What is the most under appreciated brand in golf?

[golfgame]

2 hours ago, Desous17 said:

Like others have said, I think Maxfli has made leaps and bounds to making a great ball in the Tour and Tour X, great performance and awesome price! Wedges I would go Cleveland, I go back and forth with my old Cleveland’s and Vokeys. For someone looking to get into golf I always recommend Cleveland wedges for the price and performance. Finally for irons, I don’t think they make anything new but for used clubs I’m a sucker for Bridgestone irons. I honestly don’t know who built their clubs but I enjoy playing them, from the few sets I’ve owned. Every time I get a chance I fall back in love with them and it seems only forum members know about these

You are right Maxfli is one great ball.

[Wardvon]

Tour Edge. !!

Not even close......

[Geopat]

Sub 70 golf small business building great golf equipment great customer service many options for all golf levels. And alot if customization options.

[golfgame]

2 hours ago, Cosmic Duffer said:

Yes. Definitely Cobra.

I played their S2 Driver for years until I wore it out and discovered that it was actually costing me distance. It was a great fairway splitter!! 

About Martini tees....the other day I was in an Edwin Watts store.  There they were the Martini, packaged in sevens for $8.00, and right close to them was another look-alike brand that gave you 60 of them for $10.00!  Go figure, how does Martini stay in business?

[frazzman80]

I love my Edison 2.0 wedges, so much so that I took Taylor Made MG4s out of the bag immediately and put them up for sale.

I also REALLY REALLY REALLY love my TransRover golf bag (pics below). The fact that I can convert from a cart bag to a 3 wheel walking cart back to a cart bag at will IN LESS THAN 2 minutes is incredible. All I have to load into my car is one bag (instead of a bag AND a separate push cart) and when I want to ride when I play with my wife and kids, I just put it on the cart and go. Best golf bag I’ve ever owned.

[Southpawgolfclub]

I’d say Srixon clubs.  I game the ZX7 MKIIs and they tend to raise eyebrows at the local range/courses.  My first trip to the range with them yielded a “those are some serious clubs, young man” from the shop pro.  The strangers I’ve been paired up at the local municipal course have noted them occasionally as well with one gentlemen saying “uh oh, this guy looks like a pro” (I am not and he was probably razzing me) but it definitely feels like an “in the know” brand. 

Furthermore my wife, who is no stranger to the sport, reacted as expected when I I showed her my new set…her remark? 

“They’re nice but who the h*ll is Srixon?” 

[TylorJudd]

On 3/12/2024 at 2:36 AM, berkeleybob said:

Wilson Staff and Srixon.

To me, Srixon always comes off as an in-the-know brand. As in,

“What kind of driver is that?”
”Srixon.”
”Oooh, nice.”
<wink, wink>

Wilson always comes off as the has been brand.

“What kind of driver is that?”
“Wilson.”
”… really?”

I’d be a fan of either or both, if only their clubs were available for lefties to test or demo in the golf shops, but I suppose until their numbers up with righties, I’ll never know.

I second Wilson and Srixon/Cleveland. Wilson is showing they’re back this year, their new staff lineup of irons and wedges is impressive. Srixon should be recognized as a big dog with the others. Their line up is top notch, and Cleveland wedges are right up there. Cleveland’s putters are no slouch now either

[GolfGuy1980]

I am big into the DTC and I am in love with New Level stuff.  

I also use the Red Rooster golf glove and am very impressed.  

 

[Mark VT]

I’m going to go in a little different direction and say FootJoy. Even though FJ has been the #1 shoe and #1 glove in golf for a long time, along with having a great rainwear line, I still feel that very few golfers talk about the only part of the body that actually touches the ground. You will hear quotes such as “my feet were killing me today” … however very few comments like “boy my shoes were really comfortable even after walking 36”! 

[troy.pugh]

3 hours ago, goldenhawk said:

Pinnacle.  Because who hasn’t spent hours working on their swing at the range with Pinnacle Golf Range Balls

Probably the best range ball made for the $

 

[troy.pugh]

Balls- Vice & Snell

Srixon in all categories

Cleveland wedges

Cobra clubs across the board

[sman3115]

I agree with the Wilson and Srixon votes, though I don't play any of them.

 

Maxfli too, the Tour ball is criminally underrated as I have stated elsewhere on the forum especially when price is factored in.

I am going to throw out Oncore as I really like the Vero series balls.  I also think Mizuno doesn't get the love for it's non-iron clubs. Though I'm kind of a Mizuno fan-boy so I might be a little biased.

[Friendship Teddybear]

I agree that Wilson deserves way more love. My CBs keep making their way back into my bag. But another brand who makes some of my favorite irons and rarely gets much attention is Bridgestone. I realize their North American presence is partly due to their business strategy, but you can still get their clubs, yet I almost never see anyone playing them. J15 cbs, J40, J38, Tour Bs, all amazing irons.

[jawshoeuh]

Lots of praise for Red Rooster gloves. And everything I've owned and hit from Sub70 has impressed me.

[feocheo83]

Cobra Irons and Drivers. 

Graphite Design Shafts.

 

[Jeremy Meyer]

I’ve seen a lot of names for clubs and balls, so I’ll stay away from that. One area I haven’t seen much on is shoes, and I believe OluKai. Great shoe that works in all types of weather, conditions, and even of course. The price is hard to look at, but it’s equivalent to other premium shoes/brands.

[Pat W]

I think the Maxfli balls are underrated. Tour Edge for clubs, and Zero Friction has good gloves.

