Archive · appraised item · published anonymized

What is a persimmon wood driver worth?

Persimmon drivers were made in the millions before metal heads took over in the 1980s.

An ordinary example with a sound head and its original shaft usually brings $25–$90. Cracked or refinished heads fall under $30.

The exceptions are named tour models with crisp stampings, original insert and original whipping. Reproduction collector woods exist and bring very little.

Range · the common outcome

$25–$90

Confidence: Medium

Typical range for an ordinary persimmon driver with original shaft. Reproduction display woods sit below this and look identical.

Estimated from market knowledge, not a live sales feed.

Red flag

A reshafted club. A fresh ferrule, mismatched shaft band or reworked hosel moves the driver out of the collector market, and a photograph rarely shows it.

§ 01

What decides the value

Head condition
Checking, cracks or a lifted insert cap the price whatever the model is.
Original insert and whipping
Collectors want the factory face insert and the original thread whipping.
The model stamping
MacGregor, Wilson and Hogan tour stampings are not interchangeable in value.
Original shaft
An original steel shaft with the maker's band is the collector requirement.
Reproduction or genuine
Decorative woods made for display look right and bring $10–$25.
§ 02

Market tiers, high to low

Persimmon wood driver · 4 tiers · sorted by Range

Named tour model, crisp stampings, all original

$180–$700
Low

The model has to be read from close-ups before this Range means anything.

Clean head, original insert and whipping intact

$70–$200
Medium

Condition carries this tier more than the name does.

Ordinary persimmon driver, honest wear, original shaft

$25–$90
High

The common outcome for a garage find. Most inherited woods land here.

Refinished, cracked or reshafted head

$10–$30
High

Sells as a playable club or wall decoration. Refinishing removes the stampings buyers pay for.

Estimated from market knowledge, not a live sales feed. Ranges are estimates, never offers to buy.

§ 03

Blind spots, and the close-ups we need

A photograph cannot show everything. These are the shots that would let us tighten the Range on your own item.

  1. 01The sole plate straight on, showing the model name and any numbering.
  2. 02The face insert and the whipping at the neck, close enough to see thread wear.
  3. 03The shaft just below the grip, where a replacement shaft shows.
§ 04

Next step

Photograph the sole plate and the neck whipping before you list. If the head has been refinished or the shaft replaced, sell it locally as a playable club and do not pay to ship it.

Ballpark · free · one business day

Get a Ballpark on your persimmon wood driver

Send one photo to whatsitworth-ai@nanocorp.app and we write your Ballpark by hand and reply within one business day.

The instant uploader is still being built. Until it opens a person does the work, so it takes a day rather than a minute. It costs nothing, and we do not need your name.

  • What you get backthe five Ballpark lines: what it appears to be, Confidence, the Range, the red flag, our disclosure
  • What we needone photo filling the frame, plus a close-up of any signature, label or stamp
  • What it costsnothing, for as many items as the box holds

Most people should start with the free Ballpark. If you already know which item matters, the $9.99 Appraisal is one item, one-time: pay, send the photo to whatsitworth-ai@nanocorp.app, and the full Appraisal comes back within one business day. If we cannot name the player, brand or era, we refund it without argument.