But the funky look kept me from ever thinking about buying a whole set. What are the Most Forgiving Forged Irons? There is nothing crazy about the Slinger! Ive got a set of graphite Samurai ironwoods years ahead of their time lying around in the basement, I think. I am on my 2nd set.I used to lovem and had friends that bought as they loved the ball flight and were also a great set of chippers. There was a time when Spalding was one of the biggest brands in golf. I played Spaulding Black Dots back in late 60s. Like previously stated the Slotline Lowpro irons were for the most part an exact copy of the Browning 440 irons. Ironfinder has a good selection of individual Spalding Executive MV2 bird over ball golf clubs in stock to help you replace a missing single golf iron. Pretty or not (thats the clubs), I have played Fila Latitude irons since they came out. They are exactly like the Cleveland Ironwood set you see now, but it was made y..e..a..r..s ago. A request, could you do Sonartec at some point? The strangest set I play with at the moment is a matching set of 3 through 15 fairway woods made by Protactic Golf in Chicago (part of the remains of Northwestern Golf, I think). The 300XXL Driver was so lightawesome clubhead speed ! Club-makers traditional method had been to shape metal heads with an anvil and forge. In the 1920s, Spalding started making irons and innovated an assembly line style forging process that was much cheaper, faster, and more precise than the ole hammer and anvil. No, while you might be able to find Spalding golf clubs at thrift stores and via used online marketplaces, Spalding no longer manufactures golf clubs. You had to turn those over to see the ugly, but the cone in the bottom was down right wacky! By 2002, players such as Hal Sutton, Bernhard Langer, and Luke Donald were playing the Hogan Apex ball. Its an interesting question to ask about a company that was a factor for over 125 years. Golf bags bulged with 20 to 25 clubs, and the USGA, fearing too many specialty clubs had watered down the skill required in golf, took action. Well they made execs for over 20 yearswhich ones do you have? I think a list of the craziest irons made should definitely include the Jerry Barber Golden Touch irons made over 40 years ago. 1-949-642-6484 . It had a good locking mechanism, and was made for poorer people who could not afford a whole set. i just hit a 8 iron in that series last night. Our friends[], Amazing Ryder Cup Contest! I just had a guy show me a wedge that is a small diamond shaped club with about a 3/4 hollow core in the back that goes up to the inside of the face of the club. The BIG BOYS missed on this one. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Thanks. OVERSIZED Spalding Golf Clubs Lady set Woods Driver 3 5 w New Black Widow Grips $30.00 $15.00 shipping or Best Offer Spalding Executive MV2 2-9 Iron, PW set Bird Over Ball $69.99 $31.53 shipping or Best Offer Spalding Executive XE Irons Set 7-PW Medium Steel Shafts Left Handed LH $95.00 Free shipping or Best Offer In 1880, Spaldings League Ball became the official baseball of the National League (and later of the American League), a position it held until 1976. No copy for them. I think Browning was leaving the golf business then and they were discounted last set in the store. Cliffy2020 I remember a set called Canon I think, possibly a Spalding brand. Spalding started adding Tour staff during the 90s, with Greg Norman, Lee Trevino, Graig Stadler, and Nick Price all playing Stratas. In addition to being a prolific golf club designer and inventor of innumerable gadgets and gizmos, I have led a fascinating life, as you can see by a brief look at a summary of my biography.. At the 2003 PGA Show, Hogan introduced the Apex 50 blade commemorating its 50th anniversary, the game improvement CFT irons, and the Carnoustie and Riviera wedges. Havent been able to give them up since my Dad died in 99, Does anyone remember a set of irons made in the 80s (I think) that were actually a bunch of small woods, even the PW was made from wood. Great collection I remember many of them in the past 30 years often thought of buying some of them, but luckily, I didnt, Ive purchased dozens of iron sets in the last few years (Big Bertha,FTI, Taylor Made, Cobra, Nike V series) NOne of these work as well as my Ping Zings, Hey, what about Shakespeare and fiberglass. We had small layoffs on an ongoing basis, and people kept looking over their shoulder. Met a friend in Costa Mesa at Mile Square Golf Club back in the early 1970s and he was with Duke Duclos., a friend from their McDonald-Douglas days. Does anyone know anything about them? Fila Golf has developed this new iron using a patented design feature. My Uncle had the Executives and my Dad had the XL-4s. Driver to 15 wood. A very interesting stroll down golf history. Thanks for the memories, John Barba. The company's unique "baseball mark" A.G. Spalding had helped put baseball on the map--was stamped on the clubs and below it "Made in Great Britain" appeared. I actually have these clubs. I became a +2 handicap using those irons, and a lot of people scoffed at them early ontill they saw me hit them. With new sexy companies like Titleist, Callaway, and TaylorMade, and golfers like Tiger and Phil, the new aged golfer wasnt interested in playing their grandpas golf clubs. Sales declined into the 2000s, and Spalding made their last club in 2002. Nice article John! The Early Years of Spalding Golf Starting in 1900, Spalding opened club-making factories in London and in Fife, Scotland, producing forged iron heads for Spalding clubs sold both in the UK and U.S. Whats more, KKR continued adding to its golf empire, buying Etonic in 1996 and Ben Hogan a year later. We had hybrids back in the 80s. I didnt realize Spalding was still a player as late as 2000. But more trouble was coming for Spalding. Sponsored by: GolfCircuit.com, Maxfli Tour, Tour X and Tour S Golf Balls, Penfold Ace Golf Balls: Whats Old Is New Again, Topgolf Callaway 2022 Financials: $4 Billion? Still use them. But Zevo Golf is one of those on this list that was a pioneering. Whats more, Spalding Molitor clubs currently retail at $280 for an entire