Spalding stopped making golf clubs in 2002, and their last clubs were branded as Top Flite Oversized irons. The brand was popular until the late 1990s, but Spalding opted for a new direction at the turn of the century and focused on other sports instead of golf. Spalding used to own Top Flite before selling the subsidiary to Callaway.
Do they still make Spalding golf clubs?
Spalding no longer makes golf clubs, and hasn’t for some time now. However, the name of their popular brand “Top Flite” was sold to Callaway, and is used for discount clubs and balls. When Did Spalding Stop Making Golf Clubs?
What happened to Spalding Irons?
During that time, Spalding ownership changed hands a half dozen times, and saw the same fate as MacGregor Irons. With new “sexy” companies like Titleist, Callaway, and TaylorMade, and golfers like Tiger and Phil, the new aged golfer wasn’t interested in playing their “grandpas golf clubs.”
How many clubs are in a Spalding bag?
Spalding got so inventive with their clubmaking, they had golf bags around America sporting 20-30 clubs. In an effort to keep golf a game of skill, the USGA implemented the 14 club rule that we see today. Spalding took off with sales and production with Bobby Jones joining the team. The greatest golfer at the time plays Spalding?
What happened to Spalding’s Top-Flite golf balls?
In 1998 Spalding released the Top-Flite System C and System T golf balls which, Spalding claimed, were designed to perform best with two top-selling drivers of that year, the Callaway Big Bertha and the TaylorMade Ti Bubble 2. Callaway wound up suing Spalding for using its imagery on Spalding packaging.
When did they stop making Spalding golf clubs?
Spalding stopped making clubs in 2002.
Who bought out Spalding golf?
In April, KKR sold the Spalding name and all of Spalding's non-golf businesses to Russell Athletic for just $65 million.
Is Spalding a good brand?
Best Overall: Spalding NBA Zi/O Indoor-Outdoor 29.5" Basketball. We chose this basketball as our top choice because it's a durable and versatile ball that can go from blacktop games to indoor courts.
Is Top-Flite owned by Spalding?
Spalding Holdings Corp., a sporting goods equipment maker, filed for bankruptcy protection Tuesday to ease the sale of its Top-Flite golf ball unit to Callaway Golf Co., the world's largest maker of golf clubs, for $125 million.
What happened to Spalding?
Spalding became a division of the Russell Corporation in 2003. However, that deal did not encompass Spalding's golf operations, which included the Top-Flite, Ben Hogan and Strata brands, which were eventually bought by Callaway later the same year.
What is Spalding worth?
Russell Corporation announced Thursday that it has signed a purchase agreement to acquire the brand names, inventory, contracts and related assets of the sporting goods business of Spalding Sports Worldwide, Inc. for $65 million.
Is Wilson better than Spalding?
According to George, the Wilson ball doesn't have the same “touch” and “softness” that Spalding basketballs have: “Not to make an excuse or anything about the ball but I said that it's just a different basketball. It don't have the same touch and softness that the Spalding ball had.
What does Spalding TF stand for?
In 1937, Spalding® debuted the first "Last Bilt™" stitchless, laceless, and perfectly balanced basketball. Shortly after, the ball was given the name Top-Flite 100™ and became the first ball in what is now the Spalding® TF® line.
Is Spalding TF 150 good?
The Spalding TF150 outdoor basketball is one of the most durable balls available at this time as it is constructed from a high quality rubber compound outer. This outer surface makes it ideal for use on concrete and asphalt courts. It is also one of the recommended basketballs for use at home or for recreational use.
Is Top-Flite made by Callaway?
The Top-Flite Golf Company is a wholly owned subsidiary of Callaway Golf Company and is the world's largest golf ball manufacturer. It is the first U.S. manufacturer of golf balls, dimpled golf balls, two-piece golf balls, multi-layer golf balls, and American-made golf clubs.
When did Callaway sell Top-Flite?
CARLSBAD, Calif., April 4, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Callaway Golf Company (NYSE:ELY) today announced the sale of the Top-Flite brand to Dick's Sporting Goods, Inc.
Is Top-Flite still in business?
Top Flite is no longer in business and we aren't able to access their parts or plans.
Who owns the Spalding brand?
Ownership: Spalding Sports Worldwide is a division of Tampa-based Evenflo & Spalding Holdings Corporation, which is a privately held company. Kohlberg Kravis Roberts (KKR) owns about 90 percent of the company.
Are Spalding golf balls good?
The Spalding® SD Tour™ 3-piece urethane golf ball is designed for accuracy, high speed, long distance, and control. It will deliver top-quality initial velocity with backspin control off the drive. A high-intensity core provides long distance performance in the irons.
Do old golf clubs have any value?
According to GolfWeek, the most valuable antique golf clubs can sell for as much as $80,000 at auction. However, it's not at all common to see this type of value. Most individual clubs sell for between $15 and $100 at auction or in resale shops.
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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.
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All Forged, all the time. The Sets that see regular playing time... 67 Spalding Top-Flite Professional, Cleveland Classic Persimmon Driver, 3 & 4 Spalding Top-Flite Persimmon Woods, TPM Putter. 71 Wilson Staff Button Backs, Wilson System 3000 Persimmon Driver, 3 & 5 Woods, Wilson Sam Snead Pay-Off Putter. 95 Snake Eyes S&W Forged, Snake Eyes 600T Driver, Viper MS 18* & 21* Woods, 252 & 258 Vokeys, Golfsmith Zero Friction Putter. 2015 Wilson Staff FG Tour F5, TaylorMade Superfast Driver, 16.5* Fairway, & 21* Hybrid, Harmonized SW & LW, Tour Edge Feel2 Putter..
