"Off-brand" or Major Brand Irons

After this season passes, I am planning to replace my 4 year old, full cavity irons with some nice new tour style blades. I found some called Power Play Caiman's and they seem legit. They aren't a clone brand, but they don't shell out for advertising either. This makes them relatively inexpensive, AND you can get them custom built for relatively cheap. Has anyone ever tried one of the bigger "off-brands"? I'm not planning on spending anything more than $550 on the set.

Here are the clubs

http://www.hirekogolf.com/hireko/orderportal/catalog_presentation/by_group/0/2991/0/0/0/0/0

When going with custom-built component clubs, one thing to consider is durability of the clubhead. I played Eye2 clones from 1994-2008 (Pro Tour Blacks), and they were some of the most solid, well made iron heads I ever used.

You just have to ask around, and find an outlet that does reliable work.

Also, see if you can find a GolfWorks catalog (through Golf Galaxy). GW has been making solid components and assembling club sets for a long time. Just check around in the bag summaries of our fellow 'Trappers to see all the Maltby club users.

I ordered through Hireko before and they put together the club. High quality work. Not even a smudge out of place. I have only heard reviews on the last generation Caimans and they were overwhelmingly positive, so I am thinking of taking my chances. I'll see the price difference between Hireko and Golf Works to make my decision from that. Thank you for the reassurance of the off brand clubs

Geotech makes good component blades.

tourspecgolf.com

If they are half as pretty as that picture shows them, I may just order 2 sets. One for the wall and one to play with.

From what I have seen, all of the components that Hireko sells are of high quality.  I also play Maltby (Golfworks) irons, and love them.  Wishon is probably the pinnacle of components though.

http://www.callawaygolf.com/global/en-us/golf-equipment/golf-clubs/irons/razr-x-muscleback-irons.html -- The Hireko irons are patterned after the Callaway RAZR X-Muscleback(were called Razr X Prototype).  Hireko has high quality components and you will have no problem,  If you have questions call Hireko and ask for Jeff Summit.

Forget them.  You want to identify what you end up with to be the same clubs that are readily available on eBay.  There may be nothing wrong with the off brand untill you lose a club. You will never get another. Some may not care but I do because I have plus 3, 2 ounces added and 6 degrees flat. I don't want to redo an entire set just because I can't find a replacement club.

Furthermore you want  to find a main manufacturer that somehow just matches your essence of being. Then you can rest assurred that the club you buy will not be a mismatch. Off brands are not so. I have owned off brands until it dawned on me = YOU CAN BUY  CREAM OF THE CROP TOP, OF THE LINE, USED, PREMIER NAME BRANDS -- FOR UNDER $550

If you click on the link I posted, you will see if you break or lose a club that ordering a new club built the exact same way for under $40. In fact, this is a reason to buy the off-brand just for the availability of a replacement. I don't like swinging somebody else's clubs. I like my clubs built for me. Not Johnny 2-bit that liked clubs 3" short and a lie angle of a putter.

I'll be darned. I never really noticed the resemblance I guess. Callaway just needs the beautiful copper color. Thank you for that info. I'm sure there won't be a problem, but just in case.

Bottom line is go for it if you want to. I have.

I have been golfing since about when Hireko began. All this time I have never heard of them. I have heard of plenty of golf component companies but never them. Like Dynacraft which Hireko bought. They are obviously not a HUGE player in the market. This MIGHT but not certainly be a detriment. Lots of companies go out of business.

On the other hand during this time I never had a set of clubs long enough to experience the down side of component companies. And even if you did lose a club you may be ready for something else anyway.  It is highly unlikely that you will ever be wringing your hands saying I should have listened to that guy and bought name brands. Highly unlikely.

I went to a party last month and in the garage I saw my old component set that I forgot I sold to the guy. GolfSmith Tour cavity with oversize butt graphite shafts.  For what I spent on them I could have bought Used Callaway, Taylormade and took a big chunk out of Titleist irons.

Bottom line is go for it if you want to. I have.