Hello all...this is my first post on the forum. A little background info: played golf ALOT growing up (was a 8 hcp)...took ten years off and picked this wonderful game back up last summer. I've been playing Titleist DCI 962's for the past year and have managed to get my Hcp to 13. I recently hit a bunch of demo clubs and fell in love with the Callaway X-Tour's and Taylormade R7 driver. Steep prices....so I took a shot with the clone/component versions of these clubs (rifled steel shaft in irons). Played two rounds and hit a few buckets with them thus far (side-by side comparison) and here's my results:
The R7 clone hits identically per my perception...though the TM R7 looks to have slightly "sturdier" construction (around the threaded area for the weights)
The X-tour clone performed on-par with the TM irons when hit in the sweet spot (about the same ydg as my 962's). However, I did notice that mis-hits were more favorable in the TM irons...didn't lose much distance/line with these irons when mis-hit. The clones typically help their line when mis-hit but sometimes lost almost an entire club in distance.
Why clones you may ask. I wanted custom fit clubs (+0.75-1 in shaft and +2* lie) and I couldn't afford to do so with brand-name clubs. Hopefully I will learn to hit more sweet spots this way!!!...doubt it
You can get some very nice forged used clubs on ebay and have them bent.....the quality of clones are to be questioned. Hence the term clone....if your talking a componet that is different. Give Custom-golf-sales a PM and he can fix you up.
Welcome from another "newbie". I currently have set of knock-offs of PING. You know the PING i3+ series clubs? Mine are a custom made, knockoff copy, called Z-Tour-3+ that I had made for me. They play just as well as PING, but are not an exact duplicate, illegal "clone" if you will... My nextdoor neighbor gave me the name and phone number of a guy who makes clubs in his basement, and I called him up and took it from there...
I have heard of people using a driver called "King Snake" which is a direct, blatant, illegal ripoff of King Cobra's driver. Stuff like that gives component club companies a bad rap.
I don't know how everyone feels about component clubs, knockoff, copies, and the illegal "clones". But I feel that if you don't have the $$$$ to shell out for a brand new set of OEM clubs, then you can get the next best thing that is smililar in design but not a direct rip-off. (i.e.... If I bought a set of clubs that said ZING G2 instead of PING G2, from some fly-by-night overseas mail order company )
Well butch your right...espically if your starting out in the game....however clones are just look alikes.....they do not function like the real deal. When you get better you will notice the differenct.
I've been playing golf since around, 1987. I started out with a horrible set of Northwestern clubs from K-Mart... Then I moved up from there. Then I got in touch with that guy who makes clubs in his basement as a little side business.
Why did I choose the PING type of clubs? Well, I recall doing to a driving range and they happend to have a bunch of PING Reps there for a demo day. I tried out a PING 6 iron off the mat at the range and thought I had died and went to heaven. It was the most sweetest, most easy to hit, most balanced iron I have ever felt. Then, well, you know how it goes... I inquired about the cost of a full OEM set of PING clubs and went:
So, I chose to do the next best thing... If I can't quite get a set of PINGS, then I could at least get something similiar that is patterned after the PING clubs. But I know what you are saying. PING clubs would last me 20 years and hold their resale value. My knockoff clubs "Z-Tour-3+" will last probably 4-5 years or longer but might be pretty much worthless in a few years.
I guess Butch and I are coming from a similar place. When I get the fundamentals down a bit more consistently and find myself striking the ball truer then I would feel justified in getting a brand name set and spending big(ger) $$$. For now a new, custom-fit set of irons and a driver for $300ish is OK for me. Maybe when the Hcp gets into single digits???
the knock off irons play quite admirally for the price. the high end club feel better because most are made from softer carbon steel that is chrome plated and usually have a very good shaft installed in them which dampens vibration down big time. majority of knock offs are made from stainless steel which is a harder material and most have a inexpensive shaft installed, so on off center hits, you are going to feel the vibration much more. as far as distance and accuracy, not much difference.
Keep in mind shafts have alot to with not being able to hit a club. Also that titleist is not as forgiving as many other drivers on the market. Titleist clubs are built more for the better player.
In the talk of knock offs the best way to compare is with cars. you have 18K in the bank to spend on a car. Now you can buy 2001 bmw 323i with 40k miles, OR you can get a brand new kia. Sort of a personal preference i guess. Personally I WANT THAT BMW!
The Up side to buying brand name stuff is when your game has advanced or you are just looking for something new, your name brand club with still have some value for a trade in or ebay resale. Take for instance I have a TMr7 10.5* Got it off ebay a year ago for $140. Its trade in value last time i checked was $80, and on ebay it would go for almost the same price.
I guess Butch and I are coming from a similar place. When I get the fundamentals down a bit more consistently and find myself striking the ball truer then I would feel justified in getting a brand name set and spending big(ger) $$$. For now a new, custom-fit set of irons and a driver for $300ish is OK for me. Maybe when the Hcp gets into single digits???
June 17th, 2006, 04:23 PM
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Then I moved up from there. Then I got in touch with that guy who makes clubs in his basement as a little side business.
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