Knock-Off Golf Clubs

There is very little in the world of golf that causes as much argument as the subject of knock-off golf clubs. I guarantee if you go to any golf forum and do a search for threads on the subject you will see some fairly strong comments.

In this article I'm going to try and explain what knock-off golf clubs are and why they cause such heated discussion. I will also talk about whether or not they should be purchased, and what you need to look out for to guarantee the quality of the product.

So What Are Knock-Off Golf Clubs?

There is no exact definition of what a knock-off is - but it is generally considered to be a sub-section of the clone golf club market .

A clone golf club is one that is designed to resemble the equipment of one of the brand name manufacturers. The perfect example is Ping's irons. These are a very distinctive looking club. There are clone manufacturers who design their irons to look very similar to these clubs, and there can be no mistake that this was the aim

Why Do They Do This?

These clone manufacturers do not have the resources or the desire to design their own equipment. Research and Design is an expensive practice. So what they do instead is they reverse engineer the products of their competitors, and then release a similar product at a cheaper price.

Are They As Good?

It is generally accepted that the clones are not as good as the originals, but this is where the knock-off golf clubs gets its poor reputation, which in turn mars the reputation of the clone industry in general.

The knock-off golf club makers will use inferior quality materials in their manufacturing process. They will often be less than honest about the quality off their materials.

And then to make matters worse, they may use names so similar to the original equipment that they confuse people into buying because they think they are getting a brand name piece of equipment.

An example of this would be a club that looks very similar to a Callaway Big Bertha, but may be named something like Big Bersa. Someone new to the game, looking for some clubs will be confused by this, and may purchase in the mistaken belief that they are the real deal.

But Isn't That Illegal?

Yes - absolutely. Knock-off golf clubs in their worst form are illegal. If they are attempting to trade on the good name of another company than that is illegal.

It is not illegal to copy the design of a club, so clone golf clubs are not illegal. And to confuse you even more not all knock-offs are illegal. Using low quality materials is not illegal - deceiving customers about the quality of materials is.

So you can see why there is so much confusion over whether or not you should buy clones or knock-offs or if you should avoid the whole category entirely.

There Are Some High Quality Clones Out There

After all the information I've given above you'd be forgiven for deciding to avoid clones altogether. So I'll confuse you a little more by telling you there are clone manufacturers out there who are committed to making quality products, and will confidently back their equipment with no-risk guarantees.

But Why Would I Buy Imitation Clubs?

In one word - price. These clubs will be a fraction of the cost of the clubs they are imitating. And I'm going to give you a strategy you can use to ensure you are happy with any clone clubs that you purchase.

The Two Things To Look For From A Clone Club Manufacturer

1) Custom Fit - make sure the club maker custom fits the equipment to your needs. To find out what your specifications are you should discuss this with your pro beforehand. They will be able to analyse your swing and give you some recommendations

2) Playability Guarantee - only buy from companies that offer you the chance to trial the clubs for a period of time, and will then refund your money in full if you are unhappy.

If you look for the above two things from a clone manufacturer, you can guarantee that when you find them, the club maker is committed to your satisfaction, and are confident that their equipment will deliver.

You are in the perfect position because you know you can try the clubs risk-free, and if the clubs work for you, then you will have saved yourself a good amount of cash on your purchase.

Two examples of companies that satisfy these two requirements are Pinemeadow Golf and Gigagolf.

So in conclusion, when it comes to knock-off golf clubs my recommendation would be to steer clear. There are too many other cheap options available for you to be risking your money on a purchase of questionable quality.

Follow my clone buying guidelines and you should be able to find yourself a good set of clone golf clubs that you are happy with - and that you will be playing for many years to come.

Craig Crooks is the author of the new eBook Who Wants Cheap Golf. This book and the accompanying resource directory are the most complete source of discount golf infomation available anywhere.

Together they reveal insider strategies, resources and tools you shoud be using to make sure you never pay full price again.

The Resource Directory lists five clone manufacturers who offer custom fitting playability guarantees.

To find out more visit Who Wants Cheap Golf, and sign up for the free course -'How To Recession Proof Your Golf Game'.

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