Ian, when you were TXG you and Mikey said great things about the Gen 1 wedges. Now you are rebranded to a company w a not entirely positive reputation in the fitting space and have a different opinion. why is that? serious and honest question, and i play 225/t22 w kirklands as my practise wedges so im not a brand snob either way.
This really feels like Taylormade told club champion they needed to put out a relatively negative review of these clubs or there would be business consequences. From them refusing to even say speedfoam, let alone Taylormade's name, to counting the number of grooves, to criticizing tons of aesthetic things. I've watched tons of reviews on this channel and never seen them react so poorly to well performing clubs. Professional fitters not even talking about the shaft difference in the drivers is absolutely WILD. Ironic they bring up other reviews not being honest, this review really feels bought and paid for. Dissapointing. edit: Went back to make sure I wasn't misremembering things, in both their "best of series: irons for the average golfer" and even their "ultimate blade test" these irons perform very similarly if not better than irons they heaped tons of praise on. Only difference being brand and price.
This! I remember them reviewing the 1st gen Kirland wedges when this channel was still TXG and they had glowing reviews about it. Now its a total 180. Not sure if I can trust their reviews anymore.
The final commentary regarding price is the reason why these clubs exist. I don't think anybody buying these clubs believes (or quite frankly cares) that these clubs will perform similar to other clubs from top golf brands, it simply boils down to cost. And as you guys stated, for the price, you're basically getting all you could ever want, if not more considering the price tag of customized clubs being what it is.
I disagree with the comment they don't think they will perform. People that buy these clubs aren't serious golfers Most serius golfers do know about clubs and their performance. These are bought by people that play only a few times a year imho.
@TheRycooder yeah I mean. . . That's pretty much what I'm saying. Someone who plays a few times a year isn't going to pay custom club prices, because what's the point.
I don't agree insofar as I think there's carryover from people who continue to think the Costco ball is good, when in fact it's quite bad. They make a 3-piece, firm, spinny, urethane ball that is meant to make people believe it is a pro V one clone, but it's truly very very far from that. The marketing is making people believe they are getting a Pro V one clone for a dollar and a quarter ball. But they should be doing is making a more forgiving ball with less spin and lower compression for the average golfer, but they make the opposite of that because they want people to believe something that's just not true. So with the irons, they are trying to make a TaylorMade P790 clone, which isn't even close to what average golfers need. Average golfers don't need a players distance iron, but that's what these are trying to be with lofts that are jacked and distances that are inconsistent and research and development that just isn't there. Why doesn't Costco make a set of good game improvement irons at a good price, which is what people truly need? Again, I feel like people who don't know what they're buying are thinking they are getting an iron that they want at a good price, but they just shouldn't be playing a players distance iron, especially one that simply isn't a good golf club.
@stevenagy9441 again, to me it's really all about the price point. People who aren't willing to spend top dollar for custom fitted clubs aren't generally going to be too concerned with gapping issues, or non-customizable (is that a word 🤣) clubs. I think there's a huge market for people who play golf maybe once a month, potentially less, who want to enjoy the game at a reasonable price. I think that's really who these clubs are for. Sure they could get into a game improvement club, start offering different shaft options, etc., but then up comes the price, because cost of materials/manufacturing to offer a variety of clubs means prices go up as well. They've made a club which will (in general) work for the broadcast population. Beginners can hit a players distance iron. It might not be the "perfect club for them", but at $500 or so for a set of iron, do they really care? I bet not. I've thought about grabbing a set (if I can find them, seem to be sold out everywhere) as a travel set. That way I'm not risking damaging my custom clubs in the belly of an airplane, and it doesn't break the bank much to have an extra travel set.
Honestly felt like you guys were a bit harsh on the wedges and irons, they performed quite well considering the price. However, the driver looks to be absolutely horrid. For the begginer, this set is great considering a whole bag costs what just a set of normal irons cost
This review was definitely unconsciously biased. They need to sell products and this is not something they will ever sell. I play scratch golf most of the time and build clubs even more of my time. This was biased from a business standpoint whether we like it or not.
@@tomjohns4355what??? That’s your takeaway?? Lmao. Rick shiels testing of these clubs say otherwise. Many out there including him LOVED the Kirkland clubs. To the point you start to wonder how much these major brand companies are fleecing the general population of golfers.
If that was the case they would’ve hated takomo and Calley, I’ve seen every club but the driver in person and they aren’t high end clubs. Not great just good, Perfect for a casual golfer that wants great value for new clubs.
To @24tjricks point, I think this channel has to walk a fine line between presenting product reviews while at the same time selling their products and services. I think it’s a bit misguided to call these “unbiased” reviews as these guys aren’t robots and will have their own personal opinions about the look, feel and performance of any product they test. Just because TXG or anyone has an opinion about any product doesn’t mean it’s the gospel. They will tell you, like most, to test the products out for yourself and form your own opinions.
Fun review. Interesting comments about the Kirkland branding on the irons. Funny thing is, the people I know who love stuff from Costco will revel in the large branding and will glow with pride as they pull out their Kirkland irons and show everyone that they can suck at golf just as much as anyone else - but for 50-70% less.
@@EJRodriguez1yes his life is miserable. He's been inundating threads with similar comments. Imagine being so fragile that you're intimidated by budget clubs...😂
I'm hearing a bit of brand bias coming from you guys. If I was to give you guys two manufacturers' irons unmarked, without looking at them, could you tell the difference in all the objective measures, after striking them?
As a low handicapper, I may not switch my iron set to KS because their shaft does not fit for my swing. But for wedge I am open minded, I can keep using my fitted shaft into the KS wedge head. They are only 30% of the cost of those big branded wedges but the performance is not bad at all. I think the real problem is NOT how bad KS clubs are, is how other big brands are so over priced. For $200 CAD per wedge from big brands, the KS really gives average golfers a chance to enjoy the game of golf instead of paying massive to over priced equipment. Look at what commercials are claiming: couple yard further, couple mph ball speed faster. Is that true? USGA smash 1.5 policy is there, how can my last year $800 driver becomes garbage when new $1000 current model is released? I will go to Ian Fraser for a fitting finding my optimal numbers then keep using them, not keep chasing new model..
Great review and so glad you did this. As someone getting back into the game after a long layoff, I tried the kirkland driver when it was released and returned it (another great thing about Costco - they took back the used club for a full refund, no questions asked). I'm glad to know it wasn't just me that thought it sat closed. I instead decided to buy a like new name brand driver from 2022 model year for the same price.
