http://www.geekgolf.com. single, replacement or add-on golf irons and wedges for Spalding Executive x EZ Oversize Irons. (ENTER TO WIN) Super cool contest we have for you fellow GolfSpies today! TaylorMade, by comparison, has been sold twice in the past four years. So what did his famous Ginty patent actually mean? I really enjoy reading your articles, John. Laugh if you must, but the design works. What a great list! 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! Nabbed them just for the pure ugliness. I collect odd golf items. Spalding led the way with such deep-grooved designs as the "waterfall" and waffle-face irons. Purespin (diamond face)? I wonder how much influence he had on those? ), Undersize Golf Grips Explained (8 Key Facts!). Within weeks, Top-Flite filed Chapter 11. You had to turn those over to see the ugly, but the cone in the bottom was down right wacky! Jones famously retired from golf after winning the 1930 version of the Grand Slam. Taylor Made Golf was my Distributor for the U.S. and Canadian market. Written by June 5, 2022 . Knowledgable folk say its all in the mind. Maybe it is a good idea or maybe it is not. 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. i knew a guy who was a 4 handicap, and he used the spalding executives. They all looked like mini woods. The ball was introduced in 1900. Spalding had a long history, terrific heritage, and healthy topline sales of over $500 million. You can check it out at http://www.adjustablegolfclub.com. As weve discussed before, its extremely difficult for legacy brands to remain relevant, especially when new, fresh brands get aggressive. 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. "name": "Swing Yard", Weird thing was I could hit the XL-4 long irons better and the Executives better from 7-PW. 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. The legendary Spalding bird logo appeared on their clubs in the 1960s, with the Top-Flite Elite Professional irons proving popular on Tour. My golfing buddy borrowed my old set, including the driver and had one of his best rounds ever. In 1984, Questor sold off Spalding/Evenflo to a Venezuelan group headed by Gustavo and Ricardo Cisneros. 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. Just found and bought a set of Lil David Slingers. In 1900, Spalding released the Vardon Flyer, the golf ball used by Harry Vardon. Its factory could only make about six million dozen a year, and it was paying patent royalties. Learn how your comment data is processed. All that creativity has led to the great clubs we have today. Remember all the other clubs, good to read. These were actually a pretty good iron for the time and I think Trevino had something to do with this designbut not sure. I played a lot of Spaulding equipment as a kid in all kinds of sports. 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. 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. We (and tour players) figured out it was very stable in the wind and was 2 clubs longer with the irons. 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. By the following year, Spalding began making clubs in the U.S. In April, KKR sold the Spalding name and all of Spaldings non-golf businesses to Russell Athletic for just $65 million. My only wacky set now are some Macgregor MT Splitsoles in very gd cond which were bought at a Thrift store. But more trouble was coming for Spalding. Any Spalding clubs that are still in circulation can be regarded as vintage, thats for sure! There are worse things. Recently I bought another set (I keep an eye on E-Bay for them) so I could have extras & other club sets for friends that come into town. I don't mind the executives though, don't really know much about them either. Spalding stopped making clubs in 2002. Upload or insert images from URL. 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. He also worked at Zevo when the LoB Irons were developed. These gentlemen used them to win large amounts of money on the course from unsuspecting victims. The VAS irons have finally been dethroned from their previous top spot as Worst Iron Ever Made! Although from a phone-in interview Mr. VAS told us, I feel robbed. It is called a hollow wedge, but you can putt with it as well. Who knows what might have happened if someone else had gained control, Im 75 and recall that my Dad was a Spalding Dot guy. In fact, one of Spaldings most popular models was the Bobby Jones collection, selling two million sets between 1932 and 1973. Instead, well hit the highlights. Just came back from the PGA Tour Superstore after reading this site last night. Looking through eBay listings, you can find a range of vintage Spalding golf clubs in various conditions to suit different budgets. Dynamiter wedges featured deep grooves, often in unusual shapes, that ultimately prompted the USGA to outlaw them. The Executives were the bomb back in the day. ENTER NOW! I got balls, well ProV1's anyway. ***GIVEAWAY*** Cleveland CBX ZipCore Wedge! Steve Almo 1-949-642-6484 . 6. 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. (Cavity back blades???) I tried to hit it oncenot a good idea! 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. As a former professional player, Spalding recognized the need of enlisting the assistance of experts to promote both the game and his merchandise. Bought a used set of 3-SW with a sticker decal some 35 years ago and added a 2-iron with stamped lettering later on a trip to Chicago. Whats fun is to find one of those old sets, regrip them and beat your friends with them! Still, the Uniques are the best irons I have ever hit! It wasnt long until Spaldings Executive golf clubs were launched, which were prevalent at all levels of the game. Design the future of bad golf! 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. KKR was established in 1976 by partners Jerome Kohlberg, Henry Kravis, and George Roberts. I STILL play with my Spalding Executive set 2 SW. I love it but was told it is no a legal putter. More than 50 percent of that total came from golf ball sales. Shallow faces (not as shallow as the 440 of course) and less offset than many of the long irons they replace. I would like to repay you with mine. Model: Tour Pro Offset If you are a beginner and are looking for a . "@type": "ImageObject", They are similar to the Nike slingshots as they have a powerbow looking thing on the back of them. 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. They are also perfect in a steep slope due to the curved bottom of the club head. 2 Iron Spalding . It was a time-consuming, costly and inconsistent process. Couldnt decide between the Slotlines emax and the 845s. 