• 05-03-2006
    LuckyJoyce
    where's the club made? titleist, callaway, etc.
    Just curious where most of these clubs are made. i thought titleist were made in america, but the head said China, not a big deal just curious about the different brands and where they are made. I figured that with all these new technologies the clubs would be made somewhat in house.
  • 05-03-2006
    LyleG
    Most are made in China and assembled in the USA.
  • 05-03-2006
    ezra76
    1 Attachment(s)
    [QUOTE=LyleG]Most are made in China and assembled in the USA.[/QUOTE]

    Assembled in Mexico, US same difference I guess. Buy some real sticks.

    [ATTACH]1656[/ATTACH]
  • 05-03-2006
    LuckyJoyce
    Well that rubs me the wrong way, if they are made in china and assembled here. Are you guys just talking about woods and drivers, because i was thinking the forged clubs had to be made in house. any company purely american made?

    I just think that Chinese steel is inferior to others from my experience with steel. It's like the new Bobby Jones Driver by Ortiz is made with Russian Titanium that is like 30% stronger and harder than ours.
  • 05-03-2006
    dorkman53
    [QUOTE=LuckyJoyce]Well that rubs me the wrong way, if they are made in china and assembled here. Are you guys just talking about woods and drivers, because i was thinking the forged clubs had to be made in house. any company purely american made?

    I just think that Chinese steel is inferior to others from my experience with steel. It's like the new Bobby Jones Driver by Ortiz is made with Russian Titanium that is like 30% stronger and harder than ours.[/QUOTE]
    Ping, MacGregor and Hogan used to be made in America in the relatively recent past. I think nearly everybody now has their clubs cast or forged in China or Thailand, but some are still made in Japan. It's a matter of labor costs and profit margin, I'd guess. Obviously, the clubs still made in Japan are going to be at a premium price.
  • 05-03-2006
    emc
    Mizzy's are made in Japan anyway
  • 05-03-2006
    LuckyJoyce
    So nobody knows if there are any clubs still made in america, i thought mac gregors were still made in georgia.

    another beef with forged clubs is how skilled can the forger be if they are from china, i mean i always pictured an old guy grinding away, much like the mac gregor piece of the man who has worked there for 27 yrs.
  • 05-03-2006
    pingman360
    i am almost 100% positive that Ping is still solely made in America. I think that the Japanese "Ping" clubs are fakes (my friend got some "ping" woods for $50 'cause they were fakes). I could be wrong though about them only being made in America.
  • 05-03-2006
    QueenCityGolfer
    [FONT="Tahoma"]Ping is the only major golf company that manufactures their clubs in America.

    This is probably because Ping doesn't offer any forged irons, whereas all Titleist and Mizuno irons for example, [I]are[/I] forged.

    Why these companies can't/don't do this in America is a question I can't answer.[/FONT]
  • 05-03-2006
    ezra76
    [QUOTE=QueenCityGolfer][FONT="Tahoma"]Ping is the only major golf company that manufactures their clubs in America.

    This is probably because Ping doesn't offer any forged irons, whereas all Titleist and Mizuno irons for example, [I]are[/I] forged.

    For whatever reason forging irons is a better move financially if it's done in Asia rather than America.[/FONT][/QUOTE]

    I would think forging involes a lot more of a manual process. I used to work in an investment casting plant for a short time when I was younger. One of the guys made an exact replica of his set of Ping heads, it was pretty cool. Not sure what the steel was but it was supposed to be for the Seawolf submarines. lol
  • 05-03-2006
    QueenCityGolfer
    [QUOTE=ezra76]I would think forging involes a lot more of a manual process.[/QUOTE]

    [FONT="Tahoma"]It does. I just wonder why this cannot or is not done in the US hardly at all.[/FONT]
  • 05-03-2006
    ezra76
    [QUOTE=QueenCityGolfer][FONT="Tahoma"]It does. I just wonder why this cannot or is not done in the US hardly at all.[/FONT][/QUOTE]

    Fixed costs, variable costs much cheaper in China. Throw in the cost to ship all the different parts to a nearby location ie: Mexico, for assembly, still way cheaper. How much do you need to make per hr. to sweat your ass off in a steel forging factory. Add comp. insurance, health, dental. They can pay a guy what you'd cost in less than a week for a whole year. And if he cuts off his fingers, take a hike stubby....next. I'll guarantee Ping is an almost entirely automated production process. If they weren't their irons would have to be $4000 to cover their costs.
    Look at what the foreign car companies are doing now. US plants, yeah right. How many cars fit in a sea container? 6-8, 2 high. How many fit if you take every nut, bolt, screw and weld out. A lot more. Now ship it to the US and have it assembled as American Made. Brilliant.
  • 05-11-2006
    bladerunner
    Almost all clubs are made in China. The Chinese workers have been smuggling casts out of the factories to sell for big bucks to knock off companies. The companies making the knockoffs are using the actual casts - with shittier metals. (The auto industry is having the same problem) The Chinese have NO RESPECT for intellectual properties.

