You've decided to source golf balls from China. Smart. Dongguan alone produces most of the world's golf products. But for every real factory, there are ten trading companies pretending to be one.
Ask these ten questions. The answers — and how quickly you get them — will tell you who you're really dealing with.
1. "Are you a factory or a trading company?"
The most important question. Ask it directly. Then verify.
Real factories can:
- Send photos of the production floor — with today's date
- Host a video call showing machines running
- Welcome you for a factory visit
- Discuss production specifics in detail
Trading companies:
- Use vague language about "our factory"
- Can't provide real-time production floor photos
- Deflect technical questions to "I'll check with the engineer"
- Avoid or delay factory visit requests
A trading company isn't necessarily bad — some provide good service. But you're paying their markup, and you're one layer removed from the people making your product.
2. "What's your minimum order quantity — and why?"
MOQ tells you about the factory's business model:
- 10,000+ balls: Standard for large factories optimized for container orders. Fine if you're ordering in volume.
- 3,000 balls: Indicates a factory willing to work with small and medium brands. Flexible, but verify quality isn't compromised.
- Under 1,000 balls: Probably a trading company fulfilling from whoever has stock.
Also ask: does your MOQ apply per model, per color, per logo, or per total order? This distinction matters if you plan to stock multiple products.
3. "Can you show me your production line — right now?"
Request a live video call, not pre-recorded footage. Walk through:
- Core vulcanization area
- Injection molding or casting stations
- Printing and painting line
- QC testing area
- Packaging and warehouse
A factory that hesitates, makes excuses, or offers only photos from three years ago is hiding something.
4. "Who are your existing customers?"
A good factory can name reference customers without violating NDAs. Expect to hear:
- Geographic markets served (USA, Japan, Europe)
- Types of customers (brands, distributors, ranges)
- One or two names you might recognize (we can mention Disney and Wilson)
If they claim to make balls for "all the major brands" but can't name a single one — be skeptical. If they share customer names without hesitation — ask yourself whether they'll protect your confidentiality the same way.
5. "What certifications do you have?"
Minimum expectations:
- RoHS compliance (required for EU/US import)
- CE marking (for applicable models)
Beyond compliance, ask:
- Do you have third-party test data? (TrackMan, Foresight, Golf Laboratories)
- Can you provide same-condition comparison data against a reference ball?
- What's your QC sampling method and AQL standard?
6. "How do you handle quality issues?"
Every factory has quality issues. The question is how they handle them.
A good answer sounds like:
- "We do AQL inspection before every shipment"
- "We keep retention samples from every batch for traceability"
- "If there's a confirmed manufacturing defect, we replace or refund"
A bad answer sounds like:
- "We never have quality issues"
- Vague promises without a process
7. "Can I get samples before committing to production?"
If the answer is no, leave.
Pre-production samples are non-negotiable. They let you:
- See the actual ball, not a spec sheet
- Test logo print quality on the real surface
- Feel compression and cover quality
- Show your customers what they'll receive
Sample turnaround should be 5–7 working days. You'll pay for samples — that's normal. What you're buying is the right to verify before committing to thousands.
8. "What file formats do you need for my logo?"
A real factory answers immediately: AI, PDF, or EPS vector files. They can explain why vectors matter — curved golf ball surfaces require clean, scalable artwork. They might ask about Pantone colors, line thickness, or gradient complexity.
If they say "any format is fine" without qualification, they've never handled artwork for pad printing.
9. "What trade terms and payment methods do you accept?"
Standard B2B terms from a Chinese factory:
- Trade terms: EXW, FOB, CIF, DDP
- Payment: 30% deposit, 70% before shipment (via T/T wire transfer)
- Letter of Credit (L/C) for larger orders
If they only accept Western Union or insist on 100% upfront — red flag.
10. "How do you protect my brand design and customer data?"
A professional manufacturer will:
- Offer to sign an NDA before detailed discussions
- Keep your logo artwork and specifications confidential
- Not share your designs with other customers
- Not use your brand name in their marketing without permission
If they show you "samples we made for [other brand]" without that brand's permission, they'll do the same with your designs.
One Bonus Tip — Trust Your Gut on Communication
Pay attention to how they communicate during the sales process:
- Do they answer questions directly, or dance around them?
- Do they respond in hours or days?
- Do they understand what you're asking, or are you constantly re-explaining?
If communication is hard before you've paid them anything, it won't get easier after.
Ready to Talk to a Factory?
We're in Dongguan. You're welcome to visit. Or start with a WhatsApp message — we'll answer all ten questions and more.