Never met a set of strange clubs I didnt want to try. Another great history piece. Since the Ryder Cup is shortly upon us MyGolfSpy & GolfCircuit.com thought it[]. #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. 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 15 wood is only a little longer than an 8 iron (in my 70 yr old hands) so I put a 9 iron through sand wedge in the bag and away we go They are straight and land incredibly soft. Established in Caracas in 1929 as a small material transport business, the Cisneros Group had its fingers in everything from soft drinks, ice cream, and beauty products to banking and a burgeoning telecommunications business. In 1984, Questor sold off Spalding/Evenflo to a Venezuelan group headed by Gustavo and Ricardo Cisneros. Well done. Pasted as rich text. Spalding spent the last half of the 20th-century battling with Titleist for golf ball supremacy. Our mission is #ConsumerFirst. Well these irons which were designed out in LA by Stan Thompson were made to capitalize on that same concept. $77.83. I have a set of both the 440s and the 500s, and there is no difference in face depth. any info on this garbage?lol. 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. When youre in the market for Spalding clubs, bear in mind that they were branded as Top-Flite clubs for a while, so be sure to broaden your search to include Top-Flite models. Of course, it is the Indian not the arrow to some extent, but he does well. Peter lived in Ridgefield,Ct. Win a bunch of BogeyPro swag! Not quite Bryson-like, but innovative for the day. Theyre awesome. . I may be way off they had a a plain face -but the back was a series of round holes -like a honey comb design does any one remember these what were they called and who made themmy friend died so I cant ask himanyway thanks. Spalding stopped producing golf clubs in 2022, focusing on other sports in the years since. Thanks for the history lesson and walk down memory lane. They were good at it too, in one year selling off companies for more than $7 billion they had bought for only $1 billion. The original Strata ball was amazing when it came out spin for days! Brilliant writing! The solid core Strata now had competition from the Titleist ProV1. The chrome ), Finn Scooter Golf Reviews (Are These the Real Deal? * Note: These irons were designed by Don Wood remember the Plop putterswell they are back at it againyou can check them out here. Great nostalgia with the article. Inside cavity: blue/back button; EXECUTIVE x EZ. 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. Just remember, Its always the indian and not the arrow. Thanks for the article. I bought them new. At the turn of the 20th Century, golf had stirred mild interest in the United States, and A.G. Spalding & Brothers sporting goods saw an opportunity. Windtree Golf is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. Regardless, both are great sets. "https://twitter.com/_swingyard_", Thanks, John. the only problem I have had{although the have to be at least 30+ years old},is graphite cracks. Man crush on Nicklaus led to this purchase. Jerry Barber Golden Touch shank-proof irons (BeCu, ideally), Powerbilt TPS with the Goalpost Alignment System, And I agree with a previous posters suggestion of the Spalding Cannon ADVANCE. Still use them. spalding golf clubs any good. Ive owned. "mainEntityOfPage": "https://swingyard.com/spalding-irons-by-year/", Men's Right Handed. 2 Iron Spalding . but worth a kings ransom, Great post thanks mgs but i agree with dj ,The doctor rx has to be on the list. Fugly yes looks kinda like a pancake spatula at address but effective. 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. Spalding Golf Clubs: Do Still Make Them & How Much? - Windtree Golf Would you make an iron set out of stone? 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. Tommy Armours ownership circus eventually turned it into the Sports Authority (and now DICKS) house brand. My woods are Taylormade Burners 1 & 3, and I have two Mizuno hybrids. Original? Does Spalding make golf balls? I think I actually played one of them 150 holes before I gave up. Top Flite is now synonymous with bargain or cheap instead of being the club of choice for the greatest golfers on tour. Here Im going to date myself a bitBack in the late 70s there was a company called Unique..The iron set design was oversized head with a deep cavity that was covered with a hard plastic. I was wondering if anyone had ever tried Slotline Classic Copper golf clubs. It was fun to have and I actually hit the thing really really well. I think a list of the craziest irons made should definitely include the Jerry Barber Golden Touch irons made over 40 years ago. It wasnt the shank that bothered me, it was waiting for it to happen that was the problem. The new club are really pretty, but no better than the original slotlines which I used to have. Great list! As the 21st Century dawned, it had impressive sales and deep-pocket owners, but in reality, it was staring