With a little free time this last weekend I managed to hit the driving range but with a slight twist; I decided to practice with my clubs I used in high school (20 years ago). Now I did this for a couple of reasons; 1) to prove to myself that I don’t need a new set of irons to play better (my old irons were MacGregor blades circa 1982, if I can hit these now I should be able to hit anything) and 2) I wanted to feel what it’s like to hit a persimmon wood again. Oh my, how the times have changed!

The sound a persimmon driver makes off the tee is just so completely different compared to today’s metal woods that I got more than my share of strange looks at the range. The sound of “CRACK!” would vibrate out of my stall instead of all the hi-pitched ‘tink’ or empty coffee can sound everybody else’s drivers were making. Distance and trajectory were pretty good and I felt I had better shot control (easy to fade and draw the ball) but as for the distance, today’s drivers win hands down!

Overall it was an enjoyable day. It looks like a new set of irons are not in my future (I hit my Muirfields just fine) and as for the possibly of throwing an old wood headed driver in my bag? Not a chance!