My new SCRATCH sticks !!

[+TourSpecGolfer]

Chris,  

You mention that the Scratch is a Scratch Custom made in the USA. I have a 52 that was ground here in the USA that has a neck identical to the one in the MOZ pic. It's that way because I asked for it. Custom wedges are exactly that, if you want something that looks like another retail wedge you need to ask for it. That's kind of the point. Look at the transitions of other high end wedges, what about Zodia? Are you telling me that those are low quality because the transition lines are abrupt? I'll take a pic of my 52 and you can see for yourself. The grinding here in the US is every bit as good as the grinding in Japan. In fact the grinders in Japan have been impressed with Scratch golf grinders and have complemented them on them.  

Secondly the black XXX Teflon finish is done right here in the USA. The guy they use his main contract is with the US army, he plates all the parts for the hummers used by our troops in that giant bunker Iraq. If it's good enough for our troops fighting in the desert, I'm sure it's fine for a silly golf club.  

I just started with a question and then my opinion, my intent was not to share the info I am now having to because of people always calling me to the point.

I know your a big time scratch supporter primo, but your eye is far from critical. Your telling me the grind work for Scratch Customs is on par with any other brands is WILD. Of the 13 Scratch Customs I have purchased not one has been on par with any other brand on the market. NOT 1 them ain't good odds. I shouldn't have to teach you what to look for and if you don't see it on your own you most likely never will. If I had your Custom 52 in my hand I could spot out flaws in seconds. I'm no grind guru but I know that non golfing laborers who do grinding for OEMS are able to make every line smooth, rounded, with no transition errors even implement basic techniques that scratch has not perfected yet, and this is all pre finish. There are areas on scratch where I can almost count on things being un flush. I can post more pics if you want of every area I am talking about , but do we really need to? Its not good for Scratch. Many customers know exactly what I'm talking about already and customers with a not so critical eye will never notice the flaws.

I play the scratch OTR's and like them a lot, these are strictly problems with the wedges hand done by the guys at Scratch in the U.S. In grinding apprenticeship a formal training is necessary unless there is some major natural talent within. Sword makers have apprentices for 20 years. at Ishihara MOZ there are apprentices also. The people at the factories in China or elsewhere had to all go through basic grinding technique do's and donts. I don't know who is doing the grinds for the U.S customs but error after error followed by promises then error again IMO means more attention to detail and training is needed.

Usually when a company manufactures large amounts of product there are errors but when making small amounts & single wedges at a time the ability to make sure everything is flawless and perfect shouldn't be an issue. Take MOZ for an example, have you ever seen a more flawless hand made wedge? Zero Errors or they toss the head. Thats the way it should be or at least close. No stamping bumps, leading edge, neck, or top line flaws should be seen on any brand or any wedge period.

[ziggy1]

Chris,  

You mention that the Scratch is a Scratch Custom made in the USA. I have a 52 that was ground here in the USA that has a neck identical to the one in the MOZ pic. It's that way because I asked for it. Custom wedges are exactly that, if you want something that looks like another retail wedge you need to ask for it. That's kind of the point. Look at the transitions of other high end wedges, what about Zodia? Are you telling me that those are low quality because the transition lines are abrupt? I'll take a pic of my 52 and you can see for yourself. The grinding here in the US is every bit as good as the grinding in Japan. In fact the grinders in Japan have been impressed with Scratch golf grinders and have complemented them on them.  

Secondly the black XXX Teflon finish is done right here in the USA. The guy they use his main contract is with the US army, he plates all the parts for the hummers used by our troops in that giant bunker Iraq. If it's good enough for our troops fighting in the desert, I'm sure it's fine for a silly golf club.  

I just started with a question and then my opinion, my intent was not to share the info I am now having to because of people always calling me to the point.

I know your a big time scratch supporter primo, but your eye is far from critical. Your telling me the grind work for Scratch Customs is on par with any other brands is WILD. Of the 13 Scratch Customs I have purchased not one has been on par with any other brand on the market. NOT 1 them ain't good odds. I shouldn't have to teach you what to look for and if you don't see it on your own you most likely never will. If I had your Custom 52 in my hand I could spot out flaws in seconds. I'm no grind guru but I know that non golfing laborers who do grinding for OEMS are able to make every line smooth, rounded, with no transition errors even implement basic techniques that scratch has not perfected yet, and this is all pre finish. There are areas on scratch where I can almost count on things being un flush. I can post more pics if you want of every area I am talking about , but do we really need to? Its not good for Scratch. Many customers know exactly what I'm talking about already and customers with a not so critical eye will never notice the flaws.

