For those with JDM products of US OEMs

IamMarkMac · March 17, 2014

If you play Titleist VG3, Callaway Legacy Black, TM Gloire, etc. I was wondering, how do people react when they see those clubs that aren't available here in the US?

I just played with my friend (who's a Taylormade fan that plays a complete TM bag from driver to putter) and we were joined by a guy with a Gloire set. My fanboy friend didn't believe they were TM and initially called them fakes.

lumberman2462 · March 17, 2014

I've never been in that situation but can imagine a few friends that would be irritated that another player had special equipment unavailable to them.

A guy I play with frequently is TM'd from Driver to putter to bag and balls....if someone showed up with JDM TaylorMades he'd have to quit at the turn to get online with his Amex card.

stevopagolf · March 21, 2014

usually with

"Where did you get those!?"
"Never seen those"
"Wow"

followed by what other unique goodies do you have in the bag.

golfcaddy1969 · March 21, 2014

Edwin watts in Nashville look at my Gloire like its a fake. Totally unaware of JDM.

Dave Feldman · March 21, 2014

[quote name='stevopagolf' timestamp='1395452008' post='8922293']
usually with

"Where did you get those!?"
"Never seen those"
"Wow"

followed by what other unique goodies do you have in the bag.
[/quote]I play a number of JDM TM clubs. I get those same questions and reaponses all the time. Thing you do have to be careful of is there are a lot of fakes on line.

But overall it's a lot of fun when other players notice and you get to see their genuine interest.

stevopagolf · March 22, 2014

True there are a lot of fakes. I bought my irons new. Anything used I only buy from someone I know through the forums.

I avoid ebay. I play the Gloire Reserve Driver. Unique ceramic composite face. Ridiculously forgiving and as long as anything. Feels great as well.

golfcaddy1969 · March 22, 2014

I have to say that my 2014 Gloire is unreal in terms of forgiveness and feel. Now to settle on a shaft.

Hatchmanss76 · March 23, 2014

I knew of the Titelist V3 and Callaway Legacy Black being JDM and have seen the odd example here and there.
Never knew about the TM Gloire stuff until I was doing some searching online about the SLDR 430 I just bought.
Biggest question is why the different designs for the different world markets?

IamMarkMac · March 23, 2014

[quote name='Hatchmanss76' timestamp='1395555402' post='8929559']
I knew of the Titelist V3 and Callaway Legacy Black being JDM and have seen the odd example here and there.
Never knew about the TM Gloire stuff until I was doing some searching online about the SLDR 430 I just bought.
Biggest question is why the different designs for the different world markets?
[/quote]

That's not really a big question. Different markets like different things and are willing to pay different prices.

stevopagolf · March 23, 2014

On average, Japanese golfers, perhaps Japanese in general, are willing to pay more for the latest golf technology. Golf is a very exclusive game in Japan.

Many of the technologies that are found in Japanese Domestic Market clubs eventually find there way into USDM clubs in later years as technology costs come down.

Prime examples are high carbon graphite shafts and different club head face materials. The Gloire Driver uses a composite technology that is light weight strong and gives the ability to have a larger sweet spot.

If you look at irons, they typically are similar in cost JDM to USDM. The new 2014 VG3's are around $1200, similar in price to the forged AP2. So not that drastically different as the technology are very similar in those clubs.