When I played kirkland wedges, Before I switched to mizuno, I had them bent to fifty degrees, fifty five degrees and left the sixty where it was.... The club fitter didn't seem to have any trouble bending the clubs.... I watched him do it...
Agree with the lads! Hollow body design is great with an Achilles Heel and thay there are definitely differences to be seen from paying for a high quality set... BUT, considering who this is for, competing with Takomo or Haywood, these are great! Again, you're not getting fit for these so it's your new-average golfer market, and for that they are phenomenal! I definitely see this as a great option fir several buddies of mine
I agree with the driver and appreciate the comparison with your gamer. I’m not in the market for clubs but for that price I might say I’m a little bit disappointed that this seemed a tiny bit biased as everyone may know Club Champion doesn’t have these for fittings. They do look “cheap” with the branding though lol. Performance wise with wedges and irons, they are perfect for beginners to beat up their first set but have modern technology at their disposal. You did point that out at the which was nice.
There is nothing wrong with these clubs. If you think they are not good enough for you then stop being entitled. No one in this comment section is turning pro.
Which model? Something like the i500? i525 are still way more expensive than these in the used market. Wilson staff D7 Forged/D9 Forged are my best recommendations instead of Kirklands.
I think for a set just to get someone playing golf, I think they are great... better than top flight. I'm considering getting a set and having as a backup set of clubs in case one of my buddies wants to cone play a round of golf with me or something, just to have a set on hand to be able to toss to someone and say "let's go play golf"
Quite funny when you say that these won't come in our specs. They may not come in yours Ian but they come in Mikes for sure, he could game these and not lose a shot to handicap. You guys are such gear snobs that it makes me distrust the supposed data you provide. I used to love your videos but since the Club Champion hook-up there seems to be a definite slant toward certain brands. I wrote the previous comments at the start of the video and by 10:35 you are plainly having f*ck all to do with these, whats wrong is nobody else allowed to bring clubs to the market if your paymasters can't make money from them ?????
Put them on a swing robot and test it at different swing speeds and impact locations, then see how they stack up against the major brands. That’s the only way to get an honest picture. Ian has a great swing but I don’t think we can count on him to give the same level of analysis as a controlled (robotic) tester could. They’re fine for what they are. Don’t expect the same performance as you’d get from companies who have full R&D depts designing clubs. Costco is going for the mid-capper and up who’s looking to save some money. The TXG client isn’t the Costco golf customer and the Costco customer isn’t likely even all that aware of what a fitting studio does. They can coexist and that’s fine. Perhaps even good for golf.
If this was back in the old TXG days, they'd be praising the KSig stuff... they initially tested the 1st iteration of the wedges and said they liked them
I think the key with the irons matching up with the ball is important. A buddy bought the irons, and then was playing his regular Supersofts, and had next to zero spin on any approach shots. After seeing ball tests, I told him to grab the Ksig balls so he can at least try to hold greens.
I agree. But if you also have the driver you have way too much spin and your budget golfer is most likely going to have a huge slice that’s now enhanced with the spin of the ksig ball. If they play a low spin driver and dial it in then that’s a different story.
Big fan of the channel but feel like you guys were looking for everything wrong instead of reviewing the clubs objectively. Obviously they are copies of P790. The numbers looked decent in the irons for the higher handicap golfer or for somebody looking for a set of clubs on a budget. The driver is a draw biased and for higher handicap/ new golfers. So…… ease up a bit boys. Obviously you guys are going to advocate to be custom fit but not everybody can afford $350 for a fitting plus a ridiculous up charge on components to build a set of clubs. I’m not angry, just disappointed.
Totally agree and club champion is the absolute worst for fittings. Upcharges are insane when you can can save hundreds going to golf galaxy instead for a similar fitting
@@Kevin-uj4to You should check out the review of the 1st gen Kirkland wedges when this channel was still TXG compared to this current review. It is a total 180 of what they say in this review. Mikey said he wouldn't be able to tell the difference between the Kirkland wedges and the Vokey.
@@aarongee8146I do agree they were very bias but in this review they are using the gen2 not the gen1 they originally used but as a whole this review was a really bad look and was obviously bias cuz they want to make money
Not bad overall. The driver should be fine for people who tend to fight push/slice off the tee. Irons perform as well as they could for the price point. I agree about the sharp leading edges of wedges not being good for casual players who don't practice much.
The numbers are no doubt great to analyze vs the big brands. Having an On course Vlog with actual performance will show there’s not much difference between these and anything else out there and the best part about that is you’d be having fun and more money in your wallet for Hole #19! Rick Shiels Vlog just loaded one day ago to prove this very point.
Critique of the performance and looks was pretty fair considering they’re constantly working with the best of the best every day. DTC clubs are great for the golf marketplace but they just aren’t as refined of a product as the big boys. Edit: thank you Ian for the further clarification on design. Disregard the next sentence. I felt like the design team caught some unnecessary strays from Ian, “not sure anyone on the design team is thinking about CG placement”😬
If this was a fair review, Ian would be trashing the p790s as well, but instead had a glowing review. The p790 pitching wedge has an identical shape to the Kirkland pitching wedge. If these were bad quality, why would why Taylormade have a lawsuit against Kirkland? Also, that driver test was also pretty unfair. I am pretty sure Ian's driver was set to somewhere around 8 degrees.
It's a shame they'll never get a set of Maltby irons in to review. Their quality is right there with the big brands and hands down better than any other DTC. They don't just sell factory re prints like the others. They're all 100% original designs with actual innovation involved. They don't send out free test sets like everybody else. That's why we won't see them here.
I said that because there isn’t a design team. These are being selected from a factory in Asia who make blank golf clubs that can be stamped with any logo. There’s no R&D team working through CAD drawings to refine shape and performance. That’s why they are cheaper, there are less touch points.
This was a tough video for Ian and Mike to make under the Club Champion brand. I give them credit for trying to make the video but the people buying Kirkland Signature are not the ones even considering getting fit at CC and paying $1,000 plus for a driver or $2,100 for an iron set. 😬
You can get the Maltby TS1 IM Forged irons for less and get them custom made, plus will perform better. I will keep my Ping 400 Max driver in the bag, nothing is beating that. But I do enjoy my Costco putter, only after buying the weight kit which is no longer available.
