Many of which might have even found there way into a few of your bagseven if you dont want to admit it. [email protected] Original? Great research John with some very interesting history facts about the company and its equipment. unbelieveably so..!! Spalding no longer makes golf clubs, and hasnt for some time now. "@type": "ImageObject", CT. We had a very good amateur player, reputed to be one of the longest hitters in the state. It kept some of those out of my bag Im sure. I had read your original 2018 article about why Hogan still mattered. Pretty or not (thats the clubs), I have played Fila Latitude irons since they came out. Whats more, Spalding Molitor clubs currently retail at $280 for an entire set, which is a price point that is pretty hard to beat. His stuff was marvelous and all original. There are worse things. In the 1960s, Spalding introduced the Spalding Executive line of clubs and balls and the Top-Flite Elite Professional irons with the Bird on Ball logo. Jones famously retired from golf after winning the 1930 version of the Grand Slam. After each sale, however, TaylorMades leadership team remained intact. KKR was established in 1976 by partners Jerome Kohlberg, Henry Kravis, and George Roberts. But they seem to work though. Upgraded my driver from R7 to Razr Hawk, but will never surrender my Slingshots. Players would switch balls during a round as conditions warranted. "https://www.instagram.com/_swingyard_/", This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google, (your email address will not be published), CONTEST Adams Pro Black Giveaway! 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. Nice article John! Starting in the early 1900s, Spalding started making golf balls before manufacturing clubs. Duke gave me an original solid brass/bronze Greenirons Slotline putter (heel shafted with slot in top line and white dot on lower rear section).. As a former professional player, Spalding recognized the need of enlisting the assistance of experts to promote both the game and his merchandise. The player would then conveniently cover the top of his bag with a towel so that no one would see the length of the irons. I am still playing with my set every week! I will admit to having a hankering for those slick lookin Zevo Lobs tho. 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. Insurmountable debt, uncertain management, and stiff competition forced Spalding to stop production. Spalding was the big name in women's golf clubs by 1950. However, the name of their popular brand Top Flite was sold to Callaway, and is used for discount clubs and balls. Remember when pros like Norman and Stadler and others with that bright red Spaulding Tour Bag. ENTER NOW! While the idea of owning a golf company sounds great, the list of companies that tried and failed is long. The Top-Flite, Strata, and Hogan brands stayed alive for a while, but Callaway eventually mothballed them all. Why is that I have the Tiger Shark 7 iron and the Spalding Exec XE 5 iron in my golf collection??? The old Spaulding Executive set I had back in the early 1980s. Callaway Rogue ST Triple Diamond LS Driver Review, Best Womens Golf Clubs for Intermediate Players, Ned Howard Retired PGA Teaching Professional. He could not believe the smoothness of the Driver. The real prize for Callaway was the Chicopee ball plant. Love it or hate it the Nike Slingshot irons made the list. Copyright 2023. document.getElementById( "ak_js" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Do you remember what golf websites you were shopping on back in 1995? President Ironfinder has a good selection of individual Spalding Executive MV2 bird over ball golf clubs in stock to help you replace a missing single golf iron. Just saw a full set of them again today. In the mid to late 80s, my father had Spalding make him a set of custom irons. And although Spalding would show operational profits, debt service kept turning those profits into losses. They had fantastic fairway woods that I still take out for a spin every once in a while. Their original design was a smaller headed Tony Penna model Innovator, they became the n1 and then the Bears came out when oversize irons hit the market. Not the first or the last business to be destroyed by KKR. By 1970, the ownership group morphed into the Questor Corporation, and Pyramid Rubber was rechristened Evenflo. Our friends[], Amazing Ryder Cup Contest! We (and tour players) figured out it was very stable in the wind and was 2 clubs longer with the irons. During that time, Spalding ownership changed hands a half dozen times, and saw the same fate as MacGregor Irons. The only thing a golfer needs is more daylight. - BenHogan. single, replacement or add-on golf irons and wedges for Spalding Executive x EZ Oversize Irons. * Note: These irons were designed by Don Wood remember the Plop putterswell they are back at it againyou can check them out here. } Im not sure how rare they are, but youd think there would be a trace of them somewhere. Who knows what might have happened if someone else had gained control, Im 75 and recall that my Dad was a Spalding Dot guy. I just love them! I think a list of the craziest irons made should definitely include the Jerry Barber Golden Touch irons made over 40 years ago. 