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 definitely arent the prettiest of clubs but I did enjoy playing them. The success of Spalding golf clubs had compelled the USGA to act, but this success was not destined to last forever. Great nostalgia with the article. The Endo-forged Hogan Apex Plus cavity back irons came soon after, along with a solid-core Hogan Apex ball. GolfCartReport.com, Golf Undershirts (20 To Try On The Market Today), Do I Need Longer Golf Clubs? 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 Why is that I have the Tiger Shark 7 iron and the Spalding Exec XE 5 iron in my golf collection??? 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. President This stuff is really interesting.. APPLY NOW: Cleveland Frontline Elite Putters! C $75.53. they were a good iron, that looked good at address, and were easy to hit. I have a med flex shaft, 1 inch extension on each Exec club, and Golf Pride Velvet jumbo grips. 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. Image: Central Press/Hulton Archive via Getty Images. He changed from forged blades and balata balls to cavity back, investment cast irons and sold core balls, White tells MyGolfSpy. 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. Although they wont win any awards for innovation, Spaldings Molitor clubs are a decent game improvement set and a good option for beginners. 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. 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. Iomic Golf Grips: 8 Key Facts Before You Buy. The solid core Strata now had competition from the Titleist ProV1. Callaway had long wanted Top-Flites ball factory and patents but didnt want to assume any debt. Used them for about 10-15 years before I switch to 845s. About; Blog; Service; Contacts You find them on eBay Gary? Corey Pavin won the 1996 US Open Shinnecock with a purple set. I have not 1 but 2 sets of Browning 440 irons. werent as good. Still have the XL-4s in the garage. The "New York Times" frequently syndicates his work. Colin Montgomerie joined the staff, and Spalding had big plans. Great insight! I love them but Im mystified with the hex screw in the bottom of every shaft! Some scumbag broke into my vehicle and stole the set about 25 years ago. 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). Pasted as rich text. Spalding stopped producing golf clubs in 2022, focusing on other sports in the years since. LOL. What about Goldwin?? Just remember, Its always the indian and not the arrow. Two years prior, they sold Spalding and Evenflo to Wall Street investment firm KKR for an estimated and unbelievable 1 billion dollars. TaylorMade then entered the bidding but, after 30 rounds, Callaway wound up buying Top-Flite free and clear for $175 million. KKRs $25 billion takeover of RJR Nabisco was chronicled in the book (and tv movie) Barbarians at the Gate. They are nearly in perfect condition. Just terribleand never sold thruas well it shouldnt. Spalding did have high hopes for the Hogan brand. i just hit a 8 iron in that series last night. 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. Needed a set of clubs to play for a few days and found these. Jones immediately put his Georgia Tech engineering degree to good use. How about the Spalding Exec SE. 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. Although the Inertial irons werent so lucky. I completed the set off of eBay for around $100. Got the 3 PW for 3.99 a club, bought the 5- PW first, played two rounds and went back and bought the 3 & 4. Thanks for the history lesson, truly amazing how fast Spalding unraveled. I actually have these clubs. Irons made during that time are distinguished by an anvil cleek mark. Dont be ashamed thoughsome of these designs have actually been pioneering for the industry. The 1953 Top-Flite Synchro-Dyned irons were particularly innovative, featuring a matched shaft flex and head weight for each iron in the set. The shaft collapses to 18 inches so it is great for travelsure beats the cost of checking a golf bag these days. 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. My dad has played a set if vicunas for about 40 years! (Everything To Know). Slotline Inertial E-Max irons laying around ? He also had a head for business and knew a good opportunity when he saw one. Both are really great. With a few months of work and some radical design modifications it was turned into the first modern Metalwood. Corey Pavin says, If I wont paid to play them ugly ass sticks they would have never been heard of ;). "dateModified": "2022-05-12", Some crazy lookin clubs, Why didnt you include the 1st set of Ping Irons? And in 1930, it hit the jackpot. The Executive clubs are among the finest pure forged blades ever produced and have certainly stood the test of time. ), Finn Scooter Golf Reviews (Are These the Real Deal? You should shoot me some pics of your new set. By then the Cisneros brothers had taken the money and ran. he is a cleveland iron man now, but he still owns the spalding executives. 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). The 1968 arrival of the Executive MV2 Bird Over Ball clubs are among some of Spalding's most easily recognizable clubs. The shelves are full of the latest and greatest technology (hybrids, woods the size of a frying pan, dozens of shaft offerings), in 20+ years people will be laughing at those funky sticks as well. Or maybe it was just wacky that a German car company decided to start selling $1500 golf clubs that sucked. Does anyone know anything about them? If so send us some picsdont worry we will keep it 100% anonymous . I actually like the looks of those babies! The success of Spalding golf clubs had compelled the USGA to act, but this success was not destined to last forever. Today its hard to fine a wooden golf club in a bag!!!! MyGolfSpy, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Really enjoyed them. They are also said to be legendary Canadian player Moe Normans favorite clubs of all time. Those are the reasons they work. 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. 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. *chuckles* Maybe its a good thing I took a 30 year golf hiatus. } The Titleist were a bit longer lasting but I (a poor college student) could afford the Spaulding balls. 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. 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. I saw the Cisneros brothers maybe once in my time there, he says. Spalding also started the Spalding Athletic Library; a series of sports and exercise books published from 1892 through 1941. Colgate-Palmolive bought RAM and Penfold in the mid-70s to sell more toothpaste but gave up after only five years. Remember when pros like Norman and Stadler and others with that bright red Spaulding Tour Bag. And although Top Flite is still in business today, its a brand that most golfers associate with cheap equipment of inferior quality. Irons made during that time are distinguished by an anvil cleek mark. New entries such as Nike and Adams were turning heads as well.