Titleist Vokey owners...

Can any of you attempt to help me out in identifying if this set of vokeys are authentic? I did a lot of searching when buying clubs on eBay through threads on here. I didn't want to resurrect any 2 or 3 year old threads so I just made a new one. Anyways the seller is from the u.s. (even though that doesn't mean they are authentic since he could have received them from China). He appears to have a high rating. The clubs are sealed in plastic, and the seller did supply real photos, not stock photos. I just graduated high school, and I have a near minimum wage summer job so I'd love to get the best deal I can find. I would love to go to my local pro shop but at 120 a piece, I knew that wasn't possible. Should I just contact him and see if I could see the serial number? Would having a close up of the grooves be better? Also, I thought Titleist didn't authorize retailers selling their equipment on eBay? Because by the looks of it, this dude sells tons of golf equipment which could mean he is a retailer. Thanks for any help!

Link to auction: http://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-RH-TITLEIST-VOKEY-WEDGE-SET-TOUR-CHROME-52-56-60-/180674539808?pt=Golf_Clubs&hash;=item2a110ab120

Photos of Item:

The clubs look like the Vokey CC wedges I own (I have those exact models), however that is no assurance that they are indeed legitimate products.

I'd be curious if that is how Titleist wraps their wedges destined for golf shops/retailers, perhaps you could compare with a shop that has a few that are still packaged?

In any event, the serial # is a good starting point.  How many transactions does the seller have?

At $100/club, he's not that far off from the retail price from a golf store. As with anything on eBay, it's always buyer beware but his feedback looks good. Asking for the serial number seems reasonable to ensure they are the real deal.

Another thought would be to forget the 60 and just get the 52 and 56 from a golf shop for about 200-240 and learn to hit a variety of shots with the 56.

Good luck!

Alan

3201. And for some reason I have a gut feeling that even if he would provide me with a serial number, it could still be a fake. Couldn't he just grab a number from a real vokey?

Yeah right now I'm still using the stock lob wedge and sand wedge from my iron set. I need to replace my wedges. But right now I use my lob wedge a ton. But I have a lot of shots where I'm stuck between a sand wedge and a pitching wedge. I guess I could just go ahead and get two of the three wedges now and then get the other one later. But another thing that sucks is that I'd have to pay sales tax. Usually, the pro at the shop I buy most of my stuff at gives me a little discount since I played high school this year. However Titleist doesn't allow discounts which sucks.

I faced the same decision recently.  I have a set of the Adams Watson wedges that are 52-56-60 that I've been playing for 5+ years and decided to replace them this year.  I almost pulled the trigger on a couple ebay auctions but got nervous about fakes.  At $60 under retail for the auction you posted, the piece of mind of buying from an authorized retailer is worth it in my opinion -- just save up and get what you KNOW is the real deal.  Lots of shops online will ship free with no tax.

On the combo - I went with 52 and 58 so I didn't have to buy three clubs.  The 58/12 has a grind that lets you open it up for the bounce, or close it up hitting it off a tight lie.  I figure those two clubs will let me do everything I need to from 100 yards in.  I was rarely hitting my 60 except for occasional flop shots so I think the 58 will be a little more versatile.  We'll see.

I think I'm starting to go towards purchasing at my local Edwin Watts. Sure they are more, but like you said I know they would be authentic. I'm sure I'll talk to the manager/pro there and he will find the perfect combo for me. I'll talk to him about the 52 58 combo. Thanks for your input! I'm looking forward to picking up some wedges Friday.

If you're buying a set of 3 from the shop, you can most likely get some further price concessions.   If he's wise he'll at least meet you in the middle, helping ensure that he'll have you as a customer for years to come.   Just be polite and straightforward with the manager and let him/her know that while you want to purchase a set from him, you do have this deal for less and ask if there is something he can do to help a poor student.  Don't be obnoxious or claim their pricing is too high or anything - just politely ask if there is anything he can do.       I'll bet you'll be pleasantly surprised, and not have to worry about eBay authenticity!

Check out Discountdansgolf.com.  Free shipping, no sales tax, awesome prices....

ask for a close up of the wrapping on the grip. the middle one concerns me a bit because the writing has always been gold on all 9 of the vokeys I've owned, also the plastic is always tight around the grips.

about the seller, anyone can become an authorized dealer. if you wanted you could call titleist with a tax number and become an authorized dealer but just make sure the wrapping is right because i know titleist puts a certain set of words on their grip wrapping and its gold writing. atleast when I remember.

The grip wrap looks different than how I've seen them new in the stores.  In the stores the wrap ends at the grip, and doesn't extend beyond the  grip to the shaft.

I would look at the 60 and 56 as they seem to have white paintfill on the loft-bounce number that is on the back of the club.

The paintfill is white, and the ones I own that were packed in a Acushnet box have a red paintfill.

Thanks for pointing that out. I've come to the conclusion that I'm just going to buy from my local golf store. Stuff like you pointed out makes me question myself about buying off eBay.

I purchased a 52, 56, and 60 today. Very happy with them all.

Now how do you all go about cleaning these things? I have a two sided brush one with a softer side and one with a copper side. Would I screw up the spin milled grooves using the copper side?

Here is what I mean.

you want more spin wedge.  then you need rust.    water + air + sun = rust metal.    good luck.

Not true. Rust does not add spin.

Well I'm fine with how much it spins now, I was just wondering how to properly maintain them.

rust become soft metal = more spin.

Yeah this is just a bit ridiculous.. Find me a tour player with a rusted over wedge...