I'd be curious to see them review the Maltby TS1 IM, TS3, and TS4 irons. Other reviewers online seem to really like them and claim they are more forgiving than they look, but I'd love to see what someone with a more critical eye and launch data thinks of them.
They'll never do a Maltby review. A) Maltby won't send them any demo clubs. They just don't play that game (unfortunately) B) Unlike these K-sigs, Maltby is actually better construction quality than TM being fully forged and not just a forged face welded onto a cast body like TM.. and they have the looks too. They would serve absolutely no benefit to Club Champion by having Maltby on.
@@AZstu324 That was my initial thought too - that Maltby is more legitimate competition to CC's offerings, so they probably wouldn't be inclined to test them. But then I remembered that they had tested Takomo and Sub 70 and thought "who knows". ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
@@starwf07 yeah they definitely will do the reviews when they're sent a free set but there's always that speculation that the reviews are somewhat skewed due to some kind of business-related bias. I just don't remember seeing any of those other DTC's ever knocking their socks off. This is a very specific reason that Maltby won't send out clubs due to the uncertainty of brand-specific or sponsorship loyalties. Like the old tootsie pop commercials.. "the world may never know" 😜
Informative review. Would have liked to have seen the SIM playing at the same loft as the KSIG driver as I’m pretty sure Ian is playing his driver at 7.5 or 8 degrees vs the 9.5 for the KSIG. If anyone expected Club Champion/TXG to sing the praises of a Costco product I’ve got some prime swampland in Florida to sell you 😂
The unconscious bias in this review is incredible to see. These irons are the subject of a lawsuit by Taylormade who allege they are basically a direct copy of their P790 irons, but listening to the commetary one would be forgiven for thinking they were some generic Far Eastern rubbish. For $499 as opposed to $1399 for the Taylormades there is no comparison. I've just watched the eviceration of a perfectly good set of irons for the average budget conscious golfer who doesn't care about brand names and wants value for money .
@@dbeasleyphx Indeed. I've just watched their 2023 P790 review to make sure I'm not being overly critical. The term 'opposite ends of the spectrum' springs to mind...
Remember too that the Costco irons are not on their fitting wall, so they have no advantage and hyping them up as they will never sell one set of these
These are not even close to the quality of P790’s. The boys summed it up best, these present a good value of a new golfer on a budget. If you’re expecting the performance of an OEM, you’re dreaming in technicolor.
Ian you had more LMFAO with that driver swing that looked like TW when he hit that famous fairway bunker shot. That aside, for what an end-user would pay to have a FULL BAG (top to bottom) of balls, gloves, wedges, irons, driver, and putter....nothing can touch the cost saving of Kirkland for a PLAYER that is cost sensitive. Is it for everyone...no. Yet, given a reasonable player skill level with these clubs in his or her hand, will clearly be impressed. FYI,,,,Rick Shields just did a video using nothing but the Kirkland brand.
I'm not sure comparing Costco clubs to a person's custom fitted clubs was the best way to review these. I think comparing them to non-fitted, standard clubs would be the way to go. People considering Kirkland clubs just want to know if they can get 90% of the performance at 50% of the cost. Or compare them to a used set at the same cost.
Sad to see a little bs and bias on this channel. Every previous club testing used their preferred ball, pro v option consistently. If testing mizuno irons they don’t use a mizuno ball? Obviously wouldn’t be an ongoing lawsuit if they weren’t essentially identical to taylormade. Can’t wait to get my hands on these when/if back on the market. Clubs have gotten outrageously expensive
These are not identical to TM irons, I can assure you of that. That fact that you are going to pick up a set validates my decision to test them on the channel. I’m glad the people who watch our videos will get a chance to see us test them.
From your test I can see that if theses were gamed by a lower swing speed player they would be very good. The gaps would diminish and probably be just right. Please find a slower speed tester to test clubs that are designed for such players.
My interest in the review dropped dramatically as soon as they said they wre using the Kirkland ball. It is known to be a very spinny ball so the test results were not going to be comparable to their iron reviews with their regular test ball
I don’t really understand why someone would buy the driver when, (in the UK) a Callaway Mavrik or Cobra LTDx is available for the same price (new, not used). You can then go through the bag doing the same… why the Kirkland option when X is available for the same money. Each to their own, and they are a bargain next to the latest models, but you don’t need to buy the latest…
You can tell you guys make your living selling customized golf clubs with this review. You rip the clubs to shreds but are hitting perfectly good shots. The driver comparison is embarrassing as the shaft in you SIM driver will be suited to you where as the stiff one in the Kirkland doesn't. Not saying these the best on the market but amazing for the money.
Out of Ian and Mikey… they chose the wrong person to test these without a shadow of a doubt. Shaft in any of the clubs is not designed for someone who swings at Ian’s speed….
Best value gloves and I play them, hate the balls, and agree on the Kirkland logo on clubs. It’s fine on coffee or toilet paper but feels off on clubs.
Objectively, the numbers were pretty poor on the Kirkland's, which might be because of the ball. I love Costco, but all of these clubs are an awful deal compared to Maltby (GolfWorks) or Callaway Pre-Owned. I don't think they were unfair in their criticism. You're better off going with other options.
“Not bad” haha that’s an understatement. Think of the target audience here, this is phenomenal value and engineering that is the subject of a lawsuit. Some refinements could be had for sure.. but it’s their first go.. they need to create a cool golf logo K or something KG
The only channel on UA-cam that has negative reviews on these clubs!?!? Wonder why? 🤣 For the price and player they are going after, they will work perfectly
@clubchampionmedia Kirkland Signature Golf clubs is irons which based off Taylormade P790 irons. But, Taylormade Lawsuit about Kirkland golf irons a few months ago.
I'd venture a guess the average person who buys this set doesn't even have a handicap OR they do and it's 25+ and couldn't care less or even think about the distances these things go with a particular ball.
I thought the review was pretty fair. The clubs performed reasonable well for off the shelf un-fit clubs. The standard deviations were pretty good. Not going to beat a more premium custom fit set. Maybe an option for very casual players.
Now that McGregor is back and making quality gear for the same exact price and allows you to order with no up charge custom shafts and lies I truly think you are lost if you’re trying to buy these clubs. Or even going with any prior year irons from OEM is a much better option. But i guess if you are a kirkland hype junkie go off and buy some cheap under performing golf clubs.
