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Clones - Is there a difference?

Spectrums

By Spectrums,
in Clubs, Grips, Shafts, Fitting

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Spectrums Well Established Member

Spectrums

Is there a difference between name-brand clubs and clones? I'd like to look into those since as a 14yr old, my budget is kind of tight :)
WITB

Driver - Taylormade r7 Quad 10.5˚ Fujijura E360 Stiff
Woods - Sonartec SS 2.5 13˚ HST Penley Tour Stiff
Hybrid - Sonartec HB-001 19˚ HST Penley Tour StiffIrons - Mizuno MP-67 Forged 4-PW, DGS300Wedges - Callaway Forged 50˚ and 54˚, Walter Hagen 60˚Putter - Nike T130 O/S Mallet Ctr Shaft 33"B...
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phillygolfer Member

phillygolfer

yes there is a difference in clones and the real thing. But not all are bad. I use to use a copy of the calloway x16 and they were great so one a budget there ok but your still better getting a set of used clubs name brand
Driver: Slazengar RD 13 Degree.
3 Wood. Burrows Mac 15 Degree.
Irons: CrossBax 3I 4I 5 - PW
Putter :teardrop:
Ball Pro V1
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Andaluzian Well Established Member

Andaluzian

clones are made usually of cheaper material and infirior quality, hence the lower price. they look like the original but lack the technology and weighting. don't bother

IN THE BAG-
Driver Adams 8.5 Insight XTD YSQ-65 Stiff
Nike Sumo2 3 wood
Nike Sumo2 3 hybrid
Irons Taylromade r7 Steel shaftCallaway X 60 degree wedge MD groovesPutter Scotty Cameron Newport

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TD22057 Established Member

TD22057

They may also be actual name brands that failed some quality control check. I'm guessing that it's fairly easy for workers to sell them to a distributor for some $$$ on the side.

Big clubs: :titleist: 915D3 @ 9.5°, :callaway: X-Hot Pro 3W
Med clubs: :callaway: X-Hot Pro 5W, :titleist: 910H 4H,
Small clubs: :callaway: X-Hot Pro 5-AW, :titleist: Vokey 55.10, 60.10

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LBlack14 Great Member

LBlack14

Check out "components". Golfsmith and Golfworks are 2 good places to start. I'm still amazed at the lack of knowlege about "clones"
and "components" on this site. Plenty of "components" out there that are of equal if not better quality than Overpriced "OEM" equipment. They also perform as well.

:tmade: R15 14* Matrix Black Tie 7m3

:adams: Speedline Super S 3w & 5w Matrix Radix HD S VI

:callaway: X-12 4-PW Memphis 10

IONNOVEX  Type S GDT 50*, 54* & 62* Mitsubishi Rayon Kuro Kage Black 80ir

:odyssey: Tri-Ball SRT

-Landon

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Everardo Great Member

Everardo

Here are my comments from a similar thread

Clones: All in all I HATE clones, they are essentially stealing another companies designs. While some clone companies quality may be better than others they are still not on par with that of the established brands. I mean really think about why they are so much cheaper. The knock off companies are not spending money on research and design and definately not much on quality control. Heck it wouldn't be hard for me to have my own brand of clubs. I'll try to find a copy of a report that an independent company did comparing clones to others. Needless to say the clones lost almost every category.

Components: Please do not group all component companies as clones (I know you weren't doing this just throwing this out in general.) For example I have been very selective in which component companies I offer at my shop. I offer Nakashima, Swing Science and am now adding KZG. These are all component companies that are producing their own designs and they are also commited to a high quality product for the long run.
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Spectrums Well Established Member

Spectrums

  • Author
So if I were looking into non-name brand clubs, component companies are the way to go?
WITB

Driver - Taylormade r7 Quad 10.5˚ Fujijura E360 Stiff
Woods - Sonartec SS 2.5 13˚ HST Penley Tour Stiff
Hybrid - Sonartec HB-001 19˚ HST Penley Tour StiffIrons - Mizuno MP-67 Forged 4-PW, DGS300Wedges - Callaway Forged 50˚ and 54˚, Walter Hagen 60˚Putter - Nike T130 O/S Mallet Ctr Shaft 33"B...
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RussianCarl Member

