Your Favorite of the Dyna-Powered(Dynapower) line

[cold_war_era_golfer]

I'm just wondering what the board thoughts are on the classic Dyna-powered and then post '61 Dynapower Wilson Staff Fluid Feels?

 

There was something really special about those irons.  I played a lot of early 60s MacGregors last summer and I love those too but after switching back to a few sets of Dyna Powereds late last fall they really felt more "forgiving."  Or maybe I was just swinging the clubs better in the fall.  

 

I've played all the ones from '58-68.  I'm not too familiar with the later ones.  Which would include the popular bullet and button backs.

 

If I had to choose my favorite would probably be the 1960-61.  They have what appears to be a longer blade and they have a longer hosel than the following years and I think they just look really good at address and in the bag.  I believe Arnold had these in the bag in 1960 and I know Billy Casper was playing these through 1969.

 

The '58-59s, '62-63s, '65s, and '66s are all amongst my favorites of vintage clubs and I'd have a hard time picking a second favorite out of those in a ranking with the 60-61s.  

 

 

[Stephen8802]

Bullet Backs for me. Last winter I re-shafted a set of Bullet Backs with circa 2000 Dynamic stiffs and they are the best playing clubs I've ever hit. I liked them so much they got all the rounds but two last summer. They started out with aluminum shafts and are heavy, which slows my tempo down and gives me a nice, smooth swing.

 

I just picked up some AL '67s last week and they will get the same treatment. I have 3 sets of S300U shafts and they will get one. I already have some steel '67s in primo condition, and they are nice, so I'm interested to see how the re-shafted' '67s play.

[The Aspidistra in the Hall]

I'm with 8802. Bulletbacks for me, with Apollo 25 s shafts are very smooth and positive feeling iron. I've had all the other Dynapowers and they are all great, but that's my favourite. I also have a very nice set of Turfriders which I enjoy. These are the two sets I've kept.

 

[Gsea]

65's

 

[Jiggered]

I'm hoping to acquire a set shortly and will then be able to comment. 🙂

[deejaid]

The 1958 Dynapowered irons are one of my all-time favorite irons and definitely my favorite Wilson iron.  Low profile head with a wide sole and leading edge relief.  The compact design really makes them feel like a hammer striking the ball.

[Swingingk]

Oh man... such a huge question.  Which Dynapower is best?  Whew!

I so love my buttonbacks with their original Ultralite shafts.  The 68's were great too.  Mmmm, so are the 58-59's.  Oh and don't forget the 60's and the 61's too.  And the bullet backs, and the 64's....  jeez...  pretty much anything "Dyna" and Wilson and you've got a winner!  

[raggal62]

5 hours ago, Swingingk said:

Oh man... such a huge question.  Which Dynapower is best?  Whew!

I so love my buttonbacks with their original Ultralite shafts.  The 68's were great too.  Mmmm, so are the 58-59's.  Oh and don't forget the 60's and the 61's too.  And the bullet backs, and the 64's....  jeez...  pretty much anything "Dyna" and Wilson and you've got a winner!  

Exactly.

Tough to choose a clear cut favorite but I also own '71 Buttonbacks with the ultralites and they are truly special.

[cold_war_era_golfer]

We need more pictures in this thread.

Here's Julius Boros sometime in 1965 still using the 58-59 model.

[Swingingk]

Cool picture!  Looks like a long iron too.

[cold_war_era_golfer]

Here's one of Billy Casper with a 60-61 Dynapowered at the 1969 Masters.

 

[Forged Hack]

On 1/16/2022 at 2:39 PM, Stephen8802 said:

Bullet Backs for me. Last winter I re-shafted a set of Bullet Backs with circa 2000 Dynamic stiffs and they are the best playing clubs I've ever hit. I liked them so much they got all the rounds but two last summer. They started out with aluminum shafts and are heavy, which slows my tempo down and gives me a nice, smooth swing.

 

I just picked up some AL '67s last week and they will get the same treatment. I have 3 sets of S300U shafts and they will get one. I already have some steel '67s in primo condition, and they are nice, so I'm interested to see how the re-shafted' '67s play.

8802….Did the remake version of the Bullet Backs all have DG shafts? I’m eyeing a set and they have S300’s and are advertised as “remakes “. 
Thx

[Stephen8802]

Yes, those are the re-issues. The S300s with a serial number and the gap between the S and the O in Wilson give it away. Those letters are connected on the '69s.

 

I'd love to hit those irons side by side with the '69s and see if there is a difference.

[cold_war_era_golfer]

Here's Arnie at the 1963 World Series of Golf.  This was near the end of his run with Wilson and it would appear he's using a turf rider 

[cold_war_era_golfer]

And another of the King this time at South Shore Country Club in Hingham, Mass., June 19, 1962.  With a '60-61 Dyna-POWERED.

