when were spalding executive golf clubs madewhen were spalding executive golf clubs made
I love it but was told it is no a legal putter. 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. Had 3-PW plus 1, 3, & 5 woods. But unfortunately for the VASs they were dethroned from their long held position. It kept some of those out of my bag Im sure. One with the sticker decal and one without. By 2002, players such as Hal Sutton, Bernhard Langer, and Luke Donald were playing the Hogan Apex ball. Thanks for you4 diligence and reporting. Spalding introduced many variations of hickory-shafted clubs to bring distance and control to the professional and duffer alike. Jim passed away recentlyhe was a great innovator do you remember the Basakwerd Putter Your link has been automatically embedded. They looked like a full set of hybrids but only lasted a short period of time. i was hitting 8 iron and was suprised how high the ball flight was. Men's Right Handed. My Dad had the XL-4s (I still have them), one Uncle had the Executives and another had the Cannons. I think this is the web site for me . Therefore, the Top Flite clubs produced in the nineties and early naughts are technically Spalding golf clubs. Seemed like big headed design with half the head chopped off to produce a bigger face!!! The Titleist were a bit longer lasting but I (a poor college student) could afford the Spaulding balls. When Did Spalding Stop Making Golf Clubs. Knowledgable folk say its all in the mind. 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. I see that a few from my list made it. HellI know I dont and I have been involved in some type of internet golf business since[], THE WINNER OF THE CONTEST: Farve The Looper (CONGRATS!) 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. Spalding club-makers paid as much scrutiny to shafts as heads. My Uncle had the Executives and my Dad had the XL-4s. You have any pics of the Samurai irons Neilwould love to see them. KKR wanted Spalding to make money the KKR way. In 1993 Payne Stewart signed a multi-million-dollar deal to go full Top-Flite, a move that sidetracked Stewarts career. Protactic Golf in Chicago. 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 Jones immediately put his Georgia Tech engineering degree to good use. Well done. Inside cavity: blue/back button; EXECUTIVE x EZ. Pasted as rich text. Spalding, along with Wright and Ditson, was importing golf clubs from Scotland. The Sounder irons could be on the list-and are the best irons I ever had (have). 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. 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. Brings back great memories! The success of Spalding golf clubs had compelled the USGA to act, but this success was not destined to last forever. Thanks for the history lesson and walk down memory lane. { There was a time that Spalding golf clubs were among the best in the business. Again THANK YOU FOR THE GOLF LESSON!!!!! The Browning 440s took my game from the 150s (Wilson clubs) to the low 70s. Although they did have issues with the shafts actually wrinkling due to the configuration of the shape of the toe on this ironcrazy little factoid. 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. 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! This technology is a shank-proof hosel. Not the first or the last business to be destroyed by KKR. Long irons with shallow faces, little offset and perhaps slightly softer shafts can be quite playable. I have no ideabut I sure loved my Tommy Armour silver Scotts. Nice article John! 5 Testers Needed! when were spalding executive golf clubs made MENU. 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. Bird on ball was a very popular club. Well these irons which were designed out in LA by Stan Thompson were made to capitalize on that same concept. What about the old Bullet Driver that was hollow in the center (like an inverted U shape)? 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. Thanks for the memories, John Barba. With Spalding's mass-market success breeding scores of imitators, players could pick and choose from countless club lines. 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. I also have a set of Browning TR600s. we closed and then were just screwing around with some of the rental clubs. Spalding, seemingly, was on top of the world. 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. I have been playing golf over 40 years and have owned many brands of clubs. I wonder how much influence he had on those? Current owner FILA Korea Ltd took Acushnet public, and the company has thrived ever since. Spalding, like its old school brethren Wilson and MacGregor, simply wasnt sexy to a new generation of golfers. 