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Are the equipment companies killing golf?


bkloess

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With how quickly the large companies churn out new clubs, do you think that the average golfer is fed up with it? Does technology keep advancing that rapidly that club makers have to come out with a product that is that much better than the previous line? Tell me what you think.

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I think it's all in people's heads. If you don't want new clubs, don't buy them. If you have a need to have the newest stuff when even the OEM'S have mostly stopped saying that they are all 10yds longer than the last, that's on the individual not the OEM

 

Until they start forcing you at gunpoint to buy things we shouldn't be too upset

 

I also don't think cost of equipment is related to our enjoyment of golf any more now than at any point in history

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No one is obligated to buy new clubs. I think the average golfer knows that as long as they have semi recent clubs, new technology isn't going to change their game tremendously. However, everyone here knows just how fun it is to buy a new set of sticks just to see if the new fit will make a difference for them. I do not think the fact that companies keep offering new products is hurting golf, in fact it is probably helping.

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Kinda how car companies are destroying driving. Everyone is saying "F it, I'm walking to work from now on". LOL

Walter: Tell me Bobby, why do you play this game?
Bobby: I play because I love it.
Walter: Well I play for the money. I have to win. That is why every time we face each other I will always beat you.

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Luckily for the OEM's there's a sucker born every minute. Otherwise they wouldn't be doing it the way they do.

 

Unfortunately, I fall heavily on the side of the sucker category although I actually just really, really like new toys!

 

You're welcome Mr. OEM.......

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With how quickly the large companies churn out new clubs, do you think that the average golfer is fed up with it?

 

No. It seems to me that the *average* golfer tends to play the same set of irons for five years or more and doesn't swap anything out more often than every two or three years, with the possible exception of driver or putter for some folks.

 

The average WRXer is a different story.

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Don’t think average golfers even pay attention.

You have a good point regarding the average golfer.

Granted, there are no statistics that I can cite to support this notion, however I can say that the majority of golfers at my public course stay with the same equipment for long periods of time.

This includes the majority of low handicappers I know at the club.

Truth be told, I would love to know which group or groups of golfers most frequently buy new equipment and whether there is a correlation to the number of rounds said golfers play, along with whether they are low mid or high handicappers

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Kinda how car companies are destroying driving. Everyone is saying "F it, I'm walking to work from now on". LOL

That isn't a fair statement because 90%+ of the population isn't playing golf
Ping G400 LST 9.5 w/ Rogue 125 TX
Ping G30 13 w/ Tour AD-DI 8x
Ping S55 (3-P) w/ Tour Issue DG x100 +.5
Ping Tour Gorge 52/56/60 w/ DG TI S400
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It might be a little worrisome when you think of how a novice might view new equipment as a way to improve their game from buying clubs rather than practicing and improving their skills. A good player can play with anything though. There's also nothing wrong with buying new clubs all the time if that's what you like to do and you can afford it. There's no absolute rule. I see lots of great players switch out clubs like some guys change their socks. Lots of good players keep clubs for a decade or more. The same can be said for higher handicap players. It's supposed to be fun. I started playing tennis with my wife. The pro sold me a new racket two years ago. It has not once occurred to me to buy a new one. I wish I could apply that concept to my golf sometimes...

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Don't think average golfers even pay attention.

You have a good point regarding the average golfer.

Granted, there are no statistics that I can cite to support this notion, however I can say that the majority of golfers at my public course stay with the same equipment for long periods of time.

This includes the majority of low handicappers I know at the club.

Truth be told, I would love to know which group or groups of golfers most frequently buy new equipment and whether there is a correlation to the number of rounds said golfers play, along with whether they are low mid or high handicappers

I probably should have stated about growing the game with new golfers
Ping G400 LST 9.5 w/ Rogue 125 TX
Ping G30 13 w/ Tour AD-DI 8x
Ping S55 (3-P) w/ Tour Issue DG x100 +.5
Ping Tour Gorge 52/56/60 w/ DG TI S400
Scotty 009/ Scotty FB+ Circle T
Titleist Pro V1x
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Don't think average golfers even pay attention.

