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I have a set of Ben Hogan AHS Hybrids and the SW is even a hybrid! By the Roaring '20s, A.G. Spalding & Brothers was using the process of "drop forging" to manufacture metal club-heads. One with the sticker decal and one without. " [We] decided that . Estimated resale value today:. I played them for years, they were solid, and they looked really good at address for their time period. What a mess that design was! One of my buddies gave me a Tiger Shark wedge the one with 3 different alignment lines, concave dimples on the face instead of grooves, and a funky dual bounce sole configuration. Just terribleand never sold thruas well it shouldnt. Some of the most popular Spalding Club models were: At one time, Greg Norman used the Spalding Tour Edition irons, now a collectors item, on Tour. The top of the club head is horisontal and is easy to set up perpendical to the target. Met a friend in Costa Mesa at Mile Square Golf Club back in the early 1970s and he was with Duke Duclos., a friend from their McDonald-Douglas days. lots of memories here. I have a Simmons Great White Shark putter with a 7 blade. LOL. And I remember drooling over those Tour Edition Custom blades in the pro shop. Those were first made around the end of the 19th century during the hickory era. Just make sure to mix in a few lessons with your local PGA pro, and you'll progress nicely. The Executive clubs are among the finest pure forged blades ever produced and have certainly stood the test of time. "@context": "http://schema.org/", TaylorMade, by comparison, has been sold twice in the past four years. Spalding had a long history, terrific heritage, and healthy topline sales of over $500 million. The Spaulding Executive was just too far ahead of its timegreat club! Spalding used to own Top Flite before selling the subsidiary to Callaway. It means the Son of a Scottish brood that keeps getting into trouble only to easily find his way out of trouble! For more info on Stan Thompson click here. Started Thursday at 03:24 PM, Please put and questions or comments here, Please put any questions or comments here, Please put any questions of comments here. Spalding, seemingly, was on top of the world. The "New York Times" frequently syndicates his work. * Note: These irons were designed in Belgium by the Belgium-Browning company. I can't imagine them being worth a shit. * Note: These irons were designed by Pat Simmons and ex-pilot and engineer which also had a part in the Zebra putter design. They are awesome clubs, very well-weighted, with a great center of gravity for high loft shots. The success of Spalding golf clubs had compelled the USGA to act, but this success was not destined to last forever. Unfortunately, the remaining companys sales still couldnt support the debt. He traded a set of classic Burke PunchIrons to get the Lynx. Scott Stallings - WITB - 2023 Genesis Invitational. "@type": "ImageObject", Starting in 1900, Spalding opened club-making factories in London and in Fife, Scotland, producing forged iron heads for Spalding clubs sold both in the UK and U.S. Or maybe it was just wacky that a German car company decided to start selling $1500 golf clubs that sucked. Another really well done article. Spalding club-makers paid as much scrutiny to shafts as heads. My golfing buddy borrowed my old set, including the driver and had one of his best rounds ever. No matter what brand of club you pull from your bag, you owe some thanks to one company Spalding. Especially in America. Callaway wound up suing Spalding for using its imagery on Spalding packaging. 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. Just got Calloway X20s last week. when were spalding executive golf clubs made. We (and tour players) figured out it was very stable in the wind and was 2 clubs longer with the irons. However my 6 iron had twice as much offset as any other iron in the set. 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. Spalding Executive Golf Clubs for sale | eBay I also have a set of Browning TR600s. The 1968 arrival of the Executive MV2 Bird Over Ball clubs are among some of Spaldings most easily recognizable clubs. We will miss Jim and his innovation ! 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. Make Request. Eventually banned because it was too straight. "keywords": ["spalding irons by year","when did spalding stop making golf clubs","does spalding still make golf clubs","spalding golf clubs history","spalding executive golf clubs history"], Anybody know anything about them? I got balls, well ProV1's anyway. ***GIVEAWAY*** Cleveland CBX ZipCore Wedge! (8 Ways To Know) . These were great clubs. Those and the Ram Tour Grinds that Watson played were my bucket list irons, but never could afford them. His stuff was marvelous and all original. Wilson never really recovered after Pepsi bought it in 1970. I completed the set off of eBay for around $100. Spalding, along with Wright and Ditson, was importing golf clubs from Scotland. Original? Fila Golf has developed this new iron using a patented design feature. Forward-face progression creates a hitting surface 20 percent larger than standard and 5 percent larger than over-sized irons. Clare. Whats more, KKR continued adding to its golf empire, buying Etonic in 1996 and Ben Hogan a year later. 