Clone clubs -- are they any good?

kelco9 · 2016-12-08T22:18:24+00:00

Okay, I'm hijacking a thread from over at that "other site." The reason I did not, at this point, post this question there is that there tends to be a bit of...

sdandrea1

Typhoon

Apples and oranges, John. A knockoff machine with hundreds of moving parts is probably way more likely to fail than a chunk of stainless steel formed into a 9 iron that looks like an OEM 9 iron.

I do NOT buy low end machinery that my life depends on or my clean clothes. There's the ho-ing factor too. It used to be much cheaper to build some clones when the itch happens. Now. When I get the itch, I just walk into Play It Again Sports, or eBay, etc.

mulegolf

Yes, there are good quality clones and there are bad quality clones. I have seen and owned both. I soon learned what companies had which and only bought components from companies who handled the good quality items. I also found that I and most of us hackers play the same with good quality clones as we play with OEM clubs. I also believe that if you think OEM clubs are better, you should use OEM clubs because you will never have full confidence playing anything else.

sdandrea1

mulegolf

Most definitely. If I don't believe in a club, it's gone.

rsvman

I don't have a lot of experience in this area, but I'll share what small amount I do have.

Uncle Steve was kind enough to essentially gift me a set of Turner irons (I paid for shipping only). I bagged these clubs for about a season and a half and had some really good outings with them. I think they were/are solid clubs.

When I found an old set of TM irons at an estate sale for $45, I switched out the Turners for the TMs for one reason and one reason only: I hit the TMs straighter. (A LOT shorter, but straighter.) I realized after looking specs up on line that one of the reasons I hit the TMs shorter is because the lofts are different; what said "8" on the Turner was really a 7-iron on the TMs, but I digress.

There are other differences between the two sets of clubs, too, that may account for some of the perceived differences; for example, the TM's have steel shafts and the Turners had graphite. So it's hard for me to do a fair comparison.

But the Turners were definitely not "junk" to me, and they didn't impact my scores.

sdandrea1

rsvman

Those were from DTG. Very nice heads IMHO.

ode

I'm wandering how many clones are open foundary designs? Seems like just about every clone I see can be found on another clone companies site with the same specs, but different paint job.

Spuzz

I buy neither.

swinnea

Typhoon We can take this a step further.... Anyone here but a washing machine clone?.... Maytug...wirlpoole.... How about a car...a knock off...would u?

You mean my Ferd Fission might have problems?

PA-PLAYA

Typhoon

My extensive travels over the past several years, by virtue of having spent 2 years in London, enlightened me on upscale luggage offerings. My conclusion is that there isn't a single piece of luggage on the market that an aggravated, overworked customs agent, or disgruntled airline employee for that matter, cannot abuse and destroy, no matter how "indestructible" the company suggests it is.

Spent $499 on a nice, large Samsonite suitcase back in 2012, and it lasted all of two trips. Not because I overpacked and overloaded it, but because some dipshit between Heathrow and Newark apparently was going through a shitty stage in life at the time.

Never again!

Sorry that got off topic.

Bangoman

Let. me add that DTG, Value golf and some others you are familiar with go to great length to select the BEST clones of the highest quality. They also offer original designs as well. Just because a company offers clones it does not make them a junk dealer! I have to make that perfectly clear!

Secondly, I am a fan of clones for beginners and some average players. And let's face it...some just cannot afford to purchase high end or name brand product. There are some true junk dealers out there that do take advantage of you and your game.

candukid

I'm gonna weigh in here just because I have nothing else to do right now...(watching the Templeton shootout on Golf Channel)
Stevo says it is about cost. How come Acer and Dynacraft can put out perfectly good heads at the same price point as the clones (Turners etc?).
I have used clones, components and OEM thoughout the years (too many, but...)
My first set was 855's (as opposed to the real 845 Sivler Scots) I didn't notice anything wrong with them, but I sucked at golf at that point (and No Spuzz I do not still suck :-) )
Lately I think that as somebody already said, the shaft is the important part. IF you have the ability to weigh and tweak the clubs to proper loft lie and weight, then there is nothing wrong with clones if you want to play them. BUT there are other options out there now, at the same price point as NEW clone heads, that would be better in my opinion. Used OEM, real components etc...
My current set is Swing Science Forged that I picked up at a really good price. There is nothing out there that I would say is "better" than this head if it is fit to you.
Having said that, I picked up a set of Ping i3 (5-P,U,S), a new Ping stand bag and two Cleveland fairways for $100.
Will shaft them up and use them if I like them.
There are deals out there if you look. There is no need to buy Clones.
P.S. I am talking only irons here. Fairways and driver clones are JUNK in my opinion. They may look like the head in question, but they do not perform like it. There is too much intermnal stuff going on and the quality of the metal they use is inferior to the real deal. Iron heads: hard to fuck up a hunk of metal on the end of a stick.

