Is my taylor made rescue a fake?

NDJ4 · 16-08-2010 8:23pm #1

Hi all,

Just looking for your thoughts on a club. I recently bought a Taylor Made R7 cgb max 3 rescue second hand and I am concerned that it might be fake. I already have the 4&5 rescue of this club so when I compare this new club there are just too many differences that are making me suspicious.

Main differences between 3 and 4/5 rescues:
1. Text on the bottom of the 3 rescue looks painted on and text is not as sharp or as deep as on 4
2. Grooves on 3 club face are not as deep as on 4/5
3. Bottom of 3 rescue is shiny chrome whereas 4&5 are dull finish
4. Headcover materials are different and taylor made logo on plastic club identifier is different. Also screw on 3 headcover not on 4&5. Why would taylor made redesign this piece?

Otherwise the club is virtually a perfect match, and I'm hitting it well. I just don't want to be stuck with a fake for when I decide to trade up!

I have the receipt from the seller who bought the club from onlinegolf.co.uk at the same time I bought my two clubs (3 days apart) and I don't suspect that he has knowingly sold me a fake. He has been really helpful since I let him know of my concerns.

I have attached an image showing the differences between the two clubs so just wondering if anyone has good knowledge of these clubs and can give their thoughts. Top left club is the 3 rescue, and left side headcover is from 3 rescue.

Thanks.

ANXIOUS · 16-08-2010 9:57pm

Your best bet us to bring it into a pro shop get them to look at it.

copacetic · 16-08-2010 10:05pm

it's a pretty close thing but all the details look a bit off on the 3, all the lines are rougher, finishing isn't as good, surface finishes are not the same.

Could be a club that failed quality inspection also. Try calling TM and checking serial number.

neckedit · 16-08-2010 10:59pm

looks pretty dodgey man, shouldn't be any difference at all, thought it may be a paint fill but the finish don't look good either, taylor-made wouldn't let a club that failed quality control into the sales stream. Have a good look at the shaft too, this is generally where fakes fall down, providing they are graphite.

copacetic · 16-08-2010 11:03pm

neckedit wrote: »

looks pretty dodgey man, shouldn't be any difference at all, thought it may be a paint fill but the finish don't look good either, taylor-made wouldn't let a club that failed quality control into the sales stream. Have a good look at the shaft too, this is generally where fakes fall down, providing they are graphite.

Just to be clear, I wasn't saying it was a quality fake that TM sold anyway.

Rumour is that some of these Chinese factorys sell on moulds and failures to dodgy factories to make such good fakes. They are all supposed to be compacted but I guess it is tricky enough to police.

neckedit · 16-08-2010 11:28pm

Sorry I obviously mis-read your post.......... never heard that before about the tools and equipment being sold off? it was my belief the manufacturer kept them .

stockdam · 16-08-2010 11:34pm

Are the serial numbers all different......are there any serial numbers?

Can you see any excess glue around the hosel?

What shaft and what length?

You'd need to take them to a shop to compare back to back with the originals.

A couple of months ago I contacted one of the cheap sites that somebody here was asking about. I asked them if their Taylormades were OEM. They said they were. I then asked if the were genuine and made by Taylormade.......they said they were like OEM and were similar in performance, look etc. I asked if they were fake.......she didn't answer. I contacted Taylormade and they confirmed that the site were not a supplier.

So when they say OEM they mean they look like OEM (they are OEM fakes).

Yours look ok but get them checked out.

ThunderCat · 17-08-2010 10:04am

On the shaft, check the globe logo and compare it to the globe logo on your other rescues. On genuine TM clubs there is a line that disects the globe. On the fakes the line doesnt go through the globe. It will make more sense when you look at the shaft.

Waesfjord · 17-08-2010 11:00am

ThunderCat wrote: »

On the shaft, check the globe logo and compare it to the globe logo on your other rescues. On genuine TM clubs there is a line that disects the globe. On the fakes the line doesnt go through the globe. It will make more sense when you look at the shaft.

I've genuine Taylormade clubs, don't have the globe you reference on the iron shafts? I have a burner rescue 09 that has a globe, tiny 8mm diamter globe on the shaft, however don't see the line you refer. The rescue was 2nd hand, but compared to a new one in a pro shop (identical) and confirmed serial # (see below), so not sure if that lpogo you refer to is on all clubs.

Another way to check the authenticity is to ring TM / Adisas, ask to check a serial no., they will put you through to someone that will take the serial #, confirm if it registered against that club (note that not all genuine clubs are registered on their database - they will explain this).

TaylorMade Phone # is +44-1256-479797
Serial # should be 8 digits

Good luck!

ThunderCat · 17-08-2010 11:17am

brian1976 wrote: »

I've genuine Taylormade clubs, don't have the globe you reference on the iron shafts? I have a burner rescue 09 that has a globe, tiny 8mm diamter globe on the shaft, however don't see the line you refer. The rescue was 2nd hand, but compared to a new one in a pro shop (identical) and confirmed serial # (see below), so not sure if that lpogo you refer to is on all clubs.

