What Is A Golf Club Clone?
A golf club clone is similar to the concept of a PC Clone (at least that is how we think of it). In the mid-1980's PC Clones were introduced into the personal computer market. Some of them, like Compaq, eventually became Brand Names. But the goal of Clones, in both golf and computers, is to provide all of the performance features of a big name brand with a better value to the consumer. Golf club clones are not to be confused with the branded products they may seek to flatter, but they are made from the same materials, use the same shafts and grips, have the same design principles, and perform the same (or often better) as the Name Brands.
The important point is that , now one of the top 50 golf club makers in the United States, uses the same quality materials, the same casting foundries, the same quality assembly methods as all the big name brand producers. At Pinemeadow Golf, they buy their heads, shafts, and grips from exactly the same suppliers. They offer the same performance but provide you with BETTER VALUE. By the time you get done dealing with them, you will be able to tell all your friends that you got a better product for less money and you understand why, by buying from Pinemeadow Golf.
Are Some Golf Club Clones Illegal?
Illegal knockoffs and counterfeits are a significant problem in the golf industry. The Name Brands talk about illegal clubs ripping them off, but counterfeiters also rip off legal clone manufacturers as well as consumers like yourself. No one should buy products from an illegal counterfeiter. An illegal knockoff and/or counterfeit is a product that violates the legal trade dress rights, trademarks, patents or copyrights of another company. Historical examples of trade dress violators were the makers of the "King Snake" which was an illegal knockoff of Cobra's King Cobra, the Tommy Mann Bummer, the Big Burser...you get the point. An illegal knockoff rips off the violated company because it confuses the consumer and in some cases seeks to fool the consumer into thinking their product is actually the Name Brand Company's product. It rips legitimate clone manufactureres off because they play by the rules and lose business to shady operators who fool consumers into thinking they are buying a legitimate product. It rips you off if you buy their products because you have then violated the law and are holding illegal goods. Pinemeadow Golf is very careful to not violate the valid rights of other companies. However, we do examine carefully the claims of companies and work hard to get into your hands the best products at the best price. We call this "value."
Why Are Pinemeadow's Golf Clubs Such A Good Value?
Pinemeadow Golf Products, Inc. is located in beautiful Portland, Oregon. They have been in the golf club building business for many years. They make and sell clubs all over the world and can be seen in many of your local sporting goods stores, mass merchandisers, warehouse clubs and golf shops. They make hundreds of thousands of golf clubs every year and consistently continue to be one of the top 50 golf club makers in the United States.
Pinemeadow has trained professionals on staff with decades of experience to custom assemble clubs just for you. Their assembly people have custom fit many PGA professional players. Why trust your neighbor or some garage operation on the web to fit you for golf clubs, when you can have a trained professional group give you the right fit for the same money?
Beginning in the mid-1980's, Pinemeadow was one of the very first companies to focus on building "legal clones" or "knock-offs." Just like the computer, automobile, and fashion industries, golf is an industry of product leaders and product followers. Pinemeadow is a "smart follower." We look at what is hot and analyze whether it really works as advertised and then tend to follow the concept at a much less expensive but no less effective result.
Again, the important point is that Pinemeadow uses the same materials and assembly methods as all the big name producers. They obtain all these materials from the same suppliers as the name brand producers. You essentially get the exact same club, but at a MUCH BETTER VALUE.
* "Fruggie" says - "Here's a great example. We all know how hot the utility irons are now. Why are they so popular? Because they're easier to hit than the traditional long iron, plain and simple. One of the most popular of these utilty irons is the Taylor Made® Rescue Mid Club, retailing at $149. Pinemeadow makes a clone of that club, the top selling , and sells it for $39. You get the same product for less money. No wonder Pinemeadow sells so many clubs."
Why Are Brand Name Clubs SO MUCH MORE EXPENSIVE?
It is simple, really: advertising, overhead, and middlemen. The amount actually spent for research and development by the golf club industry is not nearly as large as the money spent for advertising. The real dollars go toward convincing you to buy the name brand club and paying the middleman to get them into your hands.
What About The Cost Of Name Brand Advertising?
Independent surveys show that up to 70% of the retail price of a Name Brand golf club goes to support the advertising and brand name development. These advertising and brand development costs are legitimate. They provide advertising revenue to the major golf magazines, they provide many millions of dollars of licensing revenue to PGA Tour professionals, and they provide even more millions of dollars to the major television networks. The money spent in advertising builds status and peer pressure to buy a name brand. Every advertising dollar spent by the name brand manufacturer is targeted to make you feel better (or justified) in paying more money for the brand. Some people raise their self-esteem by buying a name brand club for more money. Pinemeadow's customers, on the other hand, raise their self-esteem by getting the best performance for the best value.
* "Fruggie" says - "How much money can Pinemeadow save you by passing on these advertising savings to you, the consumer? Well, let's compare a quality set of irons. Callaway® retails it's very popular X-16s at $1100. Pinemeadow's clone, the very popular , sells for $149. Quite a savings, even for a mathematically challenged golf ball like myself." :-)
About Overhead
The big name brand companies are usually publicly traded, and they are subjected to higher overhead environments. They have lots of overhead expenses that legitimate clone manfacturers don't have. Golf club clone manufacturers can make just as much money, have more fun, and pass the difference in costs on to you, the consumer, by building golf clubs in a simple, less costly manner. And they do pass the savings on to you.
* "Fruggie" says - "Another example. Compare the Taylor Made® R7 Driver at $699 with the new Pinemeadow priced at $99. Perhaps the name brand manufacturers should change their driver descriptions from oversized to overpriced. :-)"
What About The Middleman?
Demo clubs, fancy retail storefronts, and sales personnel cost money. Most retailers mark up their products 60% to 100% from their wholesale purchase price. Pinemeadow's outlet golf website is truly factory direct. Sending you clubs direct from the factory eliminates that cost and saves you money. Just another reason why buying clone golf clubs built by a legitimate clone golf club manufacturer makes so much sense for you, the consumer. And it's why Pinemeadow can sell it's for $39, while Odyssey® retails it's White Hot 2 Ball for $299.
A Personal Testimonial
Let me finish up with a personal testimonial, and I'll make it short and to the point. Two years ago I bought a set of irons from Pinemeadow Golf. These irons are clone clubs of the very popular Callaway VFTs with the thin faced technology. These clones are beautiful to look at and beautiful to hit. I love them. Cost of the VFTs was about $1200. Cost of the club clones was about $300.
You can buy direct from online. You can also read much more about Pinemeadow and the clubs that they make. They've even got an online course called Golf Clubs 101, Buying Golf Clubs Online, where you can learn a lot more about the new clubs you're thinking about buying. I think you'll be pleased with what they have to say. I know from personal experience that you'll be pleased with what you buy. And don't forget, your satisfaction is GUARANTEED or you'll get your money back. Plus, right now they're offering FREE SHIPPING on all orders of $150 or more. Good luck, and if you do decide to buy some clubs, here's hoping that you hit em straight. :-)
Regards,
Wayne Dufault
Frugalgolf.com Webmaster
PS. Want one more testimonial on the value and quality of Pinemeadow products? I've never lost a dime in affiliate commissions because a golf club clone was returned to Pinemeadow for refund.