1 Iron (18) Spalding EXECUTIVE XE. About half of our sales are with personal names or corporate logos in the back and given as gifts. I have a set of both the 440s and the 500s, and there is no difference in face depth. Titleist has been the Ball King for so long, its hard to remember a time when it wasnt. Just found and bought a set of Lil David Slingers. Say what you will but I own a set of Ray Cook Titanic irons. Who Makes Dunlop Golf Clubs? It was a close race but in the end we felt like it was finally time for the super-rare and hard to find Lil David Slingers get the recognition they were due. Top Flite is now synonymous with bargain or cheap instead of being the club of choice for the greatest golfers on tour. why did patrice o'neal leave the office; why do i keep smelling hairspray; giant ride control one auto mode; current fishing report: lake havasu 1983 Corey Pavin won the 1996 US Open Shinnecock with a purple set. Ive owned a set of VAS, Zings, Slingshots and the Spaulding Execs (for vintage golf days). I collect odd golf items. "https://www.pinterest.com/Swingyard/blog/" Clear editor. I STILL play with my Spalding Executive set 2 SW. Spalding Golf Clubs: Do Still Make Them & How Much? But since the early 2000s, Spalding has practically disappeared from the golf landscape. The legendary Spalding bird logo appeared on their clubs in the 1960s, with the Top-Flite Elite Professional irons proving popular on Tour. As a former pro athlete, Spalding saw the value of using professionals to help promote both the game and his products. Decided it was time for me to get some cavity back irons. If it works for you use it. More on the tr600!!!! It was a time-consuming, costly and inconsistent process. General Albums. I love these old clubs. Buyers can still find Spalding clubs on some secondary sites. * 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. The top of the club head is horisontal and is easy to set up perpendical to the target. Please put any questions or comments here. Every time I take it out of my bag for some new modern wedge, I go back to it a few weeks later. In the late 70s I also had a set of Unique irons which were great apart from the plastic covers covering the cavity back constantly falling out. "@type": "ImageObject", We are here to help educate and empower golfers. 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. Really a zany=looking set of irons. They are awesome clubs, very well-weighted, with a great center of gravity for high loft shots. These gentlemen used them to win large amounts of money on the course from unsuspecting victims. I surely do remember those Dot balls that my brother and I would find on OFCC in south suburbs of Chicago because we couldnt afford them but you really had to pay attention to look at those balls before you grounded your club or you would put a significant cut in them. The Ping Zings were the worst! 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. 2 Iron (21) Spalding EXECUTIVE XE . Ever hear of Belmont (internal, removable sole weighting)? * Note: These irons were designed by Duke Duclos. They had fantastic fairway woods that I still take out for a spin every once in a while. Like many of his other unconventional looking but super functional designs for the time this one flew off the shelves. (What Exactly Happened?). Slotline Inertial E-Max irons laying around ? }. The 1968 arrival of the Executive MV2 Bird Over Ball clubs are among some of Spaldings most easily recognizable clubs. If you are a beginner and are looking for a . Just saw a full set of them again today. Keep up the great work. But, in the rough the club went right underneath the ball. What can you find out about Wilson x 70 irons. The Executive clubs are among the finest pure forged blades ever produced and have certainly stood the test of time. After each sale, however, TaylorMades leadership team remained intact. 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. I used to have a set of Ajay Pro Classics that were my dads. Get the best deals on Spalding Executive Irons when you shop the largest online selection at eBay.com. money, time and performance. Or maybe it was just wacky that a German car company decided to start selling $1500 golf clubs that sucked. Display as a link instead, Looking through eBay listings, you can find a range of vintage Spalding golf clubs in various conditions to suit different budgets. 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. I have a set of Ben Hogan AHS Hybrids and the SW is even a hybrid! Colin Montgomerie joined the staff, and Spalding had big plans. 2 iron sw. Let me know if anyone is interested. What was wacky about the Bears? Fila Golf has developed this new iron using a patented design feature. The woods were the strangest looking things. Lots of wackiness. Callaway had long wanted Top-Flites ball factory and patents but didnt want to assume any debt. C $75.53. Ive owned. Kind of reminds one of the Hogan radial but not near as wide on the soul. All of the irons were labeled as a 7 iron, with the real number of the club micro stamped on the faces upper toe. Non-Tapered Golf Grips: 8 Facts to Know Before You Buy! It is my Go To clubmy favorite. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account. Win a bunch of BogeyPro swag! The Top Flite name lives on, however, thanks to the purchase of its namesake via Callaway in the early 2000s. Yet again, the same fate as MacGregor had. single, replacement or add-on golf irons and wedges for Spalding Executive MV2 bird over ball Irons. They play as well as any other set Laugh if you must, but the design works. Jones famously retired from golf after winning the 1930 version of the Grand Slam. Wide sole. In 1910 Spalding started making fairway clubs made of aluminum, and heavier lead face putters. Its impossible to overstate Albert Spaldings vision and ambition. 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. 