Another way to check the authenticity is to ring TM / Adisas, ask to check a serial no., they will put you through to someone that will take the serial #, confirm if it registered against that club (note that not all genuine clubs are registered on their database - they will explain this).

TaylorMade Phone # is +44-1256-479797
Serial # should be 8 digits

Good luck!

Apologies, its the graphite shafted clubs im talking about. Your irons wouldnt carry that logo.
Its the stock shaft REAX shafts that im talking about. Not sure if the newest taylormade drivers/woods/rescues have these shafts but im pretty sure the OP's rescue club has.
Have a look at the picture. You can see the globe im talking about and the line that runs through it. Thats a genuine TM club. The fake will still have the globe icon but will not have a line going through it.

PhilipMarlowe · 17-08-2010 12:17pm

Hard to tell from some of the images but some of the lettering/fonts look slightly different to my eye as well.
Not saying it's the case but the seller may well have bought a genuine club from onlinegolf and kept it while selling on a dodgy version of the same club which could explain having a receipt?

stockdam · 17-08-2010 1:05pm

Take some photos of the shape of the head and post back. Also take some of the adjustable weights on the clubs.

You've said enough to make me feel that the 3 is a fake.

Zoom into the paint in the CGB - on the 3 it looks very poor. It is possible that the guy you bought it off touched it up.

The Logo on the plastic bit of the headcover is different....Taylormade would be very strict about this. As you said, there's a screw on the tag of the headcover for the 3.

It isn't easy and as you said there may be reasons for the difference. However it's the logo that "tells" me that the 3 is not original.

stockdam · 17-08-2010 1:35pm

I zoomed into the TM logo on the clubs:

You can definitely see the difference. The "fake" is the top one and the "OEM" is the bottom one (I'm only using the word fake as we suspect that it is fake).

Look at the "swoosh" at the top of the "T". Also compare the right hand swoosh. They are different shapes. In the "fake" the right hand swoosh has corners to it and looks more rectangular.

They do look similar but when you take the time then you can see the differences. I don't think TM would change their logo as they control the dimensions very strictly.

So in my opinion there is a difference but I do not know if this is normal or if it points to a fake.........which one though?

NDJ4 · 17-08-2010 5:23pm

Hi guys,

thanks for all the replies!

ANXIOUS wrote: »

Your best bet us to bring it into a pro shop get them to look at it.

I showed it to one of the guys in the pro shop but he wasn't sure as they don't stock tm clubs. He suspected it was a bit dodgy but didn't want to say for definite. I will try to get it to a tm stockist.

copacetic wrote: »

Try calling TM and checking serial number.

Will do this when I get the chance but it is possible that the serial no. could be coiped from a real club i guess??

neckedit wrote: »

Have a good look at the shaft too, this is generally where fakes fall down, providing they are graphite.

ThunderCat wrote: »

On the shaft, check the globe logo and compare it to the globe logo on your other rescues. On genuine TM clubs there is a line that disects the globe. On the fakes the line doesnt go through the globe. It will make more sense when you look at the shaft.

The shaft is exactly the same on all 3, the only difference is the lettering on the suspect club is slightly raised when you rub a finger along it. Otherwise perfect match.

stockdam wrote: »

Are the serial numbers all different......are there any serial numbers?

Can you see any excess glue around the hosel?

What shaft and what length?

You'd need to take them to a shop to compare back to back with the originals.

Serial number looks legit and in same location as on others. No excess glue, shaft and hosel are identical on all clubs. Can't buy these clubs anymore from shops so not easy to compare like with like!

brian1976 wrote: »

TaylorMade Phone # is +44-1256-479797
Serial # should be 8 digits

Good luck!

Thanks brian1976!

Licksy wrote: »

Hard to tell from some of the images but some of the lettering/fonts look slightly different to my eye as well.
Not saying it's the case but the seller may well have bought a genuine club from onlinegolf and kept it while selling on a dodgy version of the same club which could explain having a receipt?

Thought crossed my mind too...!

stockdam wrote: »

So in my opinion there is a difference but I do not know if this is normal or if it points to a fake.........which one though?

I'm 100% sure that my 2 are the real deal, both bought from onlinegolf.co.uk and everything about them is just right IMO!

stockdam wrote: »

Take some photos of the shape of the head and post back. Also take some of the adjustable weights on the clubs.

Will do this later, headin out for 9 now:)

Thanks again guys for all the help/advice.

stockdam · 17-08-2010 5:31pm

Ok it's an interesting thread (not if it's a fake club though).

1united · 17-08-2010 8:24pm

stockdam wrote: »

Are the serial numbers all different......are there any serial numbers?

Can you see any excess glue around the hosel?

What shaft and what length?

You'd need to take them to a shop to compare back to back with the originals.

A couple of months ago I contacted one of the cheap sites that somebody here was asking about. I asked them if their Taylormades were OEM. They said they were. I then asked if the were genuine and made by Taylormade.......they said they were like OEM and were similar in performance, look etc. I asked if they were fake.......she didn't answer. I contacted Taylormade and they confirmed that the site were not a supplier.