Tonally different vs the previous Kirkland wedge review. Very strange vibe in general, like counting the grooves (you can count the number of videos discussing the number of grooves on an iron face on one hand going back to the earliest TXG videos). Side note, the logo in general is probably the dumbest thing anyone in golf talks about. You don't see it at address or at any point during the swing. Stop being such vain prissies about it.
I think these clubs missed their mark. First off, I don't think the majority of consumers want Kirkland Signature written all over their irons and driver. They should really just have it as KS on the equipment. Also, There are so many direct to consumer options now for irons and wedges (takomo, stix, sub 70, Ram Golf, McGregor Golf, Bombtech, Vice now has a line) for the irons to only be okay. Plus you can get a 3 year old premium used driver for $200. Even Costco sells a Calloway full set in the stores right next to these; the Calloway "Edge" set. I think the balls from a few years ago were fanatic and it created a cult following for Costco golf stuff but now the balls aren't as good as the equipment just isn't where it needs to be compared to others companies.
I think you missed the mark. The great thing about Costco is that if you try it and don't like it, you can return it for a full refund. Can you do the same thing with direct to consumer irons and wedges? I was lucky enough to snag a set of the irons for my brother and they are actually quite nice. Compared to my current set of Mizuno JPX923 forged, they are great for what it is out of the box for a fraction of what I paid. Also, why would you buy a used driver when you can get a brand new one? The shaft can be swapped out because it uses the Mizuno shaft adapter.
@@aarongee8146 Nah, I was pretty spot on. They're okay irons. Yeah you can take them back if you don't like them but that has nothing to do with the quality of the clubs- if getting your money back is your point on the clubs, then you're making my point that the clubs are only okay. As for buying a used driver, a used Callaway Rogue ST, TM SIM 2 Max, or Ping G410 Plus will all cost the same as a new Kirkland driver and perform better in distance and consistency. It also won't have Kirkland Signature written all over it. But you wouldn't be able to take those back though so maybe they aren't any good.
Funny how the most critical and negative I have ever heard you both speak is in regards to something you don't sell and that can take away from your business.
Yes that’s because we choose what we sell….. from all the components in the market we hand pick the best. So if it’s not in our matrix that tells you what we think about it already.
@@ianfrasergolf These are direct to consumer clubs which you would not sell anyway so your point is moot. You made no mention of either the Lamkin grips (2nd most popular manufacturer by sales in the US and Europe) or the True Temper shafts (largest US manufacturer in the entire market), both of which are premium quality (and price) products. Why not Ian is my question?
@@Deang97 the irony is, that all we’re doing here also. They are ok from a performance standpoint, missing some key features of a best in class set of irons but at the price it will make sense for some people. That is what’s called “calling it as you see it.”
Ian and Mikey could have easily avoided doing anything on their products, but they didn’t. They put them on center stage, hit their balls/clubs and gave them free air time and publicity. Then they gave their opinion on the competition. I don’t see Costco reviewing Club Champion products anytime soon. I have a great idea. Put Club Champion bays in Costco stores. I’d love to test clubs while my wife buys 3 gallons of barbecue sauce we’ll never use.
Funny to me how positive the feedback was on the wedges and the ball back when this was TXG and how negative everything is now.
Yeah they didn’t acknowledge their inherent biases.
Ian, when you were TXG you and Mikey said great things about the Gen 1 wedges. Now you are rebranded to a company w a not entirely positive reputation in the fitting space and have a different opinion. why is that? serious and honest question, and i play 225/t22 w kirklands as my practise wedges so im not a brand snob either way.
Kirkland golf glove is massively underrated.
This really feels like Taylormade told club champion they needed to put out a relatively negative review of these clubs or there would be business consequences. From them refusing to even say speedfoam, let alone Taylormade's name, to counting the number of grooves, to criticizing tons of aesthetic things. I've watched tons of reviews on this channel and never seen them react so poorly to well performing clubs. Professional fitters not even talking about the shaft difference in the drivers is absolutely WILD. Ironic they bring up other reviews not being honest, this review really feels bought and paid for. Dissapointing.
edit: Went back to make sure I wasn't misremembering things, in both their "best of series: irons for the average golfer" and even their "ultimate blade test" these irons perform very similarly if not better than irons they heaped tons of praise on. Only difference being brand and price.
This! I remember them reviewing the 1st gen Kirland wedges when this channel was still TXG and they had glowing reviews about it. Now its a total 180. Not sure if I can trust their reviews anymore.
The final commentary regarding price is the reason why these clubs exist. I don't think anybody buying these clubs believes (or quite frankly cares) that these clubs will perform similar to other clubs from top golf brands, it simply boils down to cost. And as you guys stated, for the price, you're basically getting all you could ever want, if not more considering the price tag of customized clubs being what it is.
@@delhump22 completely agree.
I disagree with the comment they don't think they will perform. People that buy these clubs aren't serious golfers Most serius golfers do know about clubs and their performance. These are bought by people that play only a few times a year imho.
@TheRycooder yeah I mean. . . That's pretty much what I'm saying. Someone who plays a few times a year isn't going to pay custom club prices, because what's the point.
I don't agree insofar as I think there's carryover from people who continue to think the Costco ball is good, when in fact it's quite bad.
They make a 3-piece, firm, spinny, urethane ball that is meant to make people believe it is a pro V one clone, but it's truly very very far from that. The marketing is making people believe they are getting a Pro V one clone for a dollar and a quarter ball. But they should be doing is making a more forgiving ball with less spin and lower compression for the average golfer, but they make the opposite of that because they want people to believe something that's just not true.
So with the irons, they are trying to make a TaylorMade P790 clone, which isn't even close to what average golfers need. Average golfers don't need a players distance iron, but that's what these are trying to be with lofts that are jacked and distances that are inconsistent and research and development that just isn't there.
Why doesn't Costco make a set of good game improvement irons at a good price, which is what people truly need?
Again, I feel like people who don't know what they're buying are thinking they are getting an iron that they want at a good price, but they just shouldn't be playing a players distance iron, especially one that simply isn't a good golf club.
