Clubs What is a clone golf club?

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What is a clone golf club?
If you are into golf, you've probably heard the term "clone clubs." What is a clone golf club? This article explains the difference between brand name golf clubs, "clone golf clubs" & "counterfeits."

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Golf clubs are made from golf club components. :-) Every golf club manufacturer buys those components from suppliers. Except in some very rare circumstances, those components are readily available for purchase by anyone. (Ping Golf is one of the exceptions and makes their own heads.) Just like IBM used off the shelf components to "invent" the first PC. Other technically savvy people soon discovered they could buy the same components, assemble them in the same way, and the Clone PC was born. So a clone golf club is similar to the concept of a clone PC. The goal of clone golf club manufacturer is to provide all of the performance & features of big name brands, but with better value to the golfer. Clones are not to be confused with the branded products they may seek to flatter, but they are made from the same materials, use the same shafts and grips, have the same design principles, and perform the same (or better) as the name brands.

The important point is to use the same quality materials, the same casting foundries, the same quality assembly methods as all the big name brand producers. To buy the heads, shafts, and grips from exactly the same suppliers. A correctly constructed clone club will offer the same performance but provide you, the serious golfer, with a much better bang for your buck. So let others throw away their money on brand names, while you save money, and get the exact same performance with a clone golf club. The money you save will allow you to play more often, have more fun, and become a better golfer; thus lowering your scores.

Next are "counterfeit clubs." While "clone clubs" are legal, "counterfeit clubs" are not. The reason is that "counterfeit" clubs pretend to be someone else's club by mimicking the name and/or look of a brand name club. Clones on the other hand duplicate the technology of another club, but promote themselves independently. Properly constructed and marketed clones are not illegal. Counterfeits clubs are illegal (fraud) and are a significant problem in the golf industry, just like counterfeit Rolexes are to the watch industry. No one should buy products from an illegal counterfeiter. A counterfeit club is a product that violates the legal trade dress rights, trademarks, patents or copyrights of another company while using inferior parts and construction. A total rip off to you the golfer and the entire golf equipment industry. Historical examples of trade dress violators were the makers of the "king snake" which was an illegal knockoff of Cobra's King Cobra, the Tommy Mann Bummer, the Big Burser _ you get the point. Counterfeits confuse the consumer and seek to fool the consumer into thinking their product is actually the Name Brand Company's product. It rips everyone off because reputable companies play by the rules and lose business to shady operators who fool consumers into thinking they are buying a legitimate product. It rips you off because the quality is inferior and you just enriched a criminal.

So if money is no object, brand names usually offer the ultimate in performance (but for a price.) If on the other hand, you don't have a money tree in the backyard, clone golf clubs can offer great performance for up to 70% less money. Finally, never buy a counterfeit club. And if you do by accident, notify the "real" club manufacturer so they can help close down the criminals.