All Golf Clubs made in China?

[dmnoland]

"What's wrong with china?

If the clubs were made in the U.S they'd be twice as expensive."
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What a load of BS! The Ping G15's (China made) cost no less than the G10's (USA made) when they were new. It is just pure greed, plain and simple. While I agree that tax structures play a large part, companies like Ping need to realize that people like me (as a life long Ping player) are done buying their outsourced products. As a carpenter I have already seen this scenario played out to it's conclusion in the tool market. If the tool isn't made in the USA, Germany or Japan, I am not buying it. The first batch from China is usually pretty good but after folks have caved and accepted the foreign product then the parent company just rides on their name, quality and customer service drops, and eventually nobody wins. I will simply continue to buy used, good quality clubs.

[3 wiggle]

Holy $hit...i had no idea that ping no longer makes clubs in the u.s....Karstin is doing back flips in his grave!

[James_Black]

What a load of BS! The Ping G15's (China made) cost no less than the G10's (USA made) when they were new. It is just pure greed, plain and simple. While I agree that tax structures play a large part, companies like Ping need to realize that people like me (as a life long Ping player) are done buying their outsourced products. As a carpenter I have already seen this scenario played out to it's conclusion in the tool market. If the tool isn't made in the USA, Germany or Japan, I am not buying it. The first batch from China is usually pretty good but after folks have caved and accepted the foreign product then the parent company just rides on their name, quality and customer service drops, and eventually nobody wins. I will simply continue to buy used, good quality clubs.

Why is america so great?

It´s nice to know that they were made in the U.S but does it make that much of a difference? The irons are still cast in the same way, the G15´s have gotten great reviews. The company gets to make more money and people still get great clubs. It doesn´t make a difference to me where they´re made.

[3 wiggle]

I would say that America is great for many reasons. We are a free nation for starters and have always stood on the side of righteousness and freedom when the world asked. We have made great sacrifices over the years for strangers in foreign lands who are always quick to turn their backs on us when the tables turn. We have young men buried all over this world who died for the idea of freedom and the principles that guide us. Our freedom and success has been paid in full through the blood of our young men throughout the ages and the sweat of the American laborer. We have also been the birthplace for many innovations and ideas...from mass production to flight.

I will assume however that your question of " why is American so great" is in regards to golf clubs made here. Please capitalize that A in America by the way.

Its important to us as Americans because in the past we had a strong manufacturing base. As that base erodes we loose more and more jobs. I live in the Detroit Michigan area and our un-employment is in the 25% range. There are many reasons why this has happened so i need not start naming them. By buying products made here, we are trying to help the few remaining company's that employee Americans. I have no doubt that club heads cast in china are just fine but given the choice i would support an American worker as opposed to a communist Chinese. Thats the reason for me anyways. I have many many things that are made elswere, but as i said...given the choice...

[tristanhilton85]

I would say that America is great for many reasons. We are a free nation for starters and have always stood on the side of righteousness and freedom when the world asked. We have made great sacrifices over the years for strangers in foreign lands who are always quick to turn their backs on us when the tables turn. We have young men buried all over this world who died for the idea of freedom and the principles that guide us. Our freedom and success has been paid in full through the blood of our young men throughout the ages and the sweat of the American laborer. We have also been the birthplace for many innovations and ideas...from mass production to flight.

Agreed... the reason to buy US made clubs is to support manufacturing in America and not because of a quality issue. That being said, I really have no idea where my clubs were made as I bought them on a budget and they were the right clubs at the right price. However, in the future when I have more money to spend this would be one factor I would consider.

[Shorty]

I would say that America is great for many reasons. We are a free nation for starters and have always stood on the side of righteousness and freedom when the world asked.

Albeit very late, extremely selectively or when it wasn't asked for or needed. Interesting term, "righteousness", isn't it? America is a fantastic country, but I doubt whether that reputation is founded on its record in foreign affairs, far from it. As for "freedom", and freedom of expresion, see how free you feel when you express an opinion or embrace a lifestyle that doesn't fit in with the mainstream. Your post reminds me of the Vietnam vet in The Big Lebowski. But.....I pretty much agree with you and know where you're coming from. It's just that wonderful as most Americans are, a lot really don't see themselves as folk from other countries see them. The OP's implication that American made is better and that Chinese made is poorly made is symptomatic of this prejudice.

[ronaldkuntoro]

How about clubs made in Japan? You can choose Mizuno, Honma, Miura or Maruman.... but they are more expensive than average golf clubs. Especially Honma Irons, they are about $2500 a set.

[3 wiggle]

Albeit very late, extremely selectively or when it wasn't asked for or needed. Interesting term, "righteousness", isn't it? America is a fantastic country, but I doubt whether that reputation is founded on its record in foreign affairs, far from it. As for "freedom", and freedom of expresion, see how free you feel when you express an opinion or embrace a lifestyle that doesn't fit in with the mainstream.

