My first clubs were Spalding top flites. Zevo was a great brand and I played a Zevo Zv2 hybrid for almost 6 years because it was so easy to hit and had incredible feel. I play them still and love them. Copyright 2023. Peter F. Stevens is an award-winning author and journalist whose 10 books include "The Voyage of the Catalpa." I cannot find any information on this club, maybe they were a golfsmith thing from early 2000s?? Im from SD, so I had a set. when were spalding executive golf clubs made MENU. Really a zany=looking set of irons. He re-gripped them and beats the Taylormade hand-me-downs of his friends. or Best Offer. "logo": { The Titleist were a bit longer lasting but I (a poor college student) could afford the Spaulding balls. You can still buy Top-Flite and Strata branded balls at DICKS and Golf Galaxy. It had a good locking mechanism, and was made for poorer people who could not afford a whole set. My woods are Taylormade Burners 1 & 3, and I have two Mizuno hybrids. Your previous content has been restored. Our mission is #ConsumerFirst. Read on to learn more about the history of Spalding clubs and what you can expect from various models. Spalding started adding Tour staff during the 90s, with Greg Norman, Lee Trevino, Graig Stadler, and Nick Price all playing Stratas. Box 4666, Ventura, CA 93007 Request a Quote: comelec district 5 quezon city CSDA Santa Barbara County Chapter's General Contractor of the Year 2014! It overpaid for Spalding and borrowed heavily to do it. Find golf club trade-in and re-sales values for over 4,000 models of used golf clubs at the PGA Value Guide, from leading manufacturers such as Callaway, TaylorMade, Taylor Made, Titleist, Ping, Odyssey, Nike, Cleveland, Mizuno, Cobra, Adams, Wilson. He has provided some keen insights from his time with Mr. Hogan in other articles and podcasts. GolfWRX_Official We had hybrids back in the 80s. They produced more premium balls, but we used to make 25-, 26-million dozen a year.. Can you help me find the history of the club? By reducing our debt and consolidating our operations, we enhance our abilities to drive growth behind our prestigious group of golf brands, CEO Jim Craigie said at the time. spalding executive irons- does anyone remember these? Still use them. In 1962, Pyramid merged with Dunhill International and the AP Parts Corporation. Make Request. Slotline Inertial E-Max irons laying around ? The success of Spalding golf clubs had compelled the USGA to act, but this success was not destined to last forever. There are still folks around from when Mr. Hogan ran the company and I am sure you can get some keen insights not only of the company but of Mr. Hogan himself. Those are the reasons they work. They kept slashing the pricing. Spalding got so inventive with their clubmaking, they had golf bags around America sporting 20-30 clubs. Top Flite is now synonymous with bargain or cheap instead of being the club of choice for the greatest golfers on tour. I just found a set of Slingers at the thrift store for $10. I had a set of Tiger Sharks(the short irons hit the ball miles).The follow up Great Whites I had released it into the foreign market through a network of distributors mid in 1978, where it was well received. What is it for weight transfer? Forward-face progression creates a hitting surface 20 percent larger than standard and 5 percent larger than over-sized irons. Taylor Made Golf was my Distributor for the U.S. and Canadian market. About half of our sales are with personal names or corporate logos in the back and given as gifts. I have a med flex shaft, 1 inch extension on each Exec club, and Golf Pride Velvet jumbo grips. "url": "https://swingyard.com/wp-content/uploads/Logo-1.svg" Ive owned. "name": "Swing Yard", Callaway Rogue ST Triple Diamond LS Driver Review, Best Womens Golf Clubs for Intermediate Players, Ned Howard Retired PGA Teaching Professional. Yes it has some smoother lines compared to some of the other clubs on the listbut you put that PowerBow as Nike says on any of those other irons and it is a dead ringer for this list of crazies. but fairly forgiving. Pat Simmons of Tiger Shark fame (and others) is the most underrated club designer of all time! Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. He also had some copycat Browning irons in the trunk, but I refused I couldnt even look at them with a straight face. But, in the rough the club went right underneath the ball. 2023 Genesis Invitational - Monday #3. All are memory refreshing .. have been in golf clubhead design , manufacturing 25 years , familiar with the designs ! as well as honest reporting on the latest issues affecting the game Used them for about 10-15 years before I switch to 845s. What the hey. 2023 Genesis Invitational - Monday #1. They introduced the Browning 500 Series to counter that effect.But, they waited too long and by that timethe party was over! In the meantime, this should hold you over, https://mygolfspy.com/why-does-the-ben-hogan-equipment-company-still-matter/. Now, like Henry Ford's assembly-line Model T's, Spalding craftsmen used a mechanical hammer to craft club-heads, drill sockets in them to attach the shaft and then polish the heads, all of which allowed Spalding to mass produce matching club sets. It was an interesting period to work for Spalding but sad to watch the demise of the brand it should never of happened ! No sir, they are in my bag and are still being used after all these years. Press J to jump to the feed. " [We] decided that . Im sure Scott White would love to contribute. They all looked like mini woods. That debt burden, however, finally proved fatal. The Ginty was the first modern Utility club. $89.99. Never met a set of strange clubs I didnt want to try. MGS can never have too much content regarding the man, his company, or his impact on golf. In April, KKR sold the Spalding name and all of Spaldings non-golf businesses to Russell Athletic for just $65 million. By 2002, players such as Hal Sutton, Bernhard Langer, and Luke Donald were playing the Hogan Apex ball. Wed have monthly meetings at their West 57th Street offices in New York. Written by June 5, 2022 . Too bad. Design the future of bad golf! Spalding led the way with such deep-grooved designs as the "waterfall" and waffle-face irons. Fantastic article John! So I sent it in and got the iron. By the early 1920s, Spalding began using a mechanical hammer to drop-forge heads in an assembly line, making the process faster, more consistent, and considerably less expensive. Both are really great. In that year, the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) took shape, and many of the fledgling tour's stars already had endorsement deals with Spalding. 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. If youre looking to buy or sell vintage Spalding clubs, the best place to do so is on eBay or Craigslist, where you can list the clubs in the condition that they are currently in. Does Spalding make golf balls? Eventually banned because it was too straight. vicunas. I had some Staff FG-17 and my friends dad had the Executives. These gentlemen used them to win large amounts of money on the course from unsuspecting victims. I would like to repay you with mine. Therefore, the Top Flite clubs produced in the nineties and early naughts are technically Spalding golf clubs. In 1895, Spalding started manufacturing golf balls. The result is the easiest-to-hit long irons ever. Hmmmare you wondering why all irons arent made out of titanium then? 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. I cant remember who made them, but I remember reading about an iron that was adjustable so its loft could be wildly altered. By 1910, the company was selling aluminum fairway clubs and its Gold Medal series (1910 to 1919) featured aluminum bronze. 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. Just saw a full set of them again today. CA License # A-588676-HAZ / DIR Contractor Registration #1000009744 i used to work in a golf shop in ohio and we had the worst set i ever saw. Get the best deals on Spalding Executive Irons when you shop the largest online selection at eBay.com. when I got my samurais,they were expensive,,but you can get them ocassionally on ebay,,picked up a 6iron for 15$. If it works for you use it. why did patrice o'neal leave the office; why do i keep smelling hairspray; giant ride control one auto mode; current fishing report: lake havasu The market was changing rapidly, as well. we closed and then were just screwing around with some of the rental clubs. 