[Stephen8802]

That's a cool picture. I used to play at South Shore during High School matches against Hingham.

[LeftyMac]

I have 4 or 5 sets of Dynapowered/Dyna Power; 60-61's, Bullet Backs, FG-51 and Tour Blades.  The 60-61's are by far my favourites and the easiest to hit.  The later versions are wonderful in letting you know exactly how poorly you are swinging the club.

[seis]

I love this topic and the accompanying photos, when men were men! 👍

[twidener]

I have two sets of DynaPowers, 64 and 65. The 64's were the last year with the Turf Rider sole. The set I have (3-SW) looks like they may have only 20-25 rounds played with them. The shafts, heads and leather grips look new. The leather grips all have collars and the end caps. Plus all the ferrules are intact. The 65's (3-w) are in very similar shape, but they have rubber grips which are in very good condition. When I played HS golf back in the late 60's there was a member at our club I would often play 9 holes with after he got off work. He was a very good player and could hit the ball very long, but not much of a putter. He played 65 DynaPowers and I always thought they were some of the best looking irons. I take mine out and they have such a solid feel. The late 50's and 60's era Staffs were some of the best irons ever made.

[cold_war_era_golfer]

17 hours ago, LeftyMac said:

I have 4 or 5 sets of Dynapowered/Dyna Power; 60-61's, Bullet Backs, FG-51 and Tour Blades.  The 60-61's are by far my favourites and the easiest to hit.  The later versions are wonderful in letting you know exactly how poorly you are swinging the club.

What is it that makes the 60-61s so easy for you?  
You have even have more modern Wilson blades than I do.  My most modern 1966 and every time I go back to the 60-61s. They just seem so much more forgiving. 

[LeftyMac]

22 minutes ago, cold_war_era_golfer said:

What is it that makes the 60-61s so easy for you?  
You have even have more modern Wilson blades than I do.  My most modern 1966 and every time I go back to the 60-61s. They just seem so much more forgiving. 

 

Good question.  The Bullet Backs are all original including the Wilson rubber grips that have definitely seen better days, so potentially they might be nicer to play with proper grips.  The FG's and Tour Blades are pretty similar in that you know exactly where on the face you have hit the ball.  Good strikes are pure but any miss and you feel it.  The 60-61's are also all original including the leather grips.  I bought them about 10 years ago and they were basically unhit when I got them.  The 60-61's also allow you to know where on the face you have hit it but unlike the later Wilson's they aren't as harsh on poor strikes.  You still know you missed it but you aren't wringing your hands.

 

[RainShadow]

I've only hit the '69 Bullet Backs that may dad gave me.

Still have them. 

[cold_war_era_golfer]

@LeftyMac Great run down on the 60-61 Dynapowereds.  I have noticed the have a slightly longer hosel than all the following year Dynapowers.  I'm not sure if that plays into it but it might be something to consider.

 

 

[cold_war_era_golfer]

Quite possibly the coolest golf ad of all time!

[cold_war_era_golfer]

Here's one of Sam Snead that I'm assuming he's swinging a Dynapower Turfrider.  If you zoom in the picture and look at the club in the bottom of the picture it looks very much like a Turfrider.  

[cold_war_era_golfer]

I think Billy Casper had the 60-61 models in his bag the longest.  There are picture of him with them as late as 1969.

[baloo]

I have a set of 75s that I absolutely love. I also own a set of 56s now that I also like a lot, but am just getting used to. I've liked most Wilson's I've hit, just easier for me to hit than the other brands. 

 

I have a feeling I'd like any Wilson from the 50s through the 70s. 

[Hernasco]

Have a set of the 60-61 Dyna-Powered irons. Really enjoy using them whenever I take them out on course.

[LeftyMac]

On 1/25/2022 at 1:16 PM, cold_war_era_golfer said:

@LeftyMac Great run down on the 60-61 Dynapowereds.  I have noticed the have a slightly longer hosel than all the following year Dynapowers.  I'm not sure if that plays into it but it might be something to consider.

 

 

They are also a little longer in the blade than a few that come after.

[Forged Hack]

Just to make sure my model nomenclature is straight…. Any Wilson with “Dynapowered” on the head is identified as a Dynapower? I.e Turfriders, BulletBacks, ButtonBacks (either original or reissued) etc. 

And 80’s Models such as FG17’s,  Staffs, and Fluid Feels are not?

 

Lastly, and I used the search engine, did 1969 Bullet Backs all have Aluminum shafts commonly referred to as Ultralight shafts?

 Thx.