Old Irons vs.New

[PeterSinIndy]

Don't know whether it was on GolfChannel or not, but I saw an ad for clubsat (Dick's?) (Golf Galaxy?) saying "If your clubs are more than a few years old, you're sacrificing distance and accuracy for nostalgia. That's a bad bargain." So . . . ARE today's forged blades better than the Hogans, Wilson Staff, MacGregor VIP, Arnold Palmer Limited Editions, etc of a bygone era? I KNOW there are playability reasons to game persimmon woods, but what about irons?

 

ThanksS The best to you each morning!

Peter

[jrich99]

More like "you aren't using super strong lofts that make you look real manly when you hit a 7 iron 185 yards".

I play MP68's, but I also spend a lot of time on the range with my Haig Ultras and Wilson Staffs. The 68's are way stronger lofts, longer, and lighter. They aren't necessarily superior head designs though. They are easier to hit, but launch a lot higher, which isn't always desirable. I actually prefer the length, swingweight, static weight, and lie angles of my older sets if accuracy matters more than distance.

The average hack that will buy into this ad will likely go hit Burner 2.0's and be amazed he hits his new 6 iron 15 yards further than his old one, and won't realize his new "6 iron" is really a strong 5 or weak 4..

[Hofnar]

[quote name='PeterSinIndy' timestamp='1308084263' post='3307231']
Don't know whether it was on GolfChannel or not, but I saw an ad for clubsat (Dick's?) (Golf Galaxy?) saying "If your clubs are more than a few years old, you're sacrificing distance and accuracy for nostalgia. That's a bad bargain." So . . . ARE today's forged blades better than the Hogans, Wilson Staff, MacGregor VIP, Arnold Palmer Limited Editions, etc of a bygone era? I KNOW there are playability reasons to game persimmon woods, but what about irons?

ThanksS The best to you each morning!
Peter
[/quote]

My spontaneous answer would be: No! Even with blades the specs have changed and PW:s now are (typically) 47 degrees while they were 50 degrees in the mid 1980´s. The shafts are also a tad longer so a modern forged blade is a club longer (or stronger) than a 25 year old model.

However I intend to do some serious testing this summer. I have a nice (mint!) set of Wilson Staff Tour Blades -78 w regular flex Dynamic shafts AND a new set of Staff Fg59:s w DGR300. The Fg59:s are a current version of the old Tour Blades and I plan to alternate these two sets in my bag for a couple of weeks. Then I´ll be able to give a definite answer. At least that´s the plan...

[Ol_Pardner]

[quote name='Hofnar' timestamp='1308617865' post='3322868']
[quote name='PeterSinIndy' timestamp='1308084263' post='3307231']
Don't know whether it was on GolfChannel or not, but I saw an ad for clubsat (Dick's?) (Golf Galaxy?) saying "If your clubs are more than a few years old, you're sacrificing distance and accuracy for nostalgia. That's a bad bargain." So . . . ARE today's forged blades better than the Hogans, Wilson Staff, MacGregor VIP, Arnold Palmer Limited Editions, etc of a bygone era? I KNOW there are playability reasons to game persimmon woods, but what about irons?

ThanksS The best to you each morning!
Peter
[/quote]

My spontaneous answer would be: No! Even with blades the specs have changed and PW:s now are (typically) 47 degrees while they were 50 degrees in the mid 1980´s. The shafts are also a tad longer so a modern forged blade is a club longer (or stronger) than a 25 year old model.

However I intend to do some serious testing this summer. I have a nice (mint!) set of Wilson Staff Tour Blades -78 w regular flex Dynamic shafts AND a new set of Staff Fg59:s w DGR300. The Fg59:s are a current version of the old Tour Blades and I plan to alternate these two sets in my bag for a couple of weeks. Then I´ll be able to give a definite answer. At least that´s the plan...
[/quote]

Yep, know what you mean! Thought about it as I reached in my bag and pulled out my 1980s Hogan Apex PC 8 iron ,while playing at RTJ legends course 3-4 weeks ago, the site of the LPGA Navistar, on the 1st par 3, about 138 yds fr. the white-tees. Pin cut front-left-of-center. Pictured the ball landing just behind and to-the-left of the pin, struck it pure, and it was 'like deja vu all-over again, 8" from the cup!

Yes, the socalled experts are right: the Hogan Apex PC irons can be some of the most precise, yet LEAST FORGIVING irons you'll ever hit . BUT: THEY (like Wilson FG 17s and older MacGregor irons) ARE ALSO SOME OF THE MOST REWARDING CLUBS YOU CAN EVER SWING! With a proper swing and shot execution, and the ball will go exactly where you hit it.

I've tried the newer players' irons, and the game improvement and super game improvement irons, and hated the feel. (I will give up my Hogan PCs only after they pry my cold-dead-interlocking grip from my 1/32 oversized jumbo grips!) My advice to anyone, even those concerned with keeping up, or losing yardage, who regularly trade-up for the newest club enhancement: Keep a set of classic irons and take them out to the practice tee and work with them once in a while. It will make you a better player no matter what your regular irons are.

Play well! Ol Pard'