University scientists reveal truth about fake golf clubs

Experts at the university's centre for sport and exercise science and its materials engineering department put two clubs – one real and one fake – through a series of tests to determine how they differed.

They found that, although some counterfeit clubs looked remarkably similar to the real thing, their shoddy engineering means they will break quickly and could make a marked difference to a golfer's game.

First the clubs were put through their paces by a professional golfer. Initially, he was unable to tell the difference between the two but, after a number of strokes the counterfeit club began to rattle.

It was not until the clubs were taken apart and analysed that the true extent of their differences was revealed.

Tests showed that despite the clubs being made of similar metals, the fake club had not been properly heat-treated – meaning it would not be as strong as the real one.

The two clubs' carbon fibre shafts were also markedly different. The counterfeit's shaft was much thicker, making the club more rigid and liable to break.

Finally, the removable heel and toe weights found in the fake club's head were significantly inaccurate – the toe weight marked two grams actually weighed 3.5 grams, 55 per cent heavier, while the heel weight marked 14 grams was 12 grams.

Tim Vernon, from the centre for sport and exercise science, said: "The counterfeit club certainly looked genuine and performed remarkably well in the hands of a professional player.

"It would be easy to see why amateurs could be fooled into buying a cheap fake off the internet, but the forensic tests showed just how badly the counterfeit was actually put together. These differences could certainly have an effect on a golfer's game."