RussianCarl

A lot of people here think clones are bad and that is fine for them but do some research on your own first. Plenty of sites offer great information and reviews on their clone clubs and end up being made of the same high quality material as their name brand counterparts. It is true that you still have to be on the lookout for inferior clubs but overall I have found the buying experience to be better than getting used name brands on eBay. The quality of clubs on eBay vary greatly and counterfeits are a much larger problem in that arena than from clone distributors.

I would advise you to remain weary of all component sites and be sure to check them out on sites such as ePinions, or through the Better Business Bureau. Chances are if they have been in business for a long time they are doing something right. Although you may never be able to tell if that Titanium driver you bought is really the mixture they say, can you really be that much more sure on a name brand or from eBay?

Clones for the most part use the same materials as name brand clubs and similar casting processes so the difference is usually not that great. Check out Pinemeadow Golf, Giga Golf, Diamond Tour, and Golf-Components.com for some reputable clone dealers.
Raor~

Driver: Integra SoooLong Quadratic 10.5* with Innovate 603 graphite shaft
3 Wood: Classic Tour HiGHLY 15* with Integra I-Drive graphite shaft (HiBore Clone)
Irons: Tour + C-Quence 3-SW Irons (Nike Pro Combo OS clones)Wedge: T7 TM Series 60* Lob Wedge (TaylorMade R7 Clone)Putter: STX Snyc 9750...
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ser182 Member

ser182

i would say that clones could be just as good as major brnads. there is a bid difference in marketing dollars. marketing and r&d; make up half the cost of most clubs. in clones there is no marketing or R & D so there are not any extra cost. i own two pinmeadows drives. and they are ok. you need to try some if you can or read more reviews.

Driver: Pinemeadows Bloc Driver 10
Hybrid: Adams A2 3 and 4 iron stiff
Irons: A2 hybrid irons
Wedges: Golf Smith 56 and 60 Degree
Putter: Pinemeadows bladeBall: Nike Power Distance softBag: Datrek Icon

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PhilGood Member

PhilGood

You've got an index of 8.8, you're playing Callaways and using V1s, and you're thinking about getting "clones?"

If you're really on a budget, I suggest sticking with your 1 year old clubs. You'll save a lot more money that way. There hasn't been any real earth shaking innovations in golf that demand that you change your current club set and make-up.

What's in my cart and stand bag:
Driver: C4 9* Stiff
R7 425 9* Stiff
Wood: Redline 15* Regular
Hybrids: Idea 17* and 21* RegularIrons: Idea 5-9, incl PW and SW RegularPutter: Rossa Monza Corza and Rossa Lambeau 2 ball bladeBalls: Any. Find many, lose a few

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Everardo Great Member

Everardo

You've got an index of 8.8, you're playing Callaways and using V1s, and you're thinking about getting "clones?"

They are not for him, they are for his 14 yr old

Is there a difference between name-brand clubs and clones? I'd like to look into those since as a 14yr old, my budget is kind of tight :)

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Spectrums Well Established Member

Spectrums

  • Author
"since as a 14yr old." :)

I get the V1's from my school's golf team. We get them before every match.

The only clones I'm looking for are wedges and maybe fairway woods. Not irons.
WITB

Driver - Taylormade r7 Quad 10.5˚ Fujijura E360 Stiff
Woods - Sonartec SS 2.5 13˚ HST Penley Tour Stiff
Hybrid - Sonartec HB-001 19˚ HST Penley Tour StiffIrons - Mizuno MP-67 Forged 4-PW, DGS300Wedges - Callaway Forged 50˚ and 54˚, Walter Hagen 60˚Putter - Nike T130 O/S Mallet Ctr Shaft 33"B...
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Shindig Incredible Member

Shindig

"since

How do you get them before every match? A new set? Or there is a set that is yours, but you only get to use them for matches (and presumably, practices)?

