That was a great history lesson!!!!! "url": "https://swingyard.com/wp-content/uploads/Logo-1.svg" Great collection! but worth a kings ransom, Great post thanks mgs but i agree with dj ,The doctor rx has to be on the list. Yes, it sold a ton of golf balls, but as one former employee told us, the brand was decidedly blue-collar and not focused on the golf professional. What about the old Bullet Driver that was hollow in the center (like an inverted U shape)? Are these considered weird? 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! Perception-wise that made Spalding a second-tier, big-box company compared to Titleist. I played Spaulding Black Dots back in late 60s. These were said to be Moe Normans favorite clubs and are rated by the MyGolfSpy Forums resident vintage club expert Big Stu as the third greatest pure forged blade of all time. They kept slashing the pricing. On top line: OVERSIZE. Spalding sold off its majority ownership in Evenflo in August of 1998. 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. Notify me of followup comments via e-mail. But, they were NOS (New Old Stock) and with Ohio State grips and headcovers; so a diehard Buckeye fan. There are worse things. It means the Son of a Scottish brood that keeps getting into trouble only to easily find his way out of trouble! For more info on Stan Thompson click here. but fairly forgiving. Of course, it is the Indian not the arrow to some extent, but he does well. Really enjoyed them. Today its hard to fine a wooden golf club in a bag!!!! 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. In 2001 Spalding launched a $17 million ad campaign for Hogan and Strata. The chrome I have a set of Ben Hogan AHS Hybrids and the SW is even a hybrid! The Start Of Spalding Golf Clubs In 1905, a sporting goods company saw that golf was starting to become quite popular in the United States. In 1984, Questor sold off Spalding/Evenflo to a Venezuelan group headed by Gustavo and Ricardo Cisneros. Mr. Adams had just formed Taylor Made Golf in late 1978 and this was their first showing in the market. 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. single, replacement or add-on golf irons and wedges for Spalding Executive MV2 bird over ball Irons. Its an interesting question to ask about a company that was a factor for over 125 years. Spalding was the leading manufacturer of golf clubs in America throughout the mid-twentieth century, highlighting just how popular the brand was. I think this is the web site for me . There are a couple different models of this iron. The Executives were the bomb back in the day. higher loft is really your best bet for getting out of these difficult fairway lies, Top 10 Best Cheap Drivers (Updated 2021 Buying Guide), 5 Advantages of A Strong Golf Grip (Everything To Know), What Is An Overrun Golf Ball? Pretty sure that was the first major won for a solid core ball. Overall, Spalding clubs arent worth a great deal of money today, but theyre a good option if youre hoping to pick up an affordable set of clubs to get started with. I wonder what Jack thought of them. So, if youre buying or selling Spalding clubs that are in reasonably good shape, you can set your expectations around $100 to begin with. KKRs $25 billion takeover of RJR Nabisco was chronicled in the book (and tv movie) Barbarians at the Gate. As a former professional player, Spalding recognized the need of enlisting the assistance of experts to promote both the game and his merchandise. I know that this is a very late reply but I actually knew the designer of these irons and spent time speaking with him. Established in Caracas in 1929 as a small material transport business, the Cisneros Group had its fingers in everything from soft drinks, ice cream, and beauty products to banking and a burgeoning telecommunications business. "publisher": { From the 1950s to the 1990s Spalding was in the bag for many major victories, and was played on municipal courses across the country. Might need to get a full set of Tiger Shark irons to match the wedge!! Callaway Rogue ST Triple Diamond LS Driver Review, Best Womens Golf Clubs for Intermediate Players, Ned Howard Retired PGA Teaching Professional. Europe was a bit ahead of the United States when it came to golf, and the sport had only just started to explode in the United States. $77.83. Promoting both sports and sports equipment, the lineup featured titles such as How To Play Second Base by Hall of Famer Johnny Evers, Boxing: A Guide to the Manly Art of Self Defense, and How to Play Golf by Harry Vardon and James Braid. I was told they only made a few hundred sets. Ive seen several of those uglies up close over the years so this was fun to view. I still have the samurai irons,2-pw and woods,driver,3w,5w,7w,,and still use them. Wide sole. I demand a re-count!, He went on to say, and as owner of MyGolfSpy you should feel ashamed since you were given a set as a gift 15 years ago and I remember you putting me in play for a few rounds, how could you do this to me?, Slotline had a hit on their hands with their Slotline Inertial puttersthey sold over 2 Million of those flatsticks. They looked like a full set of hybrids but only lasted a short period of time. Those were real whacky.. bent shafts and roughly milled heads. *We may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site. There was a time that Spalding golf clubs were among the best in the business. not just the American side , some of Europe and some from Japan makers also wacky !!! 