if you could only carry one classic club and 13 modern clubs, which would you pick?

[memberguest]

If you had a bag of 14 modern clubs and got to replace one club with a classic club, which would you switch out and why? You could choose based on performance or sheer fun or some other reason.

 

 

 

[elwhippy]

Happily swap my sand iron for an original Cleveland 485 or 588, Hogan TK56, Ping Eye 2+ in BeCu or a 55 degree Wilson JP. 

[SnowbirdTom]

Ping Eye 2 lob wedge for my T20 60*, no question.

[mat562]

My old beryllium Eye 2 L wedge with all the bounce ground off.

 

Actually, a replacement for it - as the bottom four grooves on my old one have disappeared.

 

 

 

Edited September 1, 2022 by mat562

[AdamMH]

Modern everything... but swap out the shortest fairway wood for a teeny tiny vintage 1 or 2 iron. I have a good few to choose from.

[Swingingk]

I'm more about going the other way around:  13 classic clubs and a modern driver.  If I had to choose one classic though it'd definitely be my stainless Anser 2 with stock Pingman grip.  It always comes with me no matter what other clubs I'm playing.  She's not particularly beautiful but we understand each other and I'll never cheat on her.

[thepunch_out]

Easy, pull the fairway wood in favor of a persimmon 3/4 wood depending on the course. I prefer the smaller profile of persimmon anyhow, like a strong lofted hybrid.

[Hickory4ever]

If only one, it would be (and is) my Otey Crisman mallet putter. Since I don’t limit it to one, it can be many, many choices.

[Valtiel]

Half the players on tour already basically do this with their putters, hah. 

But in the spirit of the question it would depend on what constitutes "classic" but I love an old 5-wood. Otherwise an old lob wedge would be cool too, like one of those Cleveland BeNi wedges. 

[Swingingk]

1 hour ago, Valtiel said:

Half the players on tour already basically do this with their putters, hah. 

But in the spirit of the question it would depend on what constitutes "classic" but I love an old 5-wood. Otherwise an old lob wedge would be cool too, like one of those Cleveland BeNi wedges. 

Cleveland made so many cool wedges.  I've not tried the BeNi version but I do play with a bronze alloy TA 900 "BRZ" 56 degree sand wedge and I love it.  The ball crushes and embeds the particles of bunker sand into the very soft metal, causing it to act like coarse sandpaper.  I can feel it stuck into the face after a shot.  Oh yeah it's wrecking the club alright but even as it wears more and more it still performs the same.  It's crazy good out of soft dry silica.  I can honestly say that the BRZ by Cleveland is the spinniest legal sand wedge I've ever used.

[Titleist_PT23]

Not sure any of these are really better than anything new but they are all kind of cool.

 

Cleveland 485 60* LW

Ping Eye 2+ LW

Ping Eye 2 SW/LW

Titleist PT 23* Fairway

[SnowmanShanks]

A vokey OG 60. Square grooves FTW.

 

If it had to conform the obvious choice would be some kind of putter.

[Valtiel]

1 hour ago, Swingingk said:

Cleveland made so many cool wedges.  I've not tried the BeNi version but I do play with a bronze alloy TA 900 "BRZ" 56 degree sand wedge and I love it.  The ball crushes and embeds the particles of bunker sand into the very soft metal, causing it to act like coarse sandpaper.  I can feel it stuck into the face after a shot.  Oh yeah it's wrecking the club alright but even as it wears more and more it still performs the same.  It's crazy good out of soft dry silica.  I can honestly say that the BRZ by Cleveland is the spinniest legal sand wedge I've ever used.

Hah, that's funny because the first thing I thought in response to "Cleveland made so many cool wedges" was to think of all those cool 588's like the BeCu, Gunmetal, Diadic Gap, and the 797 model which was one of the BeNi wedges a long with the other "Byron Nelson" version, then scrolling down to see a pic of yet another one I hadn't even heard of. 😆

I appreciate how much they messed around with materials. I'd be curious to see this BRZ against something like those older Spin Milled wedges that were around that conforming/non-conforming transition. 

[Nard_S]

From a practicality standpoint Mizuno's N. Faldo wedge. Crazy good wedge. 

 

Nostalgia: R 510 TP, still own two or Mc Henry metals Tour Pure.