set, which is a price point that is pretty hard to beat. Although the Inertial irons werent so lucky. Jim passed away recentlyhe was a great innovator do you remember the Basakwerd Putter 2023 Arnold Palmer Invitational - Discussion and Links to Photos, 2023 The Honda Classic - Discussion and Links to photos, 2023 Genesis Invitational - Discussion and Links to photos, 2023 Waste Management Phoenix Open - Discussion and Links to Photos, 2023 AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am - Discussion and Links to all photos. I am still playing with my set every week! Smooth tempo swingers Ventus Velo isn't working for me other brands/models suggestions? When I was starting golf, I went to the shop and these were the clubs that I hit the best (compared to cavity backs) and bought them. It was a low loft club used for poor lies and putting. But as you can see could cause some serious digging issues. The Start Of Spalding Golf Clubs In 1905, a sporting goods company saw that golf was starting to become quite popular in the United States. i was hitting 8 iron and was suprised how high the ball flight was. Its factory could only make about six million dozen a year, and it was paying patent royalties. Mismanagement and a growing golf market led Spalding to cease manufacturing golf products, selling off popular brands like Top Flite to Callaway in the early 2000s. My Nike Slingshots is the best set I have ever used. The Top-Flite line was to feature investment-cast irons and Strata balls sold through pro shops and off-course retailers, while Spalding was to be the value/recreational line sold pretty much everywhere. (Everything To Know). They are awesome clubs, very well-weighted, with a great center of gravity for high loft shots. What about the Porsche irons? Notify me of followup comments via e-mail. What the hey. Don Wood has the patent for the Plop Slotz Irons. Happily, I can say that I have seen these over the years, but none of them ever made it into my golf bag. Callaway had been making balls but never turned a profit. The new club are really pretty, but no better than the original slotlines which I used to have. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Right now Ive been with the Execs 2 then 5 SW, Ram 64 wedge, 1 & 3 wood, both hybrids and putter. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. Every time I take it out of my bag for some new modern wedge, I go back to it a few weeks later. These irons actually performed quite well and had many copy cats of it down the road to prove itincluding another iron that made the list at #12 Slotline Lowpro iron and the Titleist Super Slim irons. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google, (your email address will not be published), Acushnet 2022 Financials: $2.27 Billion and Counting, Penfold Ace Golf Balls: Whats Old Is New Again, Four Testers Wanted Inesis Spikeless Shoe. There are so many different sets of irons available nowadays, Im happy with my Execs. it was at my range's rental bin. and had a driving range there for many years. Great list! Got the 3 PW for 3.99 a club, bought the 5- PW first, played two rounds and went back and bought the 3 & 4. There are a couple different models of this iron. Did KKR overpay? I will admit to having a hankering for those slick lookin Zevo Lobs tho. Taylor Made Golf was my Distributor for the U.S. and Canadian market. Don't let scams get away with fraud. 5 Testers Needed! These articles are all outstanding. But, you raised an interesting question: If Top-Flite Elite Professional irons with the Bird on Ball logoare rated by the MyGolfSpy Forums resident vintage club expert Big Stu as the third greatest pure forged blade of all time. Then what irons are #1 and #2 best ever forged blades? In 1900, Spalding released the Vardon Flyer, the golf ball used by Harry Vardon. What about Pax (Paul Goydos promoted them)? The success of Spalding golf clubs had compelled the USGA to act, but this success was not destined to last forever. I would love to have you include my Whole-In-One Adjustable Telescopic Golf Club in your mixdefinitely fits the criteria of unusual clubs. "https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjT3UiJflw60ZD31-6yC4mA", Mismanagement and a growing golf market led Spalding to cease manufacturing golf products, selling off popular brands like Top Flite to Callaway in the early 2000s. In 1910 Spalding started making fairway clubs made of aluminum, and heavier lead face putters. I was the Sales Manager of Stan Thompson golf company for several years and worked very close with Stan. You can post now and register later. More on the tr600!!!! Alternatively, you can look on a discount site like Rock Bottom Golf. In 1906 Bendelow designed the expansion of Atlantas East Lake Club, the eventual home club of one Robert Tyre Jones, Jr. Well spare you the decade-by-decade rundown of Spalding innovations (and there are many). They kept slashing the pricing. During their time together, Vardon and Spalding agreed the best way to grow the game in the U.S. and grow the market for Spalding golf products was to build more golf courses. I play with several timesa year. Fascinating how these once great brands essentially disappeared altogether. Thats great. Dreadful golf balls! http://www.geekgolf.com. we closed and then were just screwing around with some of the rental clubs. The old Spaulding Executive set I had back in the early 1980s. Youve forgotten the worst offender. OK. Ive got some irons sets you have up (Fila, Cleveland, Slotline, and the Tiger Shark). In 1895, Spalding started making golf balls. Wanted them when I was in college but couldnt afford them then. Are these considered weird? spalding golf clubs any good. They also specialized in unique clubs like the Cran Creek. Spalding spent the last half of the 20th-century battling with Titleist for golf ball supremacy. Starting in the early 1900s, Spalding started making golf balls before manufacturing clubs. Great set. }, Ive got other odd clubs, a clear/see thru 5W, 68 & 73 degree wedge (of course, they may not be considered crazy. C $75.53. Cleveland was giving them away for free if you send in some coupon from golf digest.