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. I take them out every couple of years and play a round with them just for fun. The Top-Flite acquisition made it a player. Jim also marketed the first Graphite Shafts sold under the Aldila name. So, if youre buying or selling Spalding clubs that are in reasonably good shape, you can set your expectations around $100 to begin with. Spalding spent the last half of the 20th-century battling with Titleist for golf ball supremacy. That debt burden, however, finally proved fatal. 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. Circa 1985-ish if memory serves. From the 1950s to the 1990s Spalding was in the bag for many major victories, and was played on municipal courses across the country. Today, Spalding focuses nearly all of its commercial interests on basketball, producing balls, hoops, rims, and nets. By the following year, Spalding began making clubs in the U.S. "url": "https://swingyard.com/wp-content/uploads/Spalding-Irons-by-Year.jpg" You cannot paste images directly. I had never seen the Fila irons before now. Spaldings buddy Wright had been doing the same thing since 1892. I have not 1 but 2 sets of Browning 440 irons. I have a Simmons Great White Shark putter with a 7 blade. The range is for form anyway. Does Spalding make golf balls? Dynamiter wedges featured deep grooves, often in unusual shapes, that ultimately prompted the USGA to outlaw them. Peter lived in Ridgefield,Ct. His company quickly expanded into making equipment for every sport imaginable. "image": { Corey Pavin says, If I wont paid to play them ugly ass sticks they would have never been heard of ;). what is spanish colonial music? How about the Spalding Exec SE. Thanks for doing the digging! Spalding had a long history, terrific heritage, and healthy topline sales of over $500 million. 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. Learn how your comment data is processed. I learned the game on a set of used Spalding Execs-still have them today. The design gave the clubs an exotic bamboo look; the underlying message being that these clubs offered players bamboo's legendary flexibility and whip-like strength. They come as a set and include eleven clubs, a golf bag, and head covers. TaylorMade then entered the bidding but, after 30 rounds, Callaway wound up buying Top-Flite free and clear for $175 million. Shortly thereafter, Spalding signed him as spokesperson, vice president and director of research. 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. I saw a set go for well over $300 (I think it went closer to $500, but I just would not swear to it). Thanks. Spalding no longer makes golf clubs, and hasnt for some time now. 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 had a friend who worked for Gary Player and he sent me his brand called iGNITORS Those were fairly strange and not particular long! Wed have monthly meetings at their West 57th Street offices in New York. Oversized high center of gravity heads and huge amounts of offset are what killed long irons IMO. Welcome back to the latest installment of Historys Mysteries. These skids are tapered from the leading edge toward the rear of the club head, raising the sole above the ground without raising the leading edge off the ground. (Sponsored by: GolfCircuit.com), CONTEST! In the mid-80s, Spalding introduced the solid core Tour Edition, and in 1996 it came out with Strata, a true game-changer for Spalding and the first multi-layer solid core ball used on Tour. Never met a set of strange clubs I didnt want to try. Was: C $107.89. In 1910 Spalding started making fairway clubs made of aluminum, and heavier lead face putters. Another great history piece. Ive got a crazy iron set that is one telescoping iron with a blade that changes position to vary the loft. Those Slinger Irons were the brain child of Jim Flood. The 1953 Top-Flite Synchro-Dyned irons were particularly innovative, featuring a matched shaft flex and head weight for each iron in the set. 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 Zing2s were the first set I bought when I started playing golf. Windtree Golf is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. No matter what brand of club you pull from your bag, you owe some thanks to one company Spalding. Sold millions of those over the years. You can actually play Spalding golf balls again! In 1962, Pyramid merged with Dunhill International and the AP Parts Corporation. Those and the Ram Tour Grinds that Watson played were my bucket list irons, but never could afford them. More than 50 percent of that total came from golf ball sales. Golfers have always known that deep-grooved irons produce better control and spin. Remember all the other clubs, good to read. The solid core Strata now had competition from the Titleist ProV1. Great list! Love to see them. Are these considered weird? Thanks for the article. Still playing my cook titanics with the 1 iron. i think special t golf was the only people dumb enuff to handle these. 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. LOL. If so, are they any good? Great stuff. The strangest set I play with at the moment is a matching set of 3 through 15 fairway woods made by Protactic Golf in Chicago (part of the remains of Northwestern Golf, I think). I have a set of clubs with Belmont Power on them. My wife says I never met a strange-looking golf club I did not want to own and play with. Those were first made around the end of the 19th century during the hickory era. White says KKR management was hyper-focused on Callaway and TaylorMade, which may explain one of Spaldings biggest gaffes ever. Spalding decided it would be good business to provide golf course design services free of charge to anyone with the money and inclination to build one. As a former pro athlete, Spalding saw the value of using professionals to help promote both the game and his products. Just remember, Its always the indian and not the arrow. 