Equipment
Custom wedge company Hopkins Golf opens it doors
For most amateur golfers, the ultimate goal is to play like a pro and shoot as close to par as possible. Most will never get there, but players can now customize their clubs like tour pros at a “better value” in hopes of lowering their score.
Hopkins Golf officially launched its website this week with the goal of providing golfers with “tour authentic, custom-built equipment factory direct at a fair price.”
“This is a banner day for us,” said Greg Hopkins, CEO of Hopkins Golf who has more than 30 years of experience in the golf business. “For a long time, we’ve been preparing to be able to get golfers custom wedges just like Tour players get. We can’t wait to hear their reactions when they receive the true tour experience for themselves.”
By heading to its website, golfers can customize their wedges the way the pros do in eight steps or less. The wedges are available for men and women, in six different lofts and seven different grinds. The price of the wedge runs about $100 each, with some additional fees for extra features such as custom engraving, stamping, paint fill, ferrules, grips and shafts.
Headquartered in Newport Beach, Calif., Hopkins Golf has partnered with UPS and placed its club assembly inside UPS facilities. UPS will handle shipping for the company and will allow for less overhead cost for the company, leading to a lower cost for the consumer. The typical golf company takes five steps before his or her clubs are delivered to the player, the company said in a press release. Hopkins Golf golf takes three.
Chart courtesy of Hopkins Golf.
Hopkins Golf was founded earlier this year when Greg Hopkins left his position as CEO of Cleveland Golf to start his own company.
According to its website, professional players who use Hopkins include Don Pooley Jr., who won the 2002 U.S. Senior Open and the 1985 Vardon Trophy, John Huston, who has seven PGA Tour wins, and Danny Pohl, a member of the 1987 Ryder Cup Team.
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- Alex Fitzpatrick what’s in the bag accurate as of the Zurich Classic.
Driver: Ping G430 LST (10.5 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 6 X
3-wood: TaylorMade Qi10 (15 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus TR Black 7 X
Hybrid: Ping G430 (19 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black HB 10 TX
Irons: Ping iCrossover (2), Titleist T100 (4-PW)
Shafts: Fujikura Ventus Black HB 9 TX (2), Nippon N.S. Pro Modus 3 Tour 120 X (4-9)
Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM10 (50-12F, 56-12D, 60-08M)
Shafts: Nippon N.S. Pro Modus 3 Tour 120 X
Putter: Bettinardi SS16 Dass
Grips: Golf Pride MCC
Check out more in-hand photos of Alex Fitzpatrick’s clubs here.
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In our forums, our members have been discussing Mini-Drivers and accompanying shafts. WRXer ‘JamesFisher1990’ is about to purchase a BRNR Mini and is torn on what shaft weight to use, and our members have been sharing their thoughts and set ups in our forum.
Here are a few posts from the thread, but make sure to check out the entire discussion and have your say at the link below.
- PARETO: “New BRNR at 13.5. Took it over to TXG (Club Champ but TXG will always rule) in Calgary for a fit. Took the head down to 12, stuck in a Graphite Design AD at 3 wood length and 60g. Presto- numbers that rivaled my G430Max but with waaaaay tighter dispersion. Win.”
- driveandputtmachine: “Still playing a MIni 300. The head was only 208, so I ordered a heavier weight and play it at 3 wood length. I am playing a Ventus Red 70. I play 70 grams in my fairways. I use it mainly to hit draws off the tee. When I combine me, a driver, and trying to hit a draw it does not work out well most of the time. So the MIni is for that. As an aside, I have not hit the newest BRNR, but the previous model wasn’t great off the deck. The 300 Mini is very good off the deck.”
- JAM01: “Ok, just put the BRNR in the bag along side a QI10 max and a QI10 3 wood. A load of top end redundancy. But, I have several holes at my two home courses where the flight and accuracy of the mini driver helps immensely. Mine is stock Proforce 65 at 13.5, I could see a heavier shaft, but to normal flex, as a nice alternative.”