down the barrel of a gun. Callaway had long wanted Top-Flites ball factory and patents but didnt want to assume any debt. Almost , http://www.intheholegolf.com/store/f2is.html. Men's Right Handed. pend. beneath. I was interested in golf until around 2001 and soon discovered spoiling was on anachronism at that point. my 5w distance matches my friends new drivers in distance off tee,,they are amazed. What you like is what you like. There is nothing crazy about the Slinger! and they placed it in the show. Finally, I think a distinction needs to be made between the wackiest looking and worst irons made. Thanks. But since the early 2000s, Spalding has practically disappeared from the golf landscape. Titleist and PING were established competitors, while TaylorMade and Callaway were flexing their muscles. I use them in Central Texas when the fairways are hard and the greens harder (late summer and all winter). Just came back from the PGA Tour Superstore after reading this site last night. Pretty or not (thats the clubs), I have played Fila Latitude irons since they came out. It was a low loft club used for poor lies and putting. Youve forgotten the worst offender. It was the mold makers attempt to make at a hollow head, wooden shape club. "https://www.pinterest.com/Swingyard/blog/" The success of Spalding golf clubs had compelled the USGA to act, but this success was not destined to last forever. Spalding manufactured golf clubs for some of the leading players in the game, including the legendary American player Bobby Jones. But as you can see could cause some serious digging issues. Long irons with shallow faces, little offset and perhaps slightly softer shafts can be quite playable. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. 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. OK. Ive got some irons sets you have up (Fila, Cleveland, Slotline, and the Tiger Shark). We (and tour players) figured out it was very stable in the wind and was 2 clubs longer with the irons. Just bought a set of Nicklaus Linear Dynamics N1 Golf Irons at a thrift shop in Vegas. The stickers are silver, but the Slinger logo is a black heavy type face and says pat. Jim passed away recentlyhe was a great innovator do you remember the Basakwerd Putter In 1892 Spalding went into acquisition mode, buying up two key competitors: the A.J. Can you come up with any info on these? I love these old clubs. when were spalding executive golf clubs made. Many of which might have even found there way into a few of your bagseven if you dont want to admit it. 2 iron sw. Let me know if anyone is interested. Free shipping on many items | Browse your favorite brands | affordable prices. Jones famously retired from golf after winning the 1930 version of the Grand Slam. The pro-shop who had them could not find a buyer. The old Spaulding Executive set I had back in the early 1980s. Anybody know anything? With a few months of work and some radical design modifications it was turned into the first modern Metalwood. Spalding Top-Flite In 1995 Spalding Sporting Goods reorganized its golf club division by forming the Top-Flight golf company as its premium club brand. What can you find out about Wilson x 70 irons. Look at many of todays hybrids. Great article takes me back to nostalgia. CT. We had a very good amateur player, reputed to be one of the longest hitters in the state. General Albums. What a lovely trip down memory lane, nostalgia is a wonderful thing. Im a sucker for the odd things, I also had a Power Pod(big mistake). I recently tried an old Jack Nicklaus 7 iron made by MacGregor many years ago. 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. "image": { My golf team partner talked me into getting new technology Ping G-20s a couple years ago, & I can not hit them nearly as well. I played a set of Mags for years until I got to where I could not swing fast enough to bend the stiff shafts. Thus, the USGA implemented the one ball rule, Thanks John for another great piece of history. "@type": "Article", "sameAs": [ 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!!!! By 1910, the company was selling aluminum fairway clubs and its Gold Medal series (1910 to 1919) featured aluminum bronze. vicunas. "@type": "ImageObject", * Note: These irons were designed by Karsten Solheimsure most of you knew that though. "description": "List of all the Spalding Irons by the year each set was released", As previously mentioned, you can buy Spalding Molitor clubs at Rock Bottom, and theyre a great option for beginner players. [email protected] Really solid clubs. MyGolfSpy is usually a place you guys come to see the latest and greatest equipment the golf industry has to offer. 1 Iron Spalding Executive x EZ Oversize. Spalding was the leading manufacturer of golf clubs in America throughout the mid-twentieth century, highlighting just how popular the brand was. I still think I deserve to be recognized as the leader in this category and will be appealing your decision. In an effort to keep golf a game of skill, the USGA implemented the 14 club rule that we see today. But just because it was wacky did not mean it was not a hellova seller. 