Second-hand-golf-club.co.uk is committed to being a Counterfeit Free Zone. Unfortunately, the number of Counterfeit golf Clubs is increasing and the counterfeiters are becoming more and more sophisticated. It is difficult for the untrained eye to sometimes spot the difference. Websites that allow members of the public to buy and sell directly amongst themselves find counterfeit golf clubs are a bigger problem every day.
Here at S-H-G-C.co.uk, we have a wealth of experience in the golf industry and have stringent checking procedures in place to ensure no counterfeit golf clubs slip through the net and onto our site.
If you would like us to try and determine whether or not your golf club/s is a Copy/ Counterfeit we will gladly help you out. You can either bring the clubs to our shop or send us some close up images to (enquires@s-h-g-c.co.uk) of the head, shaft and head cover and will do are best to give you an answer as quickly as possible
Here are some Videos, images and samples of the counterfeit golf clubs we see a lot of and some things you need to watch out for.
TaylorMade r7 CGB Max Driver, weight Inspection
The TaylorMade r7CGB Driver was recently sent us but was soon identified as being a possible fake? Here we demonstrate the weight test that most people are able to do at home with some digital scales. Another factor that was also a cause for concern was the flex in the shaft, it was stated to be a Stiff Flex but as soon as any pressure was applied to the shaft it practically bent double lshowing similar characteristics of a ladies flex. A clear example of very poor quality graphite.
Callaway X Forged iron with strange Hologram Sticker?
Something we see regularly is this Callaway Hologram sticker that appears on the shafts of counterfeit Callaway golf clubs. It is used to give the impression that its an authentication sticker, but unfortunately it's quite the opposite. We have seen it on FT-IQ drivers/ X-20 Irons/ Callaway X forged irons, the list goes on. If your clubs have this sticker on, chances are they will be fake as Callaway Golf have never put any hologram stickers on any of their clubs.
We have also seen the stickers used on counterfeit PING clubs, the ones we have seen are green. Again the fakers are trying to trick you to think the club is genuine but PING also don't put any sort of stickers on the shafts of there clubs: Beware!!
Next we look at shafts:
Shafts can sometimes be a dead give away before you even inspect the heads of clubs. We are currently seeing a lot of Copy Project X shafts in irons sets. As soon as you compare a real project X shaft to a counterfeit one you can soon the difference.
The genuine shaft is at the bottom: The top shaft as you can see is a totally different shade of blue. the text appears almost transparent through to the shaft whereas the real shaft has a satin/silver colour to the text.
Clearly if the shafts are fake so are the heads. Here is a picture of a pretty poor counterfeit Callaway X Forged iron. As this club originally from new had a satin finish, this shiny chrome looking copy stands out a mile.
After the big discovery of an eBay user selling thousands of Copy / Counterfeit golf clubs, for which the person was given a jail term, you can read the Full Story Here. The authorities uncovered a large holding of clubs which included many of Cleveland's XLS range. Its quite possible that the below club could have have come from that very source.
Now this copy driver (this time at the top of the image) was not apparent at the outset until we took a closer look at the Cleveland logo on the toe of the club and the text above it. Although its not to clear in the image but in the day light they are very different, the Logo on the toe should be a slight cream colour where as the counterfeit club below is plain white. The text saying 'Distance driven Geometry' is not as bold against the above genuine club. The words 'Distance' and 'Geometry' were also a different colour against the real club.
Cleveland HiBore XLS driver
A Copy / Counterfeit Taylor Made Rescue Dual is the next one we want to share with you as at first glance this is a very very good copy. The three things that give this away is first the sole, the sole plate on the one left (The Copy Club) is less raised and less defined as it travels towards the weight at the back compared to the one on the right. The cavity on the copy club that mounts the weights is a lot thicker and is raised up more. If you compare the top view of the clubs you can see the gray top line is wider compared to the genuine club on the right. The shaft on the counterfeit club was also very suspect in terms of its flex, it was stated to be a stiff flex graphite but upon putting pressure on it the shaft bent almost in half. Yet another tell tail sign of a copy golf club.
Counterfeit Taylor Made Rescue Dual on the left
The quality levels of Counterfeit Golf clubs varies massively as you can see in the next images. The Callaway Big Bertha 06 model is one that we have seen many people fall for so here it is. This is a very poor copy but still people still get caught out by it. Pretty much everything was dodgy with this set, the overall quality and finishing of the club was the biggest give away.
Callaway Big Bertha 2006
Callaway X Fairway 2007 and Callaway X 460 driver are next on the hit list. Here on show is some a 5 wood and driver together which are unfortunately counterfeit. Again a lot of things set alarm bells off when doing checks with these clubs. For a start the hosel on the 19* 5 wood simply didn't fit properly. The X's on the sole should also be Blue and not black. The shafts were also of very poor quality being over flexible. The grips, although the look like the real thing they have a very strong scent of rubber something we have also found common in copy golf clubs.
Counterfeit Callaway X Fairway 2007 and Callaway X 460
Genuine Callaway X fairway 2007
Here we have a counterfeit Callaway X-20 set of irons. The number of fake Callaway golf clubs is on the increase due to their popularity so we have to be on our guard. Not easy to show off in the picture as to the differences the colouring on the Callaway X-20 badge was much darker than the genuine club on the right. The biggest give away for was when you set the club at address the, the top edge of the club was a lot thicker and had more of a square shape to the original on the right.
Copy Callaway X-20 Irons on the left
COUNTERFEIT GOLF CLUB CHECKLIST..
1. Generally, Drivers, irons and Putters are the most likely to have been counterfeited.
2. Most good quality Drivers will have a titanium head. A counterfeit Driver will be made from an inferior metal. A magnet will stick to the face of a counterfeit club but not to a titanium original.
3. Most good quality Drivers will be lighter than the counterfeit version. Counterfeit clubs are likely to be made of steel not titanium.
4. Colours used on counterfeit clubs are never exactly the same as originals, make sure you compare to an original to check.
5. Fonts can vary in thickness from the originals, again compare to an original to check.
6. If the club is counterfeit, the headcover is likely to be as well. It will be inferior quality, sometimes smaller in size and the stitching in the lettering will be less accurate .
7. Counterfeit graphite shafts often have blurred writing and poor graphics.
8. Counterfeit grips can be spotted fairly easily by their smell. They have a distinct 'old rubber tyre' smell. They are also usually thinner than standard.
9. Most manufacturers will be happy to verify the club if you are at all unsure. They can also check serial numbers if the club has one.
But hit a counterfeit club after a real one and you'll soon know the difference.
