If you’ve been playing golf for a while, it’s pretty amazing to look back at how much golf equipment has changed over the past 30 years.
As someone who grew up playing golf through the 90s, I’ve seen first hand just how different the game used to feel.
Some of the changes have made golf easier. Some have made it more forgiving. Some have completely changed the way golfers approach the game.
And some things honestly make me a little nostalgic.
Wooden Woods and Tiny Driver Heads
It still sounds strange to younger golfers now, but many of us grew up using actual wooden woods.
Then came the smaller steel and titanium drivers that looked tiny compared to today’s modern oversized heads.
Back then:
- Driver heads were much smaller
- Sweet spots were tiny
- Mishits lost huge distance
- Forgiveness was limited
Modern drivers are dramatically easier to hit.
Today’s drivers:
- Launch the ball higher
- Twist less on mishits
- Offer adjustable settings
- Produce far more forgiveness across the face
For many golfers, modern driver technology has genuinely made the game more enjoyable.
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Golf Drivers
Golf Balls Have Changed Massively
This is probably one of the biggest changes in golf equipment.
Older golf balls:
- Spun far more
- Weren’t nearly as durable
- Marked and cut easily
- Ballooned more into the wind
Back in the day, golfers often talked about a “pro rise” ball flight.
The combination of older driver technology and softer, higher-spinning golf balls meant the ball would almost continue climbing through the air.
Modern golf balls are very different.
Today’s premium balls:
- Launch more efficiently
- Maintain speed better
- “Knuckle” through the air more
- Perform far better in the wind
- Last significantly longer
The modern golf ball has become much more stable and efficient overall.
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Golf Balls Collection
Wedge Spin Used To Be Extreme
One thing many golfers remember is how aggressively wedges used to spin.
Older wedges had extremely sharp grooves, and combined with softer golf balls, it wasn’t unusual to see balls ripping backwards off greens.
At the time, it felt impressive.
But in reality, too much spin could actually work against you.
Especially on back-to-front sloping greens, golfers would often spin the ball:
- Off the front of greens
- Back down slopes
- Further away from the hole than intended
Modern groove regulations have toned some of that down, especially from the rough.
In many ways, wedge performance today is more predictable and controllable.
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Golf Wedges
We Used To Pace Everything Out Manually
One of the biggest differences in golf over the past 30 years has been distance measuring.
Before GPS watches and rangefinders, golfers used:
- Marker trees
- Sprinkler heads
- Fairway markers
- Pacing from distance pegs
- Pure guesswork
You’d often estimate:
- How far you were from the marker
- Whether the flag was front, middle, or back
- Wind direction and elevation
It was much more of a feel-based process.
In some ways, I still enjoy doing that occasionally today.
Sometimes I’ll look at a shot, estimate the yardage in my head, then laser it afterwards to see how close I was.
Modern distance measuring devices are incredibly accurate and helpful, but there was something enjoyable about learning to judge distance naturally as well.
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Golf Rangefinders
Launch Monitors Have Changed Golf Completely
Thirty years ago, most golfers got fitted through:
- Guesswork
- Visual ball flight
- Trial and error
- What the local pro recommended
Now we have launch monitor technology that measures:
- Ball speed
- Spin rates
- Launch angle
- Carry distance
- Club path
- Face angle
Modern club fitting is far more precise than it used to be.
It’s also helped golfers understand why they hit certain shots instead of simply guessing.
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Golf Club Fitting
Golf Shoes Have Changed Dramatically
Older golfers will definitely remember metal spikes.
The sound of golfers walking across concrete in metal spikes used to be part of golf.
Eventually, metal spikes were phased out and replaced with:
- Soft spikes
- Hybrid soles
- Modern spikeless shoes
Now, many golfers wear completely spikeless golf shoes with moulded soles.
Modern golf shoes are:
- More comfortable
- Lighter
- Better for walking
- Easier to wear on and off the course
Spikeless golf shoes have become hugely popular over the last decade.
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Golf Shoes Collection
Golf Bags and Trundlers Have Evolved Too
It’s not just clubs and balls that have changed.
Years ago:
- Steel-framed trundlers were everywhere
- Golf bags were heavier
- Waterproofing was limited
- Organisation wasn’t nearly as good
A lot of golfers also used plastic club tubes inside their golf bags to keep clubs separated and organised.
You don’t see that nearly as much anymore.
Modern golf bags are:
- Lighter
- Better organised
- More comfortable
- More waterproof
- Designed specifically for stand or cart use
And electric trundlers have completely changed walking golf for many players.
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Has Modern Technology Made Golf Easier?
In many ways, yes.
Modern equipment is:
- More forgiving
- More stable
- More customisable
- Better fitted to individuals
Mishits generally perform better than they used to.
But golf is still golf.
Technology can help, but it still can’t:
- Fix poor decision making
- Replace practice
- Improve mental toughness
- Hole putts for you
My Thoughts as a PGA Professional
Looking back, golf equipment has changed enormously over the past 30 years.
The game has become more forgiving, more fitted, and more accessible for everyday golfers.
At the same time, there’s still something pretty special about remembering older equipment and how different the game used to feel.
Some golfers will always miss:
- The sound of older drivers
- The feel of balata-style balls
- Watching wedges rip backwards
- Walking in metal spikes
- Pacing shots out manually
- The simplicity of older gear
But there’s no doubt modern equipment has helped more golfers enjoy the game.
And at the end of the day, that’s probably a pretty good thing.
FAQs
Have golf balls changed much over the last 30 years?
Yes, massively. Modern golf balls are more durable, lower spinning off the driver, more aerodynamic, and generally more stable in windy conditions.
Did golfers really pace out distances manually?
Absolutely. Before rangefinders and GPS devices, golfers relied heavily on markers, pacing, and visual judgement.
Are modern golf clubs easier to hit?
In most cases, yes. Modern drivers and irons are far more forgiving than older equipment.
Did golfers really use wooden woods?
Yes. Before modern metal drivers became dominant, many golfers used persimmon wooden woods.
Happy golfing
Scott Pickett
PGA Professional
Founder - Golf 360
Mount Maunganui