As for off-brand/clone, are you interested in cheap, or is there a particular reason for clone? It seems to me I saw Dunlop wedges reasonably cheap at a Big-5 last month. I can double-check next time I'm around there if you like.

-- Michael | My swing! 

"You think you're Jim Furyk. That's why your phone is never charged." - message from my mother

Driver:  Titleist 915D2.  4-wood:  Titleist 917F2.  Titleist TS2 19 degree hybrid.  Another hybrid in here too.  Irons 5-U, Ping G400.  Wedges negotiable (currently 54 degree Cleveland, 58 degree Titleist) Edel putter. 

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Spectrums Well Established Member

Spectrums

  • Author
Every match we get a sleeve. I typically use one of them a match. We get to keep them after. Plus I got some from my neighboor, so I was set this year.

I want a cheap club that can give just as good results as name-brands. Whether or not that is possible is the question.
WITB

Driver - Taylormade r7 Quad 10.5˚ Fujijura E360 Stiff
Woods - Sonartec SS 2.5 13˚ HST Penley Tour Stiff
Hybrid - Sonartec HB-001 19˚ HST Penley Tour StiffIrons - Mizuno MP-67 Forged 4-PW, DGS300Wedges - Callaway Forged 50˚ and 54˚, Walter Hagen 60˚Putter - Nike T130 O/S Mallet Ctr Shaft 33"B...
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LBlack14 Great Member

LBlack14

What all are you looking for? Maybe I have something you need or want.

:tmade: R15 14* Matrix Black Tie 7m3

:adams: Speedline Super S 3w & 5w Matrix Radix HD S VI

:callaway: X-12 4-PW Memphis 10

IONNOVEX  Type S GDT 50*, 54* & 62* Mitsubishi Rayon Kuro Kage Black 80ir

:odyssey: Tri-Ball SRT

-Landon

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PhilGood Member

PhilGood

Have you tried sandpaper? From your posts, I'm assuming the listed clubs are yours. If you're not satisfied with the performance of your wedges, try working the sandpaper over the face, paying particular attention to the grooves. That'll clean it up good and improve the spin off em. Still don't see why you should get new clubs when you're on a tight budget.

If you didn't have wedges at the moment, I could understand why you'd want to check out clones and copies. But you already have the real deal. All that R&D; and technology and you want to replace them with copies? And the clubs aren't even 1 year old. Sorry, but I don't get it.

You've got an 8.8 index kid. Way better golfer than me. I may be the wrong person to be giving advice, but I still think that unless you're not getting the results you want out of your clubs, don't change them. Especially when it's for the simple expediency of trying to buy a better game. Leave that to people with money.

What's in my cart and stand bag:
Driver: C4 9* Stiff
R7 425 9* Stiff
Wood: Redline 15* Regular
Hybrids: Idea 17* and 21* RegularIrons: Idea 5-9, incl PW and SW RegularPutter: Rossa Monza Corza and Rossa Lambeau 2 ball bladeBalls: Any. Find many, lose a few

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PhilGood Member

PhilGood

How do you feel about your fairway woods? I've never heard of that brand. Is that from a component company? It might be easier to test out fairway woods in simulators or driving ranges as the differences are more tangible, but like I mentioned in my earlier posts...

What's in my cart and stand bag:
Driver: C4 9* Stiff
R7 425 9* Stiff
Wood: Redline 15* Regular
Hybrids: Idea 17* and 21* RegularIrons: Idea 5-9, incl PW and SW RegularPutter: Rossa Monza Corza and Rossa Lambeau 2 ball bladeBalls: Any. Find many, lose a few

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alf174 Great Member

alf174

"since

I think these

Feel Wedges are one of the best wedge sales going right now ($50). I picked up a PW recently to try out and its worked out very well; good control.

"You can live to be a hundred if you give up all the things that make you want to live to be a hundred." Woody Allen
My regular pasture.

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