@stevenagy9441 again, to me it's really all about the price point. People who aren't willing to spend top dollar for custom fitted clubs aren't generally going to be too concerned with gapping issues, or non-customizable (is that a word 🤣) clubs. I think there's a huge market for people who play golf maybe once a month, potentially less, who want to enjoy the game at a reasonable price. I think that's really who these clubs are for. Sure they could get into a game improvement club, start offering different shaft options, etc., but then up comes the price, because cost of materials/manufacturing to offer a variety of clubs means prices go up as well. They've made a club which will (in general) work for the broadcast population. Beginners can hit a players distance iron. It might not be the "perfect club for them", but at $500 or so for a set of iron, do they really care? I bet not.
I've thought about grabbing a set (if I can find them, seem to be sold out everywhere) as a travel set. That way I'm not risking damaging my custom clubs in the belly of an airplane, and it doesn't break the bank much to have an extra travel set.
Ian fully intended to trash kirkland regardless of the outcome. No place for biased reviews.
I detected total snobbery in this review. Some people can’t afford your prices.
Honestly felt like you guys were a bit harsh on the wedges and irons, they performed quite well considering the price. However, the driver looks to be absolutely horrid. For the begginer, this set is great considering a whole bag costs what just a set of normal irons cost
This review was definitely unconsciously biased. They need to sell products and this is not something they will ever sell. I play scratch golf most of the time and build clubs even more of my time. This was biased from a business standpoint whether we like it or not.
Or the clubs just suck and it’s a joke to think they’re good
@@tomjohns4355what??? That’s your takeaway?? Lmao. Rick shiels testing of these clubs say otherwise. Many out there including him LOVED the Kirkland clubs. To the point you start to wonder how much these major brand companies are fleecing the general population of golfers.
They have said plenty of great things about direct to consumer brands. Why would this be different?
If that was the case they would’ve hated takomo and Calley, I’ve seen every club but the driver in person and they aren’t high end clubs. Not great just good, Perfect for a casual golfer that wants great value for new clubs.
To @24tjricks point, I think this channel has to walk a fine line between presenting product reviews while at the same time selling their products and services. I think it’s a bit misguided to call these “unbiased” reviews as these guys aren’t robots and will have their own personal opinions about the look, feel and performance of any product they test.
Just because TXG or anyone has an opinion about any product doesn’t mean it’s the gospel. They will tell you, like most, to test the products out for yourself and form your own opinions.
Compare the irons directly to the P790's.
Fun review. Interesting comments about the Kirkland branding on the irons. Funny thing is, the people I know who love stuff from Costco will revel in the large branding and will glow with pride as they pull out their Kirkland irons and show everyone that they can suck at golf just as much as anyone else - but for 50-70% less.
@@redpillpharmacy6877 Your life is miserable.
@@EJRodriguez1yes his life is miserable. He's been inundating threads with similar comments. Imagine being so fragile that you're intimidated by budget clubs...😂
I'm hearing a bit of brand bias coming from you guys. If I was to give you guys two manufacturers' irons unmarked, without looking at them, could you tell the difference in all the objective measures, after striking them?
As a low handicapper, I may not switch my iron set to KS because their shaft does not fit for my swing. But for wedge I am open minded, I can keep using my fitted shaft into the KS wedge head. They are only 30% of the cost of those big branded wedges but the performance is not bad at all. I think the real problem is NOT how bad KS clubs are, is how other big brands are so over priced. For $200 CAD per wedge from big brands, the KS really gives average golfers a chance to enjoy the game of golf instead of paying massive to over priced equipment.
Look at what commercials are claiming: couple yard further, couple mph ball speed faster. Is that true? USGA smash 1.5 policy is there, how can my last year $800 driver becomes garbage when new $1000 current model is released?
I will go to Ian Fraser for a fitting finding my optimal numbers then keep using them, not keep chasing new model..
Best glove on the market, price considered
Great review and so glad you did this. As someone getting back into the game after a long layoff, I tried the kirkland driver when it was released and returned it (another great thing about Costco - they took back the used club for a full refund, no questions asked). I'm glad to know it wasn't just me that thought it sat closed. I instead decided to buy a like new name brand driver from 2022 model year for the same price.
Which driver did you go for? What specs?
I would say yeah probably not with driver but the irons are pure.
When I played kirkland wedges, Before I switched to mizuno, I had them bent to fifty degrees, fifty five degrees and left the sixty where it was.... The club fitter didn't seem to have any trouble bending the clubs.... I watched him do it...
Agree with the lads! Hollow body design is great with an Achilles Heel and thay there are definitely differences to be seen from paying for a high quality set... BUT, considering who this is for, competing with Takomo or Haywood, these are great! Again, you're not getting fit for these so it's your new-average golfer market, and for that they are phenomenal! I definitely see this as a great option fir several buddies of mine
The Kirkland putter & wedges are sensational!
Performance, looks & price ✅
I agree with the driver and appreciate the comparison with your gamer. I’m not in the market for clubs but for that price I might say I’m a little bit disappointed that this seemed a tiny bit biased as everyone may know Club Champion doesn’t have these for fittings. They do look “cheap” with the branding though lol. Performance wise with wedges and irons, they are perfect for beginners to beat up their first set but have modern technology at their disposal. You did point that out at the which was nice.
There is nothing wrong with these clubs. If you think they are not good enough for you then stop being entitled. No one in this comment section is turning pro.
The driver doesn't surprise me given who's likely to buy these sets and that the biggest issue with beginner golfers is the massive slice.
Do they still sell these in the U.S. I want to buy them but dont see them. Maybe they discontinued them because of the legal battle.
For these irons would you consider them for a higher handicap? Or would you go mid handicap with lack of forgiveness?
If those irons said TaylorMade on the back these guys would be pumping them so hard.
Would take a set of older pings over these any day if value is the point.
I agree!!
@@lawbinson agreed but older Pings are the worst value in used golf clubs imo. You’re often paying for nostalgia and brand loyalty over newer tech
Which model? Something like the i500? i525 are still way more expensive than these in the used market. Wilson staff D7 Forged/D9 Forged are my best recommendations instead of Kirklands.
Same happens with Kirkland wine. Fools laugh at the label. The smart money drinks the wine. “Oh no, I shanked my ball off the label.”
The gloves are the best offering from their lineup
How do I get a set of the kirkland Irons? Can I buy yours after you finish testing them?
You can buy them in Costco
@@BadenAW I wish I could but alas they are not in stock anywhere I can find in the US or Canada.