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. You cannot paste images directly. Some crazy lookin clubs, Why didnt you include the 1st set of Ping Irons? I look forward to your future deeper dive into the history of the Hogan company. KKR was established in 1976 by partners Jerome Kohlberg, Henry Kravis, and George Roberts. Its a great story that needs to be told. Im a scratch golfer, and to date have found nothing that is better. Model Summary Color chart indicates best . CA License # A-588676-HAZ / DIR Contractor Registration #1000009744 This is because Spalding stopped manufacturing golf clubs in 2002, and most of the clubs available online today are vintage sets. 2023 Genesis Invitational - Monday #3. Im not talking a couple of degrees, but for one shot you could make it a 5 iron and the next (with a quick adjustment) itd be a PW. Instead, well hit the highlights. *We may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site. Im not sure how rare they are, but youd think there would be a trace of them somewhere. 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. 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. And although Spalding would show operational profits, debt service kept turning those profits into losses. Ive got a set of graphite Samurai ironwoods years ahead of their time lying around in the basement, I think. Fila Golf has developed this new iron using a patented design feature. When he would get ready to play, he would hold the club so that the sole was visible to everyone. No sir, they are in my bag and are still being used after all these years. Today, Spalding golf clubs still exist, but theyre nowhere near as popular as they once were. How about the Spalding Exec SE. Couldnt decide between the Slotlines emax and the 845s. Colin Montgomerie joined the staff, and Spalding had big plans. Leather Golf Grips Review: Should I Use Them? Yes. The success of Spalding golf clubs had compelled the USGA to act, but this success was not destined to last forever. I accidentally broke it in the late 1970s the shaft was installed over a milled section of the hosel! GolfWRX_Spotted posted a topic in Tour and Pre-Release Equipment, Tuesday at 04:47 PM, GolfWRX_Spotted posted a topic in Tour and Pre-Release Equipment, February 20, GolfWRX_Spotted posted a topic in Tour and Pre-Release Equipment, February 13, GolfWRX_Spotted posted a topic in Tour and Pre-Release Equipment, February 6, GolfWRX_Spotted posted a topic in Tour and Pre-Release Equipment, January 31, By 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. I have a set of Lynx Parallax irons that were my fathers. From 1932 until 1973 two years after Jones death Spalding sold over 15 different models and two million sets of Bobby Jones clubs. Basically, the new irons are all the same cavity backed design tweaked for the metal content and painted pretty for your golf bag. Hope you find this one interesting!!!! Jeff Sheets - Spalding - Past Designs The Titleist were a bit longer lasting but I (a poor college student) could afford the Spaulding balls. 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. There are so many different sets of irons available nowadays, Im happy with my Execs. Lots of wackiness. $89.99. The Strata, however, proved to be a gold mine for Spalding. worst time to visit costa rica; apartments for rent in fort pierce with utilities included; sunshine plaza opening hours sunday; photosynthesis and cellular respiration kahoot Each has a special place in my personal golf journey and is still some of the best equipment Ive ever used. "logo": { 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? By 2002, players such as Hal Sutton, Bernhard Langer, and Luke Donald were playing the Hogan Apex ball. 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. Spalding, however, never dominated the pro game as Wilson and MacGregor did. In 1910 Spalding started making fairway clubs made of aluminum, and heavier lead face putters. Known for launching the ball from a nice crisp fairway lie but it jumped the shark when it came to hitting it from any kind of fluff. Just terribleand never sold thruas well it shouldnt. " [We] decided that . 