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. These were actually a pretty good iron for the time and I think Trevino had something to do with this designbut not sure. Still bagging their wedges. "@type": "ImageObject", "https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjT3UiJflw60ZD31-6yC4mA", Im a scratch golfer, and to date have found nothing that is better. does ohma have a child [email protected] buy all 6 get free shipping) Let me know by ebay . I really enjoy reading your articles, John. In 1910 Spalding started making fairway clubs made of aluminum, and heavier lead face putters. Find golf club trade-in and re-sales values for over 4,000 models of used golf clubs at the PGA Value Guide, from leading manufacturers such as Callaway, TaylorMade, Taylor Made, Titleist, Ping, Odyssey, Nike, Cleveland, Mizuno, Cobra, Adams, Wilson. Man crush on Nicklaus led to this purchase. Unfortunately, Spalding has fallen a long way down the pecking order in terms of their sporting equipment, and it has been a long time since they manufactured a new set of golf clubs. My woods are Taylormade Burners 1 & 3, and I have two Mizuno hybrids. What the hey. Typically about 2 of the three would be OK, but if you hit one thin, you just threw it away on the next tee. jazzbone, September 4, 2006 in Equipment. Thanks. not just the American side , some of Europe and some from Japan makers also wacky !!! Used to play traditional blades with the odd shank. Matched them to Wilson Pro Staff low compressions and I was a happy camper. My golfing buddy borrowed my old set, including the driver and had one of his best rounds ever. In April, KKR sold the Spalding name and all of Spaldings non-golf businesses to Russell Athletic for just $65 million. There was a time that Spalding golf clubs were among the best in the business. I was the Sales Manager of Stan Thompson golf company for several years and worked very close with Stan. 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. You have any pics of the Samurai irons Neilwould love to see them. At the 2003 PGA Show, Hogan introduced the Apex 50 blade commemorating its 50th anniversary, the game improvement CFT irons, and the Carnoustie and Riviera wedges. or Best Offer. Wilson never really recovered after Pepsi bought it in 1970. . This one in particular was interesting to me because I grew up in a Spalding family of sorts. Those are the reasons they work. Weird thing was I could hit the XL-4 long irons better and the Executives better from 7-PW. The legendary Spalding bird logo appeared on their clubs in the 1960s, with the Top-Flite Elite Professional irons proving popular on Tour. my 5w distance matches my friends new drivers in distance off tee,,they are amazed. Well these irons which were designed out in LA by Stan Thompson were made to capitalize on that same concept. You can buy a set in good condition on eBay for around $100. I will let the then Chariman of FILA Golf tell you a little bit about these 1994 released set of ironsand take you back in time like you were there for the original launch: Never before have so many game improvement features been built into one club. John is an aging, yet avid golfer, writer, 9-point-something handicapper living back home in New England after a 22-year exile in Minnesota. I bought my first set of real golf clubs around 1991 or 1992, the Spalding Executive. Mr. Adams had just formed Taylor Made Golf in late 1978 and this was their first showing in the market. Oversized high center of gravity heads and huge amounts of offset are what killed long irons IMO. I have a med flex shaft, 1 inch extension on each Exec club, and Golf Pride Velvet jumbo grips. I finally gave it to a friend of mine who is a beginner and he says it is the only club he can hit reliably. CA License # A-588676-HAZ / DIR Contractor Registration #1000009744 Seu lugar para proteger o seu capital. It became the most consistent and durable golf ball ever made. Jeff Sheets had been Director of R&D for Top-Flite since 1995, and his first club for Hogan became a legend. Shallow faces (not as shallow as the 440 of course) and less offset than many of the long irons they replace. Win a bunch of BogeyPro swag! 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. They looked like a full set of hybrids but only lasted a short period of time. About half of our sales are with personal names or corporate logos in the back and given as gifts. It had a good locking mechanism, and was made for poorer people who could not afford a whole set. I had never seen the Fila irons before now. This new construction was a major technological advancement in golf balls. and they wonder why they went out of business. "logo": { Great insight! Make Request. Are these considered weird? 