Haha my dad had a set of these and I ended up bagging the 3 and 4 irons as I hated the hybrids that came with my new set. Went back 10 years and got the 845s used. Went to graphite (Vulcan Backfire hollow irons). Used them for about 10-15 years before I switch to 845s. With KKR, it was a 180-degree turnaround. Golfers may also like: PGX Offset Golf Driver Review: is it any Good? It wasnt the shank that bothered me, it was waiting for it to happen that was the problem. What about the old Bullet Driver that was hollow in the center (like an inverted U shape)? The plan was to position Hogan as the premium forged line sold through pro shops. These were actually a pretty good iron for the time and I think Trevino had something to do with this designbut not sure. Spalding was the leading manufacturer of golf clubs in America throughout the mid-twentieth century, highlighting just how popular the brand was. he is a cleveland iron man now, but he still owns the spalding executives. When I was first introduced to golf in the mid 70s, spoiling was still a player in the recreational market. The stickers are silver, but the Slinger logo is a black heavy type face and says pat. Both are really great. What a great list! That debt burden, however, finally proved fatal. In 2012, Callaway sold Top-Flite to DICKS and Hogan to Perry Ellis. I STILL play with my Spalding Executive set 2 SW. That was a great history lesson!!!!! Remember all the other clubs, good to read. So, if youre buying or selling Spalding clubs that are in reasonably good shape, you can set your expectations around $100 to begin with. My dad has played a set if vicunas for about 40 years! Those and the Ram Tour Grinds that Watson played were my bucket list irons, but never could afford them. Even tho I play with graphic shafts I really like the way those play. Did you forget about Zevo Golf? Clare. I have a old slotline cigar putter I still use,,no loift at all,looks like a big tootsie roll,but puts great,,friends still get amazed at how it puts,,. Great insight! Thanks for you4 diligence and reporting. The 1968 arrival of the Executive MV2 Bird Over Ball clubs are among some of Spalding's most easily recognizable clubs. (Cavity back blades???) Decided it was time for me to get some cavity back irons. 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. The "New York Times" frequently syndicates his work. "url": "https://swingyard.com/wp-content/uploads/Spalding-Irons-by-Year.jpg" Kind of reminds one of the Hogan radial but not near as wide on the soul. He traded a set of classic Burke PunchIrons to get the Lynx. I will let the then Chariman of FILA Golf tell you a little bit about these 1994 released set of ironsand take you back in time like you were there for the original launch: Never before have so many game improvement features been built into one club. 2023 Genesis Invitational - Monday #3. I still have them and as a matter of fact I still use a copper Zing2 sand wedge 54. Throughout America, the affordable Spalding clubs flew off the shelves and reaped huge catalog sales. Just make sure to mix in a few lessons with your local PGA pro, and you'll progress nicely. Wanted them when I was in college but couldnt afford them then. Dont be ashamed thoughsome of these designs have actually been pioneering for the industry. We had hybrids back in the 80s. They are awesome clubs, very well-weighted, with a great center of gravity for high loft shots. Pasted as rich text. In 1876 Spalding was the manager and ace pitcher of the Chicago White Stockings. Spalding Golf Clubs: Do Still Make Them & How Much? These irons were designed in Belgium by the Belgium-Browning company. Great looking blade and the low COG really lets one hit it high. KKR wanted Spalding to make money the KKR way. Thanks. There was a time that Spalding golf clubs were among the best in the business. As a former professional player, Spalding recognized the need of enlisting the assistance of experts to promote both the game and his merchandise. It is the Super Stick. single, replacement or add-on golf irons and wedges for Spalding Executive MV2 bird over ball Irons. Getting sold doesnt have to be the end of the world, but it can be if the buyer doesnt do their homework and pays too much. Itd take a week to prepare for.. In 1910 Spalding started making fairway clubs made of aluminum, and heavier lead face putters. Irons made during that time are distinguished by an anvil cleek mark. 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. This is because Spalding stopped manufacturing golf clubs in 2002, and most of the clubs available online today are vintage sets. Upload or insert images from URL. WITB Albums. So what did his famous Ginty patent actually mean? I wonder how much influence he had on those? Had a set of McGregor Irons called Doctor Rx, they felt good hit in the middle, they reminded me of a Pringle potato chip. Your email address will not be published. Today, Spalding golf clubs still exist, but theyre nowhere near as popular as they once were. He also worked at Zevo when the LoB Irons were developed. Don't let scams get away with fraud. 