5 Testers Needed! In fact, one of Spaldings most popular models was the Bobby Jones collection, selling two million sets between 1932 and 1973. ), Finn Scooter Golf Reviews (Are These the Real Deal? It made its mark in the 80s through leveraged buyouts buying undervalued or poorly managed companies with other peoples money, improving their bottom lines, and then spinning them off at a profit. it was at my range's rental bin. when were spalding executive golf clubs made I think you are talking about the Spaulding Executive XE irons,ahead of their time,I played a set for a couple of years then sold them, looking back I wish I hadnt. Iomic Golf Grips: 8 Key Facts Before You Buy. Here's what happened with 10 equipment company acquistions - The Loop Within weeks, Top-Flite filed Chapter 11. 1983 2 Iron (21) Spalding EXECUTIVE XE . Spalding did have high hopes for the Hogan brand. TaylorMade then entered the bidding but, after 30 rounds, Callaway wound up buying Top-Flite free and clear for $175 million. I tried to restore them by getting some original Browning grips (brown rubber with the Browning deer logo in gold) and exchanged several e-mails with Browning in Belgium would not sell me any. But, the #1 weird club goes to the Slingeryour #1 choice. He changed from forged blades and balata balls to cavity back, investment cast irons and sold core balls, White tells MyGolfSpy. I have a set of both the 440s and the 500s, and there is no difference in face depth. There are so many different sets of irons available nowadays, Im happy with my Execs. In 1993 Payne Stewart signed a multi-million-dollar deal to go full Top-Flite, a move that sidetracked Stewarts career. "url": "https://swingyard.com/wp-content/uploads/Spalding-Irons-by-Year.jpg" The brand was popular until the late 1990s, but Spalding opted for a new direction at the turn of the century and focused on other sports instead of golf. In 1895, Spalding started manufacturing golf balls. While the Top Flite was initially scorned by better players as the rock flight, it probably caused a rule change. document.getElementById( "ak_js" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); MyGolfSpy is gearing up to conduct the second edition of our groundbreaking ball test. 1 Iron (18) Spalding EXECUTIVE XE. Its pretty clear KKR didnt do its due diligence. Jeff Sheets - Spalding - Past Designs I love it but was told it is no a legal putter. It was the mold makers attempt to make at a hollow head, wooden shape club. I completed the set off of eBay for around $100. HellI know I dont and I have been involved in some type of internet golf business since[], THE WINNER OF THE CONTEST: Farve The Looper (CONGRATS!) I have not 1 but 2 sets of Browning 440 irons. . An excellent article well researched They are also perfect in a steep slope due to the curved bottom of the club head. We (and tour players) figured out it was very stable in the wind and was 2 clubs longer with the irons. His company quickly expanded into making equipment for every sport imaginable. Spalding no longer makes golf clubs, and hasnt for some time now. I believe Robert Molitor was the fellow who developed the Top Flite. Although they did have issues with the shafts actually wrinkling due to the configuration of the shape of the toe on this ironcrazy little factoid. Jim also marketed the first Graphite Shafts sold under the Aldila name. Smooth tempo swingers Ventus Velo isn't working for me other brands/models suggestions? There was a time when Spalding was one of the biggest brands in golf. Even tho I play with graphic shafts I really like the way those play. Thank you for your research efforts. Whats troubling to us is the extent to which a reputable company that has its own trademarks and has invested a lot of money and time feels it needs to become a predator on somebody elses goodwill to sell its products, said Callaway chief Don Dye at the time. The biggest of them all, however, may well have been the aforementioned Bobby Jones. I finally gave it to a friend of mine who is a beginner and he says it is the only club he can hit reliably. Seemed like big headed design with half the head chopped off to produce a bigger face!!! What about Giant Irons, I remember seeing those on an infomercial a few times. He traded a set of classic Burke PunchIrons to get the Lynx. They also specialized in unique clubs like the Cran Creek. You can post now and register later. You cannot do that with any other club. 1 Iron Spalding Executive x EZ Oversize. Current owner FILA Korea Ltd took Acushnet public, and the company has thrived ever since. Clear editor. 