If you’ve been around golf, chances are good that you have come across a short-set of clubs, especially for beginners. A “short set” provides you with the basic clubs which will allow you to successfully navigate through a round of golf without carrying the maximum number of fourteen clubs. But back in the early days of the game, players used hickory golf clubs and didn’t always carry a whole bunch of clubs. Of course, some carried ridiculous amounts of club options which would lead to the 14-club rule we all know and “love” today.
Building a hickory golf “playset” is similar to carrying a short set. The best part, though, is that you don’t have to spend time eliminating clubs from your bag, because a basic hickory playset will often consist of six clubs. Once you become more familiar with the names and characteristics of each club design you will begin to branch out, but almost all hickory golfers carry these basic clubs. A brassie, mid-iron, mashie, mashie niblick, niblick, and a putter. Allow me to walk you through the basics of each of these clubs, and their modern equivalent.
The Brassie
A multi-functional wood, the brassie can be used off the tee, the fairway, or the rough. The loft is equivalent to a modern day 2-wood and is the go-to wood for most hickory golfers. Besides the loft, you can differentiate a brassie from a driver by the sole plate. Brassies were made to be used off any lie and needed protection from hard surfaces. A large, brass, sole plate was installed to protect the head from snapping. A hickory era driver will often only have a small insert of the face side of the sole.
As we discussed in the intro, the theme of hickory golf is utility. Each club in the set can be used in multiple situations throughout the round. The brassie is the fitting example of this. If you can only hit a driver off the tee, then why carry it? A brassie provides you the distance off the tee, a reliable fairway wood, and a rescue club should you need it. And believe me, I need it.
The Mid-Iron
The longest iron in the bag, mid-irons can range in loft from 23-29 degrees, making them equivalent to a modern 4 iron. Mid-irons are great fairway finders off the tee, and are great for shots when you need to play a low runner. I will often use a mid-iron on a shorter par-5 where I can almost reach in two, because it will release and run for days, leaving me with a greenside chip, or a shorter pitch into the green. I will also use a mid-iron when I find myself in the trees where the rough is light. For me, it is easier to play a punch shot, and I can get a little more distance out of my recovery.
Mashie
To me, the ultimate utility club is the mashie. Ranging in loft from 35-37 degrees, it is equivalent to a 7 iron. I have used the mashie in just about every situation. I have played it off the tee, from the fairway (when I get lucky and hit one), the rough, and for chipping. On most par-5s I will use the mashie as my second shot, because it typically leaves me with a comfortable approach range into the green. It is a great club for chipping on tight lies, and gives you the greatest margin of error.
Mashie-Niblick
When you are in range, the mashie-niblick is a great approach club. The loft ranges between 45-50 degrees, making it equivalent to a modern 9 iron or pitching wedge. From 100 yards and in, this is my go-to club for approach. I have the best feel for half and three-quarter knockdown shots with this club. I will also use it when I need more carry and less roll with my chip shots.
Niblick
Oh my archnemesis, the niblick. With an average loft of 52 degrees, it is equivalent to the modern gap wedge. The niblick is used as a pitching wedge, and sand wedge. I cannot speak for others when I say this, but this is the hardest club in the bag for me to hit with a full swing. I use it out of the sand, and when I find myself in greenside rough. It is important to remember that hickory era clubs were made to dig, and therefore don’t have any bounce. The dig makes it hard to chip or pitch from tight lies.
Putter
As it is today, there are many makes and models of putters. Find one that you feel comfortable with and go with it!
The most important thing to remember when you are first starting is that hickory era putters have more loft than modern putters. They were made for greens with longer grass and the ball needed to get up to roll smoother. The ball will run further than you are used to.
What’s Next for Your Hickory Golf Clubs?
Now that you have your play set hickory golf clubs, you are ready to enjoy your round of hickory golf! There are just a couple of things to note as you tee it up. Play the forward tees.
Play a low compression ball. Wilson and Calloway makes great low compression balls, and I have played most of my rounds with the Calloway Super soft or the Wilson Duo Soft.
Do not hit range balls, or off of mats with hickory golf clubs. It makes it hard to practice, but mats are the number 1 killer of hickory shafts.
Most of all, have fun. You are not going to be breaking course records, and you’re playing 100 year old equipment. If nothing else, you have nothing to lose because you can blame it on the lack of technology! It has made the game more fun for me, and has taught me to play a different game than I am used to while stepping back in time and appreciating the origins of the game.
With Thanks to Justin Thomas
Comments