Serial numbers are no guarantee either, mine both checked out with Taylormade. These clubs look almost perfect and the only way you can really spot the fake is if you hold it side by side with a real one.
Here’s what to look for:
Grips: May smell funny because they are made of recycled inferior rubber and the grooves may overlap or run together where they’re not supposed to. The way it’s painted may look sloppy. This seems to be the weakest part of the counterfeits I’ve seen, seems like they don’t put much effort into getting the grips right.
Shaft: Look closely at every printed detail and how high it’s printed on the shaft, I noticed several discrepancies here.
Hosel: Does it have the same number of lines and how far are they spaced apart.
Head: This is where the counterfeiters seem to put the most effort, color differences seem to be the main differences but otherwise it’s hard to tell from the exterior.
Serial Number: It will probably check out with TaylorMade find out if their records show the same shaft, flex, and set composition as you bought. Mine was perfect except that it should have been 4-SW and the barcode label on the 7 iron said it was a 4-AW set. Also, compare the font shape of the serial number with that of a real one. And is it printed on the surface or engraved into the metal?
From all the homework I’ve done on this and all the eBay postings I’ve looked at. I would guess that the majority of people buying CGBs on eBay probably have fakes and don’t even know it. But make no mistake, just because they look good, they will not have the same playing attributes as the real deal.
I really wish TaylorMade and eBay would do more to educate buyers about this problem. It’s costing TaylorMade a fortune in lost revenue since ebayers are unknowingly buying fake product when they would otherwise buy the real thing and will likely be dissatisfied with the performance. As this becomes more exposed there will be a dramatic loss of buyer confidence in eBay and they stand to loose as well.
I’d like to see a counterfeit club warning on every single golf club listing with updated info on how to spot fakes and known sellers of fakes. Anyway, that’s my two bits hope it helps