PGA Features

It is tough for the layman to spot a fake but there are some tell-tale signs.

The number of counterfeit golf clubs available on the internet is steadily increasing, resulting in an increasing number of golfers being duped into buying inferior goods. Golfbidder, the PGA's Official Club Exchange, reveals how to spot the fakes.

Everyone loves a bargain and with so many websites around today offering second-hand goods at a steal there are plenty to be snapped up. But things aren't always what they seem and the saying 'it's too good to be true,' often turns out to be correct.

Handbags and watches have always been the usual suspects to look out for when it comes to counterfeit goods, but with the boom in the golf industry over the past few years the number of knock off clubs on the market has soared. In an industry worth approximately £275 million in this country, the number of fake golf clubs available on non-golf specialist websites is steadily increasing, resulting in a growing number of customers being deceived.

The number nine on the fake (left) is a slightly different font and the Callaway written on the side is less defined.

"Counterfeiters are getting better all the time and over the past few years they've been able to make almost exact copies," said Liam Robb, managing director of Golfbidder. "There are even rumours they are using exactly the same moulds out in China."

The internet has played a big part in the rise giving the counterfeiters a vehicle to peddle their wares with websites that allow the public to buy and sell directly among themselves causing serious problems for the golf industry.

"Often when people buy imitation products such as Gucci handbags or Rolex watches, they know they are buying fakes because it is reflected in the price," added Robb. "Golf clubs, however, are much harder to detect as they are being sold at roughly the same price as genuine clubs."

It is tough for the layman to spot a fake but there are some tell-tale signs. It could be the colour of a decal, the pattern of an inferior shaft or that a magnet clings to a supposedly titanium head (magnets don't stick to titanium). But there is one difference you'll notice straight away - hit a phoney club after a genuine one and you'll feel the immeasurable gap in quality.

"There is no single brand more susceptible to counterfeiting than another. Obviously the bigger brands are the most targeted as they're the most popular," continued Robb.

Launched seven years ago Golfbidder has developed into Europe's largest buyer and seller of second-hand clubs, so how do they guard themselves against bogus goods?

"Extreme diligence is the real answer," said Robb. "We have a team of experts made up of PGA professionals who personally handle tens of thousands of clubs every year. Each club is inspected to the closest of details. In the rare occasions we get sent a counterfeit club it stands out like a sore thumb."

PGA pro David Prigg, who has been at Golfbidder since its launch, advises fellow pros that comparing like with 'supposed' like can help spot a fake.

"The best advice is to closely compare the suspect club to one you know to be genuine," he says. "Put them side by side and contrast the finish, the fonts, the colouring. Recently we were sent a TaylorMade r7 Superquad driver and the counterfeiters had neglected to copy the graphite weave on the shaft. It came as no surprise to learn the customer had bought the club off the internet. Needless to say he wasn't happy when we told him the bad news."

Another tip is to look closely at the grips particularly if the club is new. Surrey County player Katie Shepherd who vets incoming clubs at Golfbidder added: "The grips on counterfeit clubs are often thinner than the original - but the real giveaway is the smell. Genuine OEM grips don't smell of much, but the fakes tend to have a strong rubber smell."

On the right is the grip from a genuine Callaway X460 driver - and on the left, a grip on the fake.

The increase in imitation clubs gives the PGA professional a perfect business opportunity to get members away from the mouse and into the pro shop. "Pros should warn their members about the pitfalls of purchasing from the web. Display posters around the clubhouse and in the pro shop," added Robb. "If people only bought from trusted sources like a PGA pro shop there wouldn't be this problem of counterfeit clubs." Golfers you've been warned.

How to spot the fakes

Grips

Fake grips tend to have a strong cheap rubber smell to them, they will be thinner than standard and the writing is normally thinner and less defined. When you take the grip off, it will often have clear grip tape underneath rather than white tape.

Font/colouring

The fonts used on the heads can be either thicker or thinner than normal. Also, the colouring of driver heads and shafts tends not to be spot-on. Compare the club against one you know to be genuine.

Serial numbers

Sometimes the counterfeiters will copy a random serial number which doesn't match that particular model or specification. Many of the fake Callaway ones are wrong for example. If you have suspicions and there is a serial number, phone the manufacturer for verification.

Weight

Fake clubs tend to be the incorrect weight - for example, titanium drivers will be heavier than they should be as they are sometimes made of steel.

Shaft labels

Watch out for steel shaft labels - we find Dynamic Gold stickers are sometimes copied - but the colour on the shaft band will not be the correct shade or the correct size.

Headcovers

A fake club normally comes with a fake headcover, again this will be of poorer quality and will be thinner and the sock/neck will be shorter. The colouring is often a bit out.