To Build a Set of Hickory Golf Clubs or Not?
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 of 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! I started with a blade, a literal blade, and switched to a heel shafted mallet because I have better feel with the mallet.
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. Make sure to de-loft the putter with your stroke, or you will be the master of six-inch chip shots.
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. The recommended length should be no longer than 6,200 yards, and trust me you will want to tee it forward.
Play a low compression ball. Wilson makes great low compression balls, and I have played most of my rounds with the Wilson Duo Soft. The distance is perfect, at 6,200 yards, and has a good feel with hickories.
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, and yes I have tested it myself at the Thompson Range. Range balls are typically rocks, and have the same effect on a shaft as a mat.
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.
I’ve been a hickory guy for 15 years now. I want to give a different opinion on driving range practice. I’ve hit off mats with range balls and never had a problem, even with 1900 clubs. Swing speed at 95. In fact the only shaft I’ve ever had break was a ping zz steel shaft. Back in the day in hickory times the gutta percha was hard as a rock. Not saying you will never break a shaft but the never hit range balls seems really exaggerated. Anyway, I’ve had a different experience with this.
Congratulations on your excellent information on the hickory shafted golf clubs.
You may be interested to know that my whole collection of rare hickory shafted clubs and sets with six (the same au you suggest) are coming up for sale on Theodore Bruce’s website in the next couple of weeks .
In Scotland I learned the game with hickories.
I went back to play them around 2011. I have used 6 clubs but I find modern course design calls for more choice both from rough, bunkers and well protected greens. It depends what course I play what clubs and how many.
Haven’t hit the Tensei, so couldn’t tell you. Sorry.
Very interesting. I only use a hickory shafted putter. A Tom Morris putting iron that was either my dad’s or my mum’s. Been in the family about 60 years to my knowledge..
Has a great feel to it and raises a few eyebrows when I use it
Hi i have some really old golf clubs over 100 years old where to go or who would you advise me with as i would like to sell them all pls
Great article and confirmation of my hickory set which I have started playing a year ago thru the GHSC (Golf Historical Society of Canada) across Ontario but primarily in Southwestern Ontario! This group is VERY eclectic and a joy to be around
Just lovely.I started golf with hickories back in 1965 returning 2015.Feeling of joy and satisfaction when you hit the ball well is extraordinary.Other club golfers are always interested and most are incredulous the clubs can still be used.
When you accept that you hit the ball off a small part of the clubhead they are actually similarly simple to hit and the performance can be astonishing.
I try to play hickories once a month and was on our first tee waiting to play yesterday when two younger members approached.One is a top 50 world ranked professional the other +5 hoping for Walker Cup selection.They were each fascinated and thrilled to hit brassie high and draw followed by mashie into the green!
I played our front nine in 43 shots smiling all the way.Bunkers are very demanding.
Give them a go.
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If you are interested in playing in hickory shafted tournaments check out the Society of Hickory Golfers. There are tournaments all around the country. I have been playing hickory clubs since 2007 and for the last 5 to 6 years I have only played hickory shafted golf clubs. Happy golfing.