The third myth that I would like to dispel is one that most professional club fitters/builders run up against very often. That myth is that if it's not a 'name-brand' that you've heard of, it must not be quality equipment. This couldn't be any further from the truth.
However, if you have an opinion of all component club heads based on what we call 'clones' or 'knock offs', you need to adjust your thinking. While some builders do build clubs that are look-a-likes (these club heads are generally a lower quality steel and, perhaps, have a high concentration of zinc which makes a very porous club head with hot spots), this is not the type of club head that a professional club maker will build for you. Almost no club heads are made in the USA any more. 90% of all club heads are made in Taiwan or mainland China.
So, the number of foundries producing these club heads is finite. The heads that the professional fitter/builder uses are produced in the same foundries as Callaway, Titleist, Mizuno, or whomever you'd like to pick. The major difference is that you are getting a set that has been produced exactly for you and your specs and not one of 100,000 sets that just rolled off the assembly line. You would also shudder if you knew just how far off the clubs are from the published standard specs. Lofts and lies are often all across the grid. Two of the worst cases of the lack of attention to these clubs that I'll share were actually 'custom' sets that I had made for customers back when I was doing fittings for a major OEM. One set was simply ¼' short and 1* flat. After the third time that the set came in incorrectly, I personally fixed the set.
Another instance was a set that was just supposed to have the lie angles adjusted. The set was eight clubs and no two clubs were at the same corrected lie angle. Only one was at the correct lie angle. I could continue, but the point is just to make you aware that what you think is the epitome of the golf club hierarchy is so far from fact that it's ridiculous. If you want to move from just a so-so set and up to a 'Rolls Royce' set, you need to get a professional fitting and have the set built for you.
Speaking of Rolls Royce, when was the last time you saw an advertisement for them? Yet, I don't think anyone would question the belief that these cars are expertly made and of the highest quality materials.
So don't let the fact that you don't see advertising, that you've never heard of a company, or just whatever, distract you from the fact that when you get a high quality set of custom clubs you aren't paying for something you aren't getting. The inference here is that when you purchase that set at the local retail shop you are paying for all the relentless advertising and the ginormous amounts of $$$$$$ paid to Tour players to sport and play their equipment. What you get for the $$$$$ you pay the professional fitter/builder is the time, care, and attention to detail that has gone into your fitting and then the crafting of your high quality set of clubs. Another thing you get is the commitment of that individual to stand by you after the fact. In my case, I give a full year's worth of routine maintenance and a life time warranty with each product produced.
In the next issue we'll look at myths involving shafts. As in life in general there are only a few 100% certainties. The information is this article applies to the vast majority of the golfing public but not to all. So, keep in mind that there are always exceptions to just about everything and we are aware of this! Thanks and keep it vertical!
J. Giriffn, Master Fitter/Builder & PPGS Instructor
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