2023 Arnold Palmer Invitational - Discussion and Links to Photos, 2023 The Honda Classic - Discussion and Links to photos, 2023 Genesis Invitational - Discussion and Links to photos, 2023 Waste Management Phoenix Open - Discussion and Links to Photos, 2023 AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am - Discussion and Links to all photos. 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. They say you learn from your mistakes. I still think there were others that deserved some consideration. The market was changing rapidly, as well. does ohma have a child [email protected] buy all 6 get free shipping) Let me know by ebay . Perhaps you are thinking of the Browning 440 Plus which had more of a standard face depth. Fugly yes looks kinda like a pancake spatula at address but effective. Great collection I remember many of them in the past 30 years often thought of buying some of them, but luckily, I didnt, Ive purchased dozens of iron sets in the last few years (Big Bertha,FTI, Taylor Made, Cobra, Nike V series) NOne of these work as well as my Ping Zings, Hey, what about Shakespeare and fiberglass. Ive got other odd clubs, a clear/see thru 5W, 68 & 73 degree wedge (of course, they may not be considered crazy. I had a set of Tiger Sharks(the short irons hit the ball miles).The follow up Great Whites By then the Cisneros brothers had taken the money and ran. It was the mold makers attempt to make at a hollow head, wooden shape club. Perhaps they were a little ahead of their time (3-PW). I take them out every couple of years and play a round with them just for fun. TaylorMade then entered the bidding but, after 30 rounds, Callaway wound up buying Top-Flite free and clear for $175 million. Throughout the 90s and into the early 2000s, Spalding and Titleist were running neck and neck in golf ball production. My only wacky set now are some Macgregor MT Splitsoles in very gd cond which were bought at a Thrift store. Thanks! Thanks for the memories, John Barba. Though he is a footnote in the PGA history he was briefly on tour in the 50s. Great set. The range is for form anyway. Somehow they squeezed 492 dimples on them Those balls were rocketships. Duclos, a former flight engineer worked on the Skylab and S-IVB (third stage of the Saturn V rocket, responsible for getting the Apollo module from the Earth to the moon). Spalding club-makers paid as much scrutiny to shafts as heads. Spalding Executive Left Handed Golf Clubs There are several different types of left-handed golf club sets, so which one is the best for you? Havent been able to give them up since my Dad died in 99, Does anyone remember a set of irons made in the 80s (I think) that were actually a bunch of small woods, even the PW was made from wood. What about the Porsche irons? Spalding lost $27 million in 2000 and another $20 million in 2001. Spaldings contributions to modern golf are considerable. Decided it was time for me to get some cavity back irons. Spalding stopped making clubs in 2002. Only until tomorrow until my hybrids come in and boom they're gone. (Sponsored by: GolfCircuit.com), CONTEST! I just love them! Anybody know anything? Irons made during that time are distinguished by an anvil cleek mark. I have a med flex shaft, 1 inch extension on each Exec club, and Golf Pride Velvet jumbo grips. Did KKR overpay? He re-gripped them and beats the Taylormade hand-me-downs of his friends. Someone suggested to me they were a prototype club for Johnny Miller, but were never marketed. The products soon disappeared from shelves. Instead, well hit the highlights. The result is the easiest-to-hit long irons ever. Hmmmare you wondering why all irons arent made out of titanium then? Still playing my cook titanics with the 1 iron. is fantastic, but the club is as stiff as an old water pipe and is accordingly harsh. Many of which might have even found there way into a few of your bagseven if you dont want to admit it. So we thought if it was as crazy looking as the original it had to be on the list but a little further down. Seemed like big headed design with half the head chopped off to produce a bigger face!!! * Note: These irons were designed in Belgium by the Belgium-Browning company. Haha my dad had a set of these and I ended up bagging the 3 and 4 irons as I hated the hybrids that came with my new set. The company was already selling golf balls when, in 1905, it became the first in America to offer its own brand of golf clubs. Driver to 15 wood. "description": "List of all the Spalding Irons by the year each set was released", The success of Spalding golf clubs had compelled the USGA to act, but this success was not destined to last forever. I cannot find any information on this club, maybe they were a golfsmith thing from early 2000s?? "https://www.linkedin.com/in/swingyard/", Shank no more, draw, fade, straight, you name it, my Filas do it. Pretty or not (thats the clubs), I have played Fila Latitude irons since they came out. I learned the game on a set of used Spalding Execs-still have them today. Kind of reminds one of the Hogan radial but not near as wide on the soul. 