You have a good point regarding the average golfer.

Granted, there are no statistics that I can cite to support this notion, however I can say that the majority of golfers at my public course stay with the same equipment for long periods of time.

This includes the majority of low handicappers I know at the club.

Truth be told, I would love to know which group or groups of golfers most frequently buy new equipment and whether there is a correlation to the number of rounds said golfers play, along with whether they are low mid or high handicappers

That's why I wanted to see other people's opinions on the subject.
Ping G400 LST 9.5 w/ Rogue 125 TX
Ping G30 13 w/ Tour AD-DI 8x
Ping S55 (3-P) w/ Tour Issue DG x100 +.5
Ping Tour Gorge 52/56/60 w/ DG TI S400
Scotty 009/ Scotty FB+ Circle T
Titleist Pro V1x
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it is getting a little absurd at this point, and the marketing is a cringefest for the most part.

Very true. I have no problem with new clubs, just not every 4 months, it seems
Ping G400 LST 9.5 w/ Rogue 125 TX
Ping G30 13 w/ Tour AD-DI 8x
Ping S55 (3-P) w/ Tour Issue DG x100 +.5
Ping Tour Gorge 52/56/60 w/ DG TI S400
Scotty 009/ Scotty FB+ Circle T
Titleist Pro V1x
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It might be a little worrisome when you think of how a novice might view new equipment as a way to improve their game from buying clubs rather than practicing and improving their skills. A good player can play with anything though. There's also nothing wrong with buying new clubs all the time if that's what you like to do and you can afford it. There's no absolute rule. I see lots of great players switch out clubs like some guys change their socks. Lots of good players keep clubs for a decade or more. The same can be said for higher handicap players. It's supposed to be fun. I started playing tennis with my wife. The pro sold me a new racket two years ago. It has not once occurred to me to buy a new one. I wish I could apply that concept to my golf sometimes...

The problem is that they market it in a way that makes novice golfers believe that the equipment will automatically make them better.

 

Don't think average golfers even pay attention.

You have a good point regarding the average golfer.

Granted, there are no statistics that I can cite to support this notion, however I can say that the majority of golfers at my public course stay with the same equipment for long periods of time.

This includes the majority of low handicappers I know at the club.

Truth be told, I would love to know which group or groups of golfers most frequently buy new equipment and whether there is a correlation to the number of rounds said golfers play, along with whether they are low mid or high handicappers

That would be some awesome stats to know.
Ping G400 LST 9.5 w/ Rogue 125 TX
Ping G30 13 w/ Tour AD-DI 8x
Ping S55 (3-P) w/ Tour Issue DG x100 +.5
Ping Tour Gorge 52/56/60 w/ DG TI S400
Scotty 009/ Scotty FB+ Circle T
Titleist Pro V1x
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I also think that people are getting smarter about it though too. Watch any review by credible sources on youtube and you see that technology hasn't changed equipment enough to make a difference in recent time. Mark Crossfield, Rick Shiels, Me and My Golf...any of them show how the club isn't doing anything new. Marketing only and people are learning that.

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I think one of the great things of these products coming out so frequently is that we as consumers get to see more reviews, more comparisons and more drops in prices.

 

I love feeling like I got a great deal on clubs buying them late in the season.

 

Who that hurts most is the OEM themselves and the middleman who sells the clubs. Like most sports, you dont' have to spend an absolute fortune to start playing, so the sport can still grow and more people can play.

 

Also, the cost of playing at a course and the time associated with it, is what i feel is more of a deterrent to golf than new equipment costs for the average golfer.

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one thing i learned, you can't buy a golf game but that has not stopped me from buying the best and latest, i just wait a year until they are on sale. so technically, i am only a year behind in technology. having said that, i could play my 12 year old bridgestone j33 cbs and woods, 905R driver, vokey 200 wedges and an old ping anser 2 and score the same.

 
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it is getting a little absurd at this point, and the marketing is a cringefest for the most part.

