Jump to content
Note: This thread is 2905 days old. We appreciate that you found this thread instead of starting a new one, but if you plan to post here please make sure it's still relevant. If not, please start a new topic. Thank you!

Recommended Posts

considering set custom irons have never been fitted always have bought of the rack clubs. have always looked for forgiveness as the deciding factor in my purchase. just wondering if custom clubs are as forgiving as big name clubs. would like to hear good and bad aspects of both thanks


Hey Shawnie.  I'm guessing by "custom clubs" you're referring to a set of component heads that are knock-offs or generic that someone will build to your specs locally? 

This was very popular about 15-20 years ago and many players went in this direction.  The selling point was you could buy a custom built set of clubs made just for you for half the price of a name brand set.  This spawned a lot of guys to start building clubs out of their garage and companies like Golfsmith who sold all the items to assemble clubs did really well.  This is an example of a typical inexpensive head used for a custom set:

P5G-2.jpg.a4b554107db54c5bc70e54f6e12c1b68.jpg

Many of the other companies that sell components now make excellent stuff (Wishon, KZG, etc) but they are about the same price as a major OEM.

Any of the major brand clubs will build a custom set as well.  Many retailers include the fitting with the purchase of clubs, so you can get a name brand of clubs custom fit for you.  

So what are the advantages or disadvantages of one or the other?  A name brand set is built to tighter tolerences with better materials.  They come with a warranty and the companies stand behind their products.  The only benefit of a custom set is the price.  If you are fitted properly and a good club builder assembles the irons it's possible that you will have a nice set that plays well for much less money.  Or you might get what you pay for.  Remember...a custom set of knock-offs cost much less up-front, but if you ever decide to get a different set the knock-offs will have no value on the back end.  You won't be able to trade them in and they will be tough to sell, even for cheap.  A pro-line set is more expensive up front, but it will have at least some value should you decide to trade or sell them down the road.  

Buying a name brand pro-line set is the better choice when all factors are considered.

  • Upvote 3

Bridgestone j40 445 w/ Graphite Design AD DJ-7
Callaway Steelhead Plus 3 wood w/ RCH Pro Series 3.2
Adams Idea Pro hybrids (3 & 4) w/ Aldila VS Proto 
Bridgestone j33 CB (5-PW) w/ original Rifle 5.5
Bridgestone West Coast 52*, j40 satin 56* & 60* w/ DG S-300
Odyssey White Hot XG #9
Bridgestone B330-RX

Awards, Achievements, and Accolades

Respectfully disagree a bit. If a five iron is made of stainless steel ( or in some cases forged carbon steel), weighs what it is supossed to, uses a quality shaft and grip and is the proper length and lie it is a great five iron that works perfectly. If anything OEM companies tend to use commercial grade shafts that have the same name as top brand shafts but are produced at a cheaper price and quality. The only real difference between a properly built component and an OEM is the price (OEM'S must recoup tremendous marketing budgets) and the brand name status that many golfers just can't live without. If your buying anything and the main motivation is reselling it your buying priorities are off. 


  • Moderator
  On 3/2/2017 at 3:40 PM, tinker said:

Respectfully disagree a bit. If a five iron is made of stainless steel ( or in some cases forged carbon steel), weighs what it is supossed to, uses a quality shaft and grip and is the proper length and lie it is a great five iron that works perfectly. If anything OEM companies tend to use commercial grade shafts that have the same name as top brand shafts but are produced at a cheaper price and quality. The only real difference between a properly built component and an OEM is the price (OEM'S must recoup tremendous marketing budgets) and the brand name status that many golfers just can't live without. If your buying anything and the main motivation is reselling it your buying priorities are off. 

Expand  

I'm not sure why you asked in the first place, it seems as if you've answered your own question, you believe that locally assembled clubs are just as good as the name brands, but cheaper.  I'm not sure I agree, I believe that the major manufacturers of quality clubs maintain higher standards.  I don't believe that the KBS Tour shaft I got in my Titleist irons is any different from the KBS Tour shaft you could get in your locally assembled knock-offs.  I won't tell you that locally assembled clubs are bad, or bad value.  As @1badbadger said, if you find a skilled local fitter/assembler, there's a reasonable chance you'll end up with a good set of clubs.  

Please notice that I don't care about resale value.  I generally keep a set of irons for 6 or 8 years or longer, resale matters nothing to me.  

