One of my buddies gave me a Tiger Shark wedge the one with 3 different alignment lines, concave dimples on the face instead of grooves, and a funky dual bounce sole configuration. Starting in the early 1900s, Spalding started making golf balls before manufacturing clubs. Theres even premium urethane cover options (Pro V1 and X styles) for ~$15 a dozen. Well then so did everyone else. I am the person that brought the first Metalwoods to the market. The Roaring 20s gave us Babe Ruth, Knute Rockne, Jack Dempsey, and Red Grange. Its high point came in 1998 when Mark OMeara won the Masters and the Open Championship for Spalding. "url": "https://swingyard.com/wp-content/uploads/Spalding-Irons-by-Year.jpg" Two years prior, they sold Spalding and Evenflo to Wall Street investment firm KKR for an estimated and unbelievable 1 billion dollars. They also specialized in unique clubs like the Cran Creek. Shortly thereafter, Spalding signed him as spokesperson, vice president and director of research. In the early days, golf clubs were hand-forged using a hammer and anvil. I agree, though it does deserve a deep dive. Did you forget about Zevo Golf? As a former pro athlete, Spalding saw the value of using professionals to help promote both the game and his products. Known for launching the ball from a nice crisp fairway lie but it jumped the shark when it came to hitting it from any kind of fluff. but worth a kings ransom, Great post thanks mgs but i agree with dj ,The doctor rx has to be on the list. They are also said to be legendary Canadian player Moe Normans favorite clubs of all time. Had 3-PW plus 1, 3, & 5 woods. I owned a set of Nocklaus N1 irons (the pro versions of the bear irons?). I would appreciate any help you could offer! Really solid clubs. unbelieveably so..!! I had some Staff FG-17 and my friends dad had the Executives. Just terribleand never sold thruas well it shouldnt. Had a set of McGregor Irons called Doctor Rx, they felt good hit in the middle, they reminded me of a Pringle potato chip. It wasnt long until Spaldings Executive golf clubs were launched, which were prevalent at all levels of the game. They dropped the Tour Edition moniker and focused on the expansion of their touring staff on the PGA, Senior PGA and LPGA tours. These were great clubs. Design the future of bad golf! #15 - Stan Thompson Ginty Irons You might remember the popular Stan Thompson woods with the unique sole design. Decent? 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. My Uncle had the Executives and my Dad had the XL-4s. The ball was introduced in 1900. Callaway wound up suing Spalding for using its imagery on Spalding packaging. Can you come up with any info on these? In 1906 Bendelow designed the expansion of Atlantas East Lake Club, the eventual home club of one Robert Tyre Jones, Jr. Well spare you the decade-by-decade rundown of Spalding innovations (and there are many). Anybody know anything about them? Men's Right Handed. 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. Great research John with some very interesting history facts about the company and its equipment. However my 6 iron had twice as much offset as any other iron in the set. Autore dell'articolo: Articolo pubblicato: 16/06/2022 Categoria dell'articolo: fixed gantry vs moving gantry cnc Commenti dell'articolo: andy's dopey transposition cipher andy's dopey transposition cipher Spalding Golf Clubs: Do Still Make Them & How Much? they were a good iron, that looked good at address, and were easy to hit. I play them still and love them. Corey Pavin says, If I wont paid to play them ugly ass sticks they would have never been heard of ;). If so, are they any good? He changed from forged blades and balata balls to cavity back, investment cast irons and sold core balls, White tells MyGolfSpy. Starting in the early 1900s, Spalding started making golf balls before manufacturing clubs. Spalding, seemingly, was on top of the world. In 1895, Spalding started manufacturing golf balls. "https://twitter.com/_swingyard_", 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. I would hand stamp #7 on all irons. Yes. Why is that I have the Tiger Shark 7 iron and the Spalding Exec XE 5 iron in my golf collection??? We had small layoffs on an ongoing basis, and people kept looking over their shoulder. Every iron ever made is ugly as hell when you hit it off the hosel. "@type": "ImageObject", I just picked up 6 thru 9 of the Browning 440 Plus irons at the Goodwillcant wait to try them out. 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. These irons were designed in Belgium by the Belgium-Browning company. Titleist and PING were established competitors, while TaylorMade and Callaway were flexing their muscles. Weve done a mini-history on the Hogan Company, with input from a couple of longtime Hogan employees. "https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjT3UiJflw60ZD31-6yC4mA", I have two sets of Browning 440 Gold clubs (including the driver, 3 and 5 woods), and a set of Browning 500s. It is more of a you gotta be kidding me), an Integra 650 cc driver (you have to dig a ditch before you swing), etc. maybe EVER. Thus, the USGA implemented the one ball rule, Thanks John for another great piece of history. Currently play AP2s coming out of the bag for a few rounds and if the linear dynamics keep performing like they did in Vegas the AP2s will be taking a long rest. 