Buying From GigaGolf – A Review

GigaGolf, Inc.

GigaGolf

Grade:

A-

Teacher’s Comments:

All in all, a very pleasant and pain free buying experience. Great communication and quick delivery. My first impression of the club is that it’s well assembled and has top quality parts. The website could use a little more tweaks in usability, however.

I recently decided to replace the five iron in my bag with a hybrid. Normally, I’d head to Golfsmith, get the parts and do it myself. I’ve been making clubs for years, and derive great satisfaction from the work. However, as I had recently been given a gift certificate to GigaGolf, I decided to order a hybrid from there instead.

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GigaGolf is an internet-based company that assembles custom golf clubs from components. In this, they fill a definite niche in the golf market. They don’t offer original designs backed by hundreds of millions in R&D like the major manufacturers, but they also are light years ahead of department store brands such as Knight, Golden Bear, and JP Lann.

In using parts from major component manufacturers, GigaGolf places itself squarely in the “smart follower” category. Most of the component companies don’t do original R&D (Golfsmith and GolfWorks are the exceptions), but are content to seize upon established technologies from the big boys. Thus, what you are getting is often last year’s design.

And that’s where the cost savings come from. Because they don’t spend millions on R&D, the component guys can offer clubs at substantially reduced prices without skimping on material quality. Parts from the larger name component guys are constructed from the same steel and titanium as the name brands. (not so from the department store clubs, which are often made from cheap alloys.)

The GigaGolf site is relatively easy to use. On the main page, a series of slide-out menus allow you to narrow your selection by hand, club type and model. I had a little bit of trouble keeping the menus in position, so I eventually used the alternate method and clicked on a link in the sidebar that said “View All Clubs”

On the interior pages, the models are listed in rows, with a picture, a three or four word description and a cute line which says “Well Equipped … $xx.xx.” It reminded me of those car ads that offer a car at such and such a price, “well equipped.”

Clicking on a link takes you to the model’s page, which shows a larger picture, and a longer description, as well as a link for a pop-up window with customer comments. Technical specifications, such as loft and lie, face angle, face height also are available.

imageI really wanted more information, though. The paragraph for the Acer XP Hybrid lacked any discussion of the club’s features, benefits, etc. At the very least, it would be good to know which major manufacturer’s design features it shares. They could put in a line like “Has many of the features of the Callaway Heavenwood”—or some similar lawyer-approved phrase.

In the case of the Acer XP Hybrid, it looks an awful lot like last year’s Callaway hybrid – a design that I liked. I also liked the neutral face angle; I don’t need help closing the face on my hybrids. So that was the one I decided to go with.

Buying a club follows the purchasing system used by Dell. You select a base model, and then are given the opportunity to make changes and additions, each of which adds some sum to the price.

The base price was $26 (and that ultimately was what I stuck with), but I could have added customizations that increased the price to as much as $48.25.

Customizing the club is very easy on the GigaGolf website. At the bottom of each product page are vertical tabs, which allow you to select the specific model, the grip size. shaft and flex, and shaft length.

Under the grip tab, you can select from eleven different grip manufacturers and models. The standard GigaGolf grip is included in the club’s base price; others add from $1 to $3.75 to the price.

You also can chose your grip size. To help you do this, there is a popup window that lets you enter your hand and finger measurements; it then gives you a recommendation.

The shaft/flex tab lets you choose from 13 different models. The base shaft is a True Temper Feather Flight (exclusive to GigaGolf); you also can get Graffaloy, UST and Royal Precision models for an additional charge.

Finally, you can also chose to add or subtract length in quarter inch increments from the standard,. To help you with this, there is another pop up window that lets you enter your height for recommendations.

Curiously, there is no place to enter measurements for wrist-to-floor, which as a clubmaker I can tell you is more important than height.

Before adding the club to your cart, there is another tab that lets you review it all.

The checkout system is of the type that you will find in tens of thousands of online stores. You just fill in the appropriate information and click your way through.

Communication after the purchase was excellent: After the purchase, I got an email confirming my order and telling me exactly what options I had chosen. The next day, I got an email telling me that my club was in production.A day after that, another email informed me that my club had been shipped. The email contained a link to the UPS site and a shipping tracking number.UPS delivered it three days later.