  • Upvote 2

Dave

:callaway: Rogue SubZero Driver

:titleist: 915F 15 Fairway, 816 H1 19 Hybrid, AP2 4 iron to PW, Vokey 52, 56, and 60 wedges, ProV1 balls 
:ping: G5i putter, B60 version
 :ping:Hoofer Bag, complete with Newport Cup logo
:footjoy::true_linkswear:, and Ashworth shoes

the only thing wrong with this car is the nut behind the wheel.

Awards, Achievements, and Accolades

  On 3/2/2017 at 3:40 PM, tinker said:

Respectfully disagree a bit. If a five iron is made of stainless steel ( or in some cases forged carbon steel), weighs what it is supossed to, uses a quality shaft and grip and is the proper length and lie it is a great five iron that works perfectly. If anything OEM companies tend to use commercial grade shafts that have the same name as top brand shafts but are produced at a cheaper price and quality. The only real difference between a properly built component and an OEM is the price (OEM'S must recoup tremendous marketing budgets) and the brand name status that many golfers just can't live without. If your buying anything and the main motivation is reselling it your buying priorities are off. 

Expand  

That's the issue tinker...when it comes to clones or knock-offs, often times a lower grade of stainless steel is used, it doesn't weigh what it's supposed to, quality shafts and grips aren't always used and the specs are not held to tight tolerances. The consistency from club to club can be very poor.  And I'll say again, I'm not referring to the reputable component companies who make high quality heads...those are original designs that are top-shelf products and will cost almost as much as a pro-line set in some cases.  I totally agree that a properly built set of irons from a company like KZG, Wishon, Geotech or similar will play as good as anything out there, but the clone stuff doesn't.

I also didn't say that the main motivation is reselling, but I've been doing this long enough to have seen it many times...golfers will get new clubs.  Some guys go through equipment more than others, but is it really going to be the last set you ever buy?  For many players, trade-in can be a consideration.  The OP asked about the good and bad aspects of both...I feel it was a legitimate point.

  • Upvote 2

Bridgestone j40 445 w/ Graphite Design AD DJ-7
Callaway Steelhead Plus 3 wood w/ RCH Pro Series 3.2
Adams Idea Pro hybrids (3 & 4) w/ Aldila VS Proto 
Bridgestone j33 CB (5-PW) w/ original Rifle 5.5
Bridgestone West Coast 52*, j40 satin 56* & 60* w/ DG S-300
Odyssey White Hot XG #9
Bridgestone B330-RX

Awards, Achievements, and Accolades

+1 to Badbadger.  Components like Wishon, Alpha make oem quality heads but are too close to oem in price.  Knockoff heads, you're spot on..depending on your level of play you might not care but if you care enough to get fitted so the right thing.

  • Upvote 1
Awards, Achievements, and Accolades

  On 3/2/2017 at 5:27 PM, pgone said:

If you dont play them, why are you stuck on the name KNOCK-OFF??

Expand  

Is this question for me?  Not sure what you mean...when a company makes a club that very closely resembles a pro-line club, it is referred to as a "clone" or a "knock-off".  These are two different ways to say the same thing.  A "counterfeit" is a club that was made to look exactly like a pro-line model with the intent to deceive consumers.  

11595153-r11.jpg.09483edfb3dd9e3fe9e56b16f98ea924.jpg

Counterfeit-SpeedBlade-0.thumb.jpg.daea1b95b1dc0ba772597fa4b7b91065.jpg 

Bridgestone j40 445 w/ Graphite Design AD DJ-7
Callaway Steelhead Plus 3 wood w/ RCH Pro Series 3.2
Adams Idea Pro hybrids (3 & 4) w/ Aldila VS Proto 
Bridgestone j33 CB (5-PW) w/ original Rifle 5.5
Bridgestone West Coast 52*, j40 satin 56* & 60* w/ DG S-300
Odyssey White Hot XG #9
Bridgestone B330-RX

Awards, Achievements, and Accolades

Didn't necessarily mean steel shafts so much but you can go on component sites and find OEM graphite shafts for twenty bucks all day long. You got to know they're getting rid of them and at least getting their money back. OEM'S use taper tip shafts for the most part to save the tip trimming process. Do you think that assembly line weight sorts and frequency checks every shaft, I doubt it. Do any OEM drivers ever tell you the titanium grade they're using( 9-6-4, SP700 etc.). They build a brand which in turn creates a quality image. Do you think a 100 dollar North Face fleece works better than a 20 dollar one from penny's. as a 20 year ( now retired) golf shop owner I bet I played every brand golf club known to man. 


