Re: Golf Club History

Hi Josh,

I can address some of your questions.

The balls in the 70's were wound balata, IIRC. They spun like crazy and really aided in working the ball. The concept of 'really straight off the driver, but spinny around the greens' like a modern ball may have been conceptualized, but had not/could not be manufactured.

As for irons, the number one reason why the new TM 5 iron is so long is because it has the same loft as a 1970 3 or 2 iron. Lower lofts for the same number iron is the primary difference. Modern manufacturing has allowed for precision machining has allowed for true perimeter weighting, allowing more forgiveness, as well as sole weighting, helping more players get the ball up.

New MOI putters help send the ball on line and the at the pace you were trying for, even when you miss the sweet spot. So misses are straighter (less twisting), but you still have to have the face square to your target line. That last sentence is the caveat no matter what gear you're using.

As for woods, we all know that titanium made it possible to make some huge heads without a ton of weight. This allowed for lots of 'missing room', and the potential for a ton of forgiveness. Some heads have it, some don't.