Where are golf clubs made?

[Golfaway]

I was under the impression that most if not all major brands like Callaway, PING, TaylorMade, etc.. manufactured their clubs in the USA. Except maybe for Mizuno whom I know forge their clubs in Japan and assemble them in the USA.

But it appears that China has a role here, how far is China involved??

(I'm trying not to be offensive, but I can't help myself not think down on any Chinese products. They just prefer quantity over quality any time of the day)

(I tried searching for similar threads about the same topic but I couldn't find any, so I decided to start a new thread, iacas, don't take the mod whip on my poor back )

[lordhamster]

  Golfaway said:

(I'm trying not to be offensive, but I can't help myself not think down on any Chinese products. They just prefer quantity over quality any time of the day)

It is unfortunate that people have this impression, because it is absolutely untrue.

China can and does manufacture products of first rate quality every bit as good as anywhere else in the world. The iPhone for example is an example of a high quality Chinese-made piece of equipment. The problem with Chinese products is not the Chinese manufacturing, but rather the irresponsible companies who try to do things on the cheap. For example, the Lead toy scandal. Mattel decided to outsource their manufacturing to China. They did so to in an attempt to save money. However they also saved money by not doing any quality control whatsoever. They contracted a product to be made, sold it under their label and then when the world realized that they had failed to live up to their own quality standards, they tried to blame the country of manufacture, and the US public bought the story hook, line and sinker. No matter where a product is made, the brand that is stamped on it should be what defines the quality of the item. Don't let irresponsible US manufacturers hoodwink you into thinking bad quality is the fault of the Chinese. If I buy a Taylormade club, I don't care where it was made. I know that it will be a good product. Their reputation rides on that.

[DavidFehertysBike]

In lordhamster's dungoen of evil.

[lumpuckeroo]

  Golfaway said:

I was under the impression that most if not all major brands like Callaway, PING, TaylorMade, etc.. manufactured their clubs in the USA. Except maybe for Mizuno whom I know forge their clubs in Japan and assemble them in the USA.

Don't quote me, but other than Ping, all of the major manufactors have their foundries in Asia. There are more then one part to putting together a club, a llot of the companies then finish the heads and assemble them in the US.

[ControlJunkie]

I would guess that if the clubs were manufactured here in the US, we'd end up paying more for them because of the increased labor costs. I could be wrong though, wouldnt be the first time :)

[jonnythan]

  Golfaway said:

(I'm trying not to be offensive, but I can't help myself not think down on any Chinese products. They just prefer quantity over quality any time of the day)

It's not about what

they prefer. It's about what we prefer. We're the ones buying the products made in China - and the Chinese manufacturers know they can make more money by cutting corners and costs. Because the American market has proved over and over again that it doesn't care .

[lordhamster]

  jonnythan said:

It's not about what

Agreed.

I can go to Walmart and buy Chinese made garbage. Or I can go to the apple store and buy high quality chinese made products. All depends on what the consumer wants.

[oregongolfguy]

I believe that the correct way to put it is that most of the major golf companies clubs are ASSEMBLED in the united states. However, most of the clubheads for instance are cast or forged in China or Japan. For the majority of OEMS mostly China.

[bogey train]

Different brands are made in different countries
Ping in US
mizuno, srixon, bridgestone in japan
taylor made,titleist ,callaway and nike in china

if you want quality go for mizuno srixon and bridgestone plus another 5-6 japanese brands like muira as they do excellent products with a huge emphasis on quality control
Ping in us pride themseleves on quality too

In china the quality control is not there
also knockoffs abound

Before anyone wants to jump down my throught have your taylor made, nike etc checked for swing weights and lie and loft angles ( youd be surprised !!!!!)

[jonnythan]

TaylorMade, Titleist, Callaway, and Nike have poor QC?

[GaijinGolfer]

Almost all cast irons, woods and hybrids are made in China. Even Ping has their cast stuff made in China. Other than milled putters, Im not aware of any clubheads that are made in the USA. I know that a lot of people are under the impression that Pings are 100% made in the USA and that used to be true, but thats not true anymore.
Some forged clubheads are made in Japan. I know that Mizuno has their forged clubheads made in Japan.
For the most part though, the vast majority of clubheads and shafts are made in China. Im not a fan of it, but when you are looking for cheap labor, its tough to beat China.
A lot of golf clubs are ASSEMBLED in the USA, but thats as far as it goes.

[tjy355]

  TitleistWI said:

Almost all cast irons, woods and hybrids are made in China. Even Ping has their cast stuff made in China. Other than milled putters, Im not aware of any clubheads that are made in the USA. I know that a lot of people are under the impression that Pings are 100% made in the USA and that used to be true, but thats not true anymore.

For now, Ping still casts clubheads here in Phoenix Arizona. G10, & i10 and most of the classic iron heads for sure. The multi-metal clubheads like the Rapture are manufactured overseas as are the woods and hybrids. Don't know about the new g15/i15, probably overseas as they have tungsten inserts.

[jonnythan]

Does anyone actually know where Ping casts anything? I hear "China" and "USA" about every single model they make.

[rmccabe6]

I was unaware that we made ANYTHING in this country anymore! Hmmm, maybe that's why our economy is in the shape it's in?

[oregongolfguy]

I am not 100% sure of this. But i believe that the high end ping irons are still made in Phoenix AZ. All of there woods,hybrids are made in china.
So yeah, hate to burst any bubbles, but your playing a golf club made in china or japan more then likely.....And you could have 4 different brand names in your bag and 3 out of the 4 where made in the same factory.

[leo3]

A guy in my club swears his Scotty Cameron putter was made in a magic forest by elves....LOL

[twinke masta]

I believe most clubs are made in China now, and at best assembled in the USA. Though I have seen club components made in the USA and assembled in China (lol what?). Labor is much cheaper there but does not mean the quality is worse. It depends on the price you spend. If you go to Wal-Mart expecting quality, 90% of the time you will not find it because you are paying very low prices (Expect shoddy workmanship). If you are paying for highend things like Golf-Clubs or computer components, it's a different story alltogether. I have visited a highend Chinese steel factory and the workers are not paid at miminal wages but are experts at what they do using the latest manufacturing technologies. You would be surprised at the quality that comes out of many of these factories.

You could say things made in the USA can be good and terrible as well. I would never buy a lowend American made car, they are built horribly. The craftsmanship is terrible and things fall apart in weeks. But on the other end of the scale I could also buy a top-of the line Made in the USA Corvette and I will find quality worksmanship all around.

It's not where it's made but the price you paid.

[Golfaway]

  None said:

It's not where it's made but the price you paid.

Might be true, but remember, this kind of mindset helps nobody but the fake clubs makers. They'll just fake the club and put a high price tag on it knowing that consumers feel OK when they pay a lot for something. They double their profits while we consumers lose.