So when they say OEM they mean they look like OEM (they are OEM fakes).

Yours look ok but get them checked out.

Pardon my ignorance, but OEM stands for what?

couerdelion · 17-08-2010 8:28pm

1united wrote: »

Pardon my ignorance, but OEM stands for what?

Original Equipment Manufacturer

Normally fake clubsellers say they are OEM to imply they were made on the same machines in the same factory.

1united · 17-08-2010 8:44pm

couerdelion wrote: »

Original Equipment Manufacturer

Normally fake clubsellers say they are OEM to imply they were made on the same machines in the same factory.

D'OH - Thanks, couldn't figure out the E in my head, mindblock.

NDJ4 · 17-08-2010 9:09pm

stockdam wrote: »

Take some photos of the shape of the head and post back. Also take some of the adjustable weights on the clubs.

Hi Stockdam, more photos attached. Also just noticed that the tm logo on top of the club head is a slightly different colour on the 3...

I tried to take pictures of the shafts but can't get a decent in-focus shot. Shafts are identical though.

I had my local pro have a look at the club briefly tonight, he wasn't 100% sure but suspected it was fake (I asked him to have a quick look just as I was about to tee off so we were both in a hurry). He added though that if it is a fake it's the best he has ever seen...

neckedit · 17-08-2010 10:09pm

NDJ4 wrote: »

Hi Stockdam, more photos attached. Also just noticed that the tm logo on top of the club head is a slightly different colour on the 3...

I tried to take pictures of the shafts but can't get a decent in-focus shot. Shafts are identical though.

I had my local pro have a look at the club briefly tonight, he wasn't 100% sure but suspected it was fake (I asked him to have a quick look just as I was about to tee off so we were both in a hurry). He added though that if it is a fake it's the best he has ever seen...

If have a look at the weights on the back of club the one in question looks like its proud of the sole of the club while the other looks a bit smoother, man I'd say with all the little bits it looks like a fake, and your Pro is spot on there are some real goo fakes about, in looks anyway.

stockdam · 18-08-2010 12:13pm

Gosh. It really is difficult. You could say that the differences may be just "manufacturing" differences......maybe they changed some things.

It is hard to believe that anyone copying the club would go to such lengths - most reasonable copies will fool most people even though there are obvious differences when you compare them with an OEM club. It is expensive to get the details correct so why would anyone go to such trouble.

I really don't know. Yes there are several things that would suggest that it could be a fake but then again it's a very good copy. You'd probably need to saw through the head and the shaft to get more info (but obviously that's not a good idea).

Oh and yes OEM = Original Equipment Manufacturer. The OEM is the company whose brand is on the club and who controls the manufacture and supply. Hence if a club says Callaway on it then it should be a genuine Callaway (OEM). A fake is not OEM as the original company had nothing to do with the design or manufacture. So OEM means "genuine".

NDJ4 · 18-08-2010 1:14pm

stockdam wrote: »

You'd probably need to saw through the head and the shaft to get more info (but obviously that's not a good idea).

LOL

gawoo1012 · 18-08-2010 2:32pm

stockdam wrote: »

Are the serial numbers all different......are there any serial numbers?

Can you see any excess glue around the hosel?

What shaft and what length?

You'd need to take them to a shop to compare back to back with the originals.

A couple of months ago I contacted one of the cheap sites that somebody here was asking about. I asked them if their Taylormades were OEM. They said they were. I then asked if the were genuine and made by Taylormade.......they said they were like OEM and were similar in performance, look etc. I asked if they were fake.......she didn't answer. I contacted Taylormade and they confirmed that the site were not a supplier.

So when they say OEM they mean they look like OEM (they are OEM fakes).

Yours look ok but get them checked out.

You have to name the suspicious cheap website that you refrerred to so that other forum members can make informed decisions if they are thinking of purchasing from this site.

G1032 · 18-08-2010 6:15pm

Register your clubs here:

http://www.taylormadegolf.com/lowerlevel/lounge/productregistration.html#50

See if it accepts the serial. I know a guy who tried to register a TM club here before but it rejected his registration saying that the serial number didn't exist

NDJ4 · 18-08-2010 7:05pm

ronaldochokes wrote: »

Register your clubs here:

http://www.taylormadegolf.com/lowerlevel/lounge/productregistration.html#50

See if it accepts the serial. I know a guy who tried to register a TM club here before but it rejected his registration saying that the serial number didn't exist

Just tried this on both their .com and .eu sites and in from the .eu site all I get is a "Thank you" message and a "Thank you for registering your club" from the .com site after registering each club. Even after entering a serial number of 8! Their .com site is also so frustrating to enter details. I was going to do this before but the amount of personal info they require is ridiculous and you must enter a zip code etc. And after all of that neither site even sends a confirmation email back.

Unless I have 3 fake clubs? :rolleyes:

Is my taylor made rescue a fake?

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