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. I believe Robert Molitor was the fellow who developed the Top Flite. It was a low loft club used for poor lies and putting. Cleveland VAS was really great Iron. #14 - Spalding Executive Irons These were actually a pretty good iron for the time and I think Trevino had something to do with this designbut not sure. i knew a guy who was a 4 handicap, and he used the spalding executives. FS - Fiberbuilt Flight Deck / GripMaster Roo pulls, New Vokey SM8 52 & 56 wedge set / New Titleist Caps (for bigger heads) / New Cobra RadSpeed 10.5* Driver, Peacoat, with premium, upgraded shaft, TSR3 ub-6x, cobra radspeed, TEE pro 721 driver and 3w, Ventus Black TR Folds of Honor 6x w/ TM Adapter, Ventus Red TR 6x w/ TM Adapter, Adidas Tour 360 22 Size 13, MyStealth2 Driver Headcover. Spalding also produced the first U.S.-made golf shoes, the first clubs to use numbers instead of names, and the first completely matching set of woods and irons (the Kro-Flite). And if the Nicklaus Bear irons were used to win the US Amateur, they shouldnt be on a worst irons list either. How about Hogan Magnums and Magnum Plus irons big cavity backs from the 1970s. Callaway had long wanted Top-Flites ball factory and patents but didnt want to assume any debt. 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. I had a VAS 5 iron. These articles are easily my favorite content any of the golf sites out out. The early Top-Flites were juast the opposite; you couldnt cut one of them with an axe. The 1968 arrival of the Executive MV2 Bird Over Ball clubs are among some of Spalding's most easily recognizable clubs. Spalding was the leading manufacturer of golf clubs in America throughout the mid-twentieth century, highlighting just how popular the brand was. However as a caddy the Spaulding staff bag was a real trunk!! Make Request. I wonder what Jack thought of them. Thanks for doing the digging! we closed and then were just screwing around with some of the rental clubs. I may be way off they had a a plain face -but the back was a series of round holes -like a honey comb design does any one remember these what were they called and who made themmy friend died so I cant ask himanyway thanks. You cannot do that with any other club. "mainEntityOfPage": "https://swingyard.com/spalding-irons-by-year/", not just the American side , some of Europe and some from Japan makers also wacky !!! I might suggest you also include input from Tom Stites who worked for Hogan in the 1980s before heading up Nikes golf (mis)adventure. Free shipping on many items | Browse your favorite brands | affordable prices. The 1953 Top-Flite Synchro-Dyned irons were particularly innovative, featuring a matched shaft flex and head weight for each iron in the set. So, if youre looking for a decent set of golf clubs without breaking the bank, theres no reason not to invest in a used set of Spalding clubs if you see a set that you like online. Is my equipment holding me back? My friends and I (and Im embarrassed to say this now! Display as a link instead, You have any pics of the Samurai irons Neilwould love to see them. "@type": "Organization", The products soon disappeared from shelves. Mismanagement and a growing golf market led Spalding to cease manufacturing golf products, selling off popular brands like Top Flite to Callaway in the early 2000s. Mismanagement and a growing golf market led Spalding to cease manufacturing golf products, selling off popular brands like Top Flite to Callaway in the early 2000s. This is because Spalding stopped manufacturing golf clubs in 2002, and most of the clubs available online today are vintage sets. made it even more interesting and valuable. Press J to jump to the feed. During that time, Spalding ownership changed hands a half dozen times, and saw the same fate as MacGregor Irons. If it works for you use it. They come as a set and include eleven clubs, a golf bag, and head covers. Sign In. What about the Porsche irons? Spalding started adding Tour staff during the 90s, with Greg Norman, Lee Trevino, Graig Stadler, and Nick Price all playing Stratas. 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 Some crazy lookin clubs, Why didnt you include the 1st set of Ping Irons? It was just crazy how many golf balls we would sell through Wal-Mart in 18-ball pack, adds White Wed get orders on the fax machine for 50,000 18-ball packs, and theyd want them in two weeks.. Jim passed away recentlyhe was a great innovator do you remember the Basakwerd Putter