 

[Swingingk]

7 minutes ago, Valtiel said:

Hah, that's funny because the first thing I thought in response to "Cleveland made so many cool wedges" was to think of all those cool 588's like the BeCu, Gunmetal, Diadic Gap, and the 797 model which was one of the BeNi wedges a long with the other "Byron Nelson" version, then scrolling down to see a pic of yet another one I hadn't even heard of. 😆

I appreciate how much they messed around with materials. I'd be curious to see this BRZ against something like those older Spin Milled wedges that were around that conforming/non-conforming transition. 

Yeah they did try a lot of different stuff didn't they.  Cleveland has always been very innovative.  I suppose most companies try different things as prototypes but Cleveland seemed to get a lot of it to market which is pretty neat.

 

The BRZ itself it does of course perform very well on its own just because it's yet another wonderful Cleveland design and shape, but that soft bronze... man it's really special.  I don't know why it didn't catch on but I suspect it's because you only really see the miracles it can perform when it's in the sand.  Shots taken from other regular lies around the green are as good as any other fine wedge of similar specs but nothing overly special.  I think I'd put a new Vokey ahead of it from grass sure, but I'll put my worn out BRZ up against it from a soft bunker lie thump shot any day of the week.  Don't tell anyone though... I feel like it's my little secret.  Haha!

 

[Valtiel]

25 minutes ago, Swingingk said:

Yeah they did try a lot of different stuff didn't they.  Cleveland has always been very innovative.  I suppose most companies try different things as prototypes but Cleveland seemed to get a lot of it to market which is pretty neat.

 

The BRZ itself it does of course perform very well on its own just because it's yet another wonderful Cleveland design and shape, but that soft bronze... man it's really special.  I don't know why it didn't catch on but I suspect it's because you only really see the miracles it can perform when it's in the sand.  Shots taken from other regular lies around the green are as good as any other fine wedge of similar specs but nothing overly special.  I think I'd put a new Vokey ahead of it from grass sure, but I'll put my worn out BRZ up against it from a soft bunker lie thump shot any day of the week.  Don't tell anyone though... I feel like it's my little secret.  Haha!

 

[Cap john]

I had a Wilson wedge from the 50’s that had a Pepsi logo on it Pepsi co owned Wilson at one point. The wedge didn’t have a loft it was a 56 I have never hit a wedge better the shaft broke and the head went into the lake on short par 3. Damn I miss that wedge.  

[Righty to Lefty]

I still have it in the bag and it is 22 years old and still kickin! Callaway Big Bertha Hawkeye "mini" driver. Love this club as it is basically a mini driver with deep face. I cut it down to 43.5 inches and added hotmelt to get it to the weight and swing weight that I prefer and it is a weapon in my bag for sure and fits in to my game perfectly.  I even found a back up one in really good condition but these clubs seem to be much more durable than newer generation clubs so I expect it will last for many more years.  If I am playing a tight course I completely drop driver from the bag and use it in that slot.  

 

[Fellaheen51]

Initial thought was a Hogan Special Sand Iron, a well balanced wedge that I've hit some good shots with.  Have several, including a BeCu.  Also crossing my mind, a Ping Eye 2 4 wood (OG graphite) that I seem to hit better than I should.

 

But on further review, there's only one appropriate Anser.  Gets used on every hole.  Old School Ping putter.  Pick your flavor:  Dalehead, Anser, A2, A3, A4, A5.  Limited to just one, would have to be a MnBr A3.  Common, cheap.  With 30 grams of tungsten down the shaft and JAS PP58 "Pingman" grip (only).  Why?  It's a  time tested classic in my book and once in awhile have been known to make some putts with one.  Remains a relevant design today, and will be 50 years from now.  Use a BeCu A2 occasionally for the aesthetic cool factor, but doesn't "feel" any different than MnBr.  

 

 

[BIG STU]

12 hours ago, Fellaheen51 said:

Initial thought was a Hogan Special Sand Iron, a well balanced wedge that I've hit some good shots with.  Have several, including a BeCu.  Also crossing my mind, a Ping Eye 2 4 wood (OG graphite) that I seem to hit better than I should.