6. Shortly thereafter, Spalding signed him as spokesperson, vice president and director of research. I still have the irons to this day! Kind of reminds one of the Hogan radial but not near as wide on the soul. Anybody know anything about them? I agree, though it does deserve a deep dive. Protactic Golf in Chicago. Well today is going to be a little bit different. I remember a set called Canon I think, possibly a Spalding brand. ), shoplifted about four dozen balls each from a failing department store in New York City. Please put any questions or comments here. Play to a 4 6 cap. Get10% offat Global Golf with Code:SwingYard. Seu lugar para proteger o seu capital. (Everything To Know). It was an excellent article and some of the follow-on comments from industry stalwarts like Jack Wullkotte, David Hueber, Tom Wishon, etc. We want you to get the most out of your Spalding stopped making clubs in 2002. Spalding hired Tom Bendelow as his designer, and Bendelow went on to develop many courses still in use today. Bird on ball was a very popular club. Paste as plain text instead, Within weeks, Top-Flite filed Chapter 11. I didnt realize Spalding was still a player as late as 2000. One of the most famous Spalding clubs was the Cran Cleek (club with a narrow face and little loft) for poor fairway lies and even putts. * Note: These irons were designed by Jim Flood and were considered a controversial design and are often times very hard to find. 1 Iron (18) Spalding EXECUTIVE XE. The ball was introduced in 1900. Learn how your comment data is processed. Press J to jump to the feed. I bought my first set of real golf clubs around 1991 or 1992, the Spalding Executive. Is that so? We knew something was up, recalls White. Ive got a crazy iron set that is one telescoping iron with a blade that changes position to vary the loft. Really a zany=looking set of irons. document.getElementById( "ak_js" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Do you remember what golf websites you were shopping on back in 1995? Say what you will but I own a set of Ray Cook Titanic irons. * Note: These irons were designed in Belgium by the Belgium-Browning company. Image: Central Press/Hulton Archive via Getty Images. Dynamiter wedges featured deep grooves, often in unusual shapes, that ultimately prompted the USGA to outlaw them. One of my favorite balls back in the late 80s was the Top-Flite Plus. I think Browning was leaving the golf business then and they were discounted last set in the store. Whats fun is to find one of those old sets, regrip them and beat your friends with them! I dont think I paid more than $300 for all four sets combined- Im a Salvation Army searcher. #PowerToThePlayer. Case in point: The article makes the statement that The (Cleveland) VAS irons have finally been dethroned from their previous top spot as Worst Iron Ever Made! I dont think Cory Pavin would have won PGA tour events and endorsed them if this had been true. Callaway wound up suing Spalding for using its imagery on Spalding packaging. Today, Spalding Executive clubs arent worth a great deal of money. Copyright 2023. In 1998 Spalding released the Top-Flite System C and System T golf balls which, Spalding claimed, were designed to perform best with two top-selling drivers of that year, the Callaway Big Bertha and the TaylorMade Ti Bubble 2. }, Great stuff. Wide sole. We stand behind our clubs and want you to be satisfied with them. I didnt know until I read this article that evidently FILA was the designer of the original face forward iron design; speaking of which, I wouldve thought the F2 Face Forward Irons wouldve made the list (http://www.intheholegolf.com/store/f2is.html). I completed the set off of eBay for around $100. 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. The market was changing rapidly, as well. What about Goldwin?? In 1910 Spalding started making fairway clubs made of aluminum, and heavier lead face putters. An affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon. 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! The Spalding Top-Flite first came out in 1970. Like previously stated the Slotline Lowpro irons were for the most part an exact copy of the Browning 440 irons. I still have several sets of Hogan forged irons, Hogan/Bettinardi putters, several dozen Apex, and Tour Deep balls. Thanks. PING was still PING, and Tiger was becoming Tiger. It became the most consistent and durable golf ball ever made. Oddity? is fantastic, but the club is as stiff as an old water pipe and is accordingly harsh. Spalding no longer makes golf clubs, and hasnt for some time now. Is it worth getting a new set of clubs, or should I focus on getting spikes and a gloves, ( I currently golf in thing sandles) 0. "publisher": { I still think there were others that deserved some consideration. On sole: club# + SPALDING. They preceded hybrid irons by 20 years or so. Purespin (diamond face)? The Ginty was the first modern Utility club. higher loft is really your best bet for getting out of these difficult fairway lies, Top 10 Best Cheap Drivers (Updated 2021 Buying Guide), 5 Advantages of A Strong Golf Grip (Everything To Know), What Is An Overrun Golf Ball? I wonder what Jack thought of them. 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. It was made by Salt Lake City Specialties. 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 GolfCartReport.com, Golf Undershirts (20 To Try On The Market Today), Do I Need Longer Golf Clubs? Like its sporting goods brother-in-arms MacGregor, Spalding ownership changed hands in 1958. Fantastic article John! Yet again, the same fate as MacGregor had. i was hitting 8 iron and was suprised how high the ball flight was. I actually have a set of 440s I bring them out every year or two when I am hitting the ball poorly. Used to play traditional blades with the odd shank. I might suggest you also include input from Tom Stites who worked for Hogan in the 1980s before heading up Nikes golf (mis)adventure. 