As a group, ball speeds averaged a full 3.5 MPH faster with the name brand Burner. Pinemeadows offers a lower end shaft as their standard, but you can upgrade too. The altered logo would be applied to the graphite shafts Yarn-Way was making for Lious Integra line. I have bought several other Hireko clubs and have been totally satisfied. At a distance it looks pretty sharp. As mentioned above, I believe you should research more on this topic before writing an entire article denouncing the use of clone products. Looking at the group as a whole, we found that the Burner produced swing speeds that were on average 2.39 MPH faster than the Heated clone. For the beginner or high HC golfer, I highly recommend a good set of clones. The grib and weight had to translate into a mental file. You also probably wouldnt have the balls to show up at the course with them in your bag after all someone may poke fun at you. Do not know how close they are to spec or how they rate to the other good non OEMs. I mostly buy OEM equipment, but I have bought components. I think the easiest way to decide is level of ur game vs. level of ur income. Ive put them up against the latest and greatest and theres just not enough difference for me to rationalize a grand for off the rack. . The store will not work correctly in the case when cookies are disabled. On average the apex of each shot was justslightlyunder 2.5 yards higher with the Burner, which along with higher ball and club head speeds explains the difference in carry yardage between the clubs. If a component seller such as Diamond Tour wants to be fully legitimate, they need to invest fully in true component companies such as SMT, and abandon the practice of selling Clone clubs. Secondly, please read Roy Nixs article from the AGCP Whos cloning who. Its your money to spend where you chose I just found better places to spend it. Actually, Steve, Tom Wishon has LOTS of golf club patents in his name. It is less and less common. I met him in person at an Lpga event in Atlantic city (he is the caddie/boyfriend of Sara Brown. After viewing product detail pages, look here to find an easy way to navigate back to pages you are interested in. As many manufacturers of goods will attest, conducting site visits and monitoring factories in China, is a difficult and costly task. But I think it would surprise most to know that only by 5.8 yards (2.2%). Construction, Material, or Quality. Typically a driver head weighs around 195-200g, a 3 wood head is about 210g, and a 5 wood is around 220g, but the single length driver and fairway woods are all 220g. I used Geek Drivers in Senior Long Drive Competitions, none of which I won, but it wasnt because of the Geek equipment, it was a faulty swinger (me) not the equipment. The guys whose clones (similarly designed recreations of clubs from the big golf companies) rattle proudly in their bags, and there are the guys that wouldnt dream of playing something that wasnt made by a name EVERYBODY knows. Fill out the form below and a member from our team will get in touch! I would like to see the stock shafts for each club tested. Sadly, thats ignorance on the consumers part. But with confusingly or substantially similar knockoffs, the line between legality and patent or trademark infringement is often fuzzy and is subject to legal challenge and interpretation. Irons: 3-PW Mizuno MP37, Recoil Proto 125 F4 (reshaft in progress, slowly); 1i &3-PW Golden Ram TW276, NV105 S; 2-PW Golden Ram TW282, RIP Tour 115 R In fact, I cracked the club face on one of them within 6 outings. Clothing manufacturers have been battling this issue for many years. Price and other details may vary based on product size and color. Callaway X Forged UT Individual Irons. For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser. Swing Speed Perhaps one of the more interesting discoveries to come out of our testing was that club head design appears to play a legitimate role in producing, or perhaps limiting club head speed. In my experience, an average length hitter who hits very accurately will beat a long hitter with low accuracy, almost every time out. (Yes that myth is true), There are basically 3-tiers of golf club manufacturing to make it simple. What I do believe is a reasonable conclusion based on the totality of the numbers is that there is not a significant performance difference between the TaylorMade Tour Burner, and the Heated clone. That you are giving money to an operation that also conducts Illegal activities? Personally, I think his sentence would be more accurate. .every year get fever,and build a new set of irons,..its a lot of joy, looking at sites,picking the pieces, then having them built just for me. Our state-of-the-art studio bays hit out to a range that allows you to see the flight of the ball, we never fit into a net. My point? Most companies are trying to get it right with their stock shafts. The one thing Ive discovered is that there is a big difference between quality with regards to clone irons and woods. 