ShawnieD here I was asking mainly bout component clubs not knockoffs. Wishon clubs or other comparable clubs but no knockoffs for sure


I heard somewhere that the Dynacraft Prophet CB was great.  I've never had component irons but I did have component heads for LD.  Just stick with a reputable company like Wishon, Alpha....

Awards, Achievements, and Accolades

  On 3/2/2017 at 6:49 AM, 1badbadger said:

...Any of the major brand clubs will build a custom set as well.  Many retailers include the fitting with the purchase of clubs, so you can get a name brand of clubs custom fit for  you. ...  

Expand  

If a fitter at a golf shop fits you for a major OEM set of clubs, like Ping or Callaway, you are getting a custom fit. The shop orders the clubs from the factory, and the custom fitted set costs no more than the off-the-rack set (unless you opt for really exotic shaft or grip upgrades).

As for companies that bill themselves at custom fitters, there's three types:

  • The upper-end shops are certified by the major OEMs. These shops order clubs that may have the shafts in the heads, but are uncut and can be trimmed and gripped on the spot for the customer. I mentioned Club Champion fitters as an example in a thread on Dick's/GG/Golfsmith. GolfTEC operates on the edge of this class.
  • Wishon fitters are in their own class - really good Wishon components and skillful fitting, but not as expensive as the upper-end shops.
  • The brand X shops often buy component materials such as Hireko and will give you a custom set. The quality of the set depends on the skill of the fitter, and the quality of the components. I played with Pro Tour Black irons (Eye2 clones) for 14 years; in 1994, the heads cost $17 each rather than $12 each, and the PTBs were excellent clubs - could even defeat small rocks without denting! But, you don't know what you have until it's too late. (I was really lucky on the PTBs.) And, as @DaveP043 said, don't count on much resale value.
  • Upvote 1

Focus, connect and follow through!

  • Completed KBS Education Seminar (online, 2015)
  • GolfWorks Clubmaking AcademyFitting, Assembly & Repair School (2012)

Driver:  :touredge: EXS 10.5Β°, weights neutral   ||  FWs:  :callaway: Rogue 4W + 7W
Hybrid:  :callaway: Big Bertha OS 4H at 22Β°  ||  Irons:  :callaway: Mavrik MAX 5i-PW
Wedges:  :callaway: MD3: 48Β°, 54Β°... MD4: 58Β° ||  Putter:image.png.b6c3447dddf0df25e482bf21abf775ae.pngInertial NM SL-583F, 34"  
Ball:  image.png.f0ca9194546a61407ba38502672e5ecf.png QStar Tour - Divide  ||  Bag: :sunmountain: Three 5 stand bag

Awards, Achievements, and Accolades

Ok guys , I got it now...This Forum is not how well you play the front of the club ...Its about the name on the back


  • Moderator
  On 3/2/2017 at 5:27 PM, pgone said:

If you dont play them, why are you stuck on the name KNOCK-OFF??

Expand  
  On 3/4/2017 at 6:35 PM, pgone said:

Ok guys , I got it now...This Forum is not how well you play the front of the club ...Its about the name on the back

Expand  

Huh?  Based on the amount of free instruction available, and the fairly detailed information provided by a several of the posters in this thread, we're entirely about playing well.  Perhaps it would be a good thing if you offered your opinions, with some details or backing data or references.  Or at least explain your objection to any of the opinions already expressed here.  One or two sentence complaints aren't exactly contributing to the discussion.

Oh, welcome to TheSandTrap.    

  • Upvote 1

Dave

:callaway: Rogue SubZero Driver

:titleist: 915F 15 Fairway, 816 H1 19 Hybrid, AP2 4 iron to PW, Vokey 52, 56, and 60 wedges, ProV1 balls 
:ping: G5i putter, B60 version
 :ping:Hoofer Bag, complete with Newport Cup logo
:footjoy::true_linkswear:, and Ashworth shoes

the only thing wrong with this car is the nut behind the wheel.

Awards, Achievements, and Accolades

Dave, Thank you for the welcome... I am 70 yrs old, Master club builder for 45 yrs,owner of 7 aces-2 double eagles and have never owned or played a name brand club. Sometimes in this life it just happens. Just kept a promise to myself to help folks who had no idea how to play golf to see an affordable side.Just for fun-- How many on this forum have Drivers coated with TITANIUM CARBONITRIDE?