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Given their success, the most desirable iron sets are the Custom Made ones- Top Flites/ Elites/ Tour Editions for their Staff members-
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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.
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So back to the original post. If that is what happened to Spalding is this what happened to...
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So back to the original post. If that is what happened to Spalding is this what happened to...
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So back to the original post. If that is what happened to Spalding is this what happened to...
Where were Spalding clubs made?
Starting in 1900, Spalding opened clubmaking factories in London and in Fife, Scotland, producing forged iron heads for Spalding clubs sold both in the U.K. and U.S. Irons made during that time are distinguished by an anvil cleek mark.
What was Spalding's design?
The design gave the clubs an exotic bamboo look; the underlying message being that these clubs offered players bamboo’s legendary flexibility and whip-like strength.
How many clubs did the USGA allow in 1938?
In 1938, the USGA passed an edict limiting players to 14 clubs.
When did the USGA limit golf clubs?
In 1938 , the USGA passed an edict limiting players to 14 clubs. The success of Spalding golf clubs had compelled the USGA to act, but the company had blazed the proverbial trail for club innovations and sales to come. Today, that legacy rests with every golf club that hits the American market.
When did golf clubs start selling?
Spalding & Brothers sporting goods saw an opportunity. The company was already selling golf balls when, in 1905 , it became the first in America to offer its own brand of golf clubs.
What club has a narrow face?
One of the most famous Spalding clubs was the Cran Cleek (club with a narrow face and little loft) for poor fairway lies and even putts. Today, collectors prize the narrow-faced Cran Cleek.
Growing the Game
In 1893, Spalding bought the Lamb Knitting Machine Company in Chicopee, Mass which made, obviously, knitting machines and, less obviously, eggbeaters, bicycle wheels, and rifles.
More Spalding Golf Innovations
We’ll spare you the decade-by-decade rundown of Spalding innovations (and there are many). Instead, we’ll hit the highlights.
Enter Bobby Jones
The Roaring 20s gave us Babe Ruth, Knute Rockne, Jack Dempsey, and Red Grange. The biggest of them all, however, may well have been the aforementioned Bobby Jones.
Changes in Ownership
Spalding’s contributions to modern golf are considerable. The Kro-Flite in 1930 was golf’s first liquid center golf ball, while the Spalding DOT was a mid-century icon. Dynamiter wedges featured deep grooves, often in unusual shapes, that ultimately prompted the USGA to outlaw them.
Ball Wars
Spalding spent the last half of the 20th-century battling with Titleist for golf ball supremacy. The Spalding Top-Flite first came out in 1970. It felt like a rock but flew like a rocket and weekend warriors bought them by the bushel.
KKR and The Decline
KKR was established in 1976 by partners Jerome Kohlberg, Henry Kravis, and George Roberts. It made its mark in the 80s through leveraged buyouts – buying undervalued or poorly managed companies with other people’s money, improving their bottom lines, and then spinning them off at a profit.
A Billion-Dollar Problem
Spalding had a long history, terrific heritage, and healthy topline sales of over $500 million. But $1 billion is a lot of cabbage, and KKR borrowed heavily to make the deal. What’s more, KKR continued adding to its golf empire, buying Etonic in 1996 and Ben Hogan a year later.
Who bought Spalding and Evenflo?
Spalding/Evenflo to KKR In 1996 noted private investment firm Kohlberg Kravis Roberts acquired a majority interest in Spalding and Evenflo, renaming the company Spalding Holdings Corp. Wall Street estimates pegged the amount between $900 million and $1 billion. Although Spalding was a massive sporting-goods company with strength in golf, ...
When did Cobra buy Titleist?
Cobra to Titleist When American Brands, then Acushnet’s parent company, bought Cobra in 1996 for $700 million it was thought to be a win-win for both companies. Cobra was a leader in the oversize iron market and in graphite-shafted irons for players with slower swing speeds. Titleist was a leader in golf balls and gloves ...
When did Callaway buy Odyssey putter?
Odyssey to Callaway In July 1997, Callaway Golf purchased putter maker Odyssey for $130 million, or nearly four times the company’s annual sales of $35 million at the time. “ [We] decided that by the end of 1997 we wanted to provide the golfing public with the best-performing putter in the market and we believe with this acquisition we have ...
What did Tom Brady say about Charles Barkley?
Tom Brady says Charles Barkley ripping on his golf game was ‘one of the worst insults I could ever imagine’. The Loop.
Is Spalding a sporting goods company?
Although Spalding was a massive sporting-goods company with strength in golf, including the Top-Flite and Etonic brands, the company floundered to service its monumental debt load as an increasingly competitive marketplace in golf along with some business missteps put the company in a precarious position.
Is Cobra a golf brand?
Since then Cobra has grown as a lifestyle brand in golf and on tour, with players such as Rickie Fowler, Lexi Thompson and, recently, Bryson DeChambeau. Yes! to Adams. In January 2011, Adams CEO Chip Brewer landed putter maker Yes!
What sports did Spalding make?
In the front past, Spalding manufactured balls for other sports, such as American football, baseball, soccer, volleyball, and golf. For a brief period in the 1980s, Spalding was also a designer of aftermarket automotive wheels .
Where is Spalding made?
Spalding (company) Spalding is an American sports equipment manufacturing company founded by Albert Spalding in Chicago, in 1876, although is now headquartered in Bowling Green, Kentucky. Spalding currently focuses on basketball, mainly producing balls but also commercializing hoops, rims, nets and ball pump needles.
Is the Arena Football League shutting down?
The company also provided the official ball of the Arena Football League, an indoor American football league until its 2019 shutdown. The company was also one of the first to use high-profile athletes to endorse its products when tennis player Pancho Gonzales was signed to an exclusive endorsement contract in 1951.
