I've just taken delivery of a TaylorMade V-Steel II 7-Wood. I was checking it over before taking it down the range, and noticed a definite ridge where the face meets the crown (crown proud of face). Is this normal? I can't find anything similar on any of my other woods (Macgregors/Benrosses). It's my first TM club and I don't know if it's just TM's allegedly patchy quality control, but won't affect playability - it doesn't feel that much sharper or more prominent than a face groove - or whether this is bad enough to send it back?

Secondly, do you think it could be - even worse - a fake? It was from an established online retailer, not fleaBay or anything. My other cause for concern is that although it looks identical to the photos on, say, golfbidder (as far as I can tell), in the word "steel" on the sole the "s" looks slightly small, just not quite right. I don't know if I'm being paranoid, or if I've been sold a pup.

What would you do? I need to decide before I hit it (and I'm dying to)!

best thing to do is take it to your local TM retailer, that is what TM advise on their web site.

I did this about a year ago, got a bit of a ' are you being serious' look but they did authenticate it for me

NB

GVI - you need to get someone to look at your club, from how you have described it, it sounds either badly made or possibly a fake.

TM do have quality issues, but this sounds excessively bad.

Well, it turns out I was being paranoid, and all is fine with the club. Although my current woods don't have as much of a ridge, some of my outgoing set are about the same, and they lasted 5 years, so I'm not going to worry too much.

And if it is a fake, it's a bloody good one. One good enough to out-carry my old 7W by 15-20 yards! In fact, my old 7W's staying in the bag and this one's going to displace my old 5W (being as long, and easier to hit): the only decision now is whether to go for the 5 to match.