My goal here is not to pick a fight so please dont take this as rude. This is the last i will say on this topic. I have had the opportunity to travel to many countries in my lifetime. I will say that America is probably the most tolerant of the minority that i have seen. To such a degree in fact that our legislative body seem to cater to the minority in a lot of respects. I see this first hand as i am a minority in many respects and have had many opportunity's to succeed as an American. I have seen in my lifetime poor U.S foreign policy, great foreign policy, and more importantly i have also seen a very generous nation both financially and militarily. We are not a perfect nation, but i do believe we strive to be, and i do believe we are a great and strong nation as a result. I view the American ideal as freedom. Personal freedom, religious freedom, and the absolute right to the pursuit of happiness. I will not apologize for my view of the American ideal. That is what i meant when i said righteousness. As far as being compared to the Nam vet in The Big Lebowski...League play smokey!!! LEAGUE PLAY!!!

[3 wiggle]

To get back on topic...my ping G5 irons are not made in the U.S. I just purchased them new last week after being fit and they do not say U.S.A anywhere on the club. It appears that all ping irons are now cast over seas and assembled here. They did ship from Az. though. I thought it was kind of funny that i could still buy new G5s. I was very happy though as these are my favorite irons of the G series.

[jamo]

"What's wrong with china?

If they go from Made in US to Made in China, the costs to make the clubs go down, but why would they charge less? They keep them the same and make a higher profit. People don't generally go looking for golf clubs and say "Made in China, damn, I'll never buy those" because nearly all are Made in China.

BUT, if they go from Made in China to Made in US the costs to manufacture clubs goes up, and because people will perceive them as higher quality and supportive of the local economy, the can charge more for them and they will see minimal (if any at all) drop off in demand.

Why is america so great?

Part of it is quality, part of it is patriotism, part of it is principle.

[peter]

if all clubs would be twice as expensive if they were not made in China how come Pings aren't. Like the rest of us you are conned by this media nonsense. Wake up western world - Corporations are making even more money by making stuff in China

[Golfs-for-Fun]

Originally Posted by ohiolefty

PING clubs are made in the USA (for the most part).

Many/most companies have the components forged/made in the USA but are assembled, tested etc. here.

My dad was a steelworker. American steel died because, among other reasons, it's become much cheaper to make steel in Asia. It's cheaper to make many goods in Asia. Thus, 95% of golf clubheads are made there, shafts, grips, most parts are made in the East.

Id bet we can figure out who will win any war between the USA and China if we're getting our steel from Asia

My home town had a big steel plant here years ago. Its a ghosttown now.

Very sad. It employed a lot of locals and paid really well.

[Golfs-for-Fun]

Wow.

I was checking my guns and they are all made in USA.

Huh. We dont make much here other than weapons

[jamo]

Wow. I was checking my guns and they are all made in USA. Huh. We dont make much here other than weapons :-D

Rice too. We grow a lot of rice, ironically.

[allin]

Actually as developing countries wage rates increase transportation costs increase and they start having environmental concerns I anticipate some of that manufacturing may return. Not a lot of jobs will be created as it will be in small run high tech areas or areas where firms are concerned with technology theft.

[x129]

Lasted I checked more manufacturing is done in the us than in the past. The US doesn't make a ton of consumer product but we still crank out a lot of durgs, turbines, heavy equipment and aircraft. The problem is that it used 1/3rd the number of people to do that manufacturing compared to the 70s so the number of manufacturing jobs has dropped.

Originally Posted by allin

Actually as developing countries wage rates increase transportation costs increase and they start having environmental concerns I anticipate some of that manufacturing may return. Not a lot of jobs will be created as it will be in small run high tech areas or areas where firms are concerned with technology theft.

[WUTiger]

I teach in a college business school, and this semester one of my courses is International Management. For International Operations, we're doing a segment I put together on the globalization of golf club manufacturing.

One thing  I do is save the "origin" tags on different golf clubs I buy. It generally tells where the shaft and head were made, and where it was assembled. I also look at other clubs I don't buy to get this info.

Common patterns from the tags: Many components are made in China, or Taiwan, with clubs assembled in the USA. Check out those tags next time you're in a golf shop.

[GaijinGolfer]

Originally Posted by ohiolefty

PING clubs are made in the USA (for the most part).

Many/most companies have the components forged/made in the USA but are assembled, tested etc. here.

My dad was a steelworker. American steel died because, among other reasons, it's become much cheaper to make steel in Asia. It's cheaper to make many goods in Asia. Thus, 95% of golf clubheads are made there, shafts, grips, most parts are made in the East.

Wrong.  Even Pings are made in China now.

To the OP, the best you are going to find are clubs that are ASSEMBLED in the USA.  Theres no longer such a thing as clubs that are cast or forged in the USA.