Which golf clubs should I get?

[acegazda]

Hey I'm looking for a good set of woods, maybe a driver, but definetly a 3 wood, and possibly a 5 and 7. Anyone know a good place to get cheap but quality clubs?

EDIT: Unless they are like $100, don't suggest titlist, taylormade or callaway... i was considering one of the imitation clubs cuz my dad bought one 10 years ago and still has it now and loves it.

 

[JoeFahey]

To get the big names, but for a cheap price, the way to go is to get a "knockoff" club. Thats what I did for my irons. They have some generic name, but are truly Callaway X-series irons. What these sellers will do, is they will take extra shafts and heads from the big name factories, and take them, and use them on their own clubs. They are IDENTICAL to the real deal. You just can't brag about the name on them. I buy from a guy in Florida, I can give you more info on him if you want to consider it.

 

[ubercaffeinated]

meh i use a titleist driver myself. i got it when it first came out, but fcukkk it is so nice. when you get a spot on drive right up in front of the green, it just makes your day. for 3 and 7 i use callaways, but only rarely do i end up using the fairway driver. i think you might want to look into used clubs? been golfing since high school myself. lovely game. can't say anything about knockoff quality though. need to find a new set irons myself, my original ping zings are worn out.

 

[acegazda]

I've got some nice spalding custom made irons, but I'm not good enough to hit the 3 and 4 irons consistently, so a fairway wood is probably a good idea for me. Got any suggestions for online retailers or retailer in the new england area?

 

[BoldAsLove]

amazon has a nice selection

 

[everman]

I have a knockoff driver and hybrid, same thing as the retail version for a lot less. Retail golf equipment profit margins are very high :Q

 

[JS80]

Originally posted by: everman
I have a knockoff driver and hybrid, same thing as the retail version for a lot less. Retail golf equipment profit margins are very high :Q

what's the name of the brand?

 

[Gibsons]

You might want to look into Sonartec, they're less expensive than Taylormades etc. Used they'll go for 100-130, depending on the shaft, wear, etc.

I'm surprised Gaghalfrunt hasn't checked in here yet...

 

[GagHalfrunt]

Originally posted by: JoeFahey
To get the big names, but for a cheap price, the way to go is to get a "knockoff" club. Thats what I did for my irons. They have some generic name, but are truly Callaway X-series irons. What these sellers will do, is they will take extra shafts and heads from the big name factories, and take them, and use them on their own clubs. They are IDENTICAL to the real deal. You just can't brag about the name on them. I buy from a guy in Florida, I can give you more info on him if you want to consider it.

No, they are NOT identical. The "big name factories" DO NOT under any circumstances sell off excess product on the cheap. That would guarantee that they'd lose the account. There are a lot of foundries in China producing a lot of clubheads of VASTLY different quality. The stuff the OEMs produce is generally top notch in terms of build quality, paint and material, but is sorely lacking in terms of matching spec. The smaller component companies can generally match the OEMs in terms of a quality product if they want to. Some will choose great foundries and release great products, others will go with cheaper foundries and will release less-great products, but at better prices. Then, there's the bottom of the barrel, "clone" makers. They're the ones making 4th-rate supercheap garbage, making them look just like the big names, give them names like "Big Berta" and then convince suckers that they're truly Callaways. THEY'RE NOT. Good products can stand on their own merits. If it's trying hard to imitate something else it's probably junk.

Originally posted by: Gibsons

I'm surprised Gaghalfrunt hasn't checked in here yet...

LOL, just noticed the thread.

 

[GagHalfrunt]

acegazda, you should definitely be looking at custom clubs. Not necessarily knockoffs, definitely not clones, but good clubs from lesser-known, high quality quality brands like Wishon, SMT, Bang, Golfsmith or others. See a local clubbuilder-clubfitter and let him watch you hit balls. He'll be able to identify your needs and set you up with sticks that fit your swing, your game and your budget. They'll easily perform as well as high $$$$ Proshop brands and will be better for you than merely walking into a shop and hoping to get something that works by whacking a few balls into a net 5 feet away. Getting clubs that FIT YOUR GAME is far more important than what brand name is on those clubs. Cheap clubs that fit are WAY better than expensive clubs that don't.

 

[JS80]

Originally posted by: GagHalfrunt
acegazda, you should definitely be looking at custom clubs. Not necessarily knockoffs, definitely not clones, but good clubs from lesser-known, high quality quality brands like Wishon, SMT, Bang, Golfsmith or others. See a local clubbuilder-clubfitter and let him watch you hit balls. He'll be able to identify your needs and set you up with sticks that fit your swing, your game and your budget. They'll easily perform as well as high $$$$ Proshop brands and will be better for you than merely walking into a shop and hoping to get something that works by whacking a few balls into a net 5 feet away. Getting clubs that FIT YOUR GAME is far more important than what brand name is on those clubs. Cheap clubs that fit are WAY better than expensive clubs that don't.

how do custom club prices compare to the high quality brand names?

 

[Gibsons]

Originally posted by: JS80

Originally posted by: GagHalfrunt
acegazda, you should definitely be looking at custom clubs. Not necessarily knockoffs, definitely not clones, but good clubs from lesser-known, high quality quality brands like Wishon, SMT, Bang, Golfsmith or others. See a local clubbuilder-clubfitter and let him watch you hit balls. He'll be able to identify your needs and set you up with sticks that fit your swing, your game and your budget. They'll easily perform as well as high $$$$ Proshop brands and will be better for you than merely walking into a shop and hoping to get something that works by whacking a few balls into a net 5 feet away. Getting clubs that FIT YOUR GAME is far more important than what brand name is on those clubs. Cheap clubs that fit are WAY better than expensive clubs that don't.

how do custom club prices compare to the high quality brand names?

If you get the brands he mentioned, they'll probably be significantly cheaper. Less of a marketing budget to make up for.

 

[Patt]

GolfSmith has some pretty sweet custom clubs that don't cost too much, and perform very well.

 

[GagHalfrunt]

Originally posted by: Patt
GolfSmith has some pretty sweet custom clubs that don't cost too much, and perform very well.

As a matter of fact I'm playing a Snake Eyes 3-wood from Golfsmith. The head cost about $25 and a $20 shaft. Performs as well as any $150-$200 fairway wood from TM or Callaway.

 

[Sketcher]

Go Here
and then There

I hit my custom clubs better than any that I've demo'd, I love the fit and feel of them and I saved money in the process. My local Clubmaker knows my swing and what clubs to build for me next and that relationship goes a long way to keeping me interested in the game.

Had I bought something because of a name and not gotten the club fitted for my swing I'd likely have an embarrassing amount of money tied up in equipment that never saw the light of day.