Hickory Golf Brand Buying Advice

[I3erto]

I have been looking for a set of hickory golf clubs (from the past not the tad moore/louisville path), but have been completely overwhelmed with information.  I read a few "how to build a set" articles from SoHG and others.  I think I have a handle on what clubs I need for a basic set.  BUT in true WRX fashion I am not sure what brands I should be targeting vs avoiding.  SoHG mentioned Nicoll and Steward as being the more expensive end of whats out there, but what other brands to people like?  Is wilson/spaulding any good?  Thanks for any advice.

 

Cheers!

[hollabachgt]

Nicoll, Stewart, Gibson, & Forgan are going to be some of the most desirable Scottish makers, and often for good reason. But they come with a price premium. I'm personally partial to MacGregor, but other American brands such as Wilson, Spalding, Hagen, and Hillerich & Bradsby, all made fine clubs as well. Among many others.

 

Starting out, I would be less concerned with the brand stamped on the club and more concerned with the characteristics of the club. Does it fit a gap in your bag? Is the shaft in good shape and an appropriate flex? Is the weight of the head comfortable? those all matter more than who made it.

[bcstones]

totally agree with hollabachgt...Personally, I'd say go out and buy what you can find. Yeah, look at condition of shaft, grip, whipping, hosel...but pick up what you can. I'm more in the line of finding clubs that fit your style...how they feel to you. Couldn't care less if they were Gibson, Stewart , H&B, Thistle, Allied, Marathon etc...I think I recently read that Harry Vardon played w/6, or was it 7, clubs. So you don't really need many to start out with. 

There are some very excellently knowledgeable hickory players on this site....fantastic info from them. Learn the makers, UK/US/whomever, learn the cleek marks (also, acknowledging that US makers often copied Scottish cleek marks to inclrease their clubs "cred" 😂)... Check out a couple of postings below this one - one on making leather grips (yeah, I started that one for info) & one on Hickory shaft length - there are some excellent links to learning more, not just on repair/refurbish (the art of club making) but how it all fits together to fit YOUR style...that knowledge will help when you come across a seller who thinks that any hickory shaft club is worth a part of a gold mine.

So explore thrift stores, estate sales, garage sales, and the like...be cautious w/website like the bay thingie.

Have fun, screw the snotty-only-the-premium-are-the-clubs-to-play "players, it's all an adventure...Enjoy
 

[Hickory4ever]

In assembling a play set of hickory clubs, I would not be as hung up on a specific brand, instead focus on finding clubs with good shafts and appropriate swing weights. 
 

When I first started out, I was hung up with finding a set, all from the same maker which is modern thinking. I now am more concerned with finding a good club and prefer a mixed bag of carefully chosen clubs. I have found that certain club makers such as Stewart, Nicholl,  or Jack White do suit my fancy. As far as North American makers, MacGregor, some early Spalding, and Walter Hagen sometimes work nicely. But I also have found several lesser named clubs that made it into my collection.

 

You can never have enough good Niblicks or Mashie Niblicks and my favourites are usually Stewarts. Finding the right swingweight and feel is more important than make. I like a good Jigger and a flanged Mashie such as a Maxwell in the bag. I like a mix of swing weights with the more lofted D2 or higher. Longer irons can be a little lighter. 
 

Look at this as a journey and let your set evolve as you find clubs that add something that you did not have before. When starting out, there is a tendency to play a modern golf  style with the old clubs. The more you adopt a hickory mentality, the greater your enjoyment and likely your scores will improve. To start out, I recommend finding four or five irons, a putter, and at least a good Brassie. Then add what you feel you need.

 

Most guys up here start with four irons (Niblick, Mashie Niblick, Mashie, Mid Iron). I prefer a five iron set with an extra club around 30 degrees of loft as the gap between a Mashie and Mid Iron is fairly large. I would add a good Spoon to the woods when you find one. 
 

Although having several sets and a variety of good clubs, I rarely play with more than eleven clubs, occasionally twelve. I prefer loft gaps of 5-6 degrees in the irons.

 

Have fun assembling a play set. Let it evolve and pick the brain of any experienced players in your area.