Support your local Clubmaker

[PlaidJacket 7,737]

I read a lot here on the Forum about clubs people own or want to buy. I'd say aside from the putter all I ever read about is guys buying TaylorMade, Callaway, Titleist, Cobra, Adams, Cleveland, Nike, Mizuno, Ping, etc. That leads me to think that most people buy what's in front of them. You can't walk into a typical golf retail store and find anything other than Major brand products. I rarely see guys in the Forum talk about or even say they use custom clubs such as KZG, Alpha, Maltby, Wishon, Bang, Miura, Fourteen, Epon, etc, etc. (These are not clones) I never hear anyone say they're even considering such a purchase. Why is that? I think part of it is because most people play off the rack (OTR). Perhaps it's because you don't think the quality is high. Could it be because most people don't want to spend the time to find and avail themselves of a custom club fitter? Taking the time to research and test custom designed clubs isn't as easy as walking into a Dick's or Golf Galaxy and plopping down some cash. Custom designed and fitted clubs can be expensive. But not always depending on the chosen brand. So, who plays custom brands?

[Kor.A.Door 5,843]

I have bang mellow yellow, 3,5, and 7 woods, I don't currently game these anymore, I have thought about putting the 7 wood back in the bag though, I built them myself.

[Kor.A.Door 5,843]

I also built my mom a pink bang-o-matic that she uses, and it is long

[Severtheties 837]

I may look into a local company for my new wedges

[markb 244]

The only place you'll hear of them is on these golf forums OR if you have a bunch of Japanese friends.   Those guys are fanactically into it and they keep TourSpec and Fairways in business.

 

Here's an example of what I mean.   I talked to my pro yesterday because he had to open the course early.   It's February and 65 degrees and yet there's no such thing as global warming in red state Utah, right?   Liberal conspiracy, but it opens the links earlier every year, yaaahhhh!

 

Anyway, I was eyeing his Hogan staff bag because he used to be a Hogan staffer back in the day.  I told him I was thinking of buying the new Hogans.   He said, "Callaway killed that brand years ago, you don't want that old stuff."

 

He had not heard that Hogan is back.   Even the pro's aren't into it as much as we're into it.   I guarantee you he wouldn't have even heard of three quarters of the brands you've mentioned.

[markb 244]

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[jbil8802 801]

My main issue before doing research and joining the MGS site and forum was that I didn't know any better. I started playing 3 years ago with a set of old clubs that a buddy let me borrow for the season since he was left handed. That season, I essentially taught myself how to play and decided I loved golf and wanted to keep playing. So the next season I went to Dick's and bought my own set of new left handed clubs that were on sale. I had no idea that clubs could be fitted or that it even mattered. Then as I learned more I started piecemealing stuff together.

 

Finally a few weeks ago I went for my first real iron fitting that included a launch monitor, different shafts, etc. with a knowledgeable clubfitter. He's an hour drive from me, but it's really my only option out here. Going for the driver, woods and hybrid fitting in a few weeks. I could have taken the detailed report he gave me and went home and possibly ordered them myself for cheaper. However, I'd rather give my money to a local clubfitter so I placed my order through him. Not to mention he builds and checks the specs himself when they come in. I'm at the point where I'd like to have a good relationship with a good clubfitter/builder that I can trust for years to come.

[Gotblades 35]

I LOVE where this thread is going.......

[Jmikecpa 13,477]

My big issue with some of the brands mentioned is that I don't have any shop around me that has these clubs to hit.  I at least would like to take a few swings with these before I plunk down the cash and would have no problem doing so if I could at a minimum get five swings in the simulator.  I had a hybrid in my bag for about 6 or 7 years that was made by LaJolla and loved the thing.  Back then there was a shop near me that carried the clubs and had some assembled that you could hit indoors and then have one built.  It was a sad day for me when that club bit the dust and it took me several seasons to find one that could come close to it.

[sp0rtsfan86 924]

My big issue with some of the brands mentioned is that I don't have any shop around me that has these clubs to hit.  I at least would like to take a few swings with these before I plunk down the cash and would have no problem doing so if I could at a minimum get five swings in the simulator.  I had a hybrid in my bag for about 6 or 7 years that was made by LaJolla and loved the thing.  Back then there was a shop near me that carried the clubs and had some assembled that you could hit indoors and then have one built.  It was a sad day for me when that club bit the dust and it took me several seasons to find one that could come close to it.

Agreed. My biggest issue is where can you find these clubs, the cost of said clubs, and also do I swing them as well as others. I know for a fact that there's not a single golf store within an hour of me, and even if there was I can't see any carrying these brands.

[hckymeyer 6,678]

Same reason you didn't really hear many folks playing Srixon or Bridgestone irons the past many years.  Availability.  If they aren't ready available to hit and it's harder to find information on them, then people aren't going to play them.

 

I also don't think of them as custom clubs.  They are just component clubs or boutique brands.  For me at least custom clubs are anything you've been fitted for and then had custom built.  So in that regard even though I play Speedblade irons they are custom clubs.