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. When I was starting golf, I went to the shop and these were the clubs that I hit the best (compared to cavity backs) and bought them. Ive got other odd clubs, a clear/see thru 5W, 68 & 73 degree wedge (of course, they may not be considered crazy. It became the most consistent and durable golf ball ever made. Within weeks, Top-Flite filed Chapter 11. Some crazy lookin clubs, Why didnt you include the 1st set of Ping Irons? Still, if youre looking for more information about Spalding golf clubs, youve come to the right place. I just found a set of Slingers at the thrift store for $10. Thats great. Iomic Golf Grips: 8 Key Facts Before You Buy. Thank you for your research efforts. Spalding started adding Tour staff during the 90s, with Greg Norman, Lee Trevino, Graig Stadler, and Nick Price all playing Stratas. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Perhaps you are thinking of the Browning 440 Plus which had more of a standard face depth. Used them for about 10-15 years before I switch to 845s. 2023 Genesis Invitational - Monday #3. I cannot find any information on this club, maybe they were a golfsmith thing from early 2000s?? President Each has a special place in my personal golf journey and is still some of the best equipment Ive ever used. Regardless, both are great sets. 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. unbelieveably so..!! It was a popular cavity back iron and Spalding decided to sell it through general sporting goods stores, eschewing the golf pro. . pend. beneath. From the 1950s to the 1990s Spalding was in the bag for many major victories, and was played on municipal courses across the country. when were spalding executive golf clubs made MENU. But just because it was wacky did not mean it was not a hellova seller. When he would get ready to play, he would hold the club so that the sole was visible to everyone. Top Flite is now synonymous with bargain or cheap instead of being the club of choice for the greatest golfers on tour. In 1993 Payne Stewart signed a multi-million-dollar deal to go full Top-Flite, a move that sidetracked Stewarts career. Quite honestly, we werent ready for that.. Who Makes Dunlop Golf Clubs? I think Browning was leaving the golf business then and they were discounted last set in the store. Titleist has been the Ball King for so long, its hard to remember a time when it wasnt. Shortly thereafter, Spalding signed him as spokesperson, vice president and director of research. Spalding Executive Left Handed Golf Clubs There are several different types of left-handed golf club sets, so which one is the best for you? Callaway had long wanted Top-Flites ball factory and patents but didnt want to assume any debt. They come as a set and include eleven clubs, a golf bag, and head covers. And although Spalding would show operational profits, debt service kept turning those profits into losses. As a former pro athlete, Spalding saw the value of using professionals to help promote both the game and his products. 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. $77.83. My wife says I never met a strange-looking golf club I did not want to own and play with. any info on this garbage?lol. I still have them and as a matter of fact I still use a copper Zing2 sand wedge 54. And if the Nicklaus Bear irons were used to win the US Amateur, they shouldnt be on a worst irons list either. 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. Although lots of factors influence how much golf clubs are worth, you can typically pick up a set of Spalding golf clubs for less than $100. I have a full set of Exec XE irons. Spalding stopped producing golf clubs in 2022, focusing on other sports in the years since. But, you raised an interesting question: If Top-Flite Elite Professional irons with the Bird on Ball logoare rated by the MyGolfSpy Forums resident vintage club expert Big Stu as the third greatest pure forged blade of all time. Then what irons are #1 and #2 best ever forged blades? The Titleist were a bit longer lasting but I (a poor college student) could afford the Spaulding balls. I have a med flex shaft, 1 inch extension on each Exec club, and Golf Pride Velvet jumbo grips. My friends and I (and Im embarrassed to say this now! Colgate-Palmolive bought RAM and Penfold in the mid-70s to sell more toothpaste but gave up after only five years. A very easy to hit blade. I love it but was told it is no a legal putter. Albert Spalding was a superstar. 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. Great nostalgia with the article. Its a great story that needs to be told. Made from 1989-1994 and originally sold for $680. 