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. "name": "Swing Yard", The original Strata ball was amazing when it came out spin for days! On sole: club# + SPALDING. It was a time-consuming, costly and inconsistent process. Great research John with some very interesting history facts about the company and its equipment. Spalding Executive clubs were established in the 1960s, with the Top Flite Executive Synchro-Dyned golf clubs being the first in a super popular series. They definitely arent the prettiest of clubs but I did enjoy playing them. KKR had been trying to dump Spalding as early as 2000, but no one would take on the debt burden. He also had a head for business and knew a good opportunity when he saw one. No copy for them. Thanks, http://www.clubsofdistinction.com/cod3/ucir5177.htm. I dont think I paid more than $300 for all four sets combined- Im a Salvation Army searcher. Our mission is #ConsumerFirst. Of course, it is the Indian not the arrow to some extent, but he does well. Theyre awesome. It felt like a rock but flew like a rocket and weekend warriors bought them by the bushel. With Spalding's mass-market success breeding scores of imitators, players could pick and choose from countless club lines. Anyone hear of them? How about Hogan Magnums and Magnum Plus irons big cavity backs from the 1970s. In 1900, Spalding released the Vardon Flyer, the golf ball used by Harry Vardon. I learned the game on a set of used Spalding Execs-still have them today. I think a list of the craziest irons made should definitely include the Jerry Barber Golden Touch irons made over 40 years ago. I'm 25 years old and I've been playing with my grandfathers Spalding executives for 10 years now, and I shoot about a 80-85. They got so popular at the time that it scared club makers badly (Every set was pretty much custom built then), and Golfing associations banned the club from play. Spalding club-makers paid as much scrutiny to shafts as heads. Heres a set of Slotline irons currently for sale on EBay, http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=330561978331&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT, some years ago-I bought a trial 7 iron thru golg digest-some years later a friend of mine bought a used set at a second hand storeany way I think it was made by simmons or slotline?? Two years prior, they sold Spalding and Evenflo to Wall Street investment firm KKR for an estimated and unbelievable 1 billion dollars. Of course Drivers and putters are like women. 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. But, they were NOS (New Old Stock) and with Ohio State grips and headcovers; so a diehard Buckeye fan. Its obvious that the maker of the Slingers spent SO much money on R&D that he had to use STICKERS instead of stamped lettering. Unfortunately, Spalding has fallen a long way down the pecking order in terms of their sporting equipment, and it has been a long time since they manufactured a new set of golf clubs. Unfortunately, the remaining companys sales still couldnt support the debt. Way ahead of their time in the perimeter weighted genre. Since you mentioned it in the article, how about doing the history of Ben Hogan golf from its inception in 1953 to itd ultimate demise under Callaway and then its resurrection in 2015. I have a med flex shaft, 1 inch extension on each Exec club, and Golf Pride Velvet jumbo grips. My high school graduation present from my parents back in 1973 was a set of Executive clubs (back when the irons were forged before they were cast). Like many of his other unconventional looking but super functional designs for the time this one flew off the shelves. The company stayed the course, and the result is a thriving, profitable company. Never get tired of reading these types of articles. Take the Spalding Executive line. Scott Stallings - WITB - 2023 Genesis Invitational. The top of the club head is horisontal and is easy to set up perpendical to the target. I wonder what Jack thought of them. And if you did not have the exact lie to match your swing could cause issues with the toe or heel diving down at impact. Paste as plain text instead, Spalding Executive clubs were established in the 1960s, with the Top Flite Executive Synchro-Dyned golf clubs being the first in a super popular series. What about Goldwin?? Weve done a mini-history on the Hogan Company, with input from a couple of longtime Hogan employees. Windtree Golf is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. I actually have a set of 440s I bring them out every year or two when I am hitting the ball poorly. Tom Farrell. Estimated resale value today:. My friends and I (and Im embarrassed to say this now! We want your input before testing begins. Jim also marketed the first Graphite Shafts sold under the Aldila name. "url": "https://swingyard.com/wp-content/uploads/Logo-1.svg" Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.You can also visit my Am. I bought them new. With the help of computers, we designed a unique shape we call the `Bull Nose which extends the toe weight out far enough to balance the head without creating an elongated appearance. I traded in some Titleist Acushnet blades for themI had only paid $99.00 for the set of Acushnets (used)they gave me $139.00 in trade value, and wanted another $100 for the UniquesThey were some of the easiest to hit irons I have ever ownedout of the 40 50 different sets I have had. I was the person responsible for introducing urethane prepolymers to Dr Shen Shen Wu, Titleist R&D chemist. I was told they only made a few hundred sets. Its on the list! I didnt realize Spalding was still a player as late as 2000. 