2 iron sw. Let me know if anyone is interested. I asked him about it and he said he had shown it to Spaulding, Wilson and MacGregor and their response was It will never sell!!!! Got them for $200.00 which was a really great price other pro shops were asking $450.00 for a set. My Nike Slingshots is the best set I have ever used. when were spalding executive golf clubs made. Driver to 15 wood. Cliffy2020 Every iron ever made is ugly as hell when you hit it off the hosel. Just terribleand never sold thruas well it shouldnt. I agree, though it does deserve a deep dive. Their president at the time said this about the newly released irons, Titanic irons are the first long irons even God and you can hit. Now that is a bold statement that should of had you guys flocking to purchase these beauties. Great collection! The solid core Strata now had competition from the Titleist ProV1. They also made a set made entirely of woods. Amazing how so of the old stuff works better than the hyped up new stuff! How about Hogan Magnums and Magnum Plus irons big cavity backs from the 1970s. Only until tomorrow until my hybrids come in and boom they're gone. In 1977 while having molds made for my new line of Irons at a mold makers in Oxnard California, I spotted a very interesting club in a bag at the rear of the shop. Today, Spalding Executive clubs arent worth a great deal of money. They also said this, Because titanium is 40% lighter than steel, yet incredibly strong, the Ray Cook design team was able to create club heads substantially larger than standard oversize irons and add significantly more mass in the heel and toe. History's Mysteries: Spalding Golf's Final Countdown Different, yes, but they are the only ones where you can really aim at the target! Our friends[], Amazing Ryder Cup Contest! "@type": "Article", Finally, I think a distinction needs to be made between the wackiest looking and worst irons made. I still have several sets of Hogan forged irons, Hogan/Bettinardi putters, several dozen Apex, and Tour Deep balls. The stickers are silver, but the Slinger logo is a black heavy type face and says pat. Man, some of my favorites on this list. Tommy Armour TI 100 need to be on the list, they were twice the size of any other iron produced ever. Another great history piece. I had a few customers back in the 1970s who ordered custom irons and would request the same number on the sole of their heads. By the Roaring '20s, A.G. Spalding & Brothers was using the process of "drop forging" to manufacture metal club-heads. he is a cleveland iron man now, but he still owns the spalding executives. Not quite Bryson-like, but innovative for the day. Anybody know anything about them? Very well researched and well done, as someone who is not super well versed in some of golfs history, it was a great, informative read! I would love to have you include my Whole-In-One Adjustable Telescopic Golf Club in your mixdefinitely fits the criteria of unusual clubs. We used to say three-quarters of the golf balls manufactured in the world came out of the state of Massachusetts, says Ben Hogan CEO Scott White, who started his career as a golf ball product manager for Spalding in the early 90s. "https://www.instagram.com/_swingyard_/", We had small layoffs on an ongoing basis, and people kept looking over their shoulder. I am surprised no one ever mass marketed them. Especially in America. Who Makes Dunlop Golf Clubs? I speak with Nat Rosassco, former owner, of NorthWestern golf at least every 7 to 10 days and he holds Pat Simmons as one of the best club designers of all time as well. I have had many pros in proams hit them and fascinated by how the ball comes off the club face so fast,,good distance. Spalding, like its old school brethren Wilson and MacGregor, simply wasnt sexy to a new generation of golfers. KKRs $25 billion takeover of RJR Nabisco was chronicled in the book (and tv movie) Barbarians at the Gate. 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. Tommy Armours ownership circus eventually turned it into the Sports Authority (and now DICKS) house brand. Play to a 4 6 cap. I look forward to your future deeper dive into the history of the Hogan company. Their original design was a smaller headed Tony Penna model Innovator, they became the n1 and then the Bears came out when oversize irons hit the market. With a few months of work and some radical design modifications it was turned into the first modern Metalwood. 