The Death of Spalding Golf

[8bitpowerfade]

After some very careful and thorough research, after much deliberation with my peers and colleagues on campus, I have finally figured out the real culprit, the real reason behind the demise and deterioration of Spalding golf, the once great American brand now tarnished, like the American dream itself, its company name most unfairly and forever associated with cheap, pathetically awkward equipment. It's this guy:

[TimV]

BwaHaHaHaHa!!! :cheesy:

[HoganApexBlades]

"You'll get nothing and like it"!

[8bitpowerfade]

I've heard about the T.P. Mills putters but I'm curious which Spalding iron sets are the best, the most sought after.

[rex235]

Have already commented on Spalding-

 

Given their success, the most desirable iron sets are the Custom Made ones- Top Flites/ Elites/ Tour Editions for their Staff members-

 

Dave Stockton, Al Geiberger, Lanny Wadkins, Craig Stadler, Lee Trevino, Johnny Miller, Greg Norman, and Payne Stewart, and many others.

 

Didn't Mark O'Meara played the Top Flite Strata ball for his two majors in '98?

 

Spalding did make Custom Persimmon woods for Bob Charles, but they really kept that secret, as the vast majority of their work was RH Only.

[Nomad Golfer]

I have a set of Elite blades (circa 1966) and an Elite #4 wood in my vintage bag. For their age and amount of dings they've accumulated, they are still in good condition and very collectable. The Spalding brand was top dog when I started golf.

[TimV]

So back to the original post. If that is what happened to Spalding is this what happened to...

[rex235]

Tim-

 

+1....

 

Spalding just quit making LH forged equipment.

 

They said...."Here's the Executives...."

[HoganApexBlades]

So back to the original post. If that is what happened to Spalding is this what happened to...

 

WILSON????

[stevemcgee99]

I got a half-set of spalding irons with a golf bag purchase. Awesome stiff shafts, perfect original leather grips. Chrome and sand blasting amazing. Don't think her grandpa played them much.

 

I don't think there is any bounce at all. But there's a fat muscle bar right across the back - like double the thickness of the head.

[8bitpowerfade]

So back to the original post. If that is what happened to Spalding is this what happened to...

 

WILSON????

 

You see, Spalding lost out to Wilson on that Zemeckis movie contract. They originally chose Spalding and even filmed a few scenes but Spalding just wasn't funny enough. The chemistry was all wrong. They fired Spalding from that film. True story.

[8bitpowerfade]

Spalding MV2 Elites any good?

[rex235]

Spalding MV2 Elites any good?

 

8bit-

 

Some Spalding models were prized, and had a cult following (like the Top Flite Stainless models of the '50s)

 

Long ago, before WITB photos, some Spalding models found their way into other PGA Staff bags. Mike Hill had a Wilson Staff Bag with Spalding irons at the Senior TPC at Dearborn

 

If memory serves me, Spalding Elites were good enough for Dave Stockton.

[8bitpowerfade]

Spalding MV2 Elites any good?

 

8bit-

 

Some Spalding models were prized, and had a cult following (like the Top Flite Stainless models of the '50s)

 

Long ago, before WITB photos, some Spalding models found their way into other PGA Staff bags. Mike Hill had a Wilson Staff Bag with Spalding irons at the Senior TPC at Dearborn

 

If memory serves me, Spalding Elites were good enough for Dave Stockton.

 

Thanks for the info, Rex. I have seen pieces of those Spalding Stainless Top-Flite/Elite sets, but have not seen a complete iron set yet. I'll keep an eye out for any for sure.

[TKS]

Spalding heritage:

 

1930

First Liquid Center Golf Ball. Spalding Develops And Introduces The First Wound Balata Ball With Liquid Center, The Kros-Flite. This Construction Represents A Major Technological Advancement In Golf Ball.

 

1968

First 2-Piece Golf Ball. The Spalding Executive Is The First Two-Piece Performance Ball, And The Most Consistent And Durable Golf Ball Ever Made. Its Groundbreaking Construction Allows It To Stay "In-Round" And "In Play" Far Longer Than The Softer Balata-Covered Balls.

[Nomad Golfer]

In the seventies, down here south of the horse latitudes, the profs were using Spalding Executives.

