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Spalding is a big name in American sports, having manufactured equipment for basketball, American football, and golf over the years.
But since the early 2000s, Spalding has practically disappeared from the golf landscape. With this in mind, this article looks at why Spalding golf clubs are no longer popular and how much some of their most popular sets are worth.
By the end of this piece, you will have all the information you need about Spalding clubs, which will help you decide whether or not to invest in equipment from this popular American brand.
Does Spalding Still Make Golf Clubs?
No, while you might be able to find Spalding golf clubs at thrift stores and via used online marketplaces, Spalding no longer manufactures golf clubs. Spalding stopped producing golf clubs in 2022, focusing on other sports in the years since.
Therefore, any used Spalding golf clubs that you find for sale online or at a local golf outlet will be at least twenty years old. Therefore, you can almost certainly pick up a set of Spalding golf clubs for a great price, but you will need to check their condition before settling on a purchase.
Today, Spalding focuses nearly all of its commercial interests on basketball, producing balls, hoops, rims, and nets. Previously, they manufactured equipment for golf, American football, and baseball, but they have downsized considerably in recent years.
Still, if you’re looking for more information about Spalding golf clubs, you’ve come to the right place. Read on to learn more about the history of Spalding clubs and what you can expect from various models.
Why Did Spalding Stop Making Clubs?
The primary reason why Spalding halted the production of golf clubs was that they couldn’t keep up with the competition. The likes of Callaway, TaylorMade, and PING all enjoyed good commercial success in the late nineties, and Spalding couldn’t match the same feats achieved by the biggest brands.
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. Therefore, the Top Flite clubs produced in the nineties and early naughts are technically Spalding golf clubs.
And although Top Flite is still in business today, it’s a brand that most golfers associate with cheap equipment of inferior quality.
Unfortunately, Spalding has fallen a long way down the pecking order in terms of their sporting equipment, and it has been a long time since they manufactured a new set of golf clubs.
Are Spalding Golf Clubs Any Good?
There was a time that Spalding golf clubs were among the best in the business. Spalding manufactured golf clubs for some of the leading players in the game, including the legendary American player Bobby Jones.
In fact, one of Spalding’s most popular models was the Bobby Jones collection, selling two million sets between 1932 and 1973. At the same time, the Spalding Top-Flite Syncrho-Dyned irons (released in 1953) were well received, thanks to their flex shaft and copper undercoating.
The legendary Spalding bird logo appeared on their clubs in the 1960s, with the Top-Flite Elite Professional irons proving popular on Tour. It wasn’t long until Spalding’s Executive golf clubs were launched, which were prevalent at all levels of the game.
The nineties saw the release of the Top Flite Tour Ti irons, which were among the last clubs that the long-standing brand would manufacture. Any Spalding clubs that are still in circulation can be regarded as vintage, that’s for sure!
What are Spalding Executive Golf Clubs?
Spalding Executive clubs were established in the 1960s, with the Top Flite Executive Synchro-Dyned golf clubs being the first in a super popular series. The 1968 arrival of the Executive MV2 Bird Over Ball clubs are among some of Spalding’s most easily recognizable clubs.
The Executive clubs are among the finest pure forged blades ever produced and have certainly stood the test of time. They are also said to be legendary Canadian player Moe Norman’s favorite clubs of all time.
Spalding released multiple iterations of its Executive clubs throughout the sixties and seventies, and they became popular with professional golfers and recreational players alike.
Today, Spalding Executive clubs aren’t worth a great deal of money. You can buy a set in good condition on eBay for around $100.
While they’re old-school, Spalding clubs are made to high standards and are built to last, making them a great option if you’re looking for a cheap and cheerful set of clubs.
Spalding Molitor Golf Clubs?
You can still buy Spalding Molitor golf clubs from certain online retailers, including at Rock Bottom Golf. They have been designed with beginner golfers in mind and are very much starter golf clubs.
They come as a set and include eleven clubs, a golf bag, and head covers. Although they won’t win any awards for innovation, Spalding’s Molitor clubs are a decent game improvement set and a good option for beginners.
What’s more, Spalding Molitor clubs currently retail at $280 for an entire set, which is a price point that is pretty hard to beat.
So, while Spalding is nowhere near as prevalent as it once was in the world of golf, you can still pick up a set of Molitor clubs for a very reasonable price online.
How Much is a Set of Spalding Golf Clubs Worth?
Although lots of factors influence how much golf clubs are worth, you can typically pick up a set of Spalding golf clubs for less than $100. Looking through eBay listings, you can find a range of vintage Spalding golf clubs in various conditions to suit different budgets.
If you have a vintage set of Bobby Jones Spalding irons that are in great shape, you might be able to sell them at a slightly higher price, but they’re not worth a great deal of money in the current market.
The reason why Spalding clubs aren’t particularly valuable is that they have been widely available for so many years. Spalding was the leading manufacturer of golf clubs in America throughout the mid-twentieth century, highlighting just how popular the brand was.
So, if you’re buying or selling Spalding clubs that are in reasonably good shape, you can set your expectations around $100 to begin with.
Spalding Golf Clubs for Sale?
If you’re looking to buy or sell vintage Spalding clubs, the best place to do so is on eBay or Craigslist, where you can list the clubs in the condition that they are currently in.
Alternatively, you can look on a discount site like Rock Bottom Golf. As previously mentioned, you can buy Spalding Molitor clubs at Rock Bottom, and they’re a great option for beginner players.
When you’re in the market for Spalding clubs, bear in mind that they were branded as Top-Flite clubs for a while, so be sure to broaden your search to include Top-Flite models.
Overall, Spalding clubs aren’t worth a great deal of money today, but they’re a good option if you’re hoping to pick up an affordable set of clubs to get started with.
Conclusion
There was a time when Spalding was one of the biggest brands in golf. Today, Spalding golf clubs still exist, but they’re nowhere near as popular as they once were.
This is because Spalding stopped manufacturing golf clubs in 2002, and most of the clubs available online today are vintage sets.
So, if you’re looking for a decent set of golf clubs without breaking the bank, there’s no reason not to invest in a used set of Spalding clubs if you see a set that you like online.