I think for a set just to get someone playing golf, I think they are great... better than top flight. I'm considering getting a set and having as a backup set of clubs in case one of my buddies wants to cone play a round of golf with me or something, just to have a set on hand to be able to toss to someone and say "let's go play golf"
Quite funny when you say that these won't come in our specs. They may not come in yours Ian but they come in Mikes for sure, he could game these and not lose a shot to handicap. You guys are such gear snobs that it makes me distrust the supposed data you provide. I used to love your videos but since the Club Champion hook-up there seems to be a definite slant toward certain brands.
I wrote the previous comments at the start of the video and by 10:35 you are plainly having f*ck all to do with these, whats wrong is nobody else allowed to bring clubs to the market if your paymasters can't make money from them ?????
Put them on a swing robot and test it at different swing speeds and impact locations, then see how they stack up against the major brands. That’s the only way to get an honest picture. Ian has a great swing but I don’t think we can count on him to give the same level of analysis as a controlled (robotic) tester could.
They’re fine for what they are. Don’t expect the same performance as you’d get from companies who have full R&D depts designing clubs. Costco is going for the mid-capper and up who’s looking to save some money. The TXG client isn’t the Costco golf customer and the Costco customer isn’t likely even all that aware of what a fitting studio does. They can coexist and that’s fine. Perhaps even good for golf.
You just knew before watching that a company that prioritizes ripping customers off would not review these well.
If this was back in the old TXG days, they'd be praising the KSig stuff... they initially tested the 1st iteration of the wedges and said they liked them
I think the key with the irons matching up with the ball is important. A buddy bought the irons, and then was playing his regular Supersofts, and had next to zero spin on any approach shots. After seeing ball tests, I told him to grab the Ksig balls so he can at least try to hold greens.
I agree. But if you also have the driver you have way too much spin and your budget golfer is most likely going to have a huge slice that’s now enhanced with the spin of the ksig ball. If they play a low spin driver and dial it in then that’s a different story.
The squeak that went off in the background right immediately after he said hot ball was epic
Sounds like they might be made by same foundary as Callaway irons, similar to their irons around heel area, etc
I’d be curious how close the lofts are to the spec. I wonder on some of these less expensive brands how good the QA is with some of those things.
Big fan of the channel but feel like you guys were looking for everything wrong instead of reviewing the clubs objectively. Obviously they are copies of P790. The numbers looked decent in the irons for the higher handicap golfer or for somebody looking for a set of clubs on a budget.
The driver is a draw biased and for higher handicap/ new golfers. So…… ease up a bit boys.
Obviously you guys are going to advocate to be custom fit but not everybody can afford $350 for a fitting plus a ridiculous up charge on components to build a set of clubs.
I’m not angry, just disappointed.
I am glad I wasn't the only one seeing this.
Totally agree and club champion is the absolute worst for fittings. Upcharges are insane when you can can save hundreds going to golf galaxy instead for a similar fitting
To be fair, they did point out that the irons were a decent offering, especially for people looking for a budget or starter set.
@@Kevin-uj4to You should check out the review of the 1st gen Kirkland wedges when this channel was still TXG compared to this current review. It is a total 180 of what they say in this review. Mikey said he wouldn't be able to tell the difference between the Kirkland wedges and the Vokey.
@@aarongee8146I do agree they were very bias but in this review they are using the gen2 not the gen1 they originally used but as a whole this review was a really bad look and was obviously bias cuz they want to make money
Not bad overall. The driver should be fine for people who tend to fight push/slice off the tee. Irons perform as well as they could for the price point. I agree about the sharp leading edges of wedges not being good for casual players who don't practice much.
The numbers are no doubt great to analyze vs the big brands. Having an On course Vlog with actual performance will show there’s not much difference between these and anything else out there and the best part about that is you’d be having fun and more money in your wallet for Hole #19! Rick Shiels Vlog just loaded one day ago to prove this very point.
Critique of the performance and looks was pretty fair considering they’re constantly working with the best of the best every day. DTC clubs are great for the golf marketplace but they just aren’t as refined of a product as the big boys. Edit: thank you Ian for the further clarification on design. Disregard the next sentence. I felt like the design team caught some unnecessary strays from Ian, “not sure anyone on the design team is thinking about CG placement”😬
@@redpillpharmacy6877 Agreed. I think some DTC brands to provide good value just not the same refinements of OEMs
If this was a fair review, Ian would be trashing the p790s as well, but instead had a glowing review. The p790 pitching wedge has an identical shape to the Kirkland pitching wedge. If these were bad quality, why would why Taylormade have a lawsuit against Kirkland? Also, that driver test was also pretty unfair. I am pretty sure Ian's driver was set to somewhere around 8 degrees.
It's a shame they'll never get a set of Maltby irons in to review. Their quality is right there with the big brands and hands down better than any other DTC. They don't just sell factory re prints like the others. They're all 100% original designs with actual innovation involved.
They don't send out free test sets like everybody else. That's why we won't see them here.
I said that because there isn’t a design team. These are being selected from a factory in Asia who make blank golf clubs that can be stamped with any logo. There’s no R&D team working through CAD drawings to refine shape and performance. That’s why they are cheaper, there are less touch points.
@@ianfrasergolf appreciate the clarification!
Ian, was it any at all easy for you to get through the turf with these things? or do you think it was harder?
Wedges were harder, I couldn’t imagine playing them on soft soggy turf.
This was a tough video for Ian and Mike to make under the Club Champion brand. I give them credit for trying to make the video but the people buying Kirkland Signature are not the ones even considering getting fit at CC and paying $1,000 plus for a driver or $2,100 for an iron set. 😬
You can get the Maltby TS1 IM Forged irons for less and get them custom made, plus will perform better.
I will keep my Ping 400 Max driver in the bag, nothing is beating that. But I do enjoy my Costco putter, only after buying the weight kit which is no longer available.
Same as Wishon Irons. Fantastic quality, budget price.
I'd be curious to see them review the Maltby TS1 IM, TS3, and TS4 irons. Other reviewers online seem to really like them and claim they are more forgiving than they look, but I'd love to see what someone with a more critical eye and launch data thinks of them.
They'll never do a Maltby review.
A) Maltby won't send them any demo clubs. They just don't play that game (unfortunately)
B) Unlike these K-sigs, Maltby is actually better construction quality than TM being fully forged and not just a forged face welded onto a cast body like TM.. and they have the looks too.