I play the scratch OTR's and like them a lot, these are strictly problems with the wedges hand done by the guys at Scratch in the U.S. In grinding apprenticeship a formal training is necessary unless there is some major natural talent within. Sword makers have apprentices for 20 years. at Ishihara MOZ there are apprentices also. The people at the factories in China or elsewhere had to all go through basic grinding technique do's and donts. I don't know who is doing the grinds for the U.S customs but error after error followed by promises then error again IMO means more attention to detail and training is needed.

Usually when a company manufactures large amounts of product there are errors but when making small amounts & single wedges at a time the ability to make sure everything is flawless and perfect shouldn't be an issue. Take MOZ for an example, have you ever seen a more flawless hand made wedge? Zero Errors or they toss the head. Thats the way it should be or at least close. No stamping bumps, leading edge, neck, or top line flaws should be seen on any brand or any wedge period.

Great information. If you spend the additional $$ for a custom set, it should be 100% and not less.

I´d love to get my hands on a top-class custom set, made by a master craftsman specifically for my needs.....with exactly the features that you described.

I come from the sporting goods industry and I was used to have only the best custom made prototypes and hand selected equipment (Surfing, Skiing) for my own personal use....

You would not believe the difference in detail between a "stock" product and a custom made in any industry.

[haribo]

Chris, I completely understand where you're coming from. I am as detail oriented as you are. Comes with my job. Even worth, in a "former life" before I got into advertising :smile2: I made a 3.5 year apprenticeship as goldsmith in Germany. I'm used to work to a 1/1000 of a millimeter.

But seriously, we are talking golf clubs/wedges here. Yes, I agree they should be perfect or they are not worth the money. But let's face it they are in the end nothing else but tools to hit a darn golf ball. I certainly won't obsess about the perfectness of a neck line or put them behind glass and charge a cover fee at the door.

After one practice session the beauty is starting to fade anyway.

Primo, I agree. Most people don't understand how much custom Scratch wedges can be. You get what you ask for.

Those new OTR wedges look great. But again they are designed with a "most common denominator" in mind to establish some form of "standard" people can benefit from.

haribo

[+TourSpecGolfer]

But seriously, we are talking golf clubs/wedges here. Yes, I agree they should be perfect or they are not worth the money. But let's face it they are in the end nothing else but tools to hit a darn golf ball. I certainly won't obsess about the perfectness of a neck line or put them behind glass and charge a cover fee at the door.  

After one practice session the beauty is starting to fade anyway.

I see nothing wrong with me having a preference, no ones obsessing here, trust me..

[haribo]

I see nothing wrong with me having a preference, no ones obsessing here, trust me..

Wasn't talking about you, Chris. I apologize if I gave you this impression.

All I said is that I AM very picky as well. I just draw the line somewhere else. For example, as I ordered my Scratch wedges I could have gone for a satin or chrome finish as well. But I purposely ordered antique. Reason why is simple. I want my wedges to look used quickly. I want the "virgin-beauty-look" gone as fast as possible. I don't want myself in a position where I'm thinking "Yikes. I got a tricky downhill chipp to a short-sided pin. Best way to deal with it is hitting the ball purposely of the toe of the club ... but, oh NO!!!! ... that would ruin my beautiful wedge!!!!!"

When I buy clubs/wedges (ask Ari) I'm after a certain look and I don't budge until I find/got what I'm looking for. But when they are in my bag I don't hesitate to do whatever I can come up with to get the ball in the hole asap.

That's also a reason why I don't switch clubs often. I'm experimenting with drivers or putters a lot but irons and wedges stay in the bag for years. Doesn't matter how beat up they look.

haribo (the "Anti-Ho" :whistle: )

[icemakr]

Okay,

Honeymoons over, time to ho some more.

Now entertaining offers!!

Ice