What’s the deal with Bridgestone golf shtuff?

[Mookieb10]

I know the topic is a bit less specific than usual, but seriously, what a strange company. They go balls out to promote their balls. They’re great balls and easy to buy. Then with irons, they come out with some incredible irons every few years, but you can’t find a place to buy them, let alone their website. C’mon. I can’t buy these sticks if I wanted to. 

[coops]

I put it down to arse backwards stupidity. ?

 

I'm in Asia, Thailand.

Over here, the 'original' Bridgestone golf brand was TourStage.

http://blog.tourspecgolf.com/2013-tourstage-golf-japan-golf-fair/

Known as one of the absolute top tier golf brands - popular on tour in Japan, and highly respected irons and drivers. Typically the TourStage irons were forged by Endo, and their drivers came with real deal shafts like a Fuijikura Rombax... not some lowest cost bidder 'made for' cheap thing.

 

TourStage balls were their latest and greatest, and they'd filter the last season's stuff down to the 'Bridgestone" brand in golf... 

 

Then after building this tremendous reputation in Asia... some genius decided to ditch the TourStage brand and go all Bridgestone...

 

They could have chosen to develop the TourStage brand in the USA... they already had popularity in the golf retail shops with their balls, so for a few years call it "TourStage by Bridgestone", change their Bridgstone tournament to "TourStage by Bridgestone" to build the brand in the USA and UK, all the while keeping their premium position in Asia.

Instead... they ditch the successful brand name (in Asia) and damage their reputation in the region and then... well, then they continue to NOT have ANY presence in the USA golf retail market for their irons or drivers anyway.... so, why bother?

 

How can a golf company with such a large postion in the ball market, not even get their clubs into the retail space over there? Srixon is a similar example - except they haven't yet (?) ditched the Srixon brand to go all in on the Cleveland name which is theirs.

 

Beats me... i'm not a marketing guru like the chaps at Bridgestone apparently.

Edited September 12, 2020 by coops

[95124hacker]

Only Tour presence is Kuchar and Snedeker. TM dominates with DJ, Rahm, Rory, Tiger, ...

[RogerinNewZealand]

Just this morning local retailer listed 2010 21 hybrid and i did some research on it.Tourstage made great stuff! Always was harder too find BUT worth finding !

[Jack Pearsall]

Tourstage stuff was always top notch but also geared to elders. 

25 years sgo Bridgestone was kind of similar to Mizuno here in the states. The two would be available 

at same stores. Precept. But that all changed and they just were no longer there anymore. The J series irons back when were very popular for an import. Not sure they handled the States very smartly. Their balls are still fantastic and so were their clubs, but they have become kind of bizarre with their club marketing approach. Srixon ate their shorts...

[grm24]

2 hours ago, 95124hacker said:

Only Tour presence is Kuchar and Snedeker. TM dominates with DJ, Rahm, Rory, Tiger, ...

 

Snedeker is playing Srixon irons now. IIRC at one of the Wednesday PGA Tour charity events his caddie was carrying a Srixon bag.

 

Edit: Here is a recent WITB for Snedker.

http://www.golfwrx.com/627764/brandt-snedeker-witb-2020-august/

Edited September 12, 2020 by grm24

[Nixhex524]

I dont even think Sneds is playing the J15s anymore, but the 785s.   Their irons have always been fantastic players CBs it is a real shame they are backing off.  That said, I LOVE the BXS, great ball.

 

EDIT*  posted above.. Sneds and Srixon seems like a good fit... wonder if they could get him in the woods...

Edited September 12, 2020 by Nixhex524

[hobbstc]

Wish I could find a good set of the combo X-BL in the US and not have to buy EBay Japan. Just missed a steal of a deal on a set and am kicking myself.