Entire Thread: “What’s the perfect Mini-Driver/Shaft combo? – GolfWRXers discuss”
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At GolfWRX, we are a community of like-minded individuals that all experience and express our enjoyment of the game in many ways.
It’s that sense of community that drives day-to-day interactions in the forums on topics that range from best driver to what marker you use to mark your ball. It even allows us to share another thing we all love – buying and selling equipment.
Currently, in our GolfWRX buy/sell/trade (BST) forum, there is a listing for an Artisan 0521 custom putter
From the seller: (@Nobody2): “$775 -Artisan 0521 custom putter PVD (black finish) with sweep neck hosel. There are no personal stampings other than my player # in very small print on the side of the hosel (all Artisan products have this along with the date it was made). This putter looks absolutely amazing and has only been used for 3 rounds. It has a black steel shaft and has a very Cam Smith look to it. The putter looks new and has no wear marks anywhere on the putter. It comes with extra weights (one set of of 5 gram weights and one set of 15 gram weights). The head cover is a a navy blue ‘quilted blade putter cover.’ If you are wondering why I am selling…I flat out have the yips and the only thing saving me is a broomstick. New, this putter is $1085, so if the specs work for you (grip, length and lie can certainly be tweaked) it will save you some good money and 2 month wait time.
Specs:
To check out the full listing in our BST forum, head through the link: Artisan 0521 custom putter
This is the most impressive current listing from the GolfWRX BST, and if you are curious about the rules to participate in the BST Forum you can check them out here: GolfWRX BST Rules
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Taylor Made
Dec 12, 2013 at 3:00 pm
They dont offer different bounce. So much for “custom”. LOL
Taylor Made
Dec 12, 2013 at 2:57 pm
Who cares if their assembly is inside UPS?? The savings is not passed on to the consumer. It goes in Hopkins pocket. This whole operation sucks. Can get better clubs off the rack.
Brock Libby
Sep 25, 2013 at 12:44 pm
Intrigued by these, but the graphic implies that some UPS worker is the one building the wedges.
Kyoung
Jul 19, 2013 at 12:41 pm
Anybody test out these in the field?
Does anybody know the bounce? Forgive me if i should know.
I ordered a 56 Heel/Toe Grind, and 52 helf Grind
Wanna know how the 56 compares to a Cleveland 56 14 bounce i’ve played for 3 yrs
I couldn’t pass on the custom club with some grind options.
It does add up when you start customizing, but i was in abut 165 for custom color, grip, grind options.
Personally i dont think its that bad considering some of the new Clevelands with the “milled face” are 120. I dont really buy into the more spin with the milling on the face. Especially if youre a hi80’s/90 hitter like me.
Thanks and please let me know if you’ve tested these out on the course!
Karl
Jul 9, 2013 at 11:29 am
I bought a 56* wedge fully customized with engraving, paint fill, and a free shelf grind promotion, added a colored lamkin midsize grip, and colored ferrule for $136 shipped. +1″ shaft, with 3* upright lie for no extra charge. I got the wedge in about 6 days and I could not be more pleased. It’s absolutely perfect and feels amazing! I will be ordering a 52* and a 60* soon.
Karl
Jul 9, 2013 at 11:43 am
You just cannot get that level of customization off the shelf. Thank you Hopkins Golf!
Kyoung
Jul 19, 2013 at 1:00 pm
Hi,
Just ordered a 52 Shelf Grind, and 56 Heel Toe Grind.
Did u get to use these on the course?
I used a Cleveland 56 14 bounce for years and wanna know how the 2 compare.
Thanks.
Randy
Jul 3, 2013 at 12:29 pm
Hey, marketing guy at Hopkins Golf here. I have to say that I’m really surprised by the cast vs. forged discussion. I’ve toured the factories and worked out on the tours and I thought that argument was put to bed. Heat treating changed the game. Cast 8620 that when heat treated properly is the best of all worlds; the consistency of casting and the feel of forging. If tour players can’t tell the difference in feel, why are amateurs so concerned about it?