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! We are here to help educate and empower golfers. How about Hogan Magnums and Magnum Plus irons big cavity backs from the 1970s. My Dad had the XL-4s (I still have them), one Uncle had the Executives and another had the Cannons. Balata covers. Some deserve to be on the former, but definitely not the latter! Still, the Uniques are the best irons I have ever hit! Nice article John! What was wacky about the Bears? * Note: These irons were designed by Duke Duclos. As a golfer of a certain age, these history articles are fascinating! The player would then conveniently cover the top of his bag with a towel so that no one would see the length of the irons. Had 3-PW plus 1, 3, & 5 woods. 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. The biggest of them all, however, may well have been the aforementioned Bobby Jones. Can you help me find the history of the club? My only wacky set now are some Macgregor MT Splitsoles in very gd cond which were bought at a Thrift store. KKRs $25 billion takeover of RJR Nabisco was chronicled in the book (and tv movie) Barbarians at the Gate. lol! This stuff is really interesting.. I collect odd golf items. Former Proctor & Gamble chief Edwin Artzt came on as chairman, with former Kraft, Inc executive vice president James Craigie becoming CEO. Golfers have always known that deep-grooved irons produce better control and spin. History's Mysteries: Spalding Golf's Final Countdown 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. He traded a set of classic Burke PunchIrons to get the Lynx. i was pretty impressed with the club. We had small layoffs on an ongoing basis, and people kept looking over their shoulder. There are a couple different models of this iron. There was a time that Spalding golf clubs were among the best in the business. Had a set of McGregor Irons called Doctor Rx, they felt good hit in the middle, they reminded me of a Pringle potato chip. 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. Decent? You had to turn those over to see the ugly, but the cone in the bottom was down right wacky! Spalding released multiple iterations of its Executive clubs throughout the sixties and seventies, and they became popular with professional golfers and recreational players alike. I still have a set of samurai woods and irons,,and still use them,,had a pro hit my 7 iron once,,it flew his 7iron,,he was amazed,they hit great,,but graphite wears down over years and breaks,and when that happens,,its hard to find a replacement,,,. 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. APPLY NOW: Cleveland Frontline Elite Putters! Brings back great memories! 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. The set I found is 2-9, but the 5 iron is gone. The Roaring 20s gave us Babe Ruth, Knute Rockne, Jack Dempsey, and Red Grange. He changed from forged blades and balata balls to cavity back, investment cast irons and sold core balls, White tells MyGolfSpy. A very easy to hit blade. 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. This is the story of Spaldings Final Countdown. "@type": "ImageObject", It had a good locking mechanism, and was made for poorer people who could not afford a whole set. Spalding lost $27 million in 2000 and another $20 million in 2001. "width": "645", Heres one for the booksTommy Armour EQL one length irons. While the idea of owning a golf company sounds great, the list of companies that tried and failed is long. I played Spaulding Black Dots back in late 60s. Taylor Made Golf was my Distributor for the U.S. and Canadian market. When Did Spalding Stop Making Golf Clubs. So, if youre buying or selling Spalding clubs that are in reasonably good shape, you can set your expectations around $100 to begin with. Another really well done article. All that creativity has led to the great clubs we have today. 1983 White says KKR management was hyper-focused on Callaway and TaylorMade, which may explain one of Spaldings biggest gaffes ever. Needed a set of clubs to play for a few days and found these. werent as good. 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. In April, KKR sold the Spalding name and all of Spaldings non-golf businesses to Russell Athletic for just $65 million. During that time, Spalding ownership changed hands a half dozen times, and saw the same fate as MacGregor Irons. Corey Pavin says, If I wont paid to play them ugly ass sticks they would have never been heard of ;). That year Spaldings sales topped $537 million, with over $400 million coming from the golf division. Learn how your comment data is processed. & Bubba Dickerson won the 2001 US Amatuer with a set of Nicklaus Bears!
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when were spalding executive golf clubs made