  On 3/4/2017 at 7:15 PM, pgone said:

Dave, Thank you for the welcome... I am 70 yrs old, Master club builder for 45 yrs,owner of 7 aces-2 double eagles and have never owned or played a name brand club. Sometimes in this life it just happens. Just kept a promise to myself to help folks who had no idea how to play golf to see an affordable side.Just for fun-- How many on this forum have Drivers coated with TITANIUM CARBONITRIDE?

Expand  

You've obviously been around the game a long time and have considerable experience, not only playing but club building as well. I respect that.  You also seem to be defensive when anything less than positive is mentioned about non OEM clubs, specifically lower end clubs.  If you've been a club builder for 45 years, you've certainly heard the term "knock-off" or "clone" before.  That's not a derogatory term...that's just what they are called!  I'm curious what you call them, 

To be honest, we'd love to hear your viewpoints on how beginners can play affordably, but you haven't offered any insights on it...just some defensive comments on what others (including myself) have posted.  But remember, just like you have opinions based on your experience, I have mine too.  There is nothing wrong with a well thought-out, constructive debate.

  • Upvote 1

Bridgestone j40 445 w/ Graphite Design AD DJ-7
Callaway Steelhead Plus 3 wood w/ RCH Pro Series 3.2
Adams Idea Pro hybrids (3 & 4) w/ Aldila VS Proto 
Bridgestone j33 CB (5-PW) w/ original Rifle 5.5
Bridgestone West Coast 52*, j40 satin 56* & 60* w/ DG S-300
Odyssey White Hot XG #9
Bridgestone B330-RX

Awards, Achievements, and Accolades

My view is, right now, for drivers, you are probably getting the best bang for your buck by going with a major brand, with models that are a few years old (from places like Rock Bottom Golf). With adjustable drivers, you can always customize a shaft later by ordering whatever shaft you want, in the flex you want, cut to the length you want, installed into the appropriate adaptor for your brand name head. And you can order that from one of the component companies, like Golfsmith or DiamondTour, if you like. So might as well have the brand name head to start. 

But for irons, I think the best bang for the buck for those on tight budgets might still be the component companies like Alpha, Hireko, GolfWorks, or Gigagolf.  I just think iron technolgy has changed less dramatically over time, and older tried and true designs will generally work fine. And with cast 431 stainless steel, people are kidding themselves if they think there are going to be any higher quality steel or tighter tolerances on major brands. What you might get on more expensive clubs are a nicer finish and cosmetics, and in some cases more complicated designs with use of composite materials to provide some dampening and better feel. In some cases, there may also be newer face techologies which do provide some increased forgiveness on off center hits, but I doubt that the differences there are that great. So I think getting into the right type of club head for your game, and getting it built to your specs, are probably more important than the brand. 

 


  On 3/2/2017 at 5:06 AM, ShawnieD said:

considering set custom irons have never been fitted always have bought of the rack clubs. have always looked for forgiveness as the deciding factor in my purchase. just wondering if custom clubs are as forgiving as big name clubs. would like to hear good and bad aspects of both thanks

Expand  

I  have never been custom fit to a degree but I did have a gap test at which the pro suggested some modifications (1/2 " off irons) my game wasnt at its best just before the test but I had it booked for a while so didnt want to back out..the changes I made helped control with no loss of distance, my old off the shelf set of irons were fine at standard length..ide definately suggest the custom method if your serious about bettering your game,if not for the fine tuning but for the peace of mind knowing your clubs are made to measure so to speak,its always inspired confidence in my game knowing that..and golfs just as much about the mental aspect as the physical.


Note: This thread is 2905 days old. We appreciate that you found this thread instead of starting a new one, but if you plan to post here please make sure it's still relevant. If not, please start a new topic. Thank you!

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now


  • Want to join this community?

    We'd love to have you!

    Sign Up
  • TST Partners

    PlayBetter
    TourStriker PlaneMate
    Golfer's Journal
    ShotScope
    The Stack System
    FitForGolf
    FlightScope Mevo
    Direct: Mevo, Mevo+, and Pro Package.

    Coupon Codes (save 10-20%): "IACAS" for Mevo/Stack/FitForGolf, "IACASPLUS" for Mevo+/Pro Package, and "THESANDTRAP" for ShotScope. 15% off TourStriker (no code).
  • Posts

Γ—
Γ—
  • Create New...

Important Information

Welcome to TST! Signing up is free, and you'll see fewer ads and can talk with fellow golf enthusiasts! By using TST, you agree to our Terms of Use, our Privacy Policy, and our Guidelines.

The popup will be closed in 10 seconds...