How much different are "fake" golf clubs than the real deal.?

There's a difference between a "knockoff" and a fake. A knockoff is something that looks similar to, but doesn't infringe upon, the original holder's patent. A fake is a counterfiet: it's designed to fool everyone into thinking it's the real deal.

I've used "knockoff" (or clone) models. I've even done head-to-head testing between a Taylormade Burner 2.0 and a Turner True Speed Ablaze. The difference? The Burner was .8g over specified weight (198g), the Turner was 3.7g (both have a +/- of 3g), which equates to almost two swing weight points- which very, very few people can feel that difference. The loft, lie angle, roll/bulge were all spot-on. For me, personally, it was a good thing; I like heavier heads. I was longer AND straighter with the Turner (both had the same shaft/grip, connected to the head with a Club Connex adaptor). When I beefed up the Burner, it performed similarly.

A fake is a blight on golf. They use crap metal, or at best, recycled "true" metal with junk thrown in, and spotty weld jobs to put the heads together. That will affect the club's "rebound effect". Lie angle, loft, weight and other tolerances will mostl likely be way off, as well. If there's supposed to be weight added to the inside, it'll most likely not be there. The worst thing is, they're getting so good at it (well, the recreating the look, anyway) that unless you're willing to sacrifice the club to be cut in half, there's no other way to find out if it's fake or not. If you do buy this- it's always "buyer beware"- and you find that no matter what you do, you can't hit the broad side of a barn, you might have a fake. Go see a golf pro/club fitter to make absolutely certain, first.

Before anyone knocks a "knockoff", consider this: Dell computers and Cleveland Golf started out in that business. One of the most famous putters, the Cameron Newport 2, is a knockoff (Ping Anser). Look at other walks of life: is generic prescription medication better or worse than the name brand? What about store brand Q-Tips and the real thing? No... the only difference is cost (they, like golf clubs, are all made in the same places). Same can be said for nearly everything else that is mass-produced.

Fake Golf Clubs

I'm actually in the middle of a Clone v. OEM test. I'm LH, so clone options are limited. I'm testing a Taylormade Superfast against a Turner Ablaze True Speed. I don't have much in the way of playability yet (though I do have some from a differrent scenario. Just wait for it, please! LOL). I have Club Connex attached to each head, just deciding which of my shafts I want to use. Any way, I had built one of my brothers a Cleveland Hi-Bore clone head, with a Purple Ice 75X shaft. He absolutely crushed it. It had a nice sound, repeatable ball flight and accuracy. My other brother (his twin) isn't a good golfer, though he can't help it- time spent in the Army wasn't conducive to practice. Anyway, he borrowed his twin's driver and managed to dent the heel... if you couldn't guess, he had a hard time squaring the face at impact. So, I can't say for sure about the heads I have, but one thing is for sure: aside from the sole plate, these aren't the same clubs. Face heights are different, crown shapes are different, front-to-back measurements are different, toe-to-heel measurements are different... hosels are different. Both are stated as being 10.5* loft- which they are- and the lie angles are on spec as well (59* for Turner, 60* for Burner). Same for face angle. The weight of the Turner is 1g outside of its stated weight (plus tolerance); the Burner is .1g over its stated weight (well within tolerance). This will mean the Turner will have more head heft, since the same shaft and grip will be used for the performance test. So, we'll see. The best part (well, maybe just for me) will be AFTER the hit testing... I'm going to cut them both open! That way, I'll be able to see how the welds are- if they're both professional-looking- and if there's any discrepancies in face thickness (a thicker face may mean less coefficient of restitution). I'm excited!

There is a big difference between fake clubs and originals. Fakes are made to look like the Original clubs and that's where it ends. Fakes don't use the same quality materials in their club heads, shafts and assembly methods. A fake won't provide the same feel as the Original and they tend to wear out faster (Tear-up). The only reason fakes make it is because people are always looking to make that killer deal without examining what they are buying

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Don't buy "FAKE" Golf Clubs, they will be rubbish, as the previous answer who went into great detail about cutting club heads in half explained. You always get what you pay for, the old saying, "Buy Cheap - Buy Twice" could not be more right in this case!

You haven't said what handicap you are. If you have the maximum handicap and don't have lessons you can spend as much as you like on the worlds most expensive clubs but it will NOT make you play better. I say buy a cheap set of clubs and spend the rest of you money on lessons. As you progress you will know what clubs to buy.

I dont think that the club heads would be all that different, but the shafts are what would be worse, shafts can be the determining factor to a swing, You can buy crappy heads then get som nice shafts, at least thats what I would suggest for Irons... Though if its for a driver, it probably would make a bigger difference if its fake.

if knock offs were as good as actual clubs....then there wouldnt be a market for original clubs.. Ur waisting ur money buying knock offs...

Amazed that I found this question already answered! it's like you read my mind!