The club arrived in a standard club shipping box, packed with paper to keep it from rattling.

I haven’t had a chance to try the club yet, but my initial impressions are that it is a quality piece of equipment. The head has a nice solid feel, and of good quality. It is free from burrs, misalignments or any of the other things that mark an inferior component.

Assembly also was first rate. The ferrule is flush with the hosel (a good sign … on quality clubs, they merge smoothly into one another). The grip is aligned properly.

It’s also reassuring to know that if I don’t like the club, there is a 30-day playing guarantee.

In all, I found the GigaGolf buying experience to be a good one. I especially liked the extra effort that went into the reassuring emails. After the one telling me that my club was in production, I was half expecting the club to arrive in the box with a birth certificate.

I’ll write a more detailed review of the club as soon as I’ve played a few rounds with it.

GigaGolf, Inc.

9 thoughts on “Buying From GigaGolf – A Review”

  1. My first and last experience with these people. I ordered the GX Squared Ti with the recommended grip and shaft by Gigagolf. The club never felt solid and was considerably shorter off the tee then my Taylormade. I sent it back and went to the TRX Ti Driver with the upgraded UST Proforce shaft. The shaft is gold and black and they sent the wrong grip a blue and black Winn. I had to replace that myself. After all is said and done I have about $185 in this club after shipping and restocking fees. I could easily purchased a Taylormade Tour Burner cheaper off ebay. It took me a month to get a refund for the first club. I would advise you to stay away from these people. If you want a clone club it is cheaper to order from Golfsmith and get better quality.

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  2. I ordered a set of kc 3-pw. I’m left handed and this was the place to go received my set within 4 days went to a local course no driving range practice and played 18 holes. I play this course a few times a year. I shaved 5 strokes on the round I only missed 4 greens with my approach shots, but was on the fringe I shot a 5 over par. Would highly recommend these irons or any set through Giga what a great set of irons. Fast shipment and your clubs are registered in case you need to replace one. Thanks Giga for a wonderful experiance.

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  3. Lack of quality in there product. Best to buy a preowned.

    I brought the GX square driver couple months ago. Took it to the driving range to test it out. After several swing, something was loose inside the driver head. Contacted them and as told they replaced it. Next thing i know i was going to be charged 49.99, thats with a 50% discount to replace it.

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  4. Giga Golf seems too good to be true and it kind of is.  best way to describe them – shady operation.  they charge you for expedited shipping and don’t expedite it, they make a lot of excuses in customer service, and the previous issues people have had are par for the course based on what i’ve experienced so far.  do yourself a favor and use another clone company (prime meadow or something?) or just buy real clubs from the store (even used would be a better experience).  for what they give you, you are better off with other companies.

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  5. I love my C510 irons …Positive experience from start to finish…. Great Irons…..would recommend these irons to anyone….

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  6. Great Clubs purchased the TRX Driver and the TRX Irons..5-PW also the 3 and 4 hybrid the mallet putter and a 3 iron a lob wedge. What great clubs being tall I took advantage of the custom features and Golf is now fun again. Sure I am still a hack but I am a much better hack Great company to do business with.

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  7. I have purchased 2 sets of irons and a couple of drivers from Gigagolf,and all have been of the finest quality. I’m about a 12 handicap,and play a couple times a week. I measured up my son,who’s just beginning,and he is the envy of his buddies,who all play with dad’s hand me downs. Unless you are an excellent golfer or pro,these clubs are for you. I’m a firm believer of the old saying”It ain’t the arrows,it’s the indian.” I consistently beat or compete with my “sucker” buddies who spend $1,200 dollars on name brand clubs…fools!

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  8. I also had to return a club within the time frame required with the headcover being receivedbyGiga golf on Jan 5,2017 I got an email today Jan 24, a credit for$165.50 has been “issued”. i look at my credit card online and there is no such credit. They charged $4.95 for theheadcover and $165.50 for the club so the credit should have been $170.45. It cost me $20.00 to return the club, so when they say “risk free” that is not completely true.

    Reply

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