5,6,7@ one length and 8-gw @ a shorter length) a year ago. Tom Wishon was at Dynacraft before moving to Golfsmith. Having been in manufacturing all my life and seen what quality can and cannot be, I wonder about the quality of all clubs today. Four years later, in March 2001, the U.S. District Court in Los Angeles ruled that R.J. Liou, Kent Graphtec and Trophy Sports, a separate company started by Jethro and his mother, Yeh-Chyn, in late 2000, had breached the settlement by continuing to sell Big Bursars. I play the Pursuit cavity back forged too. Expected an article comparing clone(s) plural. The Heated, however, wellas much as I would love to tell you that it offers similar feel, I cant. Thats the sound of the hammer hitting the nail right on the head. Ever since the late 80s and their gain in popularity and pro shop owners not happy with their profit margins on name brand clubs began selling clone golf clubsgolfers have always wondered. Clones come from the most of the same Chinese factories that produce Counterfeit clubs. Summing up what I said, clones made me a lot of money but I couldnt sell them now due to pretty much zero qc on the part of the importers. Results I got tell me Im sticking with what I have for now. https://www.hirekogolf.com/golf-components/clubheads/golf-irons/acer-xv-pro-iron-clubhead.html. And also just so you know OEMs have almost always tried to prevent foundries from doing clone products at the same foundriesbut it happens everyday. If you cant afford the latest and greatest, do some research and find something that will work for you at a price you can afford. What proved to be reality for our testers is that despite similar performance, thedifferencesin the subjective categories (in this particular case) are potentially enough to suggest that for some there is indeed $200 worth of improvement to be found in the Burner Tour. I have more confidence standing over my X-Hot and enjoy owning them without having to hide the label X-heat. Cool. An excerpt from Pssst . One of the quotes from your comment is absolutely wrong. . He incorporated the word Integra into the logo and then submitted it to Liou for approval. And, as they acquire them they would tweak the designs to what is available today. Happy now. No bubble but the Taylor colors. Its almost laughable to make those type of statements! It's rather nice, spins decently, good feel. So thinking that only clones and counterfeits are made there is just preposterous. From affordable golf clubs for those on a budget, mint golf clubs, and many used golf clubs with light cosmetic wear. GW: Dynacraft Dual Milled CNC 52*, Steelfiber 125 S; Scratch 8620 DS 53*, Steelfiber 125 S There are many clone companies that submit drawings to name-brand companies for approval before manufacturing the product. I'm happy with it. On performance alone, its hard for me to justify spending the extra $200 (based on initial MSRP pricing). Once the epoxy dried, shafts were cut to a relatively modest 44.75 inches. Restore formatting, You decide what you want. Have you read the above stated article I am talking about. They perform just as well as my old Pings for a fraction of the cost. Prior to that acquisition, Dynacraft were one of the Big Three component companies, along with Golfsmith and GolfWorks, and werein Ohio. I now own a complete set of the GigaGolf forged cavity backs along with a set of Giga woods and play to a legit 7 handicap. I cant say Ive chased the next new thing, only last year did I move the a 460 driver, of course I had to build three. It would seem Value Golf is where the Pinhawk clubheads originated. Lets connect the dots. And the 3rd tier generally have the smallest capacity and make some of the lower end quality equipment and clones you run across. Are there bad name brand designsYES. Odyssey Putters; Clearance Golf Clubs Up to $180 Off TaylorMade Stealth Golf Clubs; PING G425 Golf Clubs; Shop All PING Golf Clubs; Super Game Just discovered Golf works and like their components as well. Sorry bub. Of course the currently have their hands and funds fully committed going after Counterfeit Clubs. For the clone model we tested a Heated H, which wed classify as a mid-teir clone of TaylorMades once popular driver. I have seen a few really bad Adams, Callaway, Cobra, Nike, and Ping clubs. Regripping We offer all of the grips offered by Golf Pride, Lamkin, Winn, and Super Stroke. . Jethro Liou is an expert in the knockoff business. Read further and you will find that the same factories involved are also producing Clone Clubs. Where are you going to get something for that? What is legal is the generic look-alike that does not infringe on a companys trademarks or patents. The one reason that the numbers have diminished is simply because there are less clone companies in existence compared to 5-8 years ago. Many OEM designs came from the product offerings of these companies. who would do that ? If golfers were in the world of buying by results club sales would shrink to almost zero. You will get more than your money's worth, in my opinion. Our staff of skilled club fitters and club builders are passionate about providing the highest level of customer service. I started getting their catalogs in the 80's and buying from them. I must take exception to the consideration being given Clones. Hmmmwe think maybe theres a chance it might.Lets go to the lab! It has become rampant and that is why ACUSHNET (TITLEIST/COBRAS), ADAMS, CALLAWAY, CLEVELAND, PING, and TAYLORMADE are part of and formed the U.S. He is a Callaway Master Fitter and serves on the National Board of Callaway Fitters. I saw they also have a dual length set for people that just don't want to play long 6i length short irons. The long irons are 5i length and the mid SEARCH ALL Used GOLF CLUBS FROM ALL BRANDS. If however, you place a premium on accuracy, though not as conclusive, there is some suggestion that the clone could be the more accurate of the two heads. Wishon Golf, GolfWorks, and Golfsmith are good quality with their own designs. So, they go in that direction. They own the other brands in their website by acquiring them over the years. Counterfeits like we said are NOT the same as clones and the counterfeit equipment is often the cheapest and lowest quality equipment. Pab, if you have read the posts above you should come away confused (as I am) as to whether non OEM brands might be best. Thank you. According to Jethro, the familys legal fees for the discovery phase alone came to more than $1 million.. So, of all the clubs Ive ever owned, one club was .7g past tolerance. 