Are Mizuno off the rack clubs manufactured in Japan?

[ronaldkuntoro]

I just talked with a Sales Rep who works at a Mizuno Authorized Retailer.   It came to the point where we talked if the clubs are imported from Japan.   He said Mizuno clubs in the states are imported from a China manufacture.   He went on saying the only original clubs from Japan is Miura and PRGR (I never heard this brand before).    Then I mentioned Honma.  He said even Honma is not really manufactured in Japan.

This suprised me since Mizuno clubs aint that low cost and they are Forged.   And Japanese are well known for forging their metal products.

Can anybody confirm this unreliable statement?

[Leftygolfer]

He's right.  They are not manufactured in Japan.  Compared to the cost Miura, they are low cost.  If I'm not mistaken, KZGs are forged in Japan as well.  But none of the big brands are forged in Japan.

[Stretch]

Mizuno has traditionally had a relationship with the Japanese Chuo foundry -- which along with Endo and Kyoei are considered the finest club forgers in the world. There are endless arguments online about exactly which models are made where, however, as most of these companies also have factories in places like Thailand, Vietnam etc.

Does it matter worth a damn, probably not.

[sean_miller]

Originally Posted by Stretch

Mizuno has traditionally had a relationship with the Japanese Chuo foundry -- which along with Endo and Kyoei are considered the finest club forgers in the world. There are endless arguments online about exactly which models are made where, however, as most of these companies also have factories in places like Thailand, Vietnam etc.

Does it matter worth a damn, probably not.

It certainly does it you have a vintage set of Mizuno blades and want to look downward at the guys gaming the new ones!

Seriously though I have a few sets of blades from 1987 to 1997 and based on "feel", the best are the Ben Hogan irons and the worst (by a mile) are the Titleists. The Mizunos are the softest feeling, but for some reason I don't really care for that. Of all my blades, the best overall (feel, results, cachet) are not even forged - they're "form forged" whatever the H that is?!?

Edit: I gave away my Titleist blades (and a Callaway BB driver) to a coworker for his son. They went to a good home, so that makes me happy.

[WUTiger]

Golf club manufacturing has been a global industry for more than a decade.

I taught an International Management class this fall, and we looked at golf clubs in our chapter on International Operations. OEMs often have other companies fabricate components such as shafts, heads and grips; many of thes companies are outside the USA. Then, these components can be assembled in the USA, or other countries.

Japan has top-notch steel forging and fabricating operations, but Taiwan and especially mainland China have lower-cost, quality operations. If you subcontract fabrication of clubheads outside the USA, however, there's increased chance of counterfeit clubheads, or extra clubheads slipping out the back door of the subcontracting foundaries.

The country-of-origin labels from clubs I have bought recently serve as examples:

Club	Shaft Source	Head Source	Club Assembled In
Cleveland CG14 SW	Taiwan	China	USA
TaylorMade Raylor 19º	China	China	USA
Callaway X20 Tour	USA	??	China*

* The X20 Tours came from Callaway Preowned, and had PX 5.0 shafts. I suspect these were destined for the Japan market (lighter flex) but didn't sell there. CallPre has a load of 6.0 Tours, but not many in regular shaft.

[sneakyshort]

Originally Posted by ronaldkuntoro

I just talked with a Sales Rep who works at a Mizuno Authorized Retailer.   It came to the point where we talked if the clubs are imported from Japan.   He said Mizuno clubs in the states are imported from a China manufacture.   He went on saying the only original clubs from Japan is Miura and PRGR (I never heard this brand before).    Then I mentioned Honma.  He said even Honma is not really manufactured in Japan.

This suprised me since Mizuno clubs aint that low cost and they are Forged.   And Japanese are well known for forging their metal products.

Can anybody confirm this unreliable statement?

All Mizuno heads are Forged in Japan and then finished in China. The finishing company was in Japan but moved to China to expand their foundry

[sneakyshort]

Originally Posted by Leftygolfer

He's right.  They are not manufactured in Japan.  Compared to the cost Miura, they are low cost.  If I'm not mistaken, KZGs are forged in Japan as well.  But none of the big brands are forged in Japan.

This is 100% incorrect. All Mizuno heads are Forged in Japan.

[ronaldkuntoro]

Originally Posted by sneakyshort

Quote:

Originally Posted by ronaldkuntoro

I just talked with a Sales Rep who works at a Mizuno Authorized Retailer.   It came to the point where we talked if the clubs are imported from Japan.   He said Mizuno clubs in the states are imported from a China manufacture.   He went on saying the only original clubs from Japan is Miura and PRGR (I never heard this brand before).    Then I mentioned Honma.  He said even Honma is not really manufactured in Japan.

This suprised me since Mizuno clubs aint that low cost and they are Forged.   And Japanese are well known for forging their metal products.

Can anybody confirm this unreliable statement?

All Mizuno heads are Forged in Japan and then finished in China. The finishing company was in Japan but moved to China to expand their foundry

Are you certain about this?   How did you know about that?

[sneakyshort]

Originally Posted by ronaldkuntoro

Are you certain about this?   How did you know about that?

Yes I am 100% certain and I have worked with Mizuno for a number of years. Look on a iron box and it says Forged in Japan, Finished in China and assembled in U.S.A.

[ronaldkuntoro]

Originally Posted by sneakyshort

Quote:

Originally Posted by ronaldkuntoro

Are you certain about this?   How did you know about that?

Yes I am 100% certain and I have worked with Mizuno for a number of years. Look on a iron box and it says Forged in Japan, Finished in China and assembled in U.S.A.

Thanks!   Good to hear that.   Forged in Japan means a big difference.... as Japan is known really good in forging metals.   Just like their Samurai Blades.....

[sean_miller]

Originally Posted by sneakyshort

Quote:

Originally Posted by ronaldkuntoro

Are you certain about this?   How did you know about that?

Yes I am 100% certain and I have worked with Mizuno for a number of years. Look on a iron box and it says Forged in Japan, Finished in China and assembled in U.S.A.

Sounds like IKEA furniture. Mine is assembled in Canada.

[B-Con]

Sounds like IKEA furniture. Mine is assembled in Canada.

My IKEA furniture is usually assembled in my living room, where are you getting this pre-assembled IKEA stuff? Or did I misinterpret your post? ;-)

[sean_miller]

Mine is in Canada.

[ronaldkuntoro]

Originally Posted by B-Con

Quote:

Originally Posted by sean_miller

IKEA furnitures are usually assembled by the buyers..... WHERE did you get your IKEA??

[jamo]

sean_miller is from Canada......