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! One day, I was caddying for him and he crushed a drive, but about 100 yards out, it just fell out of the sky. Non-Tapered Golf Grips: 8 Facts to Know Before You Buy! Knowledgable folk say its all in the mind. Its a great story that needs to be told. By then the Cisneros brothers had taken the money and ran. I use them in Central Texas when the fairways are hard and the greens harder (late summer and all winter). i just hit a 8 iron in that series last night. During that time, Spalding ownership changed hands a half dozen times, and saw the same fate as MacGregor Irons. I have a full set of Exec XE irons. Ive seen several of those uglies up close over the years so this was fun to view. Get10% offat Global Golf with Code:SwingYard. But $1 billion is a lot of cabbage, and KKR borrowed heavily to make the deal. i used to work in a golf shop in ohio and we had the worst set i ever saw. You can buy a set in good condition on eBay for around $100. My first set of irons were the Tiger Sharks.The ball seemed to jump off the face.I still have them.My second set,still in play,are the Vas+.I love them.I hit them a mile high and they feel great.When I hear them calledthe worst irons ever it makes me wonder what the heck Im missing out on. I believe Robert Molitor was the fellow who developed the Top Flite. These irons which I dont know who actually designed were called the Ray Cook Titanic irons and were made back when Scotty Cameron was a putter designer for the company. Only until tomorrow until my hybrids come in and boom they're gone. is fantastic, but the club is as stiff as an old water pipe and is accordingly harsh. Men's Right Handed. So, if youre looking for a decent set of golf clubs without breaking the bank, theres no reason not to invest in a used set of Spalding clubs if you see a set that you like online. Perception-wise that made Spalding a second-tier, big-box company compared to Titleist. I actually like the looks of those babies! They play as well as any other set "logo": { Free shipping on many items | Browse your favorite brands | affordable prices. Terrific article as usual Mr. Barra. They owed more to its creditors than Spalding was worth. About; Blog; Service; Contacts i knew a guy who was a 4 handicap, and he used the spalding executives. "@type": "ImageObject", The 1953 Top-Flite Synchro-Dyned irons were particularly innovative, featuring a matched shaft flex and head weight for each iron in the set. While theyre old-school, Spalding clubs are made to high standards and are built to last, making them a great option if youre looking for a cheap and cheerful set of clubs. Great nostalgia with the article. Still, the Uniques are the best irons I have ever hit! The Spaulding Executive XE for me never looked right They were available in 1-SW (I believe) A friend used to play these and I always suggested using his pitching wood :o) My $.02. In 1895, Spalding started manufacturing golf balls. Please put any questions or comments here. I tried to hit it oncenot a good idea! In fact, one of Spaldings most popular models was the Bobby Jones collection, selling two million sets between 1932 and 1973. Really a zany=looking set of irons. Albert Spalding died in 1915, but his company continued to flourish. The company experimented throughout the 1920s and 1930s with lathe-turned hickory shafts that featured circular ridges spaced at standard intervals down the entire shaft. * 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. No matter what brand of club you pull from your bag, you owe some thanks to one company Spalding. $77.83. Wish the 5 iron would have been there. Don Wood has the patent for the Plop Slotz Irons. Purespin (diamond face)? Tommy Armours ownership circus eventually turned it into the Sports Authority (and now DICKS) house brand. Spalding stopped making golf clubs in 2002, and their last clubs were branded as Top Flite Oversized irons. One of my favorite balls back in the late 80s was the Top-Flite Plus. have a putter,,that comes in a case,,like a pool stick,,on thecourse when its time to put,,i take it out,each piece screws together to form the putter,,,,,,,putts really good,,,. However my 6 iron had twice as much offset as any other iron in the set. Still have the XL-4s in the garage. (ENTER TO WIN) Super cool contest we have for you fellow GolfSpies today! Look at many of todays hybrids. I agree, though it does deserve a deep dive. I think this is the web site for me . You can post now and register later. 