New to Hickory Golf

[JZack]

I’m new to hickory golf and am starting with a set I have assembled from many different sources.  Also starting from ground zero.

 

What advice do you have for modern equipment converted players?

 What are good resources?  

What don’t I know yet that might speed up my education?

 

Edited June 21 by JZack

[bcstones]

like I said in your other post....practice, practice, practice....and, oh yeah, practice with each club, learn their individual excetrisities....and practice more. remember hickory shafts flex AND twist, so slow your swing speed & keep it slow.

[JZack]

40 minutes ago, bcstones said:

like I said in your other post....practice, practice, practice....and, oh yeah, practice with each club, learn their individual excetrisities....and practice more. remember hickory shafts flex AND twist, so slow your swing speed & keep it slow.

Appreciate it!

[Hickory4ever]

Hickory clubs will reward a smooth tempo and you will find the ground game will be employed a lot more. I introduce a lot of new players to hickory golf and usually start them with a four or five iron set to get them out the modern gapping mentality. You get to know each clubs potential and learn to hit a variety of shots. The biggest part of the learning curve is in the short game and so as @bcstones said, practice and try different shots.

 

Your set will likely evolve as you find individual clubs that fit your game better. I have several sets of matching irons but prefer a mixed bag of gamers for my best results. My scores with these clubs is comparable to modern or classic clubs provided I play at an appropriate yardage. My hickory handicap is around three strokes higher, largely due to the course rating of the tees played.

[JimmyC59]

I'm relatively new to Hickory myself. As a modern club builder, I purchased a bunch of clubs on ebay and some from Flea markets and a well known Hickory restorer. I reset the shafts with epoxy and new pins and I purchased new grips from Gary Eley at The Hickory Golf Workshop. Great prices and several very informative videos.

I played in a Connecticut Hickory tournament 3 years ago with rented clubs. Having my own clubs with new grips is invaluable. I'm playing tomorrow in the same tournament. I built three sets for myself and two friends. As Hickory4ever said, slow and smooth is the way.

[BIG STU]

1 hour ago, Hickory4ever said:

Hickory clubs will reward a smooth tempo and you will find the ground game will be employed a lot more. I introduce a lot of new players to hickory golf and usually start them with a four or five iron set to get them out the modern gapping mentality. You get to know each clubs potential and learn to hit a variety of shots. The biggest part of the learning curve is in the short game and so as @bcstones said, practice and try different shots.

 

Your set will likely evolve as you find individual clubs that fit your game better. I have several sets of matching irons but prefer a mixed bag of gamers for my best results. My scores with these clubs is comparable to modern or classic clubs provided I play at an appropriate yardage. My hickory handicap is around three strokes higher, largely due to the course rating of the tees played.

You are 100% correct about playing Hickory helps tempo. I have seen that since I have been playing Hickory on Saturdays.

[JZack]

In case anyone was curious.  These are the players.

[northplatteriver]

Very solid set!  I would put whipping on the hosels first thing after the heads have been secured properly.  at least 75% of the cracks I see in my shafts come in this area.  Also, you will find a lot of surprises lurking in the hosel tips running into the club head that are not visible, so taking the heads off is a must in my opinion.  

[JZack]

1 hour ago, northplatteriver said:

Very solid set!  I would put whipping on the hosels first thing after the heads have been secured properly.  at least 75% of the cracks I see in my shafts come in this area.  Also, you will find a lot of surprises lurking in the hosel tips running into the club head that are not visible, so taking the heads off is a must in my opinion.  

Serious Question: so I shouldn’t take them out as is this weekend?  I was going to play 9 but I also haven’t taken them apart or done any work on them.  Appreciate your insights.

[AZBandit]

43 minutes ago, JZack said:

Serious Question: so I shouldn’t take them out as is this weekend?  I was going to play 9 but I also haven’t taken them apart or done any work on them.  Appreciate your insights.

Speaking from experience, hold off.  I made the mistake of taking out my set without refitting every head. I did whip each hosel, but that wasn't enough to prevent a badly cracked shaft. I think the crack originated in the cone. I probably would have caught it if I'd been patient and done the maintenance before playing.