THE TRUTH... How Much Better Have Drivers Got In 50 YEARS!?

THE TRUTH... How Much Better Have Golf Clubs Got In 50 YEARS!?

[GeezerTony]

James, try the wood driver with a ball from the same era (balata and wound rubber band construction) as I played 9 holes with those and my 1970's irons in my upcoming video. The ball has made much more difference in the game than the clubs since that time.

[boydgrandy]

I took up the game in 1979. My first set of clubs were Golden Bears (Jack's label ). I wood, 3 wood, (all made of persimmon) 5 wood, 3-9 and PW. The irons were muscle back blades and I could hit the three iron 240 yards using a 100 compression balata ball. I chewed through the first set of woods, literally, as I had a tendency to heel the ball, but I could really play the irons. My next driver was a great honking Slazenger that I could get almost 300 yards out of. I didn't play a metal wood club until the mid 1980s. I still have a couple of sets of persimmon driver and fairway woods, which I sometimes pull out of the garage and play for giggles.
I don't think I've ever enjoyed the game more than when I played that first set.

[dropkickdrones]

James’s on the course voice is the one I’m used to. When he gets in the studio, I don’t know who that guy talking is. 😂

[zanefoster]

I have both of the first two drivers you started with in the video. I paid $30.00 for both of mine with second one chewing up most of that $30.00. My wooden driver was $10.00. The Acushnet was a dream driver in my youth. I still play the wooden ones from time to time with forged irons.

[dangershgol]

My first professional driver was the 983k. I still miss that club. I upgraded to the 910 D2 and currently use the Tsi3.

[Smiththebat]

I still play the 910D2 and my Uncle had the TSR3 and I personally think they are SUPER similar except that the TSR is just better in every way. I wouldn’t say it’s like a jaw dropping difference though…

[curtismelick]

Still take my 975D out for a spin once in a while. Still feels great.

[PatMcCarthy]

I still have a 1970s Cobra Baffler 5 wood in my bag. There is nothing that compares to the feel of an actual wooden club.

[johngillies]

Hi James I have bought golf clubs in the past my recent one was a Wilson 5 hybrid with a senior shaft price at £45.99 on the sight said head good shaft good grip good the grip was not good to me so changed it for a golf pride at American golf now feels really good

[edruiz]

Still using my Ping G2 that I bought maybe in 2005, looks great and I don't have an overwhelming need to replace it just to gain a few yards more .

[Fractalgeek]

There's a niche market for someone to bring out an old style liquid centre/balata ball for those old style trajectories. Fun to get one out occasionally! I do have some original Dunlop 65s, still wrapped, but I doubt the rubber still works the same way.

(And I fancy an outing with my dad's 1970s blades, just for the hell of it...)

[paulwinsor]

James I started playing in 78 had a bad slice so my dad got me a crookshank driver, turned out to really suit my baseball grip . Got me down to 10 hcap, then as you do I changed to an interlocking grip and treated myself to ping woods and irons . Never improved hcap wise but remained very consistent for many years, watching this video just reminded me how well we used to play with these clubs .

[royclose]

Well done James 👏 we used the taylormade burner in steel shaft

[keithivory]

Great video James, I'm playing with a Taylormade R15 and hitting it past the guys in my group using new drivers.

[toddhatfield]

Really enjoy your channel, but I think one of the biggest problems today is that people are paying too much attention to numbers and forgetting to just play golf! These new launch monitors and thousands of videos telling you how important numbers are, really screw with people’s heads and game! You really are just getting small advantages by getting the “numbers” right with your clubs. Just grab some clubs you like the look and feel of and work on your game! Quit buying and chasing equipment that really isn’t going to make a bit of difference until you work on yourself!

[tcofield]

Makes you appreciate that Jack Nicklaus got 300 yards with a driver like the Titleist that you were hitting.

I paid 35 bucks for my Hogan Radial Driver, mid 80s persimmon wood. I actually enjoy hitting it too. Surprisingly I can still get almost 200 yards out of it. I had the same club in high school.

[barrymuller]

I played the Hogan brand woods. They were not persimmon but laminated. Very accurate but I had a hard time not fading them.

[tommiethatcher]

I still remember gaming a wooden driver back in the early nineties 😂😂, awesome video comparing the drivers

[sirblt]

I used to play with a set of McGregors that were from the 70s or 80s at the latest, & to be honest, I used to hit that driver 350+ on the screws (I play at 5, 100ft altitude, so factor that in). My Ping G-410 only goes about 15 yards longer, but it's far more difficult to hit a DOD with the Ping. All of this is why I love having the BRNR Mini Driver in my bag at 13.5° for a 2-wood.

[roscomannOVL]

You’re correct about ball flight being easier these days. I had Wilson Staff clubs in the early 1980’s and my ball rolled hot and fast across the fairways far more than it was in the air back then. 😂👍😎