Steven
Sep 23, 2013 at 4:24 pm
hey randy,
since you work at hopkins golf can you tell me why their phone numbers are not in service and their email is essentially the same. i have been trying to return my wedges which rusted in a matter of two days back and i finally called five days ago and got a woman on the phone who was nice and said i would be receiving the free shipping label via email. im no computer wiz but emails go through in a matter of minutes, not a week. i am very displeased with the quality of the wedges, the price, and the customer service. i just bought two vokey design wedges for $227 compared to the $246 i spent on hopkins wedges just to have a four leaf clover… dumbest decision i have made in a long time. all i want to do is get my money back and be done with hopkins golf. worst experience of my life. if your a serious golfer. go to cleveland or titliest, bottom line.
Taylor Made
Dec 12, 2013 at 2:51 pm
It says right on the site that the wedges will rust.
David Smith
Dec 12, 2013 at 8:53 pm
They’re meant to rust… dumbest decision you say? perhaps you should read what you’re buying before making arrogant remarks.
john
Jan 27, 2014 at 1:43 pm
hey goof-ball they are meant to rust.
Joe
Jul 2, 2013 at 11:11 am
Sic Golf has custom handmade wedges forged in japan for the same price as these… lol
Eve
Jun 27, 2013 at 3:08 am
CAST. Nuff said.
Liam
Jun 27, 2013 at 3:37 am
Hey Eve
Where did you read that they were cast, I’ve been trying to find out for the past hour haha.
Eve
Jun 29, 2013 at 12:27 pm
It says so right on their website. It’s 8630 steel, which is not forged.
https://www.hopkinsgolf.com/select-product.php?product_id=1&reset_order=true#/select-set
Eve
Jun 29, 2013 at 12:28 pm
Sorry, my typo, 8620. I typed too quick
haha
neil
Jun 28, 2013 at 1:02 pm
hard to custom grind forged wedges without replating etc?
Jimmy
Jun 26, 2013 at 10:52 pm
Overpriced and nothing really “custom” about them, so you can get some stamps and engravings, wow, who cares? Everything else you can get at any reputable golf store like grips, shaft, etc. They can keep them. I doubt it outperforms my Cleveland 588 RTX wedges that I got for 40$ a piece brand new.
J
Jun 28, 2013 at 10:32 am
What about the custom grinds, loft, lie? The grind is very important, and not something you just get off the shelf… Looks good to me
G
Jun 26, 2013 at 3:10 pm
$166 isn’t bad for custom wedges. Maybe you should cut back on all the unecessary stampings/paint fill/colored grip and only concentrate on what you need to PLAY the game
J
Jun 26, 2013 at 9:01 pm
I didn’t do anything other than standard paintfill and ZERO stampings…
Purely for a grip ai could tolerate and the grinds I want…
The point is… A brand new company charging those prices is a bit pretentious..
I will be able to get my choice of grips and grind from Callaway when the MD2’s come out for about the same or less… And besides that… I just said no thanks. I didn’t actually say it was out of one or criticize… Maybe the two of you should learn how to read and stop making assumptions…
I said what I did and said no thanks. Was a pretty simple statement.
Adam
Jun 26, 2013 at 11:05 pm
I just went through the process with one wedge and it came out to $130.99 with spinner shaft, upgraded grip and colored ferrule.
Not to bad for a semi custom wedge (no stampings or paint fill).
Maybe there was an option that you had in there by accident???
Jake
Jun 28, 2013 at 10:30 am
I just did it for three wedges, without custom stamping or engraving, with the black steel shaft, lamkin grip, custom grinds, and it was $367 for my three wedges! I think that’s a phenomenal deal. Maybe their was some glitch on the page or something like that, b/c I’m not sure how it could get to $500.?
Ryan
Jun 26, 2013 at 11:29 am
So you want custom wedges for off the rack prices then? $166 each seems reasonable…
J
Jun 26, 2013 at 10:56 am
After one trip through the customization program I was over 500.00 with Hi-Rev shafts… Lamkin grips and grinds on 3 wedges… 500.00
No thanks.