They would serve absolutely no benefit to Club Champion by having Maltby on.
@@AZstu324 That was my initial thought too - that Maltby is more legitimate competition to CC's offerings, so they probably wouldn't be inclined to test them. But then I remembered that they had tested Takomo and Sub 70 and thought "who knows". ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
@@starwf07 yeah they definitely will do the reviews when they're sent a free set but there's always that speculation that the reviews are somewhat skewed due to some kind of business-related bias. I just don't remember seeing any of those other DTC's ever knocking their socks off. This is a very specific reason that Maltby won't send out clubs due to the uncertainty of brand-specific or sponsorship loyalties. Like the old tootsie pop commercials.. "the world may never know" 😜
Informative review. Would have liked to have seen the SIM playing at the same loft as the KSIG driver as I’m pretty sure Ian is playing his driver at 7.5 or 8 degrees vs the 9.5 for the KSIG. If anyone expected Club Champion/TXG to sing the praises of a Costco product I’ve got some prime swampland in Florida to sell you 😂
The unconscious bias in this review is incredible to see. These irons are the subject of a lawsuit by Taylormade who allege they are basically a direct copy of their P790 irons, but listening to the commetary one would be forgiven for thinking they were some generic Far Eastern rubbish. For $499 as opposed to $1399 for the Taylormades there is no comparison. I've just watched the eviceration of a perfectly good set of irons for the average budget conscious golfer who doesn't care about brand names and wants value for money .
No need the the adjective "unconscious". Ian said they looked cheap at 2:05.
@@dbeasleyphx Indeed. I've just watched their 2023 P790 review to make sure I'm not being overly critical. The term 'opposite ends of the spectrum' springs to mind...
They are trash, play them if you want, but they are a joke with that logo.
Remember too that the Costco irons are not on their fitting wall, so they have no advantage and hyping them up as they will never sell one set of these
These are not even close to the quality of P790’s. The boys summed it up best, these present a good value of a new golfer on a budget. If you’re expecting the performance of an OEM, you’re dreaming in technicolor.
not enough spin on the irons? Costco has a ball for that too! ONE STOP SHOP for EVERYTHING!
@ianfrasergolf I'd be interested in seeing you guys test the new RAM irons. At £299 for 4-PW, they sound too good to be true
Low spin would not be an issue if someone launches higher and has higher decent. IMO
The cult following for Costco is getting insane to the point people are attacking anyone who dares to be even a little critical
Ian you had more LMFAO with that driver swing that looked like TW when he hit that famous fairway bunker shot. That aside, for what an end-user would pay to have a FULL BAG (top to bottom) of balls, gloves, wedges, irons, driver, and putter....nothing can touch the cost saving of Kirkland for a PLAYER that is cost sensitive. Is it for everyone...no. Yet, given a reasonable player skill level with these clubs in his or her hand, will clearly be impressed. FYI,,,,Rick Shields just did a video using nothing but the Kirkland brand.
I'm not sure comparing Costco clubs to a person's custom fitted clubs was the best way to review these. I think comparing them to non-fitted, standard clubs would be the way to go. People considering Kirkland clubs just want to know if they can get 90% of the performance at 50% of the cost. Or compare them to a used set at the same cost.
Watched Sheilds hit the driver he ended up left on a hole he had never been left on in 20 years. May be draw biased.
Sheils has always fought a big left miss and quite frankly has the ball striking of a 10 hcp
Sad to see a little bs and bias on this channel. Every previous club testing used their preferred ball, pro v option consistently. If testing mizuno irons they don’t use a mizuno ball? Obviously wouldn’t be an ongoing lawsuit if they weren’t essentially identical to taylormade. Can’t wait to get my hands on these when/if back on the market. Clubs have gotten outrageously expensive
These are not identical to TM irons, I can assure you of that. That fact that you are going to pick up a set validates my decision to test them on the channel. I’m glad the people who watch our videos will get a chance to see us test them.
@@ianfrasergolf So you're saying Taylormades lawsuit is without merit....?
@@TheSinistercr0c taylormade's lawsuit is they're marketing the speedfoam without actually having the speedfoam
From your test I can see that if theses were gamed by a lower swing speed player they would be very good. The gaps would diminish and probably be just right. Please find a slower speed tester to test clubs that are designed for such players.
Why don't you guys compare them to clubs in the same price point not to clubs over twice ad much?
They can't sell them so no benefit to promote.
New WITB Wilson irons for Ian…?
Looking forward to this 😊 best reviewers on UA-cam by far!
P790 PW has that same shape....hate it as well.
My interest in the review dropped dramatically as soon as they said they wre using the Kirkland ball. It is known to be a very spinny ball so the test results were not going to be comparable to their iron reviews with their regular test ball
I don’t really understand why someone would buy the driver when, (in the UK) a Callaway Mavrik or Cobra LTDx is available for the same price (new, not used).
You can then go through the bag doing the same… why the Kirkland option when X is available for the same
money. Each to their own, and they are a bargain next to the latest models, but you don’t need to buy the latest…
You can tell you guys make your living selling customized golf clubs with this review. You rip the clubs to shreds but are hitting perfectly good shots. The driver comparison is embarrassing as the shaft in you SIM driver will be suited to you where as the stiff one in the Kirkland doesn't. Not saying these the best on the market but amazing for the money.
Camera turns off. Ian turns to Mikey and says "Shite!"
😂😂
Out of Ian and Mikey… they chose the wrong person to test these without a shadow of a doubt.
Shaft in any of the clubs is not designed for someone who swings at Ian’s speed….
Very thorough review as always guys 👍 loved watching this thank you
👍🏼, appreciate you loaning us the clubs Elliot.
Best value gloves and I play them, hate the balls, and agree on the Kirkland logo on clubs. It’s fine on coffee or toilet paper but feels off on clubs.
I would love to see a pro play with these
Objectively, the numbers were pretty poor on the Kirkland's, which might be because of the ball. I love Costco, but all of these clubs are an awful deal compared to Maltby (GolfWorks) or Callaway Pre-Owned. I don't think they were unfair in their criticism. You're better off going with other options.
Quick lie adjustment would have fixed any issues. Irons and wedges are fine. Driver is questionable..
