Persimmon Woods Tested: Nostalgia vs Pure Performance

Up to 50 years ago, the unmistakable crack of a persimmon wood echoed through every professional tee box. Today, it is a relic of a bygone era.

For almost a century, these golf clubs dominated the golf industry. They have an iconic role in the rich history of golf. An entire article can be devoted to the history surrounding persimmons, which dates back to the late 1890s.

However, this is not the purpose of this review. The goal is simple:

How does a persimmon wood stack up against the modern golf driver?

Nothing survives Father Time

We took five current manufacturers of persimmon wood and tested them head to head. And, we added a twist – a modern day driver, TaylorMade Qi4D.

• PowerBilt Persimmon
• Larson Golf Persimmon
• John Hayes Persimmon
• Jand Powell Classic Persimmon
• Louisville Golf Classic Persimmon

In our test, 10 golfers participated, recording an average club head speed of 101.5 mph across all khaki models. In comparison, they reached a higher average of 105.5 mph when swinging the modern TaylorMade Qi4D.

The beauty of persimmon forests

There has been a resurgence in the persimmon wood space. You have artisans today who dedicate themselves to these handcrafted pieces of golf history. Golf is a game of honor and there is nothing more praiseworthy than the individuals who try to maintain the traditions of the game, and the persimmon forests are a prime example.

The allure of persimmon woods begins with its elegance. Each club is meticulously hand-carved from a single block of wood, showcasing remarkable craftsmanship. Looking at the test models, the level of precision is surprising – a true testament to the extraordinary skill required by classic clubmakers to shape these wooden heads by hand. They are, without a doubt, works of art.

The sheer fact that the likes of Jack Nicklaus, Ben Hogan, Arnold Palmer, Sam Snead, and Gary Player all won numerous events with the persimmon wood is exceptional. Every golfer in those days excelled with persimmon woods. Jack Nicklaus only won 17 of his 18 majors with a persimmon wood. Who knows how those golfers will fare with today’s modern technology?

Who stands out as a top performer? Let’s take a look.

Persimmon wood data

No one expected a persimmon wood to outperform a modern driver. If you do, well, I don’t think we can help you. But, the head-to-head show among the persimmon groves is attractive.

The Louisville Golf Classic claims the title of best by distance among the persimmon wood contenders. It also produces the fastest bullet speed at 143.4 mph. This is 1.85 mph faster than the slower persimmon wood for ball speed (Larson Golf Persimmon Wood).

Similar gaps in performance appear in ours Most Wanted Driver Test. During the 2026 test, the speed of the ball varied 3.45 mph from the fastest model to the slowest. This variation proves that even persimmon woods exhibit distinct yield differences. Equipment evaluation highlights these nuances – no two persimmon woods behave identically, just as no two modern drivers do the same.

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Modern engineering is superior

There are obvious differences between a persimmon wood driver and the modern driver. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to make this determination. However, it attests to the advances in technology and the processing capabilities of manufacturers. These advances from R&D are obvious.

In this case, the modern driver, TaylorMade Qi4D is exponentially faster and longer than all persimmon woods. Here are the key data metrics of the dance:

• 9.20 mph faster ball vs. persimmon wood average
• 27.8 yards longer carry versus persimmon wood average
• 25.7 yards longer total distance versus persimmon wood average

Ultimately, persimmon wood technology cannot keep pace with a modern driver. The shortest transportation distance of 27.8 meters on average for persimmon wood is the glaring metric.

Modern drivers maintain a distinct advantage over traditional khaki woods, much like modern racing cars compared to classic models. In high performance racing, be it NASCAR or Formula 1, engineering and design advances have evolved dramatically. Motorsport engineers meticulously analyze every measurable variable, eagerly capitalizing on even a 1% gain in performance.

R&D golf equipment operates on the same principle. Today’s club designers are continually refining technologies to unlock faster ball speeds and maximize forgiveness across the entire club face. When measured against the classic persimmon forest, the performance benefits of modern engineering are unequivocally clear.

Do people still play with the persimmon forest?

Nostalgia is intoxicating. Of course, there is a subculture of persimmon wood fanatics. For example, every single one of the persimmon woods we tested are exquisite pieces of art. They are expertly crafted masterpieces. Each of these artisans takes absolute pride in their work.

You can find a few organizations that honor the game by coordinating competitive events. Two specifics are: Persimmon Brotherhood & Golf Heritage Society.

For those of you who have hit a khaki, you can attest to the feel and feedback they offer towards the modern day driver. This is undoubtedly one of the underlying reasons why golfers use it to this day.

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Here are some comments from our testers specific to each persimmon wood:

• “This is a fantastic club. Gorgeous, the best of the bunch in terms of looks, sound and performance.” – Joe Powell Classic
• “I love the custom design with MyGolfSpy. Special thanks to John Hayes. It’s GORGEOUS. Performance is decent. Hit some solid shots with it.” – John Hayes Persimmon Wood
• “I could get used to this persimmon wood. I LOVE the look. It’s SLICK.” – Larson Golf Persimmon Wood
• “Classic throughout and easy to hit and control. The gloss finish is a little shiny, but not horrible. The dark wood finish was nice compared to the others.” – Louisville Golf The Classic
• “This is decent across the board and the sweet spot was hot, while off-center shots still performed but showed a drop in data.” – PowerBilt Persimmon

History is worth respecting, but the new is better

“Is the new one better?” serves as a foundational question for MyGolfSpy. There is zero question that a modern day driver is better for your golf game versus a persimmon wood. The data is undeniable.

The persimmon forests and their heritage command immense respect. As golfers, recognizing their undeniable role in the history of the sport is essential. They established the foundation upon which contemporary drivers are designed, leaving manufacturers with an enduring debt of gratitude to those pioneering craftsmen who have been shaping golf equipment for over a century.

Tell us about your experience with persimmon woods in the comments!!

The place Persimmon Woods Tested: Nostalgia vs. Pure Performance appeared first MyGolfSpy.

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