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. 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. Pretty or not (thats the clubs), I have played Fila Latitude irons since they came out. He also was one of the best designers in the golf biz. Just bought a set of Nicklaus Linear Dynamics N1 Golf Irons at a thrift shop in Vegas. 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. I play them still and love them. The BIG BOYS missed on this one. It overpaid for Spalding and borrowed heavily to do it. today. I can't imagine them being worth a shit. Model Summary Color chart indicates best . No sir, they are in my bag and are still being used after all these years. The success of Spalding golf clubs had compelled the USGA to act, but this success was not destined to last forever. No. Thus, the USGA implemented the one ball rule, Thanks John for another great piece of history. Brilliant writing! made it even more interesting and valuable. I dont want to pay the asking prices for individual 440 Plus irons on eBay, so Ill keep my eye out for them at the thrift shops and G-W. Andyou see the Spaulding Executive irons at the Goodwill stores all the time. I completed the set off of eBay for around $100. . In 1892 Spalding went into acquisition mode, buying up two key competitors: the A.J. 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. In an effort to keep golf a game of skill, the USGA implemented the 14 club rule that we see today. Id like to include the Wilson Reflex irons and PGF Slammer series. The market was changing rapidly, as well. Starting in 1900, Spalding opened clubmaking factories in London and in Fife, Scotland, producing forged iron heads for Spalding clubs sold both in the UK and U.S. I shoot mid-80s like OP. In the early days, golf clubs were hand-forged using a hammer and anvil. 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. or Best Offer. The ball was introduced in 1900. 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! Today its hard to fine a wooden golf club in a bag!!!! Copyright 2023. MyGolfSpy is usually a place you guys come to see the latest and greatest equipment the golf industry has to offer. As a former pro athlete, Spalding saw the value of using professionals to help promote both the game and his products. I was wondering if anyone had ever tried Slotline Classic Copper golf clubs. I have not 1 but 2 sets of Browning 440 irons. Now I need some crazy Loudmouth pants and a pink ball. Just got Calloway X20s last week. Some crazy lookin clubs, Why didnt you include the 1st set of Ping Irons? * Note: These irons were designed by Pat Simmons and ex-pilot and engineer which also had a part in the Zebra putter design. Spalding no longer makes golf clubs, and hasnt for some time now. Wide sole. 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. Its high point came in 1998 when Mark OMeara won the Masters and the Open Championship for Spalding. All Irons for men were 37. Im 65 and still playing to seven with them. But, in the rough the club went right underneath the ball. The RB880 s by Northwestern are also knockoffs of the Browning 440 s. Needed a set of clubs to play for a few days and found these. 1983 Ive owned. 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. Thanks for doing the digging! On top line: OVERSIZE. "mainEntityOfPage": "https://swingyard.com/spalding-irons-by-year/", Balata covers. 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. Callaway Rogue ST Triple Diamond LS Driver Review, Best Womens Golf Clubs for Intermediate Players, Ned Howard Retired PGA Teaching Professional. and I firmly believe the demise of Spalding was because a number of CEOs with little or no knowledge of the golf industry were appointed The nineties saw the release of the Top Flite Tour Ti irons, which were among the last clubs that the long-standing brand would manufacture. Turns out it was just 20 years ago. 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. The 500s have less offset than the 440s. I also have a set of Browning TR600s. Among Jones innovations: the first matched set of steel-shafted irons, the first set of irons with the sweet spot in the center of each club (denoted by a circle of dots on the clubface), and an iron set where the scoring irons were one length, the mid irons were one length, and the long irons were one length. Quite honestly, we werent ready for that.. Someone suggested to me they were a prototype club for Johnny Miller, but were never marketed. Under Chapter 363, it bid $125 million for Top-Flite. They are also perfect in a steep slope due to the curved bottom of the club head. I have a Simmons Great White Shark putter with a 7 blade. There are worse things. Jim, If you are interested in writing