 

But on further review, there's only one appropriate Anser.  Gets used on every hole.  Old School Ping putter.  Pick your flavor:  Dalehead, Anser, A2, A3, A4, A5.  Limited to just one, would have to be a MnBr A3.  Common, cheap.  With 30 grams of tungsten down the shaft and JAS PP58 "Pingman" grip (only).  Why?  It's a  time tested classic in my book and once in awhile have been known to make some putts with one.  Remains a relevant design today, and will be 50 years from now.  Use a BeCu A2 occasionally for the aesthetic cool factor, but doesn't "feel" any different than MnBr.  

 

 

Ok I see the Ping thing . Honestly I would be torn between Ping and a Mac Ironmaster for the cool factor. As far as MGBR It would be the Zing which I have been gaming some anyhow

But for pure kicks and giggles factor it would have to be the Ping Zing 2 LW BECU that WRXer Cardoustie gave me when he was here in Januarary. Do not know if it is "old" enough for this conversation but it is a kick in the pants especially with a wound or balata ball

Edited September 2, 2022 by BIG STU

[BIG STU]

On 9/1/2022 at 4:49 PM, mat562 said:

My old beryllium Eye 2 L wedge with all the bounce ground off.

 

Actually, a replacement for it - as the bottom four grooves on my old one have disappeared.

 

 

 

Someone had one posted like that the other day on one of the FB Ping groups bottom 4 grooves worn slap out

[BIG STU]

19 hours ago, Swingingk said:

Cleveland made so many cool wedges.  I've not tried the BeNi version but I do play with a bronze alloy TA 900 "BRZ" 56 degree sand wedge and I love it.  The ball crushes and embeds the particles of bunker sand into the very soft metal, causing it to act like coarse sandpaper.  I can feel it stuck into the face after a shot.  Oh yeah it's wrecking the club alright but even as it wears more and more it still performs the same.  It's crazy good out of soft dry silica.  I can honestly say that the BRZ by Cleveland is the spinniest legal sand wedge I've ever used.

I have been a Cleveland fan for years especially 588s or 900s and have a bunch of different ones. But lately I have fell in love with the 2 Vokeys I have in the signature set.

[Swingingk]

8 minutes ago, BIG STU said:

I have been a Cleveland fan for years especially 588s or 900s and have a bunch of different ones. But lately I have fell in love with the 2 Vokeys I have in the signature set.

Vokeys are great wedges period.  They're like the Snap-on of golf tools.

[BIG STU]

7 hours ago, Swingingk said:

Vokeys are great wedges period.  They're like the Snap-on of golf tools.

I was always a fan of the now non conforming 252 258 series not that the USGA's decision made 2 hoots to me. Those 2 Vokeys in my sig a former Titleist staffer gave them to me. Even though they are a few generatons old they were new in plastic. I did bend the 50 back 1* for bounce reasons and leading edge position for me.

[Stephen8802]

That's an easy question for me because I play with two vintage clubs with my modern set, my sand wedges. I use a 60's Wilson Staff sand wedge and a mid 80s Phil Rodgers Rusty 60 degree wedge every round regardless of what other clubs go in the bag around them. For what they do, those clubs are better than anything else I've ever seen. If I had to pick just one, I'd pick the Rusty because no other club allows me the variety of shots I can make with that. 

 

Edited September 3, 2022 by Stephen8802

[The Aspidistra in the Hall]

I would use my persimmon driver, this season a Spalding T.E. Custom Crafted because this more than anything irritates the heck out of my contemporaries. Why, answers on a postcard, please?

[mat562]

Hang on, I've seen the Anser 2 mentioned.

 

I'm still carrying mine. Does that mean I've already used up my one available slot before I start? 😗

[Foozle]

2 hours ago, The Aspidistra in the Hall said:

I would use my persimmon driver, this season a Spalding T.E. Custom Crafted because this more than anything irritates the heck out of my contemporaries. Why, answers on a postcard, please?

Snap! Playing Spalding Tour Edition Custom Crafted woods this season too!

I struggle with this thread as I cannot imagine a modern club I would wish to replace any in this line up!

[elwhippy]

Still loving your BeCu R20. 

[The Aspidistra in the Hall]

5 hours ago, Foozle said:

Snap! Playing Spalding Tour Edition Custom Crafted woods this season too!

I struggle with this thread as I cannot imagine a modern club I would wish to replace any in this line up!

I call my 5 wood in this set my 'Wee Snuggie', and I'm not even Scottish.