[ScooterMcTavish]

Spalding manufactured the first synthetic balata substitute as well, with Zinthane on the Tour Edition ball. Ball was remarkable for the copious amounts of spin it could get (possibly costing Greg Norman at least one Major), and that it was a solid core ball years before the ProV. Mr. Norman hit the ball so hard, he had issues with wound ones going out of round - something that did not happen with the Tour Edition.

 

At one time, Spalding had something like 40% of the ball market. I mean, back in the 80's, 6 out of 10 balls we'd find on our municipal course were popular Spalding models like Top Flite, Top Flite XL, Top Flite Plus, Kro Flite, Star Flite, and Canada Cup. Unfortunately, just because you have a large market share doesn't mean you make any money at it. Spaldings were probably the single-most common clubs you saw at the course as well, mixed in the with Northwesterns and Campbells (all department store).

 

I think when golf was growing, people didn't care their clubs came from a department store - they were affordable, and worked. Top Flite balls were "cutproof", and therefore also affordable. Then along came the Eye2, and the development of golf into more of a pro-and-image driven sport, and it was the beginning of the end for "entry-level" (though completely usable) brands like Northwestern, Spalding, and Wilson (the patient survived, but we had to remove most of his body).

 

Some of the old Top Flite and Tour Edition "bird on ball" models are extremely sexy, and I would love a set. Payne Stewart models? Not so much - ugly like the Wilson Staff Fatshafts, and they almost ruined his career.

[oldschoolrocker]

Welcome back from the long winter's nap Scott.

[ScooterMcTavish]

Thanks Randy,

 

Managed to leg out a whopping 18 holes this year. Been a "life trumps golf" sort of year.

 

How's retirement?

[oldschoolrocker]

It's busy Scott,

Not playing half as much golf as I did when I was working. Something's wrong with that picture.

[ScooterMcTavish]

LOL, a gentleman I hold rather dear retired this year, and when out for lunch with him the other day he said pretty much the same. He's not sure what he's doing with his days, other than that they are going by rather quickly.

[BIG STU]

Back in the day in my area Spalding was big with the better players. The "Holy Grail" set in my area was the '53 Top Flites. In fact in those days Spalding had an extensive custom department and custom regrinds of that forging. The custom '66 models of the 333 Elites were big around there. Actually I grew up playing Spalding some until I became a Mac man. I actually played a set of '71 custom Elite MV2s in high school. In fact that set was stolen along with the Corvette they were in. In the interim I started back hitting the same FC-4000s I have now and ended up being a Mac man

[rex235]

Stu/Everyone-

 

Spalding had a very long list of firsts, and they are highlighted in Mike Dohertys on line volume....

 

Played in a few events with the Spalding Tour Edition (Zinthane) ball when it first came out.

Had to use one more club due to the spin, which was noticably more. The Eye 2s pretty much "feathered" every ball.

[obsessed_golfer]

Played a set of Top-Flite blades that I bought new in 1984 for $199 (I think....on sale) for many years.......still have them and a Spalding "Johnny Miller tour wedge" as part of the Top-Flite line too

[K1221n]

Bought a used set of 1965 spalding top flight back in the eighties, first set I ever owned still play them, 3 iron needs a new shaft other than that still play great.

[SteveNZ]

Have got a 2-PW set of these heading my way soon. Not in great shape, obviously, but will be fun to see how far I can bring them back. Only cost $1!!!

 

 

 

[Nomad Golfer]

White vinegar, wire wool soap pads and plenty of elbow grease and they'll be like new.

Nice looking blades from that era. Merry Christmas from ex Canterbury.

[BIG STU]

Have got a 2-PW set of these heading my way soon. Not in great shape, obviously, but will be fun to see how far I can bring them back. Only cost $1!!!

 

 

 

Those are the famous "Bird on The Ball" 66-67 Top Flites--- Those were some of the "holy grail" irons in my area back in the day along with 53-54 Top Flites. I have not found a set of those in years. Great find especially for only $1

[Browns71213]

My first new set of clubs were Spaulding Canons. I got them free for staying 50 nights at Holiday Inns one year.

[Juice__25]

Always see this set at the goodwill. And for some reason I always pass.