Spuzz

candukid and No Spuzz I do not still suck

Off the course is not my business.
:y

Bangoman

Candu....most of their product line is semi clones whether you want to admit that or not. They do a good job no doubt but most of their stuff is based on existing models by Majors. And it's true that irons are easier than woods to duplicate but they are still...clones. 4/31 is 4/31 but put them side by side, if you can't see a diff...I suggest new glasses. Really no offense CD

Release

Had built many clones for other golfers, Not since the OEM dumping the inventory on the market so cheap that basically knock the clones out of the desired circle.
Although one is still being played by this guy up until this day. A Taylormade Burner 3 wood clone, think it was called the Heater. Shafted with Aldila NVS 65 . He said that is the one club he could count on thoughout the years.

He's still playing it.

sdandrea1

I have my late (late) father-in-law's hickory shafted irons and woods. One day this year I put the mashie niblick in my bag (8 iron, I think) and used it on every hole that required about 120 yard shot, Now this thing was built in 1930-ish, it's rusted, has no grooves (just dimples) and the grip was slick as a baby's tush, but the ball flew high and landed soft. I wonder if it is better or worse than a cheap clone? Put a good swing on most anything, and they;ll work. 😉

Bangoman

sdandrea1

Most definitely. If you put a good swing on virtually anything you'll get good results. But, from a wholesale or retail stand point you want retail customers to want to buy a game. If they just hit the range 4 times a week...not even close to purchasing new product since the beginning of golf Dom! That is why good players only generally buy putters and wedges as a rule. They keep their woods and irons forever in general.
Unless something new really moves them.

sdandrea1

Bangoman That is why good players only generally buy putters and wedges as a rule. They keep their woods and irons forever in general.
Unless something new really moves them.

I often wonder how good my game could be if I were to stop ho-ing around. My lust to try everything seems insatiable. Two hobbies - golf and golf equipment.

DC300

I've seen woods that I'd say were going to give their owner every bit of performance a $400 driver would, that is to say, marginal; because they aren't good.

I don't waste time on clones because I know good components and good OEM clubs have broken a good number of times in my hands and I'm not going to bother trying stuff I figure to be lower grade. Clone vs Box set is the real conversation here, which is better? I'm not playing either, but both have a market.

I have clubs that are better than I am, but I'd rather have that going than reversed.

Bangoman

DC300

The real test would. be putters. You know....those from $9.95 to $39.95 you find in a barrel vs a true quality putter. The difference is quite astounding as putters are truly ALL feel. So are woods and irons but being longer in length most don't understand feel and what to feel for in these sticks. Most everyone understands feel in putters for the most part.

Mattyv

Bangoman

I play a clone putter from DTG and it is by far the best I have ever had. Of course I built it my self to the length and installed the grip I desired. Been in the bag for 3+ years. $25 total spent. Second best for me was a $40 maxfli putter. I tried higher end putters but ended up returning or reselling them because they did not perform as well. Putters are completely different. It is all about feel IMHO. Price be dammed.

Typhoon

sdandrea1

I laugh when someone scoffs at spending full price on a fitted driver... I m sick of the trial and error, AND ....
The fact that, add up all the heads, shafts , time spent on gluing/ungluing....people here spend $400 and still are back at square 1

fatshot

sdandrea1
A big 10-4 on that !!!

Bangoman

Mattyv

One point to ponder; isn't practically every putter on the market....especially HIGH end....clones? It seems they are all Ping Ansers! Makes me sick for the kind of money they ask. I just saw a well known putter designer on Facebook that is a friend of mine. Even he is knocking off the knockoffs??!! I don't get it? Why would anyone pay a ton for a knockoff when you can buy the orginal for less money?! Lol

LBlack14

Mattyv you can't bait me in then leave me hangin'. Which putter?

Mattyv

Clone clubs have their place. I will usually only put beginners in to a set so they can figure out if they are committed to the game or not and not spend half a mortgage payment on a set of clubs. Given that fact I have only had 1 person out of 25+ that I have built a set of clones for abandon them for a set of OEM clubs.(talking irons) A proper shaft fitting does wonders for people. If I am building a set for a more experienced golfer I will steer them towards an OEM component such as Maltby or the likes and still provide them with a quality set of irons for less than one of the Major brands. On a personal level I have not had much luck with clone drivers. I never had one that sounded or felt right. No clone or Major has been able to knock my Geek LB130 or DCT out of my bag for the last 5 years. I do however have people still playing clone drivers I have built them 5+ years after. I have even had one of the Ping driver clones I built for a guy win multiple Long Drive prizes in charity events. I probably accidently shafted him properly.

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