1757 Golf Club | 45120 Waxpool Road Dulles, VA 20166 | 703.444.0901. Truth isclones are good for people that just cannot afford a Major brand and/or a custom set! While laser technology can scan the outside, they do not scan the inside. 2nd Swing offers the largest selection of Whether you are the golfer that spent $1200 on a set of irons and feel the need to justify that expense to your friends and wife ;) Or you are the name brand rep that doesnt allow a pro shop to sell the clone brands side-by-side your name brand product. Can you point me in the right direction? Wishons new single length iron design concept EQ1-NX offers same length and high COR low loft iron characteristics while adding many new performance enhancing features to mark a definite step forward in game improvement iron design. I was looking at the 85 and 75g steel shafts also. There are a practically infinite number of clones for every significant new driver that hits the market each year. Ive been eyeing the Dynacrafts, and drooling over the KZGs. There are different levels of counterfeiting, says Debra Peterson, a U.S. customs official who was involved in Project Teed Off. No Reps. No Service. First off you might be surprised to know that in the computer industry the clone market was hugeand believe it or not names like Compaq, Dell and Gateway all started as clone computer companies. I have contacted Hireko customer service in the past and they were very nice/knowledgeable. Most golfers lump OEM Components in with clones even though these companies do their own R&D and have no intention of copying other companies. My opinion, I think that what ever works best for you is what you should buy. The customs people thought my father was [the primary distributor of] King Snake, which in its heyday had something like 10% of the market, Jethro says, but a lot of people were importing that product. A lot of research goes into the wood and as Frank Thomas once said, a 3 yr old Wood is obsolete with the technology of today. I switched to Dynacraft Prophet cavity backs and have not looked back. Championship). Yes this is very good for golfers like me with slower swing speed. Some such as Geek dont even sell irons. I was somewhat disappointed. Take a look back at some of the old clubs and you will see theres nothing new. My DTG S2 Pros were both on spec. Speaking of non OEM brands, which of the following irons will be best quality for play- Maltby, Wishon,, Alpha, Kzg, Hireko, etc. Cookies help us deliver our services. I paired that up w a recoil pull and I love that club, it's my go-to for tee shots if driver isn't behaving. I found the Pings to be slightly easier to hit off of different lies and are less sensitive to slightly less then a good strike. Should be fun as long as my wife does not find out I more clubs on the way. GOLF MANUFACTURERS ANTI-COUNTERFEITING WORKING GROUP. Do you recall a clone called Arnies Own several years ago? The reasons are many why this topic has not been fully addressed and this is one of the reasons we felt so compelled to cover it for you. Being a designer in this industry I can tell you for a fact that some of the clones that are upper tier are designed in the same foundry that many mid to upper tier name brand models are designed in. Hireko is also an authorized reseller of But one youve never seen put through a test like we will today . Copyright 2023. I believe hirekobought out dynacraft the same way that diamond golf bought wishon? . I know Maltby designs their clubs but does Hireko design theirs? Are Acer and Pinhawk owned by Hireko? Wow, I didnt think that this would spark this much emotion from people. Thanks for the help. Someone else designed it, so theyre going to laser copy it, skip the R&D, use cheaper material, spend nothing on advertising the new design, and take money from a certain consumer segment. WebLoft & Lie Adjustment. I had back surgery with only partical success and will be playing limited golf so I would like to buy a good quality ( as close to OEM as possible) non OEM set of irons and have them custom fit. Thats one of the most credible sources on golf equipment and the up-and-comer in the golf media (with THREE other sources) that shoots down your claim. While I cant speak for GolfSmith, Hireko is also considered partly a clone company. Gap distance is very good and the strong lofts assist length in the 5, 6, 7 irons. WebGolf Clubs. While there may have been a foundry that produced both OEM and Clone, it isnt a general rule, as OEMs have strict contracts with the foundries they use, that prevents the practice. We took a quick reading on the DigiFlex and found only a 2 CPM difference infrequencybetween the two clubs. Are there bad clonesYES. Note that Pinhawk is a I would actually like to see more tests done on off brand stuff, like the KZGs or Warrior custom golf (you know who you are, I played them to). You can post now and register later. My guess is that you have predetermined that a clone has to be an inferior product? GOLF MANUFACTURERS ANTI-COUNTERFEITING