Blog
The 1920s style ball from Chris MacIntyre (the Victor) is my first choice for a ball to play with authentic hickory shaft clubs. Modern balls can be used but care needs to be taken in choosing and a play restoration is required.
Woods require hand selection more-so-than irons
They are, with few exceptions each uniquely shaped by hand and were not pooped out of the backend of some machine en-mass like they are today.
That is most of the point of this hobby. It is a chance to find out why players had such a bond with their clubs, as can be read about in many of the books of the era. Playing these clubs should give insight into the context of what has been written. I will say I feel I know the game much better for it. If nothing else it should give insights as to why so much has been written on the game. I have heard there is more written about golf than all other sports combined. It is fairly easy to build a library about the era you are most interested in.
Many people are enjoying finding some of the lost shotmaking skills - much of it lost because of the technology race over the last few decades in particular.
Yes- It will require some, or even considerable effort on the part of the player to chase down a set that fits you.
Contacting a dealer or collector and asking for this or that club as if they are all genericaly the same or commonly available is missing the point of what this hobby has to offer.
You can eventually build up a set with each club having characteristics that fit your playing needs. Ask yourself how important it was for you to select your own putter and driver in your modern set.
Hickorygolf asks that level of personalization times ten.
12/20/11
I think most newbies equate and then treat these clubs like they do their moderns, Understandably that is the logical way to proceed, but in doing so we leap over decades of history. I like to think most players do eventually find their way to playing each club for its designed shotmaking characteristic.
It is disconcerting to see people, that supposedly started playing hickories to get away from the bad they see in what the tech race has done to the game, and to re-find the fun in the game again. Then turn around and try to modify every aspect of the hickory game, including the clubs by utilizing everything they have been taught by modern golf - thus negating everything they accomplished in trying to get away from 21st century 'modern' golf.
Trying to find the fun of the real game is a wonderful asperation.
As well known as I am for my interest in Tom Stewart, I highly recommend trying every model from every maker you can get your hands on. Having a set composed entirely of just one maker should not be a goal. In some ways it is an especially bad idea with Stewart unless you have access to hundreds if not thousands of irons. It must be remembered he did not mass produce clubs, they were ALL custom made - for another persons game, and like today everyone thought they knew what was best for themselves. So to find the right club for your game you must try a lot of examples, hoping for a mesh in your interest and someone of 80+ years ago. And keep up the search until you build a set that fits your game.
But remember it is the odd utility clubs that can be the most fun and satisfying."My" first great club that I couldn't live without was a Sammy, after that the Mongrel Mashie. Other people caught on to these and decided they wanted their own. For a time Randy Jensen was known for a Benny he played. Everyone should check out the specialty clubs. A pleasant surprise awaits. I give you my best wishes in the hunt to find your 'magic' club. I can recommend trying the Approaching Cleek and have a try with some Jiggers, the right one should yield high crashing shots with substantial back spin. Great par 3 and fairway approach club.
