Not everything.  Again, sorry for the hijack but ....

 

This is the driver of the set of 693s I picked up today.  The driver is not pristine ..... yet.  😉

 

LOL those are rougher than a night in the county jail I bet the farm though when Dave Wood gets through with them they will be pristine----- And those being 693s they are worthy of restoration.

[LeftyMac]

 

 

At one stage I had two LH2W Mac's on my bench I was playing around with.  One was a deeper 693 shape and the other a lower, flatter M80W shape.  Same shafts, couldn't have been more than a year or two apart yet totally different shapes.

Edited October 22, 2021 by LeftyMac