Greatest Obscure Golf Club of All Time

[ritz0019]

Along with others who have started some great silly season topics I thought I would add one.

 

What is your favorite obscure golf club of all time?

 

Mine would most certainly be the Cleveland VAS irons. I got the shanks so bad one time in my 20's I thought I was done. Literally, it lasted months. I would play 6-7 holes and think I was through it and then, BOOM!! I used a set of VAS irons and for obvious reasons (to me at least) I could not shank them. I got through my bout with the ole laterals and went to a more cosmetically and visually pleasing club. However, I can't dismiss the sincere gratitude I had for these at the time.

[ChipNRun]

My vote goes to the Bulldog, a mainstay trouble club from the hickory-shafted era. It had a loft of about 25°, a compact clubface the width of about two golf balls, and a rounded sole so it wouldn't hang up chopping out of the junk.

 

 

 

Sorry, but hybrids are merely retro rip-offs.

 

For details: https://www.louisvillegolf.com/product/bull-dog/

[super20dan]

lil david slingers irons. simply amazing performance . Cleveland vsa irons are often ridiculed but are actually a very good iron desighn. straightest irons I have ever hit.

[bobcat]

The Rescue Fairway 'Strong-3'

 

This Taylormade Rescue Fairway Metal lineup is rare and seldom seen anymore, especially the 15* 'Strong-3" loft that I play. The Rescue FW line just didn't fare very well at Retail because it was squeezed in between the V-Steel FW line and the Rescue-Mid Hybrids, (both of which were and are fantastic in their own right), plus these Rescue Fairways came with some rather lousy TM stock shaft options, (both steel and graphite), and both those stock TM shafts had very flexible tips that added too much spin.

 

However, the Rescue Fairway clubhead itself is actually fantastic when paired with a lower spinning, heavy weight graphite shaft. I actually bought the steel shafted version way back in 2004 and then immediately replaced the stock 103-gram TM Lite Metal 2 S-flex steel shaft with a 1-inch longer (42.75") Fuji Vista Pro 90 Stiff Shaft (90 grams). I also tipped the shaft 1/2" to produce a more penetrating trajectory.. That shaft change made a world of difference in the club's performance, and that's precisely why It's still in my bag today! Easiest to hit 3-Metal ever in my opinion! In fact, it's even easy-to-hit from the rough or a FW bunker! Furthermore, these Rescue FW's have the same super-solid feel and muted sound the Rescue-Mid Hybrids are known for.

 

 

 

Note: Stock pic above shows a 17* 3W, not a 'Strong-3' 15*, but aside from the 3W name both look the same.

[Bigarch]

Along with others who have started some great silly season topics I thought I would add one.

 

What is your favorite obscure golf club of all time?

 

Mine would most certainly be the Cleveland VAS irons. I got the shanks so bad one time in my 20's I thought I was done. Literally, it lasted months. I would play 6-7 holes and think I was through it and then, BOOM!! I used a set of VAS irons and for obvious reasons (to me at least) I could not shank them. I got through my bout with the ole laterals and went to a more cosmetically and visually pleasing club. However, I can't dismiss the sincere gratitude I had for these at the time.

 

 

Obscure yes...but they won a US Open!

And I agree. I gave a lot of lessons back then and several students who couldn't hit it a lick, could suddenly hit the ball very well with the VAS. It has one of the most insane Maltby MPF scores of negative 197 which puts it solidly in the "Player Classic" Category. :cheesy:

[SubaruWRX]

Adams F11 Proto Fairway Woods

 

 

 

 

These were good!

[buckeyefl]

The Power Pod

[augustgolf]

Before the Cleveland VAS (a club I personally never tried, so I have no particular dog in this fight as to whether it was a good design or not)

came the Jerry Barber "Golden Touch"

 

 

 

 

And about the same time as the Little David Slingers came the Browning 440's. I watched Andy Bean try to hit both and he went under each one, hardly moving the Slingers forward at all

 

 

[Bigarch]

Before the Cleveland VAS (a club I personally never tried, so I have no particular dog in this fight as to whether it was a good design or not)

came the Jerry Barber "Golden Touch"

 

 

 

 

And about the same time as the Little David Slingers came the Browning 440's. I watched Andy Bean try to hit both and he went under each one, hardly moving the Slingers forward at all

 

 

Love that Jerry Barber wedge! Their hook line was, "it's shank-less". I wish I had a buck for every guy I saw hit a lateral with one of them.

 

I worked in a bagroom at a private club in college and with over 500 bags in storage, I think I saw them all...the Little Davids, Brownings, Power Pods, Featherlites, Tiger Sharks, 3 ball putters, Northwesterns with the power-kick shaft, Yonex ADX 200's...I could go on and on...

[sdandrea]

The only infomercial club that ever worked - The Perfect Club (the original 21 degree). Short shafted, heavy soled straight hitter that works. I still have 2.

[Payton1020]

I played the VAS for a bit, not bad.

 

This is the putter I'm using, is this obscure?

 

 

[canthitathreewood]

Big Bertha War Bird Putter

 

Picked this up a couple weeks ago, it is fairly heavy and I actually like the way it looks at address. It's not in my bag but it may see the big course someday.

[Jwin323]

Ram Laser fx irons. One of the early forged cavity backs. Wish I still had a set.

[B5G4B]

Ram Laser fx irons. One of the early forged cavity backs. Wish I still had a set.

 

One of the best sets of irons EVER MADE. Would love to have my set back. Google these clubs if you have a minute. Solid.

