Retro lofts and lengths
 

I finally succumbed to common sense and opted for a shorter driver shaft. I went back to 42.5 inches (from 44.5) Loss of distance was negligible, but percentage of on center hits increased.

As I continue to plot my way through TGM I have noticed that I have started to hit my irons too low. I simply have more forward shaft lean at impact than before. I know that can be overdone, but I prefer to err on that side of things!

So I was thinking of weakening my irons to pre-a five iron is really a four iron days! Has anyone done this? Would love some feedback!

if you are going to weaken them a full club worth then be careful about bounce. 4 degrees of bend is a lot too.

May be better off leaving heads as they are, but modifying shaft lengths back to old specs if you are looking to go more retro. The number on the sole will be the only difference.

Ok
 

Thanks for the heads-up! I figured going all the way back would be too much for the hosels anyway. I don't have a whole lot of bounce to begin with, but thanks for clueing me in on what should have been obvious,but wasn't!

O
Did you just modify your current driver and take 2 inches off the grip end of the shaft...did you have to do anything to maintain the swing weight.

Yup
 

Gobs of lead tape! :salut: I kinda like the "tinkered with " look!

Retro
 

Why not buy a old set of irons and reshaft them.

Good idea
 

That is a great idea! What I would like to find out is why club fitters only seem to be concerned for the "shrinking loft disease" with drivers, or say with a 3 wood, and not irons?

Loft
 

I don't think that the loft on woods has really changed over the years, but irons are 4-6 degrees stronger than in the 70's. I have several sets of old Wilson Staff irons from 60's and 70's. As I recall, when I first started doing club alterations in the late 70's, a 5 iron was 37" long and 32* loft.

Evil Marketing Geniuses!
 

The Dreaded Vanishing Loft Disease

Club 60s-70s 80s Early 90s 1997-P
1 iron 17 17 16 16-17
2 iron 20 20 19 18-20
3 iron 24 23 22 20-21
4 iron 28 26 25 23-24
5 iron 32 30 28 26-27
6 iron 36 34 32 30-31
7 iron 40 38 36 34-35
8 iron 44 42 40 38-40
9 iron 48 46 44 42-44
PW 52 50 48 46-48
GW 52 52
SW 56 56 56 55-56
LW 60 60
Driver 11 11 10 9-10.5
3 wood 16 15 15 13-14
5 wood 22 21 19 17-18
7 wood 28 27 23 20-21


This is from Tom Wishon's book "In Search for the Perfect club" I am embarrassed to say that I learned a great deal from this book! Given the fact that I have been immersed in the game for a couple of decades some of the information should have been familiar to me!

I would also like to add that 1 degree of loft will impact a driver more than an iron, given the length of shaft and resulting higher club head speed.

The best driver I have ever had was a Mizuno persimmon with a 42 inch DG S-300 shaft! Not particularly long, but Funky straight! I destroyed it while taking a practice swing in the parking lot of Chenal CC in Little Rock AR...too much down!