my $op = '+'; my $add_5_things = arbitrary_operator_maker($op, 5); my @list_5 = (1..5); timethese(1000000, { 'add_5_things elements cached' => sub { $add_5_things->(@list_5); }, 'add_5_things elements dispatched' => sub { my $add_5_things = arbitrary_operator_maker($op, 5); $add_5_things->(@list_5); }, 'multi_add 5 elements' => sub { multi_add(@list_5); }, 'reduce' => sub { reduce { $a + $b} @list_5; } }); Benchmark: timing 1000000 iterations of add_5_things elements cached, add_5_things elements dispatched, multi_add 5 elements, reduce... add_5_things elements cached: 0 wallclock secs ( 0.99 usr + 0.00 sys = 0.99 CPU) @ 1010101.01/s (n=1000000) add_5_things elements dispatched: 2 wallclock secs ( 2.94 usr + -0.00 sys = 2.94 CPU) @ 340136.05/s (n=1000000) multi_add 5 elements: 2 wallclock secs ( 2.52 usr + 0.01 sys = 2.53 CPU) @ 395256.92/s (n=1000000) reduce: 4 wallclock secs ( 3.24 usr + 0.01 sys = 3.25 CPU) @ 307692.31/s (n=1000000)