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. Spalding is a big name in American sports, having manufactured equipment for basketball, American football, and golf over the years. ), Finn Scooter Golf Reviews (Are These the Real Deal? Im a sucker for the odd things, I also had a Power Pod(big mistake). Made from 1989-1994 and originally sold for $680. And add on Sweet Spot Golf Drivers and the Mac/Burrows Driver. Finally, my number came up along with everyone else in the product management and marketing teams.. 1 Iron Spalding Executive MV2 bird over ball . What a mess that design was! a beginner could really benifit from the Nike slingshot, they are easy to hit. i knew a guy who was a 4 handicap, and he used the spalding executives. The BIG BOYS missed on this one. TaylorMade, now owned by adidas, was rising, and Callaway was a major force. The woods were the strangest looking things. Heres one for the booksTommy Armour EQL one length irons. Make sense as I do have a Johnny Miller PW which looks just like an X 70. I was wondering if anyone had ever tried Slotline Classic Copper golf clubs. By the early 1920s, Spalding began using a mechanical hammer to drop-forge heads in an assembly line, making the process faster, more consistent, and considerably less expensive. Insurmountable debt, uncertain management, and stiff competition forced Spalding to stop production. You can post now and register later. My friends and I (and Im embarrassed to say this now! And I remember drooling over those Tour Edition Custom blades in the pro shop. Look at many of todays hybrids. The Black Dots and Red Dots were equivalent to the Titleist black numerals and red numerals. I still have the irons to this day! The company stayed the course, and the result is a thriving, profitable company. Keep up the great work. (ENTER TO WIN) Super cool contest we have for you fellow GolfSpies today! The Top-Flite, Strata, and Hogan brands stayed alive for a while, but Callaway eventually mothballed them all. Sold them to a guy 30 years younger who also loved them. Amazing how so of the old stuff works better than the hyped up new stuff! Do You have any idea? Executives were my first real set of golf clubs. Was: C $107.89. In 1993 Payne Stewart signed a multi-million-dollar deal to go full Top-Flite, a move that sidetracked Stewarts career. The real prize for Callaway was the Chicopee ball plant. Not sure if the Black Knight, Gary Players endorsement sucked allot of buyers into buying.LOL. I remembered them from this article. I played a set of Mags for years until I got to where I could not swing fast enough to bend the stiff shafts. 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). I love them so much I have four sets, just a case a club breaks. Top Flite is now synonymous with bargain or cheap instead of being the club of choice for the greatest golfers on tour. No matter what brand of club you pull from your bag, you owe some thanks to one company Spalding. Titleist has been the Ball King for so long, its hard to remember a time when it wasnt. } The Spaulding Executive XE for me never looked right They were available in 1-SW (I believe) A friend used to play these and I always suggested using his pitching wood :o) My $.02. Extra weight added to the toe keeps the center of gravity where needed and also keeps the club head square at impact, resulting in straighter shots.. I have a set of Lynx Parallax irons that were my fathers. The success of Spalding golf clubs had compelled the USGA to act, but this success was not destined to last forever. The primary reason why Spalding halted the production of golf clubs was that they couldnt keep up with the competition. 2023 Genesis Invitational - Monday #3. Not quite Bryson-like, but innovative for the day. Never met a set of strange clubs I didnt want to try. " [We] decided that . I am the person that brought the first Metalwoods to the market. I have a set of Fila Solerno irons/fairway woods that I havent been able to find anything about on the internet. Welcome back to the latest installment of Historys Mysteries. Pasted as rich text. 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 Great article takes me back to nostalgia. You cannot do that with any other club. With Spalding's mass-market success breeding scores of imitators, players could pick and choose from countless club lines. GolfCartReport.com, Golf Undershirts (20 To Try On The Market Today), Do I Need Longer Golf Clubs? Jim passed away recentlyhe was a great innovator do you remember the Basakwerd Putter Another really well done article. I am still playing with my set every week! That year Albert and his brothers opened the A.G. Spalding & Brothers sporting goods company and started making baseballs. We stand behind our clubs and want you to be satisfied with them. These irons were designed in Belgium by the Belgium-Browning company. The biggest of them all, however, may well have been the aforementioned Bobby Jones. Spalding spent the last half of the 20th-century battling with Titleist for golf ball supremacy. Looking through eBay listings, you can find a range of vintage Spalding golf clubs in various conditions to suit different budgets. Another great history piece. 