Price comparisons
They wouldn't be discount golf clubs if they weren't sold at a lower price than brand clubs. But just how much can you really expect to save?
I took a look around a few online golf stores in April 2009 to find out*. Prices for brand clubs are a touch lower than when I last looked (at least for irons), but clone savings are still huge. (All prices are US Dollars.)
Across a set, going with clones might save you around $2000. Here the details:
Irons and wedges
A standard set of clone irons costs in the region of $120 to $300, with the higher prices for the forged blades and advanced designs. There's a lot of variety in brand pricing, but typical brand iron sets will set you back anywhere between $400 and $1500. So you can save over $1000.
Comparisons between wedges are a little harder to make. Typical clone wedges cost between $20 and $50, while you can expect to pay $100 to $120 for a top-brand wedge.
Putters
I found discount putters for as little as $10. But if you want more than just the standard blade putter, then expect to pay between $30 and $40. The equivalent branded putters cost between $100 and $300 at the retailers surveyed. Figure on a saving of up to $200.
Drivers and fairway woods
Typical prices for clone drivers are $90 to $110 for a titanium model. Woods tend to be $40 to $50. The price of clone titanium drivers seems the most resistent to inflation and has hardly moved since I first started watching back in 2002.
Top titanium driver models from the big brands will often set you back between $300 and $500. However, you can also pick up older or less cutting edge models for less. Nevertheless, a new titanium clone looks likely to be at least 50% cheaper than the equivalent branded driver. Normally you'd save around $300. Fairway woods can get almost as expensive as drivers, but most are around the $200 to $300 price.
Hybrids
Clone hybrids retail for beteen $35 and $45, while the branded versions cost typically from $100 to as much as $200 or more. So you're again looking at savings of up to $100+.
Given these often substantial price differences between clones and brands, it's fair to ask how these clones can be the same quality, yet sold so much cheaper? The answers are here.
*There's always a danger with such price comparisons. Clone manufacturers will suggest comparable brand products, but we only have their word that the clone product performs as well as the stated brand equivalent. Equally, this survey wasn't scientific - I just picked out a few clone merchants and online golf stores and compared prices. Don't take my word for it - do the research yourself as well.
