Originaly published on Sports Illustrated's website.

As the old adage goes, if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. In this case the "too good" is really cheap high-end golf equipment that shows up for sale on the Internet.

Everyone knows that the right equipment is a big part of any golfer's experience. Whether a club has the right feel or makes a ball fly farther or straighter, every golfer wants to have confidence in his equipment. But if you want to feel good about what's in your bag, you had better feel good about where you buy your clubs because there are counterfeiters out there looking to take advantage.

It is estimated that as many as two million counterfeit golf clubs are produced each year. To put that number in perspective, if you laid every fake club end to end, they would stretch from Augusta National to roughly Denver. The reach of the problem is enormous, and the financial impact is in the hundreds of millions of dollars.

For golfers, counterfeit clubs can cause problems that range from a loss of distance and accuracy to safety concerns—shafts that shatter and heads that fly off mid-swing. The industry has done its part to try and take on the problem at the source. In 2004 Acushnet, Callaway, Cleveland/Srixon, Ping and TaylorMade/Adidas formed the U.S. Golf Manufacturers Anti-Counterfeiting Working Group. The group has partnered with law enforcement to identify and shut down countless counterfeit operations in China, Thailand, Vietnam and other countries.

But law enforcement alone won't end the problem. The real power is in the hands of consumers, because as long as there are people who buy counterfeit clubs, there will be counterfeiters. Most buyers don't even realize they're purchasing from sites selling counterfeit goods. They'll probably receive a club that looks like the real thing, but it's doubtful that it will perform like the real thing, because most counterfeit clubs are made of inferior materials.

As a consumer, the best way to avoid counterfeits is to purchase your clubs from authorized dealers. If you're not sure about the authenticity of a website, check where the product is shipping from. Items that derive from a foreign country—particularly China—deserve further scrutiny.

Fake clubs hurt the industry the game and, most important, you. Hit 'em long, hit 'em safe and hit 'em with the real thing.

This article is for general information and does not include full legal analysis of the matters presented. It should not be construed or relied upon as legal advice or legal opinion on any specific facts or circumstances. The description of the results of any specific case or transaction contained herein does not mean or suggest that similar results can or could be obtained in any other matter. Each legal matter should be considered to be unique and subject to varying results. The invitation to contact the authors or attorneys in our firm is not a solicitation to provide professional services and should not be construed as a statement as to any availability to perform legal services in any jurisdiction in which such attorney is not permitted to practice.

Duane Morris LLP, a full-service law firm with more than 700 attorneys in 24 offices in the United States and internationally, offers innovative solutions to the legal and business challenges presented by today's evolving global markets. Duane Morris LLP, a full-service law firm with more than 700 attorneys in 24 offices in the United States and internationally, offers innovative solutions to the legal and business challenges presented by today's evolving global markets. The Duane Morris Institute provides training workshops for HR professionals, in-house counsel, benefits administrators and senior managers.