Counterfeit Golf Clubs - Value for Money?

[Russell]

Given their low price, what are counterfeit clubs really like? Let’s assume they left the name off and just sold them as ‘honest’ unbranded clubs, similar in design to ‘branded’ clubs – how would they perform against those ‘similar branded’ clubs? Would a beginner notice the difference at first? Would they represent value for money as a budget club? How do they compare against genuine budget clubs of the same price?

I was looking at prices for Ping G10’s, new and used, and happened across a number of sets which are clearly counterfeit. Personally I could never condone or support the counterfeiters, but you are able to buy an awful lot of golf clubs for very little money. Here’s a couple I looked at (plenty of other brands available!).



A full set of 13 (rip-off) G10’s, head-covers, bag and even a hat for $300, less than £200! I can see how people are tempted to buy these things and how unscrupulous people profit by trying to pass these things off as the real thing.

Anyway, following the advice offered by forum members in my earlier thread I’m going to work with my Pro instructor and try a number of different clubs before buying my first (genuine!) set of clubs.

I look forward to reading your views,
Russell

 

[JJF69]

Given their low price, what are counterfeit clubs really like? Let’s assume they left the name off and just sold them as ‘honest’ unbranded clubs, similar in design to ‘branded’ clubs – how would they perform against those ‘similar branded’ clubs? Would a beginner notice the difference at first? Would they represent value for money as a budget club? How do they compare against genuine budget clubs of the same price?

I was looking at prices for Ping G10’s, new and used, and happened across a number of sets which are clearly counterfeit. Personally I could never condone or support the counterfeiters, but you are able to buy an awful lot of golf clubs for very little money. Here’s a couple I looked at (plenty of other brands available!).


A full set of 13 (rip-off) G10’s, head-covers, bag and even a hat for $300, less than £200! I can see how people are tempted to buy these things and how unscrupulous people profit by trying to pass these things off as the real thing.

Anyway, following the advice offered by forum members in my earlier thread I’m going to work with my Pro instructor and try a number of different clubs before buying my first (genuine!) set of clubs.

I look forward to reading your views,
Russell

Hell no, fakes are made from inferior materials, actively looking for them is a bad idea. You will end costing yourself in the long run as they are never the same quality.

 

[Redwood]

Again, I think it was this months Golf Worlf where they tested a MP68 7 iron with a fake, side by side.

Performance, in terms of launch angle, spin, distance, wasn't too different to be honest, but the real difference was in the dispersion. The fake was apparently all over the place.

Also, as mentioned already, the materials. Apparently a good way to spot a fake driver is to hold a magnet to it. A lot of them are made with steel, whereas the original titanium drivers should not be magnetic.

 

[Atticus_Finch]

I've edited the OP to remove the links for the fake clubs. The last thing I think we should be doing is giving these people free advertising.

 

[Parmo]

Bloody nanny state... just kiddin

 

[HRC99]

I don't see the point. You could pick up a genuine second hand set from a good brand for similar money.

 

[stevek1969]

A guy at our club bought a set £125 delivered from China, 3 woods, 9 irons, putter and tour bag ,he thought they were the bollocks ,won't give the manufacturers name but he's now called Mr Pong

 

[Russell]

I've edited the OP to remove the links for the fake clubs. The last thing I think we should be doing is giving these people free advertising.

That’s a shame but I understand. I carefully considered including these links and decided that people needed to actually see these counterfeits to help towards informed and objective opinions.

Forgetting the fact they’re ripping-off a branded club – do they as ‘golf clubs’ represent value for money at less than £200 was the question. This is difficult now to debate and answer unless people have first-hand experience of similar counterfeit clubs.

I would like to repeat: I do not condone and would never knowingly purchase counterfeit products purporting to be something they’re not. I would however consider purchasing a £200 ‘unbranded’ product over an £800 ‘branded’ product if the difference in quality and performance between those products did not justify the 4 to 1 price difference!

 

[Parmo]

When I first started playing a couple of years ago I bought a set of Hippo OS4 on EBay which inc 4-sw hybrid driver 3 wood and putter + stand bag for £85! They did the trick and I passed them on to my dad who loves them. Nowt wrong with them as a starter set and since I have moved on.

 

[Atticus_Finch]

I've edited the OP to remove the links for the fake clubs. The last thing I think we should be doing is giving these people free advertising.

That’s a shame but I understand. I carefully considered including these links and decided that people needed to actually see these counterfeits to help towards informed and objective opinions.

Forgetting the fact they’re ripping-off a branded club – do they as ‘golf clubs’ represent value for money at less than £200 was the question. This is difficult now to debate and answer unless people have first-hand experience of similar counterfeit clubs.

I would like to repeat: I do not condone and would never knowingly purchase counterfeit products purporting to be something they’re not. I would however consider purchasing a £200 ‘unbranded’ product over an £800 ‘branded’ product if the difference in quality and performance between those products did not justify the 4 to 1 price difference!

That's a fair point Russell, that's why I didn't remove the whole thread but just the links. I think it's a good subject that I haven't seen discussed on here yet.
Normally these sort of posts with links included in them are gone before anyone can see them, (You'd be amazed at the amount) but this thread had a genuine ring to it.