“Not bad” haha that’s an understatement. Think of the target audience here, this is phenomenal value and engineering that is the subject of a lawsuit. Some refinements could be had for sure.. but it’s their first go.. they need to create a cool golf logo K or something KG
@@redpillpharmacy6877 quality? That wasn’t mentioned
The only channel on UA-cam that has negative reviews on these clubs!?!? Wonder why? 🤣 For the price and player they are going after, they will work perfectly
Always a good video. The only thing i would ask is to show the club heads when you discuss them so we can see what you are seeing. Thanks!
lol funny how the youtubers get them but you cannot find them out in the wild ANYWHERE. What's the status of the TaylorMade vs Costco lawsuit?
We didn’t get them from Costco, friend of our had the set and very kindly let us borrow his clubs.
i was watching the other video and halfway through a new one uploaded lol
Glitch in the matrix... Did you take the red pill or blue .
TM M2 2016 - $150
Ping G 5W - $75
Ping G 4H - $75
Ping G 5-UW - $400
Cleveland CBX Full Face SW and LW - $150
Total = $850
This! There are MILLIONS of used clubs out there perfect for beginners!
Yeah.. If you want clubs beat the hell up then sure..Pay those bargain prices
Released at the exact same time as Rick Shiels video haha
Was an hour before Rick... But then got pulled and put back on after Rick video.... False start by the lads
Costco golf clubs ... No Thanks.
50kg bag of chicken tenders.... Yes please
@clubchampionmedia Kirkland Signature Golf clubs is irons which based off Taylormade P790 irons. But, Taylormade Lawsuit about Kirkland golf irons a few months ago.
I'd venture a guess the average person who buys this set doesn't even have a handicap OR they do and it's 25+ and couldn't care less or even think about the distances these things go with a particular ball.
P790 clones... must not like those any longer too?
The people that are playing these irons don’t give a shit about the golf ball they’re playing..
I’m shocked to lean that Ian has a true gamer driver!
Has something changed between Costco and Taylor Made that I missed. Why review a club that no one can buy?
It was on sale at my Costco a week ago. They come and go. Just got to be looking for them.
Just buy used, quality clubs.
Callaway Pre-owned for the win!
More people would play them if the branding was smaller and different name.
its the shite ball. use prov
“Not for me.” Proceeds to hit Kirkland wedges within 6 feet of pin…
@@bnav21 Ian is dialed right now. He could take a hickory stick club and drop dimes.
I thought the review was pretty fair. The clubs performed reasonable well for off the shelf un-fit clubs. The standard deviations were pretty good. Not going to beat a more premium custom fit set. Maybe an option for very casual players.
As an entry level golf club are perfect.
People getting upset that they said a cheap iron looks cheap 😂
Now that McGregor is back and making quality gear for the same exact price and allows you to order with no up charge custom shafts and lies I truly think you are lost if you’re trying to buy these clubs. Or even going with any prior year irons from OEM is a much better option. But i guess if you are a kirkland hype junkie go off and buy some cheap under performing golf clubs.
the kirkland balls however, they are quality and will save you some serious money…
Tonally different vs the previous Kirkland wedge review. Very strange vibe in general, like counting the grooves (you can count the number of videos discussing the number of grooves on an iron face on one hand going back to the earliest TXG videos).
Side note, the logo in general is probably the dumbest thing anyone in golf talks about. You don't see it at address or at any point during the swing. Stop being such vain prissies about it.
I think these clubs missed their mark. First off, I don't think the majority of consumers want Kirkland Signature written all over their irons and driver. They should really just have it as KS on the equipment. Also, There are so many direct to consumer options now for irons and wedges (takomo, stix, sub 70, Ram Golf, McGregor Golf, Bombtech, Vice now has a line) for the irons to only be okay. Plus you can get a 3 year old premium used driver for $200. Even Costco sells a Calloway full set in the stores right next to these; the Calloway "Edge" set. I think the balls from a few years ago were fanatic and it created a cult following for Costco golf stuff but now the balls aren't as good as the equipment just isn't where it needs to be compared to others companies.
I think you missed the mark. The great thing about Costco is that if you try it and don't like it, you can return it for a full refund. Can you do the same thing with direct to consumer irons and wedges? I was lucky enough to snag a set of the irons for my brother and they are actually quite nice. Compared to my current set of Mizuno JPX923 forged, they are great for what it is out of the box for a fraction of what I paid. Also, why would you buy a used driver when you can get a brand new one? The shaft can be swapped out because it uses the Mizuno shaft adapter.
@@aarongee8146 Nah, I was pretty spot on. They're okay irons. Yeah you can take them back if you don't like them but that has nothing to do with the quality of the clubs- if getting your money back is your point on the clubs, then you're making my point that the clubs are only okay. As for buying a used driver, a used Callaway Rogue ST, TM SIM 2 Max, or Ping G410 Plus will all cost the same as a new Kirkland driver and perform better in distance and consistency. It also won't have Kirkland Signature written all over it. But you wouldn't be able to take those back though so maybe they aren't any good.
Funny how the most critical and negative I have ever heard you both speak is in regards to something you don't sell and that can take away from your business.
Facts
Yes that’s because we choose what we sell….. from all the components in the market we hand pick the best. So if it’s not in our matrix that tells you what we think about it already.
@@ianfrasergolf These are direct to consumer clubs which you would not sell anyway so your point is moot. You made no mention of either the Lamkin grips (2nd most popular manufacturer by sales in the US and Europe) or the True Temper shafts (largest US manufacturer in the entire market), both of which are premium quality (and price) products. Why not Ian is my question?
@@ianfrasergolf I just call it like I see it brotha.
@@Deang97 the irony is, that all we’re doing here also. They are ok from a performance standpoint, missing some key features of a best in class set of irons but at the price it will make sense for some people. That is what’s called “calling it as you see it.”
They have to figure out a way to brand the clubs. Kirkland Signature is hideous.
Bout time bois..
I predict 50k views on this video easily
Wait… did Mikey just say the sim stays in the bag? What year are we in?
Ian and Mikey could have easily avoided doing anything on their products, but they didn’t. They put them on center stage, hit their balls/clubs and gave them free air time and publicity. Then they gave their opinion on the competition. I don’t see Costco reviewing Club Champion products anytime soon. I have a great idea. Put Club Champion bays in Costco stores. I’d love to test clubs while my wife buys 3 gallons of barbecue sauce we’ll never use.
Get some Takomo’s instead