    As for Japan - this country IS forging. The best forged steel in the world comes from Japan. I work for a steel company - so I'm not talking out my ass. The Japanese developed the "folding" of steel hundreds of years ago forging samurai swords. German steel is better than Japanese steel, but Japanese forging is the BEST in the world.
  • 05-11-2006
    neverman
    [QUOTE=QueenCityGolfer][FONT="Tahoma"]Ping is the only major golf company that manufactures their clubs in America.

    This is probably because Ping doesn't offer any forged irons, whereas all Titleist and Mizuno irons for example, [I]are[/I] forged.

    Why these companies can't/don't do this in America is a question I can't answer.[/FONT][/QUOTE]

    Little note... Mizuno offers the MX-17 which is "cast". All current Titleist irons are indeed forged.
  • 05-12-2006
    ironman
    i want American forged steel golf clubs
    but i'll "settle" with forged steel golf clubs from Japan...
    Miura or KZG

    OT:
    my next mountian bike xc racing frame will be made in the USA

    my made in taiwan mtb frame is acceptable and has been very good.
  • 05-13-2006
    neverman
    Yeti? They used to be famous for their welds but I've heard they've gone commercial.
  • 05-21-2006
    wb4tjh
    [QUOTE=pingman360]i am almost 100% positive that Ping is still solely made in America. I think that the Japanese "Ping" clubs are fakes (my friend got some "ping" woods for $50 'cause they were fakes). I could be wrong though about them only being made in America.[/QUOTE]....Hate to burst your bubble, but PING has also moved its club head manufacturing to China. The ONLY club heads still being 100% made in America are the beautiful persimmon woods still made in Kentucky by Louisville Golf.
  • 05-21-2006
    ironman
    desiged in America, forged in Japan
    looks like the "best" we can buy is..desiged in America, forged in Japan...such as Titleist or TalorMade, or desiged and forged in Japan: Miura or Mizuno
  • 05-21-2006
    swvaguy
    [QUOTE=wb4tjh]....Hate to burst your bubble, but PING has also moved its club head manufacturing to China. The ONLY club heads still being 100% made in America are the beautiful persimmon woods still made in Kentucky by Louisville Golf.[/QUOTE]



    Wrong. Ping clubs are still manufactured in the U.S. Manufactured and assembled in the U.S. No Asian production.

    As for the supposedly mystical capabilities of the Japanese to produce superior forged steel, I suppose that makes for good reading in Mizuno brochures, and is a good excuse for lapping up their latest offerings, but it has no bearing on reality.

    The reason products, both forged & cast, are manufactured in east Asia is that the lower production costs there give huge financial benefits to the corporations. No other reason. Welcome to the economic realities of the last two decades.

    As for the 'best' we can buy? Well, that would not necessarily be what is hyped the most, like Mizuno, but what actually benefits each person's game the most. FTR, that answer varies based on the person, not the advertising budget or the lemming factor. IOW, there might be something besides the latest offering from Mizuno that would benefit a someone whose handicap is between 0 & 30.
  • 06-04-2006
    bogeymon
    American Clubs
    I can't speak to all other assertions being made here, but I can attest to the fact that Tour Edge clubs are all made in America.
  • 06-04-2006
    tincanman99
    Chinese Factory Works Make 25 CENTS AN HOUR
    That is why the clubs are made there. Bottomline. Dont let anybody kid you otherwise. They have over 1 BILLION people so permanent wage suppression is in place. You cannot beat 25 cents an hour. Even with the costs of transportation back to the US it is still cheaper than the US. Why pay somebody in the US $10/hour+ to work in a factory with benefits, etc...

    Also China has nonexistant environmental and OSHA laws. Runoff in the streams - so what. People get cancer - so what. Lose your fingers - so what.

    The reality is that corporations are getting over on all of us. So instead of making say 20% profit with them made in the US they make 10000% profit by having them made in China. Its not that they cant manufacture here they CHOOSE NOT TO.

    How you may wonder?

    They charge 1st world prices for products made in 3rd world countries. No matter how much money they spend on advertising or supposed R&D it will never equal the cost of what they charge. You are PAYING FOR THE NAME. Thats all. They have everybody sucked into the mentality of paying X for Y. Its the same for designer clothing. Do you think that Polo shirt is not made in the same factory as the $8 Sears one? Please, I have a bridge to sell you too.

    Now I do grant that companies do spend money on R&D. And their quality control is better than the no name brands but at a certain point you are paying for just the name. As an example Callaway charges like $1200 for a set of Fusion irons. I bet their cost is no more than $100-200 for manufacturing at MOST. If you look closely you will notice they say "Made in China" or "Assembled in China". Callaway as an example has no factories. They farm it out to different companies. Otherwise known as outsourcing. So for example the Callaways, Titleists and whomever else are probably made in the same factory.

    As someone else mentioned intellectual property theft in China is a real problem. The Chinese do not respect intellectual property laws, to them its just business. Its their culture.

