Persimmon head / modern shaft

[ssp]

Anybody experimented with a Old persimmon head with a modern shaft (Diamana or something similar)?

[Bella Woods]

ssp:


I have experimented with persimmon wood heads and modern shafts. I have had both 757 and 569 Fujikura Speeder shafts in persimmon drivers. I also have also recently
ordered three new Fujikura Motore Speeder shafts to put in some PowerBilt Citation (Driver, 3 Wood and 5 Wood) never shafted heads I have had laying around since 1999. I am expecting the shafts to arrive this week.

I am convinced from hitting the Speeders (757/569) that approximately 15 yards of the 25 yard difference between my Peerless Pete steel shafted driver and my moderm Taylor Made R9 is due to the shaft. I think the reason is you can't swing the heavier steel shaft as fast as the graphite. The difference in my swing speeds between the two is about 4mph.

I spoke with Fujikura before ordering the shafts, they were of the opinion that putting the Fujikura Motore Speeder shafts in a persimmon wood would have no effect on the tip stiffness of the shaft, but would result in a one-half flex difference due to the shaft bore being 2 1/2 inches deep instead of the average today of approximately 1 1/2 inch. So my stiff shaft will be between stiff and extra stiff.

I am excited to get the shafts and try them out. I personally would not put them in a classic club since I think the classics should remain all original if possible.

[astamm8]

what are you doing about length and swingweight? putting shafts that light in old heads would seriously drop the swingweight, unless you add a lot of weight to the head. or, you could have the shaft play longer, but i'd be dubious of my ability to hit a 45" persimmon solidly and consitently.

[Bella Woods]

astamm8:

Both of the clubs with the Speeders in them are 44". One a PowerBilt Citation and the other, one of Louisville Golfs Tiger Woods persimmon drivers. The PowerBilt was fine swingweight wise (D-3 as I recall). I did have to add weight to the Louisville driver though, it has a weight port on it, so lead powder in the port. Nine or Ten grams total I think to get it to D-4.

The total weight of a persimmon driver head is approximately the same as a modern one (between 195 and 210 grams). Both the Tiger Woods driver and my Taylor Made R9 weigh the same in total - 329 grams. The PowerBilt woods heads weigh - Driver 197 grams, 3 Wood 201 grams and the 5 Wood 224 grams. The one I am worried about is the 3 Wood, it should weigh in the neighborhood of 214 grams and it doesn't. I plan on refinishing the them anyway to the way I like them, so I will probably have to add some lead weight under the soleplate.

I am going to try 45" with the Fujikura Motore Speeders and see if I can handle it and shorten it if I have to, I hope I don't have to go any shorter than 44 1/2. I am hoping that the extra stiffness and 3.5 torque will allow me to control it at 45" though.

[XYB34A]

Powerbilt sold a persimmon driver, about the time Callaway came out with the Big Bertha. It had the scoops in it, like the cobra drivers have, and had a graphite shaft in it. If I remember right, they also had a 3 and 5 wood. I think one of the special order shafts was the G Loomis shaft. Aldila later bought them from the fishing rod place, if I remember right.

I had a friend that bought a set, he liked them quite well. But the ball of choice in that day was a Titleist, or Maxfil Balata ball.

[Bella Woods]

I don't have any stats to back it up, but I think the majority of Peerless Petes sold between 1992 and 1995 had graphite shafts (E-70?) in them as well. Mine have True Temper steel but I think that was in the minority.

[PixlPutterman]

I have a Yonex that has a graphite shaft in it, although I think the head is carbon fiber not wood, You have intrigued me though, Ill have to run to my local goodwill and pick up a few "project" now

[Maxwell]

Absoloutley!
I have pulled taper tip shafts in horrible condition(heavy rust and/or kinked shafts) and bored out the hosel to accept parrallel tip shafts and put good shafts in them and refinished them.

I played a set(1,2 & 3) 1950 MacGregor M43's for a year and then reshafted a set(1,2 & 3) of 1953 -55 MacGregor Tourney 6 screw M85's. This spring will be 3 years playing them.

I selected the shaft for my swing and play, cut to seniors flex, spine aligned and freaked the shafts with "jbgservices" equipment and knowledge. Mr. Baird has been in the business for 30 years and worked on 200,000 clubs. He's got course certificates(6) on the wall from Dynacraft. I wish I knew what the man has forgotten about club repair, rebuilding and refinishing.

They play just fine. The guy driving them goes "off the road" once in a while but thats ok.

[stage1350]

I'm considering having a set of Tommy Armour 986 Tour persimmons refinished over the course of the season, but will be trying DG SL instead of normal Dynamic Gold X-100. I'll be interested to see what a lighter steel does with them.

I've already got a set fully restored with G. Loomis Tour X shafts. They are slightly tighter than X-100, but about the same weight.

[farmer]

Back in the day, Hogan Apex shafts were considered the hot shaft for woods. They were lighter, soft to flex and had a lower kick point than the True Temper. If I was going to fool around with old woods, I would find some good laminates. They feel the same and were not as prone to cracking. Those great old Mac woods are 50-60 years old, mine have been retired for a long time.

[Tuba]

Back in the early '90's I bought a beautiful Joe Powell driver. The head has the most beautiful black finish with black insert and it has a True Temper Black Gold (or something like that) black graphite shaft in it. With that combination I can hit it nearly 100 yards. It is absolutely gorgeous to look at, feels great in the hands, but it goes nowhere. I have another Joe Powell persimmon dr. with with a DG S300 in it and I can bust it dandily.

[wrmiller]

Went to the range today, just before the front moved in that hit the Accenture match play, to try out a gift from a friend here on the forum. A Power Built Citation with a Rifle FM 6.5 steel shaft in it. I think he said it's about a D8 SW. Feels like a one piece forging...

Didn't get to hit any real balls as I forgot to bring them, so I only hit about 15 or so range balls. Cold, windy, and I was still carrying about 250 with this thing. It's a monster!

Can't wait for warmer weather and real golf balls. This thing is going to be my gamer for this summer for sure. Now if I can just find a matching 3 wood...

[PixlPutterman]

SWEET

[freddiec]

Great looking Powerbilt persimmon. A nice Citation is on my wish list someday. They were quality thats for sure.

[astamm8]

i love rifle wood shafts. it's a shame there aren't more persimmons out there with them installed. great find.