Clone golf club materials
The lower prices charged for quality clones or discount clubs are due to savings on middlemen and marketing costs. They're not generally a result of using cheaper, lower-quality materials (though that's obviously more likely with poor quality discount clubs).
As a result, the materials used in such clubs are often the same as in brands. They may even come from the same supplier.
Nevertheless, it's important when buying clones to make sure you're getting the same material quality as a brand.
The folks at Pinemeadow Golf took time out to explain clone materials during my interview with them.
Putters
The leading putters are steel or titanium based, often with metal (e.g. brass or aluminium) or polymer inserts where the ball meets the club face.
Irons and fairway woods
The better irons and woods feature steel or titanium clubheads, perhaps with tungsten, copper or brass inserts. You're more likely to find cheap equating to lower quality if the discount irons or woods you're considering use aluminium or zinc, for example.
Drivers
Titanium is lighter than steel, and often harder. But it's the lightness that's the key. It lets manufacturers build larger heads and longer shafts.
Larger heads mean a more "forgiving" club face. In other words, there's a larger sweet spot for you to hit - less chance that you'll slice your shot, for example.
Longer shafts mean you can get more energy out of your swing - meaning longer drives.
As a result, titanium is usually a better choice than steel for drivers, and very very few steel drivers are still made. You may also find carbon composite crowns helping with weight distribution.
Shafts and grips
Quality clone clubs use well-known shaft and grip products, or have their own generic products built by these same companies. If not, buyer beware! Typically, a good clone retailer has clubs with shafts from the likes of True Temper, Grafalloy, UHT etc., and grips from Winn, Lamkin, Golf Pride etc. The generic component in clone clubs is the clubhead, though these are often forged in the same foundries used by the better-known brands.
