Part 1: Driver

I took a 12+ year old driver (SMT Indio), and put it up next to my latest F8 on the PGATSS launch monitor at lunch today. OK, the Indio was a recent new-old stock (NOS) purchase, but I played an Indio in 2006-2007. And the shaft I had then (SMT Phantom) was not unlike the Accuflex Icon IV I put in it this time.

The F8 was 5 yards longer on average. Certainly the F8 is more forgiving, as my tracker spreadsheet says I hit 65% fairways with the Indio in 2006-2007, and the F8 is at around 75%. I suspect if I put the Indio back into regular play, the differences wouldn't be that much as my swing at age 55 is much more consistent and much less impressive.

And in keeping with the clubho spirit, a quick tally shows that I played 25 other drivers in the time between the Indio and the F8. That is a lot of paypal bucks to get 1.4 more fairways and 5 yards.

Part 2: Irons
For irons, my next NOS purchase was a set of Wishon 705w2 heads. I had a set in 2009. Cast blades a bit larger than average, with some perimeter weighting. Shafted them with some Kuro Kage 80s pullouts that I have been holding onto forever. These went up against my Dynacraft Prophet MBs on UST Tour Weight graphites. The lofts on the 705w2 were a full club less than the MBs, so I expected to be a club shorter with the 705w2. Results - maybe a half-club shorter, but that is definitely a maybe. Once I got warmed up, I was getting darned close to the same distances as the strong lofted / thin face MBs. Man, I remember I liked the 705w2. I really like them today. But I remember they degraded cosmetically bigtime (scratches on the back from rubbing together) so I'll be using iron covers this time. Clubho check - 11 sets of irons between the 2009 705w2 and today's PMBs.

I think I may have to put the Maltby C-Ray back in the bag for 36 holes Monday.