| ARE SOME GOLF CLUBS ILLEGAL? | | | | Brand Name clubs. A good analogy to use is the |
| It's true that illegal knockoffs and counterfeits have | | | | computer. For many years IBM led the market with the |
| been a significant problem in the golf industry. The | | | | home PC. Then many other computer makers got into |
| name brand manufacturers talk about illegal clubs | | | | the game, with similar (but not IBM) components. Thus |
| ripping them off, but counterfeiters also rip off you, the | | | | began the IBM "Clone" PC industry that created the |
| consumer too. No one should buy products from an | | | | likes of Dell and HP. |
| illegal counterfeiter. | | | | Any custom golf club maker worth his salt |
| An illegal knockoff and/or counterfeit is a product that | | | | acknowledges and respects the intellectual property of |
| violates the legal trade dress rights, trademarks, | | | | every company in the golf industry, and they make |
| patents or copyrights of another company. Historical | | | | every attempt to identify and avoid patent and |
| examples of trade dress violators were the makers of | | | | trademark infringement. They are very careful to not |
| the "king snake" which was an illegal knockoff of | | | | violate the valid rights of other companies while at the |
| Cobra's King Cobra, the 'Tommy Mann Bummer", the | | | | same time we work hard to get into your hands the |
| "Big Bruiser" - you can easily tell that these products | | | | best products at the best price. Each club they make |
| are trying to copy the trademark name of the Name | | | | stands on its own merits. Clone golf clubs have clubs |
| Brand. | | | | heads that are made with many of the same high |
| An illegal knockoff rips off the violated company | | | | quality stainless steel and titanium materials used in |
| because it confuses the consumer and in some cases | | | | name brand equipment and can be fitted with your |
| seeks to fool the consumer into thinking their product is | | | | choice of steel or graphite shafts. Since the shafts and |
| actually the name brand company's product. It rips you | | | | grips they use are usually top name brands, there will |
| off if you buy their products because you have then | | | | be very little difference (if any) in performance. The |
| violated the law and are holding illegal goods. | | | | difference lies mostly in the price. |
| It also rips off at legitimate makers of custom golf | | | | And that difference can save you hundreds of dollars. |
| clubs because they play by the rules and lose business | | | | So - counterfeit and illegal clubs that try to trick you |
| to shady operators who fool consumers into thinking | | | | into thinking that you're buying a Name Brand club are |
| they are buying a legitimate product. | | | | no good and you should avoid them at all costs. But |
| Yes, there is such a thing as a Clone of a brand name | | | | golf club clones - those that are custom made to fit |
| golf club, and many legitimate custom golf club makers | | | | you and the way you play golf can be very good for |
| produce them. These clubs are not illegal because | | | | you - both on the course and in your wallet! |
| they do not infringe on the patent or trademarks of the | | | | |