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 Starting in the early 1900s, Spalding started making golf balls before manufacturing clubs. Like its sporting goods brother-in-arms MacGregor, Spalding ownership changed hands in 1958. My dad has played a set if vicunas for about 40 years! Golfers may also like: PGX Offset Golf Driver Review: is it any Good? No sir, they are in my bag and are still being used after all these years. I will admit to having a hankering for those slick lookin Zevo Lobs tho. And I remember drooling over those Tour Edition Custom blades in the pro shop. But the funky look kept me from ever thinking about buying a whole set. So I sent it in and got the iron. Spalding manufactured golf clubs for some of the leading players in the game, including the legendary American player Bobby Jones. *chuckles* Maybe its a good thing I took a 30 year golf hiatus. pend. beneath. They had a premium Molitor ball at the then scandalous price of $2. Callaway had been making balls but never turned a profit. Finally, I think a distinction needs to be made between the wackiest looking and worst irons made. During that time, Spalding ownership changed hands a half dozen times, and saw the same fate as MacGregor Irons. Various . Just make sure to mix in a few lessons with your local PGA pro, and you'll progress nicely. And Spalding predated Mizuno by at least 60 years with a copper undercoating for its forged blades in the mid-50s. "https://twitter.com/_swingyard_", Notify me of followup comments via e-mail. "https://www.facebook.com/swingyard/", ), Undersize Golf Grips Explained (8 Key Facts!). The market was changing rapidly, as well. Any Spalding clubs that are still in circulation can be regarded as vintage, thats for sure! I was the Sales Manager of Stan Thompson golf company for several years and worked very close with Stan. In 1895, Spalding started making golf balls. If KKR had appointed Scott Creleman as the head man at the time I firmly believe Dpaldi g would still be a player in the golf industry Press J to jump to the feed. "sameAs": [ Could not beleive how well I hit this clubs. We have been making them since 1992ship them all over the worldto soldiers, traveling execs, private pilots, cyclists, retirees that want to walk but cant lug a full set, and many other categories. Thanks, John. We used to say three-quarters of the golf balls manufactured in the world came out of the state of Massachusetts, says Ben Hogan CEO Scott White, who started his career as a golf ball product manager for Spalding in the early 90s. While the Top Flite was initially scorned by better players as the rock flight, it probably caused a rule change. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. He loves telling stories, writing about golf and golf travel, and enjoys classic golf equipment. I have one of those! 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?? It was an interesting period to work for Spalding but sad to watch the demise of the brand it should never of happened ! I have a set of Browning 440s and a set of Browning 500s I was in the midst of restoring them but Browning would not sell me original grips! Peter F. Stevens is an award-winning author and journalist whose 10 books include "The Voyage of the Catalpa." Ive got a set of graphite Samurai ironwoods years ahead of their time lying around in the basement, I think. Image: Central Press/Hulton Archive via Getty Images. I have two sets of Browning 440 Gold clubs (including the driver, 3 and 5 woods), and a set of Browning 500s. Thanks. They produced more premium balls, but we used to make 25-, 26-million dozen a year.. 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. The company also announced an alliance with Bob Bettinardi to create a line of high-end Hogan putters. He struggled quite a bit with the change.. Still have the clubs in my basement. MacGregors ownership carousel started in 1978 when it was sold to lumber conglomerate Wickes. Even tho I play with graphic shafts I really like the way those play. Fugly yes looks kinda like a pancake spatula at address but effective. 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. I love them but Im mystified with the hex screw in the bottom of every shaft! Can you come up with any info on these? Play to a 4 6 cap. The Strata, however, proved to be a gold mine for Spalding. In 1876 Spalding was the manager and ace pitcher of the Chicago White Stockings. You cannot do that with any other club. Upgraded my driver from R7 to Razr Hawk, but will never surrender my Slingshots. Its high point came in 1998 when Mark OMeara won the Masters and the Open Championship for Spalding. Jeff Sheets had been Director of R&D for Top-Flite since 1995, and his first club for Hogan became a legend. Hope you all enjoyed a look back at some of the craziest irons ever made.
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when were spalding executive golf clubs made