The name Top Flight is synonymous with golf balls in most golf circles, and many believe they are a haphazard brand, established to bring a low-cost ball into the market. However, the balls and Top Flight golf clubs have been around since 1895, when A.G. Spalding introduced the Spalding Wizard, one of the country’s first manufactured golf balls.

In the Spalding more than 100 years of history, they have emerged as a major player and a subsidiary of Calloway Golf. With numerous innovations along the way to improve golf ball construction as well as Top Flight golf clubs under the Ben Hogan name, when it purchased the rights from the legendary winner of over 71 major titles during his reign on the professional courses. His irons have revolutionized many aspects of the short game and his reputation continues to live on.

The wizard was the first hard cover ball with a rubber core and raised dots and was used by Harry Vardon to win his first of six U.S. Open championships. In 1903, the softer balata covered ball was introduced and in 1909 the first modern style ball with dimples made its appearance on pro courses everywhere. It was not until 1919 that Top Flight golf clubs appeared as a complete set of matched woods and irons.

Graphite Joins Metal In Modern Woods

Thunder Heat from Top Flight golf clubs made its first appearance in 1992 and was the first metal wood to use a graphite insert to work with the Top Flight golf balls for distance and accuracy. But it was 1953’s design by Ben Hogan that has seen slight changes over the years, now offered under the Top Flight golf clubs name, under the umbrella of Calloway Golf.

As a top innovator of golf balls and ball design, including the materials used in their manufacture, Top Flight golf clubs took a circuitous route, begin designed to strike the newly designed balls with greater accuracy and speed, rather than the ball being designed to be driven by the club. Extra whip and less twist can provide a more forgiving sweet spot on the club heads, in both irons and woods.

Between Spalding’s design of balls and clubs, and Calloway’s famous name for both, Top Flight golf clubs may seem like a footnote in the history of both companies, while the Top Flight golf ball is on top of the game. Through 100 years of designs and new materials, Top Flight golf clubs meet the Top Flight golf balls on courses for players of many skill levels.