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. In 1892 Spalding went into acquisition mode, buying up two key competitors: the A.J. Jackie Gleason also owned a set. Tommy Armours ownership circus eventually turned it into the Sports Authority (and now DICKS) house brand. I STILL play with my Spalding Executive set 2 SW. Under Chapter 363, it bid $125 million for Top-Flite. Buyers can still find Spalding clubs on some secondary sites. So, while Spalding is nowhere near as prevalent as it once was in the world of golf, you can still pick up a set of Molitor clubs for a very reasonable price online. Made from 1989-1994 and originally sold for $680. I dont think I paid more than $300 for all four sets combined- Im a Salvation Army searcher. If so send us some picsdont worry we will keep it 100% anonymous . What can you find out about Wilson x 70 irons. The early Top-Flites were juast the opposite; you couldnt cut one of them with an axe. 2 Iron (21) Spalding EXECUTIVE XE . Today, Spalding focuses nearly all of its commercial interests on basketball, producing balls, hoops, rims, and nets. The Ginty, fueron palos adelantados a su poca, las maderas Ginty parecen las antecesoras de las big bertha de callaway, el material del que estaban hechas no poda aguantar las inercias, pero el diseo ya era adelantado a su tiempo. Reach and the Wright and Ditson sporting goods companies. I actually have these clubs. The plan was to position Hogan as the premium forged line sold through pro shops. In 2001 Spalding launched a $17 million ad campaign for Hogan and Strata. I love these old clubs. I also have a set of Browning TR600s. Wish the 5 iron would have been there. He struggled quite a bit with the change.. marrano patio homes lancaster, ny 9, Juin, 2022. horse property for sale pocatello, idaho; Its high point came in 1998 when Mark OMeara won the Masters and the Open Championship for Spalding. They also made a set made entirely of woods. I bought them new. 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. You can post now and register later. MacGregor Doctor X. I had the Bears. . By 2002, players such as Hal Sutton, Bernhard Langer, and Luke Donald were playing the Hogan Apex ball. General Albums. I saw the Cisneros brothers maybe once in my time there, he says. Both were smart, competent leaders but had little golf experience. I have a Simmons Great White Shark putter with a 7 blade. Clare. Thanks. New entries such as Nike and Adams were turning heads as well. Never get tired of reading these types of articles. Bought a set for $25 as to help out a young lady with cancer. I have a full set of Exec XE irons. With Spalding's mass-market success breeding scores of imitators, players could pick and choose from countless club lines. Ive got a set of graphite Samurai ironwoods years ahead of their time lying around in the basement, I think. Your link has been automatically embedded. Kind of reminds one of the Hogan radial but not near as wide on the soul. The latter is notable as the Wright of Wright and Ditson is one George Wright, a Hall of Fame shortstop for the Boston Red Stockings and a major mover and shaker of turn-of-the-century golf. Too bad. { I saw a set go for well over $300 (I think it went closer to $500, but I just would not swear to it). By reducing our debt and consolidating our operations, we enhance our abilities to drive growth behind our prestigious group of golf brands, CEO Jim Craigie said at the time. So what did his famous Ginty patent actually mean? So, if youre buying or selling Spalding clubs that are in reasonably good shape, you can set your expectations around $100 to begin with. He would hold up the club so they could see the 7 on the bottom and with a big grin say I hit a 7 iron. (ENTER TO WIN) Super cool contest we have for you fellow GolfSpies today! KKR wanted Spalding to make money the KKR way. Corey Pavin won the 1996 US Open Shinnecock with a purple set. they were a good iron, that looked good at address, and were easy to hit. "sameAs": [ MyGolfSpy, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Brings back great memories! They preceded hybrid irons by 20 years or so. Bought the Slotlines new. Callaway had been making balls but never turned a profit. In the meantime, this should hold you over, https://mygolfspy.com/why-does-the-ben-hogan-equipment-company-still-matter/. Today, Spalding Executive clubs arent worth a great deal of money. Great collection! Regardless, both are great sets. The 300XXL Driver was so lightawesome clubhead speed ! It is the Super Stick. Anybody know anything about them? Needed a set of clubs to play for a few days and found these. Notify me of followup comments via e-mail. I am surprised no one ever mass marketed them. The Pyramid Rubber Company, a maker of baby bottles, strollers, and other infant products, bought a controlling interest. "mainEntityOfPage": "https://swingyard.com/spalding-irons-by-year/", The set I found is 2-9, but the 5 iron is gone. "https://twitter.com/_swingyard_", Some deserve to be on the former, but definitely not the latter! I believe Robert Molitor was the fellow who developed the Top Flite. Those Slinger Irons were the brain child of Jim Flood. 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. Still have the XL-4s in the garage. Alternatively, you can look on a discount site like Rock Bottom Golf. So I sent it in and got the iron. "https://www.facebook.com/swingyard/", Dont be ashamed thoughsome of these designs have actually been pioneering for the industry. Now I need some crazy Loudmouth pants and a pink ball. With a few months of work and some radical design modifications it was turned into the first modern Metalwood.