 

[Sponge1980]

I once bought a putter that turned out to be a fake. In terms of performance and feel etc I couldnt notice any difference. After using it for 2 rounds it began to rust and after a month I had to bin it because of the state it was in. So i would say that they are definately not value for money.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

I would say purely on the fact that its ripping people off and there is no way of knowing whether the money is funding other illegal activity (drugs etc) it should be a huge NO. I know people have been sold fakes before and I think a number of golfing magazines have run fake vs real features in the last year or so and the difference between the top fakes and the real thing is surprisingly hard to see.

In terms of playability I think in the short term a beginner will probably not notice any difference but the inferior quality and maufacturing will inevitably end in a deterioration to a point where the club will break. To be honest there are plenty of good deals on second hand clubs around with a little bit of effort that the whole idea seems misguided at best. Its a very interesting question posed though but for me supporting anything known to be snide would be a no no

 

[kid2]

I second everyones statement here.......Iv got a friend who against my advice went and bought a set of so called "Elite Brand Irons"irons and got them for "A Steal" his words not mine..I know they are fake since they cost just 250€ off the net when the actual genuine ones are in excess of 700€ off the shelf here..Something definately not square there i think to myself ...He has only just taken up the game and is above average in height .... I advised him that there were plenty of cheaper genuine brands about that were as good as the dearer elite brands but he wasn't having any of it. I also told him that as he was above average in height that he needed to be custom fit for his clubs but told me that this didnt matter.... He wouldn't accept this so in the end i gave up.....
You can only drag a horse to water but you cant make him drink it.... Now i know he's only learning his trade like most of us but when he cant figure out why his irons dont work properly he has a look of surprise and frustration on his face.I just hit my shots and move on now and when he asks me what he's doing wrong i just reply i dont know and im not qualified to tell you that...

 

[Pants]

Forgetting the fact they’re ripping-off a branded club – do they as ‘golf clubs’ represent value for money at less than £200 was the question. This is difficult now to debate and answer unless people have first-hand experience of similar counterfeit clubs.

I would like to repeat: I do not condone and would never knowingly purchase counterfeit products purporting to be something they’re not. I would however consider purchasing a £200 ‘unbranded’ product over an £800 ‘branded’ product if the difference in quality and performance between those products did not justify the 4 to 1 price difference!

Sorry Russell, but knowing that they are rip-offs, how can you then forget the fact that they are rip-offs?

If I were wanting/needing to spend say £200 on some clubs, I would feel much safer buying secondhand genuine clubs from a known or respected outlet than risking my money on unbranded or counterfeit clubs.

I don't see why we need a link to "view" counterfeit clubs in order to debate the issue. It's reassuring though to see that the Mods are doing a good job , as usual.

 

[Smiffy]

My own experience with "snide" clubs leads me to believe they CAN offer value for money.
Many years ago a good mate of mine purchased a set of copy Big Bertha irons. I think they were called "Big Bursers" and were identical (to look at at least)to the real thing.
He used them for about 4 or 5 seasons and loved them. His game didn't suffer in any way, I think his handicap came down a couple whilst he was using them from about 16 to 14 or thereabouts. He subsequently sold them on and I think the guy that bought them off of him has only just ditched them. They were still in good condition though.
I also bought three "Tandric" woods from the pro at Crowborough when Callaway Big Bertha wood first came out. Once again, these were exact copies of the originals but were a fraction of the price. Using these, my handicap came down from 25 to about 14 in a relatively short space of time. Once I could afford the "real McCoy" I went out and purchased some genuine Steelhead Plus woods. But I can honestly say that those Tandric woods really helped my game. I struggled to get off the tee prior to buying them and they really gave me some confidence to get through the ball and be able to put myself in a decent position on the fairway.
So for me, they worked.

 

[Parmo]

There is a difference between "Fakes" & "Clones", fakes use cheap material whereas clones use the same shafts, grips and metals for the clubs but are always named something simlar to the cloned irons rather than the fakes which are named like the copied product.

 

[Ethan]

You should not use counterfeit clubs. That is only encouraging them. If you do, and you later buy a set you think are real, but which turn out to be fakes, blame nobody but yourself.

 

[RGDave]

There is a difference between "Fakes" & "Clones", fakes use cheap material whereas clones use the same shafts, grips and metals for the clubs but are always named something simlar to the cloned irons rather than the fakes which are named like the copied product.

Yes...I'm tempted to agree.

I knew a pro (from miles away) who sold many sets of "cloned" clubs, most of which were manufactured in the same factories as the big names. He seemed convinced they were excellent and as selling clubs was his business he must have been either onto a good thing or a no-good tat salesman.
Trouble with all this is - how would you know what you're buying? Cloned might be OK, fakes are almost certainly inferior surely?

Just out of interest, I occasionally sell a product that comes to me via a third party from Fengtai, Beijing. Unbranded, it is the same product as a branded version for sale in the USA. Price difference? £80 or $350 RRP.

 

[GB72]

I have seen a couple of sites that sell 'cloned' clubs. Never claim to be the same as big brands just inspired or similar to their clubs. My wife, in fact, has a 3 wood clone of a Nike SQ and a mate of mine had an Integra ! Drive clone of a Callaway Square driver. They seem OK and lasted and actually came with decent shafts fitted as well as decent grips. Do not think that these clones are even illegal.

Anyone else had any experience of them