Pro-line Clubs: Hideously Overpriced or Worth Every Penny?

[Old Tom]

I've gotten into building my own clubs from components. My current driver sports a generic 395cc Ti head, 10.5* loft, with a Grafalloy Blue shaft. It cost a hundred bucks for the parts, and 60 percent of that was the shaft. I've hit it alongside a Taylormade R5, and one of the new Callaways (I don't recall the model), and - considering my 16 handicap - could see no benefit whatsoever to owning the so-called "pro-line" clubs.

My irons: I bought the heads for 6 bucks a piece on closeout from 'Golfworks', and chopped up my old set for the shafts. After trimming a bit off the butt end to compensate for the difference in hosel depth of the new heads, they're the best set of irons I've ever hit.

Now, freely granted, those of you who are sporting 3 or 4 handicaps are probably a little more demanding of your equipment than I am, and I have no quarrel with any of you. Play what feels right: you know your game a lot better than I do. But for middle to high handicap players such as myself, blowing 2 grand on golf sticks is pouring money down a drain. Or at least, that's the way I see it.

I play golf with high handicappers equipped with Pings, Callaways and Taylor Mades all the time, and I don't see as how they're getting any benefit whatsoever from their top-line equipment. A shank doesn't look any better coming off the hosel of a Callaway than it does from an 'Acer'.

For less than the cost of a set of pro-line clubs, you could pay for one of the better week-long golf schools. And practice is free. But you can't buy a good game.

So what do the rest of you think? I'd rather not chip in to pay the mortgage on Annika Sorenstam's summer home...

[ragontona]

Personally, I see nothing wrong with component clubs for recreational players. But there's a lot to be said for getting OEM equipment at discount rates, (e.g. via eBay, or when new lines come out, the previous model usually goes for a great price). I prefer going the latter route... I picked up my Titleist 704CB's off of eBay for about $450, and got my Callaway BB 454 for under $200 when the X460 came out. A lot of golf shops have a used club department -- there are bargains to be found there, as well.

I just feel more confident with the OEMs, and have the luxury of using their customer service departments if something goes wrong.

I usually don't pay much attention to what other people play with when I go out on the course, but the last time I went, I noticed a LOT of people playing with component clubs. They seemed to be enjoying the game just as much as anyone with an OEM set.

My only recommendation is that you stick to the "quality" component club makers (Snake Eyes, Maltby, Alpha, even Pinemeadow). Stay away from the Pangs, Titleishs, King Snakes, and other "clones." Just because you can't afford the Sasquatch, doesn't mean you should go out and buy the "Yeti."

[Old Tom]

ragontana:

You make a good point. There is a much wider range of quality in the component market than there is in the "O.E.M." product lines. So the old "buyer beware" axiom is definitely in play here.

Even though I'm kind of a cheapskate, I would never play a set of "Kalloways" mainly because I'd be embarrassed to be seen with them.

I'm currently buying all my stuff from Golfworks (Maltby), and I find the quality to be quite good.

By the way, although it isn't widely known, ALL of the O.E.M. clubheads come out of the same two forges in mainland China that make most of the component equipment. The exception to that is, I believe, Ping, who still keep their own forge in the U.S.

So those of you who want to "buy American" need to stick with Karsten Solheim, which is kind of ironic if you think about it.

[georgep]

I have to agree ... there are good components and bad components (usually clones). There are several manufacturers (SMT, Bang, Alpha, Maltby, Golfsmith, etc.) that put out club heads that show very well against OEM heads, plus you can mate them with the shaft of your choice. My SMT 455 has been supplanted by the Ping G5 (more forgiveness) for the moment anyway, but I wouldn't hesitate to go with components again.

In general, components are less expensive up front, but OEMs hold (some of) their value if you decide to trade in or sell them down the road.

[sungho_kr]

ebay