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! Those Slinger Irons were the brain child of Jim Flood. We are here to help educate and empower golfers. KKR had been trying to dump Spalding as early as 2000, but no one would take on the debt burden. lol! In 1906 Bendelow designed the expansion of Atlantas East Lake Club, the eventual home club of one Robert Tyre Jones, Jr. Well spare you the decade-by-decade rundown of Spalding innovations (and there are many). In addition to being a prolific golf club designer and inventor of innumerable gadgets and gizmos, I have led a fascinating life, as you can see by a brief look at a summary of my biography.. What was wacky about the Bears? As previously mentioned, you can buy Spalding Molitor clubs at Rock Bottom, and theyre a great option for beginner players. That year Albert and his brothers opened the A.G. Spalding & Brothers sporting goods company and started making baseballs. Can you come up with any info on these? Image: Central Press/Hulton Archive via Getty Images. Like its sporting goods brother-in-arms MacGregor, Spalding ownership changed hands in 1958. Irons made during that time are distinguished by an anvil cleek mark. These irons were designed in Belgium by the Belgium-Browning company. The Top-Flite acquisition made it a player. So, if youre buying or selling Spalding clubs that are in reasonably good shape, you can set your expectations around $100 to begin with. Latitude Irons also give the golfer an added patented design feature of dual skids on the sole. They produced more premium balls, but we used to make 25-, 26-million dozen a year.. "publisher": { *chuckles* Maybe its a good thing I took a 30 year golf hiatus. It is more of a you gotta be kidding me), an Integra 650 cc driver (you have to dig a ditch before you swing), etc. In 1938, the USGA passed an edict limiting players to 14 clubs. Thanks. 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 I have a set of Fila Solerno irons/fairway woods that I havent been able to find anything about on the internet. It kept some of those out of my bag Im sure. This is the story of Spaldings Final Countdown. I don't mind the executives though, don't really know much about them either. The Endo-forged Hogan Apex Plus cavity back irons came soon after, along with a solid-core Hogan Apex ball. Some deserve to be on the former, but definitely not the latter! They are exactly like the Cleveland Ironwood set you see now, but it was made y..e..a..r..s ago. 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 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. But more trouble was coming for Spalding. Was a fan of the TopFlite XL. Im sure Scott White would love to contribute. 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. Sold millions of those over the years. I think this is the web site for me . But, they were NOS (New Old Stock) and with Ohio State grips and headcovers; so a diehard Buckeye fan. Pretty or not (thats the clubs), I have played Fila Latitude irons since they came out. You can check it out at http://www.adjustablegolfclub.com. ), Finn Scooter Golf Reviews (Are These the Real Deal? My Uncle had the Executives and my Dad had the XL-4s. The company's unique "baseball mark" A.G. Spalding had helped put baseball on the map--was stamped on the clubs and below it "Made in Great Britain" appeared. Spalding EXECUTIVE XE Irons Individual, Single, Replacement Golf Irons 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!!!! John, I was the person responsible for introducing urethane prepolymers to Dr Shen Shen Wu, Titleist R&D chemist. You can buy a set in good condition on eBay for around $100. Please put any questions or comments here. Take the Spalding Executive line. 2023 Arnold Palmer Invitational - Discussion and Links to Photos, 2023 The Honda Classic - Discussion and Links to photos, 2023 Genesis Invitational - Discussion and Links to photos, 2023 Waste Management Phoenix Open - Discussion and Links to Photos, 2023 AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am - Discussion and Links to all photos. He was a pro at having fun when he played golf! So for those of you who own a set and are fellow collectors of the ridiculoustoday is your day to shine. he is a cleveland iron man now, but he still owns the spalding executives. Of course Drivers and putters are like women. They owed more to its creditors than Spalding was worth. I just found a set of 10 plops slotz. You find them on eBay Gary? What is it for weight transfer? Still use them. Im a scratch golfer, and to date have found nothing that is better. But Zevo Golf is one of those on this list that was a pioneering. No sir, they are in my bag and are still being used after all these years. History's Mysteries: Spalding Golf's Final Countdown 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. Spalding released multiple iterations of its Executive clubs throughout the sixties and seventies, and they became popular with professional golfers and recreational players alike. Spalding Executive Left Handed Golf Clubs - Left Handed Golf Clubs Those were real whacky.. bent shafts and roughly milled heads. 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. Today, Spalding golf clubs still exist, but theyre nowhere near as popular as they once were. So what did his famous Ginty patent actually mean? The Black Dots and Red Dots were equivalent to the Titleist black numerals and red numerals. not just the American side , some of Europe and some from Japan makers also wacky !!! Much cheaper than renting. }. Right now Ive been with the Execs 2 then 5 SW, Ram 64 wedge, 1 & 3 wood, both hybrids and putter.