Custom fitted - Big brands versus the not so well known

[woody69]

Wondering what people's opinions on non BIG branded clubs, you know Wishon, Toski, Maltby and Snake Eyes versus your Ping, Titliest, Cobra, Callaway, Mizuno etc

Would you go get custom fitted with the smaller relatively unknown brands only being available? You've been told they are comparable or "even better" quality and when custom fitted the result is to a higher spec than any major brand, but how do you actually know that? I mean, if they are so much better, why are so few of the pros using them? Is it simply a money thing?

I'm really struggling to accept the non branded models as something is niggling in my head that it will somehow be inferior. I appreciate that says something about me, but I have always preferred the branded items for all products. I'd rather buy Heinz ketchup than Asda own for example... Hell I'd rather buy Andrex Toilet paper over Tesco quilted paper and you use that for.. well you know what! Perhaps I'm vain, but seeing as golf is so much where your head is at, I can't help but think if I was to hold a club in my hand that said Toski on it, I'd just not be as confident as one that said Ping. What do you think?

 

[moogie]

Just get over it
Go open minded
And go off looks, feel, performance, results

As for being "inferior"....??
Nope
I've got a set of KZG irons now and they are quite simply the best irons I've ever owned, and there's been a few

 

[Khamelion]

For the two sets of irons I've owned, I've went to both fittings open minded of what I would be buying, I had no preconceptions of what I wanted and in the end I bought what I felt worked best for me.

It just so happens that the iron sets I bought were from Cleveland and Mizuno, but had I tried some clubs from a relatively unknown or smaller manufacturer that turned out to be the best club for me, then I would've bought them.

 

[Deleted member 18588]

Wondering what people's opinions on non BIG branded clubs, you know Wishon, Toski, Maltby and Snake Eyes versus your Ping, Titliest, Cobra, Callaway, Mizuno etc

Would you go get custom fitted with the smaller relatively unknown brands only being available? You've been told they are comparable or "even better" quality and when custom fitted the result is to a higher spec than any major brand, but how do you actually know that? I mean, if they are so much better, why are so few of the pros using them? Is it simply a money thing?

Of course it is a money thing with pro's, that is what they are; professionals i.e. they do it to make their living.

How many pro's do you see with names of Miura or Vega on their bags but I bet you there are more than one or two out there using their wedges.

If you bought a tailored suit in Savile Row you probably would not know the name of the firm but the quality would be higher than a Burtons suit.

With clubs there are basically three component parts; grips, shafts & heads and, in the main, all the manufacturers, big or small, are sourcing in the same places. Therefore, comparative quality should rarely, if ever, be an issue.

 

[woody69]

Just get over it
Go open minded
And go off looks, feel, performance, results

As for being "inferior"....??
Nope
I've got a set of KZG irons now and they are quite simply the best irons I've ever owned, and there's been a few

I wish I could "just get over it" If I could I'd probably have a lot more money in the bank as my weekly shop would be less and I'd not insist on driving a nicer car over one that get's me from A to B and doesn't look as good. It's just a perception thing isn't it? Difficult to go into something with an open mind when you're a snob I guess...! Perhaps I should just bite the bullet, go for the fitting and see what happens....

Of course it is a money thing with pro's, that is what they are; professionals i.e. they do it to make their living.

How many pro's do you see with names of Miura or Vega on their bags but I bet you there are more than one or two out there using their wedges.

If you bought a tailored suit in Savile Row you probably would not know the name of the firm but the quality would be higher than a Burtons suit.

With clubs there are basically three component parts; grips, shafts & heads and, in the main, all the manufacturers, big or small, are sourcing in the same places. Therefore, comparative quality should rarely, if ever, be an issue.

Interesting that you bring up the compenent parts being soruced from the same places. Is that how it works with club making then? Are all of the components made from a finite number of sources? Are you saying a club maker like Ping for example will source it's shafts from the same place as KZG and the only real difference is the label stuck to it, or have I misunderstood?

 

[Deleted member 18588]

Ping are an interesting case as, I understand, that they still have their cast heads produced in their own foundry as opposed to the other major manufacturers who all source from similar places.

Shafts and grips are, however, all produced by the same people such as True Temper, KBS, NS, GolfPride, Lamkin etc;

 

[Deleted Member 1156]

Interesting that you pick Ping as an example, they have some of the worst quality control of all the major manufacturers.

I play Orka irons. Fully custom fitted, not had any issues with quality and a LOT cheaper than comparable forged blades from the competitors.

Give them a try, you may be pleasantly surprised :thup:

 

[Deleted member 15344]

Interesting that you pick Ping as an example, they have some of the worst quality control of all the major manufacturers.

I play Orka irons. Fully custom fitted, not had any issues with quality and a LOT cheaper than comparable forged blades from the competitors.

Give them a try, you may be pleasantly surprised :thup:

Well you must be the first person I have heard say that about Ping ? Always thought they were reliable ?

 

[Deleted Member 1156]

Well you must be the first person I have heard say that about Ping ? Always thought they were reliable ?

I have 2 mates that have had issues with i20's, the vibration dampening thingy falls off the back of the club. And the fitter I use works with a Ping player on the seniors tour, he told me everytime the guy gets a new set of irons from Ping to his setup he has to take them to the fitter and have them all checked and adjusted because they are wrong.

The products are fine but their quality control isn't.

 

[Deleted member 15344]

I have 2 mates that have had issues with i20's, the vibration dampening thingy falls off the back of the club. And the fitter I use works with a Ping player on the seniors tour, he told me everytime the guy gets a new set of irons from Ping to his setup he has to take them to the fitter and have them all checked and adjusted because they are wrong.

The products are fine but their quality control isn't.

Blimey - that's pretty poor tbh

If that was TM !! The world would explode

 

[3565]

My present set are Wishon clubs, Dr, 5w, 3hy, 4-PW 555 blades, and 2 ICY Wedges. I'm back n forth from my Scotty Del Mar to a Dave Hicks del mar shape putter. If I decide on the Dave Hicks putter, all my clubs are from the lesser known. Personally I won't touch the big OEMs anymore, I prefer the individual service you get from the independants, and they are far from inferior. The set before I had Snake eyes blades and were very good. There are loads of good quality clubs from Japan Muira, Honma, Four Feathers, vega, all quality but you pay the price, but you then have Orka which I've not tried but if I had a choice I'd go with them then OEMs.

 

[adiemel]

I have never been custom fitted, but I hope that if I can ever have open I would be open to makes of irons rather than just the main big names.

 

[woody69]

I have never been custom fitted, but I hope that if I can ever have open I would be open to makes of irons rather than just the main big names.

Which is nice in theory, but the problem is I'm not sure it is possible to compare them side by side. If you go to a major brand they obviously only sell their own. If you go to an independent, they ultimately stock brands or the lesser known makes. Not sure there is a fitter that offers like for like comparisons across major brands and lesser known ones and as fittings at these places are sometimes over £100 just for the session it can be a big expense. Add to that some people (myself included) has a "perception" (and I'm not saying it is right) that these not so well known brands are some how "not as good" it means we're likely to skip the custom fit sessions with the non OEM club makers

 

[pendodave]

Well you must be the first person I have heard say that about Ping ? Always thought they were reliable ?

I don't have any Ping but....

Over on golfwrx, there is a VERY long thread complaining about delamination of the finish on i20 and i25. Lots of unhappy campers.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Not had any issues with my Pings. In terms of lesser brands v well known, it would be interested to do some king of blind test (GM - is there a story here?) and see if any of these performed better than the well known and arguably more expensive rivals.