WORKING GROUP. These companies and others (Alpha, GeekGolf, KZG, etc) have very high quality, custom designed components that are just as good and in many cases better than the name brand manufactures. Wanna buy some clubs? (E.M. I trust GolfWorks regarding their club head model designs/quality and spec tolerances. WebThe suggested mens length for the Pinhawk Vertex is 38" (for the 3, 4 and 5 irons) and 36.5", which are a typical 5 and 8 iron lengths respectively. Once the swing is dialed in, then perhaps rewarding yourself with an expensive set of clubs is a great goal. After all, there is no way on this green earth that a clone with an assembled price of less than $100 ($59 head only) could outperform a club from a popular golf company with an initial price tag of $300 right? They have a 6 iron length. I will say thisoften times the quality of things like welds, finishes and materials are not as good as the name brand model. Counterfeit Clubs and Clone Clubs, the operators who sell and produce, contribute to higher prices of the legitimate brands. You will receive personalized attention from the initial interview through product delivery. OK, dianond tours own shaft in smoke is just gorgous,and cheap,(deep smoke,or gold) DTs heads, and winn grips. In 1992 he designed the first interchangeable shaft driver head as well. The 2nd tier often makes some of the mid-size golf companies that a lot of you play but they also make some of the top components for companies like Golfsmith and Hireko and clones for companies like Diamondtour. in my opinion would have been more accurate. My back and joints are grateful. If not then YOU are nothing but BRAND WASHED. He fits everyone from Beginners to PGA Professionals and has worked alongside Legendary club makers such as Bob Vokey and Roger Cleveland. Maltby has been around since the mid 1970's I believe. I started getting their catalogs in the 80's and buying from them. While I remember the ACER These perform great. $249.99. The 2nd tier often makes some of the mid-size golf companies that a lot of you play but they also make some of the top components and clones for companies like Golfsmith, Hireko and Diamondtour . Knock-Offs/Clone Golf clubs operate in a gray area as described in the article Pssst . Of course, if you want re-sell value probably by OEM. As for the clone argument, are those on the side of the big manufacturers going to stay on their side if we take this argument to off brand manufacturers who design and make some very good clubs but dont have the budget to promote like the giants? This allows the golfer to use the same swing, on the same plane, with the same feel, for each iron in the set. I have a mixed bag of Name brands and clubs from Giga Golf. Id also love to see more articles on component manufacturers. I like both Hireko and GolfWorks but for different reasons. Each had common components like shafts, grips, and clubmaking supplies but Golfworks had the best rework/refinishing stuff. The truth is..most component companies just follow the lead of the Majors and put their spin on the productnow that is a FACT! Display as a link instead, No one knows how sloppy things are manufactured unless you are right watching and know what you are watching for. They both feature dual-crown technology, and of course, a lower center of gravity for higher launch, and lower spin. Theyre still something to consider, its just they dont get the play on Tour or heavy ad-machines compelling people to buy their stuff. As far as woods go, I stick with the name brands because there is a lot more to a wood than just to look like the other. There just simply is not the time or money right now to go after them. How can a Clone maker or Seller say that they are not trying to fool anyone? Too bad the comparison wasnt between those brands and TaylorMade rather than a head that was a copy of TaylorMade. Some features of a driver, its head size, for instance, cannot be protected, but others can. They are extremely popular for a reason. Personally I would love to see a test of these irons matched up against the real McCoy. Even the raw materials received were sometimes out of tolerance. Hireko stuff is reasonable, and priced quite well. We bend putters too! Or youre the website that would love to write an article like this, but worry about the repercussions you might feel from an OEM advertiser. Whether the result is illegal can be established only in court, on a case-by-case basis; in other words, the aggrieved company has to sue. Sosomewhere along the line, we forgot what part of the article was about actual comparison of Driver X versus Driver Brand. Our numbers suggest a clone offers more bang for the buck. Always has been and always will be. somebody earlier stated that no PGA professional would recomend to a student or anyone for that matter that they purchase copy/clone clubs. On the Heated its more noticeable, and perhaps even distracting. I started out 4 years ago with a Pinemeadow clone of the Callaway Big Bertha ironsthen moved up to the actual Big Berthas and did feel and see some difference in overall quality.however I did have trouble with one of the Callaway stock graphite shafts which flaked and split on my 8 iron.my feeling is that it would be difficult for me to determine the difference in large part because at the time I was so new to golf.-and perhaps I was feeling more confident with an OEM in my bag(FYI: I now play Nike long irons and Cleveland scoring clubs and love them!

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