Grand Slam Irons

[walker]

RTJ...I just received a set of Powerbilt Grand Slam irons that I purchased off of Ebay. The clubheads are beautiful....most look like they've never been hit....but I think these are women's clubs. The 5 iron (36.25 inches) is almost 2 inches shorter than any modern 5 iron I have and over an inch shorter than any other 5 iron I have from the period.

Two questions for you...1. Is a women's clubhead the same size/weight as a men's club? And 2, can I get these reshafted with a modern men's shaft?

Thanks for your help.

PS...I've really enjoyed your writing on vintage irons. Please add more from time to time.

[Richie3Jack]

My Powerbilt H&B Grand Slam irons are pretty much standard for that time. The 5-iron measures in at 37.5” long and the swing weights were in the D-2 to D-4 range.

I did see some Grand Slam irons that had very short measurements on eBay before I bought this set, so I was thinking they might have been a ladies set. But I don’t recall Powerbilt making ladies clubs back then. They may have, I just don’t recall it.

I would get the swingweights measured first. Ladies clubs usually have super light swingweights, like C-2. If it’s at D-2 or something like that, then I don’t think they were ladies clubs and maybe somebody cut down the shaft…perhaps for a young golfer or a senior citizen.

If they are at C-2, I would look for a clubmaker’s help. You could probably get them to add weight into the hosel…although it would be quite a bit of weight. If you really love them, but they look like ladies clubs, I would go to The Iron Factory and tell them your situation and what you’re looking to have done to them. I would probably just sent them one club, like a 5-iron. Get it re-shafted, get the head weighted a bit more and get the club to your specs. If you get it back and just don’t hit it well, you’re out $50 or so (you could get the entire club re-chromed, re-shafted for about that amount). If you love it, then you can finish off the rest of the set and spend about $400…which is still a lot less than the brand new set of irons.





3JACK

[jerryg]

Interesting, to say the least.
I was in the Army in the mid 60's and the golf professional/course mgr. had a new set of women's irons he had just opened up. He said he was going to use them himself because the ladies' club heads were heavier due to shorter shafts. He was hoping to get the swing weight at that time up into the high D's without adding lead powder down the shaft. He also liked the flatter lie at the time.
I wish I could attest the the truthfulness of his statement, but it made sense to me at the time.
Heck, with golf just about anything makes sense to me until I try it.

[bentshaft]

Aug 5, 2010 21:31:28 GMT -5 jerryg said:

Interesting, to say the least.
I was in the Army in the mid 60's and the golf professional/course mgr. had a new set of women's irons he had just opened up. He said he was going to use them himself because the ladies' club heads were heavier due to shorter shafts. He was hoping to get the swing weight at that time up into the high D's without adding lead powder down the shaft. He also liked the flatter lie at the time.
I wish I could attest the the truthfulness of his statement, but it made sense to me at the time.
Heck, with golf just about anything makes sense to me until I try it.

LOL aint that the truth!

[iteachgolf]

C2 would get to low D swingweights when adding an inch to the shaft

[Richie3Jack]

Aug 5, 2010 23:18:02 GMT -5 iteachgolf said:

C2 would get to low D swingweights when adding an inch to the shaft

I think it would get to C6 because I think 1/4" extra shaft equals 1 swingweight point.

However, it depends on the shaft. I think 10 grams of shaft equals about 2 swingweight points.

I would also be curious about what the static weight of the clubhead is.

I think all serious golfers should experiment with equipment though. IMO, a great clubfitter can do a lot of wonders, but you won't ever reach clubfitting 'nirvana' unless you experiment at tweak your equipment.





3JACK

[walker]

I took these clubs to a club fitter this morning. I don't know if they were sold as "women's" clubs, but they definitely have the specs.....low C swing weight, 33 degrees loft for a 5 iron. I think most 5 irons now are in the 27 degree range. Anyway, I'm going to get them rebuilt into men's spec clubs from the early 80's.

[iteachgolf]

Aug 6, 2010 9:25:51 GMT -5 Richie3Jack said:

Aug 5, 2010 23:18:02 GMT -5 iteachgolf said:

C2 would get to low D swingweights when adding an inch to the shaft

I think it would get to C6 because I think 1/4" extra shaft equals 1 swingweight point.

However, it depends on the shaft. I think 10 grams of shaft equals about 2 swingweight points.

I would also be curious about what the static weight of the clubhead is.

I think all serious golfers should experiment with equipment though. IMO, a great clubfitter can do a lot of wonders, but you won't ever reach clubfitting 'nirvana' unless you experiment at tweak your equipment.





3JACK

Would be C8 to D2 depending on shaft and grip choice.

[walker]

I just got these back and played a few holes with them yesterday. They feel a little heavy (forgot to ask swing weights) even with the short shafts, but the hit on the ball is just flat out solid. I can see why these were so popular in their day.