[StrokerAce]

XXIO .... everyone who plays them loves em

[Papa82260]

Maltby & Maxfli

[Steve F]

59 minutes ago, troy.pugh said:

Balls- Vice & Snell

Srixon in all categories

Cleveland wedges

Cobra clubs across the board

Snell... great call @troy.pugh. Totally forgot about those balls!

[steve2526]

Vice Pro and Pro Plus Golf Balls.  3 and 4 piece urethane weapons that perform comparably to $50 per dozen offerings at $30 PER DOZEN

[Iowa Hacker]

I will say Cobra. I played Cobra irons for a long time. When I decided to upgrade last year, they got the first look 

My wife has a bag full of Cobra clubs that work great for her.

Cobra can also be a good value in the used club market.

[killerbgolfer]

Jeffmont.com

 

the avian line from redbird sports. Beautiful irons, woods, and wedges. Very meticulously made to your exact fitted specifications. I really like their fitting process as well. 

[funkyjudge]

On 3/12/2024 at 10:59 AM, funkyjudge said:

I agree. I have worked with ACCRA Golf since long before they were affiliated with True Sports (True Temper). Some of the best shafts ever, and their proprietary “DyMatch” (dynamic matching) system is unequalled in the industry.

I was just on a 2-hour call with Gawain Robertson, ACCRA’s CEO, last night, and attended a dozen or more of their “golf days” at the PGA Merchandise Show over the years that I have worked in the industry.

PS — Be on the lookout for the new ACCRA  “Shogun” shaft this spring. It’s ACCRA’s latest super-premium Japanese-manufactured shaft with allegedly the highest percentage of super high strength Toray prepared and tightest tolerances in the golf shaft industry.

[skiguy327]

I would say Bomb Golf - www.bombgolf.net.  They have great polo shirts and the Bomb Plate putting training aid is the real deal.

[Mexi Fry Golf]

I don’t know if maybe I’m not diving deep enough, but for me it’s Bettinardi Wedges. I have the HLX 3.0 in the blue finish and they are awesome! The HLX 5.0 are a real looker as well! I just feel like they get over shadowed by the putters (and maybe the price), but they are great wedges that I just don’t see all that often. 

[GolfSpy SAM]

6 minutes ago, funkyjudge said:

PS — Be on the lookout for the new ACCRA  “Shogun” shaft this spring. It’s ACCRA’s latest super-premium Japanese-manufactured shaft with allegedly the highest percentage of super high strength Toray prepared and tightest tolerances in the golf shaft industry.

Sounds like a testing opportunity.... lol. 

  I'm sure they're very reasonably priced, to boot

[ChiefMikeOfficer]

On 3/12/2024 at 9:59 AM, funkyjudge said:

I agree. I have worked with ACCRA Golf since long before they were affiliated with True Sports (True Temper). Some of the best shafts ever, and their proprietary “DyMatch” (dynamic matching) system is unequalled in the industry.

I was just on a 2-hour call with Gawain Robertson, ACCRA’s CEO, last night, and attended a dozen or more of their “golf days” at the PGA Merchandise Show over the years that I have worked in the industry.

Have to ask, since you have direct exposure (but may not have this info anyway) -- did True Sports bring any changes to quality, source materials, production or anything like that? I know I had a Driver and 3W shaft from fittings before the True Sports affiliation, and I picked up a USA-themed Driver shaft post-affiliation, but I'm not good enough or savvy enough to tell the difference. I've since been fit into different brands, but loved the Accra shafts while I used them, and still swap them in from time to time (plus, compared to some of the bigger names, they didn't break the bank -- my Accra Driver shaft was just over half the price of my buddy's Fujikura that he bought on the same day). 

[scubahoops]

Irons I have to go with Sub70 and Srixon, they are in different classes but they both are great brands, great clubs and very good values. I haven't tried any of the new Wilson clubs but I only hear good things about them and enough good things they will be on my radar when I look for something new.

Sub70 also makes really good wedges and then Ping and Cleveland wedges don't get the respect they deserve.

For putters it is LAB all day long. They just put the ball in the hole.  

For balls I have been very impressed with the Wilson Staff Model, Srixon Z-Star, Maxfli Tour, Vice Pro and Bridgestone Tour B XS balls. All underrated as it seems Titleist, Callaway and Taylor Made get all the attention but if you handed me any of the other balls listed I would be just as happy and play just as well as getting the balls from the big guys and it almost certainly cost less money.

[funkyjudge]

31 minutes ago, ChiefMikeOfficer said:

Have to ask, since you have direct exposure (but may not have this info anyway) -- did True Sports bring any changes to quality, source materials, production or anything like that? I know I had a Driver and 3W shaft from fittings before the True Sports affiliation, and I picked up a USA-themed Driver shaft post-affiliation, but I'm not good enough or savvy enough to tell the difference. I've since been fit into different brands, but loved the Accra shafts while I used them, and still swap them in from time to time (plus, compared to some of the bigger names, they didn't break the bank -- my Accra Driver shaft was just over half the price of my buddy's Fujikura that he bought on the same day). 

According to my friends at ACCRA Golf, including their CEO, the answer to your question is, “No, True Sports has not in any way interfered with our design or QA/QC process” The response that I typically get is that the biggest influence from True Sports is to streamline and consolidate SKUs among all of their subsidiary companies PX, ACCRA, Aerotech, etc) to eliminate overlap among models and designs.

There has also been consolidation within management ranks, eliminating several executives within the companies that True Sports has acquired. Along with the untimely death of the founder/CEO of AeroTech, I suspect that True Sports has eliminated more than $1 million in annual salaries.

Edited March 20 by funkyjudge