 

As for supporting my local clubmaker it really depends what it is and what the cost is.  I do most of my own club work so I would rather support myself.  That said I don't have the machines and knowledge to fit myself.  So I pay to get that done.  I also can't do my own loft and lie adjustments so I will happily pay to have someone do that for me.

 

Seems like we have 3 topics here though.  Club fitting, Club making, and why not as many people play smaller component and boutique brands.  I pay for fitting, I do most of my own building and have a trusted local place to do the rest that I can't do.  I'd be open to playing a smaller brand, but I would need to demo them.  I would need them to outperform what I currently play.  And I would want them to be cost competitive with other options on the market.

[Kenny B 33,344]

Agreed. My biggest issue is where can you find these clubs, the cost of said clubs, and also do I swing them as well as others. I know for a fact that there's not a single golf store within an hour of me, and even if there was I can't see any carrying these brands.

I remember 4 golf stores from Palm Springs to La Quinta, but I don't remember any of them carrying anything other than the major OEM clubs.

[Undershooter 4,135]

I don't play stuff "off the rack" unless I just happen to love it which is very rare. Most of the stuff you mentioned is out of my price range. On top of that, there is no way for me to try these clubs in my area. I would love to give them a shot otherwise. I do have some scratch wedges but I got those for a super deal and it was just lucky that I loved them.

[Kor.A.Door 5,843]

One of the issues for purchasing these types of clubs is in fact the purchase sight unseen, most of them you just have to trust that you made the correct call. I think most people need to put their hands in a club before it is purchased, the other problem that I have found, after looking up wedges from some of these places is that the model that I want doesn't come in a LH model. It's not just them, many of the big names leave the LH models alone, and Cally, they have the most well known lefty in golf, and their LH models are very small and difficult to find. It seems like every time I find something I like I soon find out that they don't carry Irvin LH.

[MattF 14,532]

As some or all of you may know, I built my own irons and hybrids during the winter, buying all my gear from The Golfworks.

 

I have to agree with what the majority have said, around here, it's hard to find a fitter (even more so, one you like) and trying to get hands on with the equipment.

 

The Golfworks is about 2 hours drive for me, but having one day (Sunday) off a week, makes it difficult to get there and hit what they've got, especially with a family.

 

I was fortunate that I decided to have a go at building my own and even more lucky that what I decided on and built, I'm happy with...now I have to get a lie machine so I can do some tweaking.

 

I'm a big believer in components over OEM, but finding them is the trick.

[Mr_Theoo 3,360]

 I would need them to outperform what I currently play.  And I would want them to be cost competitive with other options on the market.

 

I think thats probably one of the main reasons why we don't see more people playing and paying for smaller brands. There really isn't a huge difference in performance. 

[GolfSpy Barbajo 9,582]

One of the better component brands I've encountered is Vega.  Got to hit their stuff at the PGA show - and it was up there (driver and hybrids might have been among the best demo'd that day).  I'll echo what hckymeyer and theoo said - no doubt it's good stuff, but there's always a price-value decision that has to be made.  

 

That said - it's a crowded market out there!  When brands like Wilson, Hogan, Bridgestone or Srixon are considered outliers, you know there are LOTS of options available.

[wbealsd 1,063]

I've got a set of Alpha RX-1 & Wishon Fairway woods that I still sometimes play and have had "boutique brands" in the past, but I wasn't fitted for them.  I got them off eBay because I heard about them online.

 

As many have already mentioned, if you don't live in, or close to, a major city the major OEMs are probably the only clubs you'll hear of and be able to demo.

 

Until a couple of years ago, the only fitting option within an hour drive was a "cart fitting" for major OEM brands carried by local golf retailers, which is still limited to the shaft options offered by the OEM.  The other issue with the cart fittings is the experience and training of the staff.  Frankly, none of the stores have a "dedicated fitter" that does nothing but club fittings, so I think it's a pretty basic fitting done by the sales staff.

[BK in TEXAS 190]

I would need them to outperform what I currently play. And I would want them to be cost competitive with other options on the market.

 

 

I think thats probably one of the main reasons why we don't see more people playing and paying for smaller brands. There really isn't a huge difference in performance.

 

Exactly. That and it much easier to re-sell name brands a few years down the road.  5 year old Mizuno's are still worth some money.

[mr_divots 247]

I think consumers have forced the hand of some shops to go with known, volume brands.

Do you expect them to have a trackman/flightscope when you go in, for instance? It has to be paid for somehow, and they'll sell whatever sells best to pay for such setups, brick and mortar space, etc. The big brands have much more marketing, which only helps move product for them.

 

Plus, I have no idea what the buy-ins are for these smaller brands to get an account. Even large shops can't carry everything, even some products that you might expect them to carry, based on the demands of what the agreement would be to carry the brand. Just talked to a top 100 fitter that had to skip a brand of shafts based on the details of the contract agreement.