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GOLF CLUB CLONES, KNOCKOFFS???????
Many of our golf club designs are similar in style, performance and quality to the name brand golf clubs. Some people might refer to some of our models as clones, or knockoffs, or "similar to's".
WHAT IS A GOLF CLUB "CLONE" OR "KNOCKOFF"?
Our definition would be a golf club with a design similar (but not exact) to an advertised name brand. This "similar to" practice is also common in the computer industry (IBM clones), the food and pharmaceutical industry (generic brands), the automotive industry (aftermarket parts), etc.
WHO MANUFACTURES THE HEADS?
There are fewer than 10 foundries worldwide that produce 90% of all golf club heads sold in the U.S. These foundries manufacture heads for Titleist®, Cobra®, Callaway®, Wilson®, Taylor Made®, and a whole bunch of smaller golf companies. These same foundries manufacture heads that we are able to purchase through particular golf club importers. The vast majority of these foundries are in Asia, and yes these major brands are not manufacturing their own heads; they are buying their heads from these Asian foundries.
(The one major exception - Ping® manufactures their own heads, and does so here in the U.S.)
THE MAJOR BRANDS SEEM TO COST 2-3 TIMES AS MUCH AS THE CLONES/KNOCKOFFS. DOES THAT MEAN THE QUALITY OF THE NAME BRANDS IS A WHOLE LOT BETTER?
Are you kidding?
The clubheads we buy are typically made with the same materials as the major brands. Most irons are made of 17-4 stainless steel, or 431 stainless steel; most metal woods are made of 17-4 stainless steel, or 6AL4V Titanium. These are the same materials used in the heads of the major brands. (Occasionally you will find a "similar to" head made in the traditional stainless steel, whereas the name brand is titanium.)
Our clubheads are made to the same weight specifications as are the name brands. Virtually everybody operates to the same industry standards. For example, a driver head is designed to weigh 200 grams, whether it is a midsize 220 cc steel head, or a super oversize 300 cc Titanium driver. A midsize steel 5 iron head weighs at 254 grams, as does an oversize titanium 5 iron head. (Tolerances to +/- 3 grams)
We buy only top quality heads. (There are definitely low quality clubheads on the market, however we purchase and sell only the best heads.)
While on the subject of quality, a hugely important factor in the quality of a golf club is the shaft. It is no secret amongst clubbuilders that some of the major golf club companies use shafts that are not of the highest quality. We use shafts manufactured by the most respected names in the industry ...like True Temper and Apollo steel shafts, and Harrison, UST, Rapport and Apollo graphite shafts.
To be conservative, our shafts are at least as good as the original equipment shafts on the name brands.
Lastly on the subject of quality: Another important part of a golf club is the grip. I've changed a whole lot of grips in my time, and it amazes me to see some of the low quality, low cost grips on some of the expensive name brand clubs. As a general rule, the less rubber in the grip, the less quality. Some of the grips used by some of the major brands are thin, thin, thin, and cheap, cheap, cheap. A good quality grip is very important. It is what you're holding onto, and gives you the feel of the club.
We primarily use the highest quality grips manufactured by Lamkin. (Other brands are available if you have a preference for something else.)
IF THE QUALITY IS COMPARABLE, WHY ARE YOUR CLUBS SO MUCH CHEAPER THAN THE NAME BRANDS?
Most people would be shocked at how inexpensive the components (clubheads, shafts, and grips) actually are. And it's safe to assume the major manufacturers are paying less for their components than we are.
The major portion of the price of the name brand clubs is due to the many different marketing and advertising costs. These costs generally include very expensive TV advertising, very expensive print media campaigns with the major golf publications, high cost advertising agencies, big time trade shows, large dollar contracts to PGA Tour Players and smaller contracts to numerous other tour players, large marketing staffs, etc. etc.
Independent studies have shown that 70% of the retail cost of a name brand set of clubs goes to pay for the cost of advertising the product and the development of the brand name. (This is a Huge cost. You do the numbers and multiply 70% times the average price of a pro-line set of clubs. See how expensive advertising/marketing is?)
THAT is the primary reason our prices are 40% to 70% less than the major brands.
One final point: One could certainly argue that the "similar to" clubs reap the advantage of the major bands ad campaigns, without any cost. And that is true. However, really the Bottom Line is --- it is the consumer who is benefiting, because it gives you, as the consumer, the option to be able to buy quality golf equipment at big savings.
Our prices are significantly lower due to a lack of marketing and advertising costs, and the savings incurred from the lack of these costs are in effect passed directly to you. You choose whether or not you want to pay a significant price for the marketing and advertising costs of a golf club style.
Give us a try! You will get high quality golf clubs, at terrific prices.
PLEASE READ BEFORE PURCHASING
The golf clubs displayed on this site are assembled from quality components, some of which may incorporate features which appear in "Pro-Line" or "Name Brand" or "Original Equipment" (OEM) golf club models. You, as the purchaser, are advised that the golf clubs we are selling are not manufactured by, licensed by, or sponsored by any Pro-Line or OEM company.
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