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8 Responses to “Is It Worth Buying Clone Golf Clubs Opposed To The More Expensive Name Brand Clubs?”

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  wbaker77 says:

  December 11, 2009 at 12:10 am

  First off…..Their is not a clone made that is built to the same specs. They may have used the molds that were used to make the specific manufacturers model but I have never seen one that had the same metal composition in the head…..nor the same shaft. You of course can do what you want….I am just not a fan of clones…….I have tried them and just don’t like them.
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  green_la says:

  December 11, 2009 at 3:14 am

  Most cast clubs, whether they’re clone or name brand, are made from either 17-4 or 431 stainless steel. It’s the forged ones that might give you fits… name brands are forged with either 1025, 1025E, or 8620 carbon steel. If you don’t see these metals, look elsewhere.
  That said, clones are clubs built to specs usually of last years models. Some are allowed to use a current model (like GigaGolf using the Callaway X-22), but it isn’t always likely. The clones that are directly ripping off the companies and consumers off are the ones that don’t even try to change a paint scheme. Most of the reputable clones keep it close enough only to let you know what you’re comparing it to, but they don’t try to make it look like a direct copy (like saying it’s a Collaway). The reputable companies are open and honest about what materials are being used in the club head. They usually have pretty specific technical descriptions of their products, as well.
  There are plenty of places that you can go to get quality clones. Pinemeadow Golf, GigaGolf, Golfsmith, Golf Works and Hireko (which got a little feature in the ‘09 Golf Digest Hot List) are reputable companies that can preassemble clubs built to your specs, with either stock grips/shafts, or upgrades (like Golf Pride, Lamkin, Royal Precision and True Temper) for an additional charge. You could even buy everything separately and assemble them yourself (not terribly hard- I just reshafted my first set of irons, and the heads didn’t fly off and kill somebody! I’m kind of proud of myself over that. Moving on). Or someone you know could do it, to further offset the charge. Pinemeadow, GigaGolf and Hireko don’t do this, but the other two will.
  The funny thing is, most people don’t realize that Cleveland Golf started out as a company that made replica clubs. Look where they are now. Scotty Cameron, of the putter fame, started out making his own creations. Acushnet owns the rights now, and people drool over those putters. Outside the box, Dell and Compaq (before being bought by HP) were “clone” computer makers. Clones are everywhere, just some brands catch on to become bigger than where they started.
  As PGA Tour player Paul Goydos said: Instead of buying $1,000 clubs a golfer “should buy $200 clubs and get $800 worth of lessons. It’s the Indian, not the arrow” (Golf Magazine, March ‘09).
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  SmartBom says:

  December 11, 2009 at 5:55 am

  Yes, it is very much worth the savings, and I am a club collector and hobbyist clubmaker for years. First; the clubs that are pro line and come from the tour van are not what you will get anyway when buying off the retail rack. They are all tweaked and fitted to the particular pro. For your game and mine, we couldn’t hit a set of Big Bertha irons any better than we could hit a set of Trident’s which has been knocking off Callaway for a long time. More importantly than the club is the specs being tailored to your “old” swing and mine. I like hitting 2* upright in irons, and stick around a D2 swingweight. I like a driver that is about 1-2 degrees closed, and about 47″ in length. I am not going to find all of that in a pro line set unless I pay even more to have them fitted and manufactured? At 58, I have a swing speed of about 80, so I play a low compression ball as well. Want to change your game? Invest in an older Ping putter. They are worth every nickel, and that stroke is the same as a drive when placed on the card.
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  johnnnya says:

  December 11, 2009 at 7:16 am

  A clone is a clone is a clone…
  The term is specs or specifications…is based on what? this seems to be a rather a generalization of factors…same specs…perhaps mean the same design, a copy, look a like, knock off…counterfeit.
  For a company, to be in the business by recreating someone else’s design, and yet claim that their equipment holds a candleight to the original, is rather wishfull thinking…don’t you think?
  For the price you pay for a brand new knock offs, or wannabees, you can invest in a better quality of irons, even if it is 10 yrs old…
  Give carefull thought on such a purchase…you are spending $ on a design that is “supposed to be” as close as the real thing…why spend such $ on such a gimmick?
  Define same specs…
  A copy of…is still just a copy…if you expect to get the same quality, built in as the originals…you are only fooling yourself.
  Have a sense of backbone to such antics.
  If you ask a salesman, to spell it out for you, and expect the truth…he knows that he is not going to make a sale…would you tell the truth? or keep your family fed?
  Ask a golfer…you will hear a different viewpoint.
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  vdrive_6 says:

  December 11, 2009 at 10:49 am

  You are going to get what you pay for. Most clones are made with cheaper grades of steel, which means uneven weight distribution and weaker clubs.
  If you are looking to save a few bucks, maybe you should consider purchasing a set of quality used clubs. If you want brand-new clubs, maybe you should try out some other clubmakers that make their own clubs, but do not have the market appeal of Callaway, TaylorMade, etc.
  either way, I can pretty much guarantee you will not be happy with the clones.
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  K S says:

  December 11, 2009 at 1:19 pm

  Find a sports store that will let you demo the clubs and decide for yourself. Sometimes the only difference is the logo on the club and sometimes there is quite a difference in quality.
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  speeding says:

  December 11, 2009 at 8:08 pm

  I would be inclined to say yes for your ability, why not? The ball makes more difference than the clubs usually, anyway. Make sure you use good balls. Good luck.
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  Anonymous says:

  December 11, 2009 at 9:19 pm

  Yes it is worth it.I got mine at pinemeadows.com.

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