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. Those were first made around the end of the 19th century during the hickory era. What you supposed to do, cut your head off!!! It was if I walked into the store from a time machine. I love it but was told it is no a legal putter. "dateModified": "2022-05-12", Dont be ashamed thoughsome of these designs have actually been pioneering for the industry. Tom Farrell. The Spaulding Executive was just too far ahead of its timegreat club! Well done. KKR was established in 1976 by partners Jerome Kohlberg, Henry Kravis, and George Roberts. I believe Robert Molitor was the fellow who developed the Top Flite. He was a pro at having fun when he played golf! The Early Years Starting in 1900, Spalding opened clubmaking factories in London and in Fife, Scotland, producing forged iron heads for Spalding clubs sold both in the U.K. and U.S. Those and the Ram Tour Grinds that Watson played were my bucket list irons, but never could afford them. Read on to learn more about the history of Spalding clubs and what you can expect from various models. You had to turn those over to see the ugly, but the cone in the bottom was down right wacky! They play as well as any other set It was an interesting period to work for Spalding but sad to watch the demise of the brand it should never of happened ! Just came back from the PGA Tour Superstore after reading this site last night. Turns out it was just 20 years ago. The shaft collapses to 18 inches so it is great for travelsure beats the cost of checking a golf bag these days. More on the tr600!!!! For more than 25 years, he has contributed to a wide array of publications including "American Heritage," "American History," "Yankee," "VFW," "Golf," and "Golf News." ), shoplifted about four dozen balls each from a failing department store in New York City. Norman credited the extra spin of the Tour Edition for winning the 1986 British Open. Although the Inertial irons werent so lucky. Oddity? he is a cleveland iron man now, but he still owns the spalding executives. How about the Spalding Exec SE. I want to say they were called Ironwoods but I cant find them on the internet maybe they were just in one of my wild dreams!! What the hey. Im 65 and still playing to seven with them. We knew something was up, recalls White. Shortly thereafter, Spalding signed him as spokesperson, vice president and director of research. Albert Spalding was a superstar. In an effort to keep golf a game of skill, the USGA implemented the 14 club rule that we see today. Who Makes Dunlop Golf Clubs? Is it worth getting a new set of clubs, or should I focus on getting spikes and a gloves, ( I currently golf in thing sandles) 0. But unfortunately for the VASs they were dethroned from their long held position. "sameAs": [ "url": "https://swingyard.com/wp-content/uploads/Spalding-Irons-by-Year.jpg" Those are the reasons they work. Copyright 2023. In one sense, Spalding suffered the same fate irrelevance as did fellow legacy golf brands Wilson Staff and MacGregor. I saw the Cisneros brothers maybe once in my time there, he says. Spalding also started the Spalding Athletic Library; a series of sports and exercise books published from 1892 through 1941. Used them for about 10-15 years before I switch to 845s. I will admit to having a hankering for those slick lookin Zevo Lobs tho. Dreadful golf balls! They are similar to the Nike slingshots as they have a powerbow looking thing on the back of them. Hope you all enjoyed a look back at some of the craziest irons ever made. Please put any questions or comments here. Sign In. I think Browning was leaving the golf business then and they were discounted last set in the store. Circa 1985-ish if memory serves. I still have a set of samurai woods and irons,,and still use them,,had a pro hit my 7 iron once,,it flew his 7iron,,he was amazed,they hit great,,but graphite wears down over years and breaks,and when that happens,,its hard to find a replacement,,,. Tommy Armours ownership circus eventually turned it into the Sports Authority (and now DICKS) house brand. Spalding led the way with such deep-grooved designs as the "waterfall" and waffle-face irons. Started Thursday at 03:24 PM, Please put and questions or comments here, Please put any questions or comments here, Please put any questions of comments here. document.getElementById( "ak_js" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Do you remember what golf websites you were shopping on back in 1995? But under Section 363 of Chapter 11, a seller can sell assets without having to negotiate with its creditors. "name": "Swing Yard", With this in mind, this article looks at why Spalding golf clubs are no longer popular and how much some of their most popular sets are worth. The top of the club head is horisontal and is easy to set up perpendical to the target. Brilliant idea? }, I dont know how people could justify any of the others. We had small layoffs on an ongoing basis, and people kept looking over their shoulder. I speak with Nat Rosassco, former