about the history of the urethane covered golf ball at Titleist, I can provide all of the facts. I demand a re-count!, He went on to say, and as owner of MyGolfSpy you should feel ashamed since you were given a set as a gift 15 years ago and I remember you putting me in play for a few rounds, how could you do this to me?, Slotline had a hit on their hands with their Slotline Inertial puttersthey sold over 2 Million of those flatsticks. Corey Pavin says, If I wont paid to play them ugly ass sticks they would have never been heard of ;). "headline": "Spalding Irons by Year", Spalding did have high hopes for the Hogan brand. Author: Ned Howard Retired PGA Teaching Professionalif(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[468,60],'swingyard_com-box-3','ezslot_6',194,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-swingyard_com-box-3-0'); Spalding has one of the most storied histories in sports, and a major impact on golf. And Spaldings ace in the hole Strata was old news by the time the Pro V1 and Nike Tour Accuracy hit the scene. We knew something was up, recalls White. Players would switch balls during a round as conditions warranted. It was a low loft club used for poor lies and putting. The reason why Spalding clubs arent particularly valuable is that they have been widely available for so many years. Yes, it sold a ton of golf balls, but as one former employee told us, the brand was decidedly blue-collar and not focused on the golf professional. Welcome back to the latest installment of Historys Mysteries. Overall, Spalding clubs arent worth a great deal of money today, but theyre a good option if youre hoping to pick up an affordable set of clubs to get started with. The 1968 arrival of the Executive MV2 Bird Over Ball clubs are among some of Spaldings most easily recognizable clubs. TaylorMade then entered the bidding but, after 30 rounds, Callaway wound up buying Top-Flite free and clear for $175 million. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. These were great clubs. GolfWRX_Official About half of our sales are with personal names or corporate logos in the back and given as gifts. Incidentally, Vulcan (Chicago suburb club makers who made some of the earliest hybrids) made a full set of hybrids 3-SW. You have not lived until you hit good hybrid wedges! I recently tried an old Jack Nicklaus 7 iron made by MacGregor many years ago. Hope you all enjoyed a look back at some of the craziest irons ever made. Matched them to Wilson Pro Staff low compressions and I was a happy camper. Within three years, it would be gone for good. Made from 1989-1994 and originally sold for $680. I saw the Cisneros brothers maybe once in my time there, he says. He would hold up the club so they could see the 7 on the bottom and with a big grin say I hit a 7 iron. My first clubs were Spalding top flites. maybe EVER. In 1984, Questor sold off Spalding/Evenflo to a Venezuelan group headed by Gustavo and Ricardo Cisneros. Who Makes Dunlop Golf Clubs? Still bagging their wedges. I gave those up quickly only because they were really odd looking. 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. Really solid clubs. The likes of Callaway, TaylorMade, and PING all enjoyed good commercial success in the late nineties, and Spalding couldnt match the same feats achieved by the biggest brands. The biggest of them all, however, may well have been the aforementioned Bobby Jones. Finally, my number came up along with everyone else in the product management and marketing teams.. lots of memories here. Throughout the 90s and into the early 2000s, Spalding and Titleist were running neck and neck in golf ball production. Colin Montgomerie joined the staff, and Spalding had big plans. vicunas. Spaldings buddy Wright had been doing the same thing since 1892. To maintain the limit of 14 clubs in the bag, I change off now and then. All are memory refreshing .. have been in golf clubhead design , manufacturing 25 years , familiar with the designs ! I cant believe to Ping Zing 2s are on the list. Amazing how so of the old stuff works better than the hyped up new stuff! I have a left handed set that I got from a guy on the senior tour, Bob Carson, who also owned a golf course in Titusville FLA. During his time with Spalding, Stewart dropped from 6th to 123rd on the money list, with his only win coming at the 1995 Houston Open. 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. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. I just searched eBay right now and saw a set for $139. Norman credited the extra spin of the Tour Edition for winning the 1986 British Open. The only thing a golfer needs is more daylight. - BenHogan. Anyone ever hear of anything like that? The primary reason why Spalding halted the production of golf clubs was that they couldnt keep up with the competition. "dateModified": "2022-05-12", I collect odd golf items. As previously mentioned, you can buy Spalding Molitor clubs at Rock Bottom, and theyre a great option for beginner players.