    You may wonder how do I know all this. I work for a large well known company that has all their products made in Asia. We just do the basic design and the Chinese do the rest.

    So next time you plunk down that wad of money think about where that is going.

    BTW - Ping is one of the few companies that still make clubs in the US. Only their irons and putters though. Everything else is made in China. They own a foundry in Arizona still.

    PS. I own a set of Callaways so dont think I am just picking on them. All the companies do it.
  • 06-04-2006
    ironman
    Titleist 905R. KZG Gemini or G4, Nakashima NP!
    Titleist 905R driver looked so cool and hit decently enough for me according the computerized indoor range. Now unlike some brands that do not seem to disclose where the item was made, Titleist did have thier sticker: "Head Made in China, Shaft Made in Japan, Assembled in USA." Hmmm. I knew Callaway (a fine company with among the best products, I would imagine) does import from China (PRC, not to be confused with ROC-Taiwan), but now I know Titleist does. Somehow, that made Titleist less "special" -- I hope at least their fine irons are still forged in Japan.

    Does KZG import from China?

    Does Nakashima, an American company (Stockon?, CA), import from China?
  • 06-05-2006
    tincanman99
    Some companies list their origin point. Others do not. For example I saw Taylor Made drivers at Sports Authority. Said it right on the shaft:

    Head: Made in China
    Shaft: Made in Japan
    Assembled in USA

    My Callaways do not say anything except "Assembled in China". So who knows where all the parts are made.
  • 06-05-2006
    Guru2
    Made In USA
    I have mentioned this before but if you check out [url]www.calgolftech.com[/url] you will see USA & Japan forgings.Also,They feature Ruger Titanium drivers.(Ruger used to make drivers for Callaway).The Great Big Berthas used to have Ruger stamped on them.Now doesn't True Temper(Dynamic Gold etc), & Royal Precision(Rifle) make the steel shafts in the USA?
  • 06-05-2006
    ezra76
    Played with a guy today who had all Ping. They are all made in Pheonix, AZ. His cousin works there and he got his clubs custom made with his initials engraved for 50% off. Just find that info interesting.
  • 06-05-2006
    ironman
    Ping rocks
    [QUOTE=ezra76]Played with a guy today who had all Ping. They are all made in Pheonix, AZ. His cousin works there and he got his clubs custom made with his initials engraved for 50% off. Just find that info interesting.[/QUOTE]

    even the name sounds
  • 06-05-2006
    ezra76
    1 Attachment(s)
    [QUOTE=ironman]even the name sounds[/QUOTE]

    If you like oversized offset cast shovels. :D I have a set of those should I choose to switch back. Uuuggllyyy

    [ATTACH]1666[/ATTACH]
  • 06-06-2006
    emc
    What does it matter to all of you that the product is made wherever. I coldn't gie a monkey's and quite right. A stamp saying 'Made in the USA' won't help me break 70 (at least I don't think so)
  • 06-23-2006
    aceillini
    [QUOTE=bogeymon]I can't speak to all other assertions being made here, but I can attest to the fact that Tour Edge clubs are all made in America.[/QUOTE]

    I thought so too but I just bought my stepson a set and the had "china" on a sticker on the shaft
  • 06-23-2006
    flight
    Just like the illegals grooming our courses but they charge U.S. prices. They sell clubs as though they were made in the U.S. Don't be fooled. The owners are reapers of our love for Golf.
  • 06-23-2006
    ironman
    why
    [QUOTE=emc]What does it matter to all of you that the product is made wherever. I coldn't gie a monkey's and quite right. A stamp saying 'Made in the USA' won't help me break 70 (at least I don't think so)[/QUOTE]


    spending dollars is a form of "voting", everyday.
    PRC (PRC is China, a communist capitalist state. Taiwan is ROC, a republic and a capitalist..just like us, but weaker..perhaps in resolve and in resources, yet makes quality products)
    China is not known historically for high quality metal forgings
    China no labor protection laws nor the ability to choose thier represenatives nor due process, like we have thanks to our Constitution.
    China is also our main rival in the UN Security Council, militarily backs North Korea that we've only had a cease-fire armistice since 1953 that can heat up again, and we've fought China in North Korea in 1950 (we lost: first time we've ever lost a war).
    China is modernizing their armed forces...few more generations than look out...they're financing their militarty modernizations by taking our jobs and then selling to us then investing their dollars earned on their military and lending dollars to us.
    sure us buying Chinese good may help them develop a modererate middle class that'll be fair minded and peace loving.
    i'd perfer to spend my dollars, if i can, on good made my us or by our like minded trading partners that have historically better crafsmanship standards (Japan, Germany, Swiss, Taiwan, for examples)

    better forged blades (or forged CBs) may indeed help a golfer to break 70.
    when was the last time you heard of a good golf pro from China? from UK, Europe, "Kiwi", Korea, or Japan yes...but from China...don't think so...golf's not their priority so why would taking pride in making good golf clubs be.