owner, of NorthWestern golf at least every 7 to 10 days and he holds Pat Simmons as one of the best club designers of all time as well. Thanks. And if you did not have the exact lie to match your swing could cause issues with the toe or heel diving down at impact. OVERSIZED Spalding Golf Clubs Lady set Woods Driver 3 5 w New Black Widow Grips $30.00 $15.00 shipping or Best Offer Spalding Executive MV2 2-9 Iron, PW set Bird Over Ball $69.99 $31.53 shipping or Best Offer Spalding Executive XE Irons Set 7-PW Medium Steel Shafts Left Handed LH $95.00 Free shipping or Best Offer And although Top Flite is still in business today, its a brand that most golfers associate with cheap equipment of inferior quality. By the following year, Spalding began making clubs in the U.S. However, the name of their popular brand Top Flite was sold to Callaway, and is used for discount clubs and balls. "headline": "Spalding Irons by Year", Colin Montgomerie joined the staff, and Spalding had big plans. Today, Spalding focuses nearly all of its commercial interests on basketball, producing balls, hoops, rims, and nets. In 1880, Spaldings League Ball became the official baseball of the National League (and later of the American League), a position it held until 1976. Finally, I think a distinction needs to be made between the wackiest looking and worst irons made. He changed from forged blades and balata balls to cavity back, investment cast irons and sold core balls, White tells MyGolfSpy. Ive got a set of graphite Samurai ironwoods years ahead of their time lying around in the basement, I think. We had hybrids back in the 80s. I actually have these clubs. I am on my 2nd set.I used to lovem and had friends that bought as they loved the ball flight and were also a great set of chippers. The legendary Spalding bird logo appeared on their clubs in the 1960s, with the Top-Flite Elite Professional irons proving popular on Tour. pend. beneath. I accidentally broke it in the late 1970s the shaft was installed over a milled section of the hosel! I have no ideabut I sure loved my Tommy Armour silver Scotts. My dad has played a set if vicunas for about 40 years! Balata covers. Great list! Right now Ive been with the Execs 2 then 5 SW, Ram 64 wedge, 1 & 3 wood, both hybrids and putter. today. 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 and they placed it in the show. The plan was to position Hogan as the premium forged line sold through pro shops. Fila Golf has developed this new iron using a patented design feature. Slotline Inertial E-Max irons laying around ? Jones famously retired from golf after winning the 1930 version of the Grand Slam. Whats more, Spalding Molitor clubs currently retail at $280 for an entire set, which is a price point that is pretty hard to beat. I still have several sets of Hogan forged irons, Hogan/Bettinardi putters, several dozen Apex, and Tour Deep balls. }. Its a great story that needs to be told. Leather Golf Grips Review: Should I Use Them? 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. Upgraded my driver from R7 to Razr Hawk, but will never surrender my Slingshots. But they seem to work though. While the Top Flite was initially scorned by better players as the rock flight, it probably caused a rule change. Buyers can still find Spalding clubs on some secondary sites. From 1932 until 1973 two years after Jones death Spalding sold over 15 different models and two million sets of Bobby Jones clubs. This is because Spalding stopped manufacturing golf clubs in 2002, and most of the clubs available online today are vintage sets. 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. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google, (your email address will not be published), Acushnet 2022 Financials: $2.27 Billion and Counting, Penfold Ace Golf Balls: Whats Old Is New Again, Four Testers Wanted Inesis Spikeless Shoe. However as a caddy the Spaulding staff bag was a real trunk!! I dont think I paid more than $300 for all four sets combined- Im a Salvation Army searcher. KKR wanted Spalding to make money the KKR way. They are exactly like the Cleveland Ironwood set you see now, but it was made y..e..a..r..s ago. Some of the most popular Spalding Club models were: At one time, Greg Norman used the Spalding Tour Edition irons, now a collectors item, on Tour. Much cheaper than renting. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. It is called a hollow wedge, but you can putt with it as well. 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! Of course Drivers and putters are like women. 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. Im surprised that nobody has mentioned the Wilson Fat Shaft irons for ugliness. At the time of the sale, it was considered the lowest cost and most efficient operation in the industry. Spalding used to own Top Flite before selling the subsidiary to Callaway. * 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. Estimated resale value today:. I collect odd golf items. It came with Driver, 3W, 5W and 3-PW. Wilson never really recovered after Pepsi bought it in 1970. The 1968 arrival of the Executive MV2 Bird Over Ball clubs are among some of Spaldings most easily recognizable clubs.