Very true. I have no problem with new clubs, just not every 4 months, it seems

 

Were you guys playing golf 7-8 years ago? The marketing used to be way worse. I find it's actually better now

 

And in regards to product cycles, they are more consistent at least and clubs aren't discounted as significantly

 

7-8 years ago a driver would come out and the OEM (for the sake of argument, let's call them Coillaway or TaylorMode) would say it's 10 yards longer than the one before it, and 6 months later it would be discounted by 50% and the next one would come out that was again 10yds longer. I think at one point a 3 wood was advertised as up to 30yds longer

 

That doesn't happen as much anymore

Srixon ZX5 w/PX Hzrdus Red 60

Srixon ZX 15 w/PX Hzrdus Red 70

Tour Edge C723 21* w/PX hzrdus black 80

Titleist T150 4-AW w/PX LZ 6.0

Titleist Jet Black 54/60 with PX LZ 6.0

Deschamps Crisp Antique 

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I also think that people are getting smarter about it though too. Watch any review by credible sources on youtube and you see that technology hasn't changed equipment enough to make a difference in recent time. Mark Crossfield, Rick Shiels, Me and My Golf...any of them show how the club isn't doing anything new. Marketing only and people are learning that.

I watch them all the time, but are the new and/or novice golfer watching those guys or watching the ads for these new clubs?
Ping G400 LST 9.5 w/ Rogue 125 TX
Ping G30 13 w/ Tour AD-DI 8x
Ping S55 (3-P) w/ Tour Issue DG x100 +.5
Ping Tour Gorge 52/56/60 w/ DG TI S400
Scotty 009/ Scotty FB+ Circle T
Titleist Pro V1x
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I think one of the great things of these products coming out so frequently is that we as consumers get to see more reviews, more comparisons and more drops in prices.

 

I love feeling like I got a great deal on clubs buying them late in the season.

 

Who that hurts most is the OEM themselves and the middleman who sells the clubs. Like most sports, you dont' have to spend an absolute fortune to start playing, so the sport can still grow and more people can play.

 

Also, the cost of playing at a course and the time associated with it, is what i feel is more of a deterrent to golf than new equipment costs for the average golfer.

That's a great point
Ping G400 LST 9.5 w/ Rogue 125 TX
Ping G30 13 w/ Tour AD-DI 8x
Ping S55 (3-P) w/ Tour Issue DG x100 +.5
Ping Tour Gorge 52/56/60 w/ DG TI S400
Scotty 009/ Scotty FB+ Circle T
Titleist Pro V1x
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The bottom line is there must be enough people who like upgrading their clubs periodically or companies would not be churning out a new product every year or less. I am the master of myself when it comes to what I purchase and what clubs I play. Do I think it is destroying the game? No. I think it actually makes the game more enjoyable seeing all the different equipment and having the opportunity to purchase it if I so choose. I also think that people put too much hope in the idea that clubs will improve their game exponentially. It takes dedication, lessons, practice, and desire to change your game.

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It is expected for each of these manufacturer's to make improvements to their golf equipment each year. Most of us look forward to the grand announcements at the PGA show. No one is forced to buy the new products but if the big boys want to stay in business they need to be innovative or at least creative in their marketing. Are they killing golf nope they are keeping it alive.

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Even though I'm a prime offender I personally believe buying new stuff all the time is a relative waste of money.

 

I say "relative" because if what you're doing with your expendable money makes you happy then how can it be a waste?

 

And buying golf and fishing stuff makes me happy!

 

My wife not so much sometimes but that's another topic.........

Ping G430 Max with Ping Distanza or MP5 Ladies flex or Grafalloy Pro Launch Blue 45 in Senior

Ping G430 Five Wood Ping Distanza

Ping G430 Seven Wood Ping Distanza

Ping G430 Nine Wood Ping Distanza

Ping i230 5-PW Red Dot + 1"  Recoil Dart 105

Ping i230 Utility Wedge +1" Recoil Dart 105

Ping Glide 4.0 56 Degree ES Red Dot ZZ 115

Scotty Cameron Squareback 2.5 341/2"

Scotty Cameron Phantom X 5.5 35"

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