Experience with Wishon or other custom club components?

[Midpack]

I didn't find anything using search. The best local clubfitter near me uses Wishon components to build custom clubs, and I've read about Tom Wishon. Do any of you have any experience with Wishon club head components? Or other custom club head components?

http://wishongolf.com/designs/iron-sets/

Edited June 13, 2017 by Midpack

[Hacker James]

i could be mistaken, but I believe that Tom Wishon said that he only sells his components to approved fitters and not to individuals. His reason I would assume is that he would not like to have his product judged on the basis of having just anyone build or fit a golfer.

[Patch]

I played my best golf using component pieces, and parts. My club fitter knew his stuff, and was also a very qualified swing instructor. The best of both worlds. 

I would have no problem recommending component clubs to anyone who has access to a qualified club builder. The quality, and playability of component clubs,  is on par with big name club providers. 

As for Wishon components, I have never heard anything bad about his products. 

[Midpack]

FWIW, I've since learned that Tom Wishon retired last Oct and sold his company to Diamond Golf Intl in the UK, so I assume Tom Wishon's involvement has/will fade. What that means for the components he designed, I have no idea.

http://www.diamondgolf.co.uk/home-2/manufacturers/heads/wishon-golf/.

 

Edited June 13, 2017 by Midpack

[Hacker James]

I recently spoke with Gene Bonk, owner of ADS Golf who is one of Tom Wishon's clients and a past head at San Diego Golf Academy.  He said that Tom Wishon is still hands on, but that Diamond has more of a distribution role.  As mentioned above, it remains to be seen how long he intends to be active. His clubs are excellent, probably better than most, but since not a main stream brand, would not bring much in the way of resale or trade.

[billchao]

7 minutes ago, Hacker James said:

since not a main stream brand, would not bring much in the way of resale or trade.

Which is exactly how he wants it. His entire business model is based on a custom fitting process to create clubs designed for each individual person; he doesn't recommend buying used Wishon clubs that may not suit the second owner.

[Hacker James]

@billchao Precisely!

[kenstl]

On 6/13/2017 at 8:56 AM, Midpack said:

I didn't find anything using search. The best local clubfitter near me uses Wishon components to build custom clubs, and I've read about Tom Wishon. Do any of you have any experience with Wishon club head components? Or other custom club head components?

http://wishongolf.com/designs/iron-sets/

I started off 4 years ago with a Wishon 919 driver after going through a fitting.  It really improved my driving results then I added a hybrid, then the Sterling Irons, and then a 4wood over the next few years.  I have been very pleased with the equipment and as many have said, a really good fitting has a lot to do with it.  Prior to that, I played Mizuno irons forever, and then had a season or two with Maltby TE Irons which I have to say, are also great irons if you are looking for a forged head with a lot of perimeter weighting.  I agree, resale is not so good, but from a quality standpoint, I think you can put them up to any of the major manufacturers.  Whatever you decide, make sure you go through a "real" fitting.  

[Buckeyebowman]

I second these emotions and I don't play Wishon clubs, I only read his book In Search of the Perfect Golf Club. The breadth and depth of knowledge in that book kind of boggled my mind! He knows club design forwards, backwards, and inside out!

There's huge difference between quality component clubs like Wishon and Maltby, and the cheap knock offs. Plus, if you look at the Wishon Golf website you will find a listing of Wishon qualified fitters.

[Hacker James]

45 minutes ago, Buckeyebowman said:

I second these emotions and I don't play Wishon clubs, I only read his book In Search of the Perfect Golf Club. The breadth and depth of knowledge in that book kind of boggled my mind! He knows club design forwards, backwards, and inside out!

There's huge difference between quality component clubs like Wishon and Maltby, and the cheap knock offs. Plus, if you look at the Wishon Golf website you will find a listing of Wishon qualified fitters.

Yes, that is how I found ADS Golf and it is only a few miles from me and on surface streets.

[scotth]

Way back in the day met Tom Wishon a few times when he was with still the man at Golfsmith.  I told him I had worked there in college when it was still called Custom Golf Clubs, and we had a really nice conversation about club building and components.  

Every time after that I saw him he would say hi and chat and he would tell me about the latest.  

I think if you get a chance to have a club maker trained by him in his system you should definitely go that route.  

I, myself am trying to find a club maker in this area to do the same.  

Edited July 24, 2017 by scotth

[WUTiger]

On 6/13/2017 at 3:16 PM, Patch said:

My club fitter knew his stuff, and was also a very qualified swing instructor. The best of both worlds. 

I played for 14 years with component irons. The small company was Pro Tour, and had a solid following in Texas and Oklahoma. I got Pro Tour Blacks - a Ping Eye2 clone - fitted with True Temper Dynalite S300 shafts (high launch cousin of Dynamic Golfs).

The fitter who build the clubs also gave me lessons, and used heads 2* flat in lie. This straightened my irons, which had tended to miss left once I got into midseason each year and was moving through the ball well. The heads were premium - $17 each rather than $12 - and proved very durable.

I quit playing them when I got to where heavy stiff shafts were too much to swing. But, the wedge grooves would still skin a ball if you really juiced it.

Interesting side story: In late 1990s, Ping sued the Pro Tour company for patent infringement. Ping won, and as part of the settlement all unsold Pro Tour Black iron sets and unfitted heads were melted down.

Good fitters locate a source of open stock heads, and generally use name-brand or certain botique shafts. The open stock heads tend to have a life cycle of 3-5 years with few changes to the model.

A good fitter can get you durable clubs with decent quality control on specs for quite a bit less than name-brand clubs. But, component clubs have little or no resale value outside the comunity where the fitter operates.

[djake]

For what it is worth I find Tom Wishon amazing.  His knowledge of clubs is at or beyond a PHD level plus he actually answers emails and will carry on in multiple back and forth sessions, even since selling his company and going into "semi retirement".  He truly cares about trying to get the individual golfer the very best.  I have a 919thi Driver and 929 5 Wood and 929 7 wood.  I have found that the 929 fairway woods the easiest fairway woods I have hit and the hotest, so has my wife and she will be soon taking my 929 5 Wood.  My nephew has his Sterling Irons and were he is very happy with them and is thrilled with the single length.  Great stuff!  Currently I am setting my 919thi Driver aside and got fit for a new Driver.  A Cobra F7+ with Alidila NV 44 Magnum shaft, but true to Tom Wishon thought the shaft has been cut down to 44.75" for better control. I may end up getting the NV 44 Magnum yet installed into the 919thi but I want to play it for a while.  Wishon's stuff is second to none and his quality control is very well above all of the major off the rack club makers.  Regardless of what you purchase get professional fit!  And when you do all clubs are truly component clubs at that time and will out perform off the rack purchase.