Classic Blades and Modern Balls, any patterns to note?

[JohnB92]

For those of you who still play classic blades. What have you noticed about their interaction with modern golf balls? Trying to think through it logically, I could see things going many different ways. Less spin balls could partner well with classic blades. But maybe that's not going to mix well with how hard the modern balls are. I'm considering buying some classic stuff and having it refinished but I'm not sure how it would go in playing with them, as they were designed for a totally different ball. 

[Pepperturbo]

My 2019 620 MB irons, played from 2019-end of 2023, are kind of classic... But maybe not old enough.  My 670 MB's are from 2004 and early 2k MacGregor custom blades still get a few rounds now-and-again.

 

For many years played ProV1x, moved to Dash -ProV1x when it was introduced, and use AVX for less than ideal weather.  

 

DASH compression is 102, the hardest and low spin, ProV1x is a bit softer 97+, while AVX is softest of the lot at 80.  All of them performed without a hitch, even off my new T100 irons.

[Poor Mans Ty Webb]

I don't really worry about it too much when I play my Hogans.  If anything, the ProV1 tends to fly a bit higher for me, but distance is still okay and stopping power is fine.  This could just as easily be the weaker lofts as it is the golf ball.  Ideally, I'd probably want a ball that's going to launch a little lower and spin a bit more, but modern blades are still mostly a hunk of metal, and they do okay with modern balls (excepting the fact that modern blade lofts are a couple degrees stronger).

 

If you want to narrow your ball consideration a bit, I would recommend playing a softer core ball with classic blades, which feel way better with a softer ball than they do with a modern high compression ball.  You've got softer balls that do different things in terms of spin and launch - AVX, BSX, ProV1, Chrome Soft, etc.  Unless you're a masochist, I wouldn't go firmer than ProV1, personally.  But hey, that's just me.

[Maine Golfer]

I still think its about swing speed, with my new or old stuff. Also when its colder pro-v1's are not fun for me. 

[unclefreizo]

Not sure they are classic but 1999 Hogan Apex Plus feel better to me with a softer ball covering.

 

This is DEFINITELY true when I use 1992 Hogan Apex Grind irons. Using a harder covering goes further but it's simply an unpleasant experience.

[ezgoer]

Agree with what’s been said. Softer in general. Unless you strike the center more often than not vintage blades really seem to accentuate the harshness in higher compression balls and not just in cold temps. 
 

Im a realist and I struggle enough with consistent center contact that I’m more worried about having a ball I can play with a persimmon wood. I often play Titleist True Feels for this persimmon reason and the bonus is they are inexpensive. Even with a V1 I rarely screw a ball backwards and the True Feels will still check pretty dead coming in. Those spinny pinch shots around green are only in my arsenal when I’m feeling bold so I don’t notice a whole lot of difference other than they feel very soft, 

 

I’ll often play my modern woods with older blades and then I really like the Srixon Divide Z Stars. I think a good compromise of performance and price. May be a little too soft if you got some swing speed though. I put Pro V’s into play when I find good ones and enjoy them. At 100mph driver speed I just don’t get the extra performance the Pro V gives vs Srixon’s so the extra $8 a dozen isn’t worth it.

Edited April 24 by ezgoer

[EvanH]

Hi
Posted this before, but at 7:30 he talks about why he uses lower compression balls.
For my part - I too have Pro VI Tru Feels in the bag atm - but I don't play enough to say "it makes x difference"
 

 

 

[Jiggered]

I usually play softer balls just because I prefer them, but a couple of points already mentioned above have got me thinking about "ball forgiveness".

 

Modern clubs are designed to give a much greater hitting area, ie they'll lose little distance if hit away from the sweet spot. This must factor into how the ball feels too, a strike not from the sweet spot will still feel okay.

 

But using an old school blade those same sweet spot  "misses" with a hard ball will feel awful and jarring.

Might a softer ball absorb some of that jarring and give a better feel overall? I think it might and that could be why I prefer a softer ball.

 

A hard ball hit from the sweet spot of an old blade will still feel great, but away from the sweet spot it won't, so for less skilled players such as myself who tend to hit the ball from areas on the face that the manufacturer didn't envisage, a softer ball is a much better choice.

 

 

[mat562]

I still go out and hit balls with a variety of older irons; Mizuno TP-9, TP-11 and MP14. Cobra Norman blades and several early 2000s sets like Nikes and the 681s I still play.

 

No great drama. The ball doesn't spin like it used to, the feel's not as soft, the clubheads are smaller and the lofts are weaker. Other than that, if you hit them in the middle of the face they still work perfectly well.

[The Aspidistra in the Hall]

I found that a miss-hit with a smooth face iron on a gutty especially on a cool Scottish morning made me profoundly grateful that someone from the former colonies invented the bounding billy or Haskell, as they liked to call it.

[Nard_S]

Classic MB's & Pro V X1 give off a ton of landing spin for me. Too much really. The divot is never far. But there's no massive ballooning going on either. Something a bit less compression wise might be ideal, just lazy on that.

[zonadub]

Chrome Soft pairs very well when I bring out the Hogan Redlines or 99’s

[cold_war_era_golfer]

I only play with vintage blades and persimmon woods.  

 

Soft balls are what I've always read as the recommended type for blades and persimmons so that's what I started with.  

Wilson Duo Soft and eventually making my way to Titleist Trufeel which are my preferred ball now.  I discovered I putt better if I stick with the same ball.

 

Aside from that I've got bags of balls that I have found on local courses.  From Kirkland to Pro-V.  You name I got it.  I fill my practice bag with those and play my local par 3 and if time allows I'll play 4 balls from the tee.  Only the vintage blades except for 1 hole I can break out a 3wood.  From what I've discovered it really doesn't matter what kind of ball if your swing is consistent the difference will be feet.   

[dokex]

OVERTHINKING!!!!!