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. Do You have any idea? Spalding Executive Golf Clubs for sale | eBay * Note: These irons were designed by Dave (cant remember last name) which was considered a very good designer by others in the business at the time and one that some felt did not get as much credit as he deserved. So, while Spalding is nowhere near as prevalent as it once was in the world of golf, you can still pick up a set of Molitor clubs for a very reasonable price online. The pro-shop who had them could not find a buyer. Im 65 and still playing to seven with them. They say you learn from your mistakes. You can buy a set in good condition on eBay for around $100. Almost , http://www.intheholegolf.com/store/f2is.html. What about the old Bullet Driver that was hollow in the center (like an inverted U shape)? when were spalding executive golf clubs made. My Uncle had the Executives and my Dad had the XL-4s. It was a low loft club used for poor lies and putting. It is called a hollow wedge, but you can putt with it as well. In 1984, Questor sold off Spalding/Evenflo to a Venezuelan group headed by Gustavo and Ricardo Cisneros. The Roaring 20s gave us Babe Ruth, Knute Rockne, Jack Dempsey, and Red Grange. does ohma have a child [email protected] buy all 6 get free shipping) Let me know by ebay . Did you forget about Zevo Golf? Money put a few of these clubs on touralthough that does not mean they were worth a penny. Matched them to Wilson Pro Staff low compressions and I was a happy camper. Oversized high center of gravity heads and huge amounts of offset are what killed long irons IMO. Irons made during that time are distinguished by an anvil cleek mark. Irons made during that time are distinguished by an anvil cleek mark. I take them out every couple of years and play a round with them just for fun. Well done. Dont be ashamed thoughsome of these designs have actually been pioneering for the industry. Could not beleive how well I hit this clubs. Original? Spalding Executive Left Handed Golf Clubs - Left Handed Golf Clubs I have a full set of Exec XE irons. Circa 1985-ish if memory serves. Upload or insert images from URL. I love them but Im mystified with the hex screw in the bottom of every shaft! Windtree Golf is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. If you have a vintage set of Bobby Jones Spalding irons that are in great shape, you might be able to sell them at a slightly higher price, but theyre not worth a great deal of money in the current market. "dateModified": "2022-05-12", I still have the samurai irons,2-pw and woods,driver,3w,5w,7w,,and still use them. They owed more to its creditors than Spalding was worth. Albert Spalding was a superstar. #14 - Spalding Executive Irons These were actually a pretty good iron for the time and I think Trevino had something to do with this designbut not sure. You find them on eBay Gary? Those and the Ram Tour Grinds that Watson played were my bucket list irons, but never could afford them. Its an interesting question to ask about a company that was a factor for over 125 years. You have any pics of the Samurai irons Neilwould love to see them. I have a 3-15 wood set that are fun to play with. Spalding Golf Clubs: Do Still Make Them & How Much? - Windtree Golf But the funky look kept me from ever thinking about buying a whole set. Notify me of followup comments via e-mail. I gave the set to my nephew, and he loves them. I still have them and as a matter of fact I still use a copper Zing2 sand wedge 54. Both were smart, competent leaders but had little golf experience. It was just crazy how many golf balls we would sell through Wal-Mart in 18-ball pack, adds White Wed get orders on the fax machine for 50,000 18-ball packs, and theyd want them in two weeks.. History of Spalding Golf Clubs | Golflink.com When we got out there, his Black Dot was split all the way to the liquid core I played D1 golf in college and we got three Red Dots for every match. Im not sure how rare they are, but youd think there would be a trace of them somewhere. The Ginty, fueron palos adelantados a su poca, las maderas Ginty parecen las antecesoras de las big bertha de callaway, el material del que estaban hechas no poda aguantar las inercias, pero el diseo ya era adelantado a su tiempo. Pat Simmons first wanted to say thanks and also that, You may not know the Pat Simmons name, but if youre a golfer, you know of several of my inventions. All that creativity has led to the great clubs we have today. "@type": "ImageObject", Europe was a bit ahead of the United States when it came to golf, and the sport had only just started to explode in the United States.