[73monte]

I had a driver back in the mid-nineties. A Kunnan IGS2000 M. It was a one piece graphite driver, shaft and head all graphite, with a stainless steel face and sole plate. Could be the best driver I ever had. Finally cracked at the hosel. Really doubt anyone will remember this one.

[thejuice]

Orlimar fairway woods!!!! So underrated.

[super20dan]

Along with others who have started some great silly season topics I thought I would add one.

 

What is your favorite obscure golf club of all time?

 

Mine would most certainly be the Cleveland VAS irons. I got the shanks so bad one time in my 20's I thought I was done. Literally, it lasted months. I would play 6-7 holes and think I was through it and then, BOOM!! I used a set of VAS irons and for obvious reasons (to me at least) I could not shank them. I got through my bout with the ole laterals and went to a more cosmetically and visually pleasing club. However, I can't dismiss the sincere gratitude I had for these at the time.

 

 

Obscure yes...but they won a US Open!

And I agree. I gave a lot of lessons back then and several students who couldn't hit it a lick, could suddenly hit the ball very well with the VAS. It has one of the most insane Maltby MPF scores of negative 197 which puts it solidly in the "Player Classic" Category. :cheesy:

my wife -who can only hit the ball a few yards at a wack -even carries a vas 1 iron and can hit it too!

[super20dan]

I had a driver back in the mid-nineties. A Kunnan IGS2000 M. It was a one piece graphite driver, shaft and head all graphite, with a stainless steel face and sole plate. Could be the best driver I ever had. Finally cracked at the hosel. Really doubt anyone will remember this one.

I remember it-kunnan also had a mallet putter all one piece graphite also. they made some cool inexpensive clubs

[super20dan]

Before the Cleveland VAS (a club I personally never tried, so I have no particular dog in this fight as to whether it was a good design or not)

came the Jerry Barber "Golden Touch"

 

 

 

 

And about the same time as the Little David Slingers came the Browning 440's. I watched Andy Bean try to hit both and he went under each one, hardly moving the Slingers forward at all

 

 

ever see the woods from this set? they are square! been looking for them a long time for my collection.

[Bigarch]

I played the VAS for a bit, not bad.

 

This is the putter I'm using, is this obscure?

 

 

The original "3 ball" putter was a design by Dave Pelz. He sold quite a few but it was ruled non-conforming by the USGA, so Pelz sold the design to Odyssey. They used it to develop the 2 ball putter which they sold a ton of. I'm guessing your putter is an offshoot of that.

[Gnomesteel]

Has to be the OG Tight Lies. That club spawned a whole new category and brand.

 

[Kenny Lee Puckett]

I played the VAS for a bit, not bad.

 

This is the putter I'm using, is this obscure?

 

 

The original "3 ball" putter was a design by Dave Pelz. He sold quite a few but it was ruled non-conforming by the USGA, so Pelz sold the design to Odyssey. They used it to develop the 2 ball putter which they sold a ton of. I'm guessing your putter is an offshoot of that.

BA, a little help for ya' just so are viewers can share the moment with us.....

this putter was the total epitome of Pelz and all his quirkiness.

[Kenny Lee Puckett]

and while we are on putters, my vote will go to Natural Golf's "The Thing".

 

I would consider it's "obscure" feature as being the forgotten putter to start THE belly putter sensation,thanks to Azinger.

[games]

Tour Edge blades (circa 1998-2000). Rumor was they were forged by one of the high end Japanese houses (Endo seems to stick in my mind). Beautiful and fun to play.

[bogeypro]

I played the VAS for a bit, not bad.

 

This is the putter I'm using, is this obscure?

 

 

The original "3 ball" putter was a design by Dave Pelz. He sold quite a few but it was ruled non-conforming by the USGA, so Pelz sold the design to Odyssey. They used it to develop the 2 ball putter which they sold a ton of. I'm guessing your putter is an offshoot of that.

 

I didn't realize that!! Article I found says it was illegal because it was longer than the face is wide.

[Petunia Sprinkle]

Big Bertha War Bird Putter

 

Picked this up a couple weeks ago, it is fairly heavy and I actually like the way it looks at address. It's not in my bag but it may see the big course someday.

 

If you’re close to liking it, you might like the Tuttle even more. Got mine for $20 and put an Edel PURE grip on it.

 

[super20dan]

great thread and is educational as well

[Bigarch]

I played the VAS for a bit, not bad.

 

This is the putter I'm using, is this obscure?

 

 

The original "3 ball" putter was a design by Dave Pelz. He sold quite a few but it was ruled non-conforming by the USGA, so Pelz sold the design to Odyssey. They used it to develop the 2 ball putter which they sold a ton of. I'm guessing your putter is an offshoot of that.

BA, a little help for ya' just so are viewers can share the moment with us.....

this putter was the total epitome of Pelz and all his quirkiness.

Whoop! There it is!!! Quirky yes but I remember a lot of guys making putts with it.

[kruege]

Tour Edge blades (circa 1998-2000). Rumor was they were forged by one of the high end Japanese houses (Endo seems to stick in my mind). Beautiful and fun to play.

Are you talking about the ones the said forged on bottom with a number and then the muscle was very clean with the tour edge logo small? I had two sets of those. A very solid feeling blade that was actually quite large. they were bigger than my friends cleveland TA2 irons. Wish i had kept one of the sets of heads, sold them both some years ago before i had really gotten into club building.

[DavePelz4]

This old, obscure golf club started a revolution...