Buying new golf clubs is a significant investment and buying new or used clubs on Ebay can save a significant amount of money.  However, there are many fake golf clubs on Ebay.  These are copies - usually from China - that are supposed to look the same as the real ones.  This review will help select out a real set of Ping Rapture Irons, but be careful!  The copies are now faking serial numbers and packaging.  I see several of these on ebay and almost all of them sell for upwards of $600.  There is even a company that sells  fake clubs.  I think there is a company called trade key or something like that where you can get fake clubs.  I could not post a link, but do a google search for fake golf clubs and you will find it.

These are several points that I have learned while searching for a new set of clubs - some of this advice is similar to other guides, and some is different.

Here are some general rules:

#1 - If it seems to good to be true, then it probably is.

#2 - always check feedback - the more the better - sellers with a lot of feedback - may still be selling fake clubs - but I think they would be more likely to fix the problem if one arises.

#3 - New and used clubs can be fake. Someone can be trying to dump their set of fake clubs - because in reality - how many people will pay $1200 for a set of rapture irons - play them three times - and then sell them for half price?  Once in a while sure, but this type of club appears several times a day

#4 - again - general rule, for example at golf galaxy - ping sells their clubs in sets of 8 - either 3-P, or 4-U (and so do most of the fakes) - but always question why someone would by a set of 7 clubs

#5 - get GOOD pictures of the clubs - and look at them - there is really no reason not to post them in the ad or email you some

#6 - get a serial number - this is the nice part about ping - all clubs have a number - and you can verify this through ping

#7 - for specific things different you can see on a picture - the real ping raptures have WTi on the tungsten insert - if you can not see this on the picture - skip it and move on

#8 - have them checked at a golf shop as soon as you get them

#9 - Look at what else the seller has for sale.  A golf dealer or outlet is likely to have some.  An individual may sell a set they no longer want.  But ask yourself - how did this person who usually sells odss and ends get 2 new sets of ping rapture irons and a new set of big berthas - and can now sell them for half price?  I wish I could do this.

#10 - The fake clubs come in graphite and steel shafts - and can have differnet dot colors.

#11 - contact the person with questions - if there is no response - move on

Be patient - the right set of clubs will show up - and for the right price - just do not expect to pay 50% of MSRP for new clubs or a few hundred dollars for a set of used clubs

Hope this helps someone from getting their money taken away.