Club champion acquires TXG (merged)

[dcmidnight]

Damn I watched the TM videos and then blinked and find out Matt is leaving?

 

Nope, I'm out.

 

  

On 1/12/2022 at 8:59 AM, Carolina Golfer 2 said:

Exactly this, while this and other forums represent the most passionate and informed golfer base, it is litterally like 1% of the gofl buying public.  CC relies on it's heavy advertising and the consumer who is coming in off the street (yes offten from lofty CC's) for

fittings. 

 

 

I am on record as thinking the CC fitters there are great. I had a driver fitting there a few years ago where I learned a TON and made a huge, very successful change to my setup - going all the way to a 12* head, turned down one notch, combined with a lighter X flex shaft. I would absolutely do it again - while knowing I would never buy from them.

 

But their sales practices blow. I was fit into - at the time - a no upcharge shaft from TM...that they wanted full retail for in my quote. In other words it wasn't $500 for the driver plus what would be a free shaft from TM - it was $500 for the head and $250 for the shaft. From what I posted on here about my experience, mine was not unusual. So whatever, I knew most of that going in and I certainly know that now.

 

But Joe Public off the street doesnt care, he will buy whats put in front of him.

[Carolina Golfer 2]

16 minutes ago, dcmidnight said:

Damn I watched the TM videos and then blinked and find out Matt is leaving?

 

Nope, I'm out.

 

  

 

 

I am on record as thinking the CC fitters there are great. I had a driver fitting there a few years ago where I learned a TON and made a huge, very successful change to my setup - going all the way to a 12* head, turned down one notch, combined with a lighter X flex shaft. I would absolutely do it again - while knowing I would never buy from them.

 

But their sales practices blow. I was fit into - at the time - a no upcharge shaft from TM...that they wanted full retail for in my quote. In other words it wasn't $500 for the driver plus what would be a free shaft from TM - it was $500 for the head and $250 for the shaft. From what I posted on here about my experience, mine was not unusual. So whatever, I knew most of that going in and I certainly know that now.

 

But Joe Public off the street doesnt care, he will buy whats put in front of him.

If you went to the one in Rockville, I had a great fitting there a few years with Buddah.  He didn't bother with giving me a quote as I was upfront with him and told him I was getting the club for testing for a golf fourm and would happily pay the fitting fee.  I feel like he gave the fitting 100% effort knowing I wasn't goting to buy and evne commeting my swing seemed a bit off that day, as he had fit me before for another test...and told me I could coem back in a day or two if I wanted to double check the specs.  Just an absolute great experience fitting.

 

Contrast that to a fitting in the Baltimore store just 1 year ago, where I kind of had to ask to hit certain shaft combos. This time I was actually open to buying form them if everything was good to go.   In the end, I didn't feel comborable with the fitting results, thinking he was just trying to get me into something, and then the hard sale on the upgrded shafts came.   That's the CC that we all hear about and despise. 

 

[TheBear95]

1 hour ago, dalehead said:

It’s not just the lost subscribers, it’s guys who stay subscribed who no longer watch the channel. That’s likely a much bigger number than those who unsub. You might watch the number of views going forward compared to the Matt/Ian days.

 

Yep. It's the views that matter. 

[eric61]

3 hours ago, eric61 said:

I've been critical about this transition, but I want to jump in with some thoughts defending Mike, who's been on the receiving end of a lot of criticism these last few days.

 

I do think some folks -- particularly in the YouTube comments -- are going way out of bounds. Especially the talk about his weight. First of all, those types of comments are just unkind. And second, he's been open about how he's lost a lot of weight already and is working to lose more this year. I applaud him for being open about personal details like that, and making fun of somebody for something they're already self-conscious about is pretty crappy.

 

I also want to say that performing on camera is harder than it looks. Let's remember, a YouTube channel with 177,000 subscribers isn't small potatoes, but it's not huge, either. It's not like these are guys who work for ESPN or a CNN/MSNBC/Fox News or anything like that, where they've been trained to host and interview people and are well compensated for it. A lot of YouTubers have some bad videos out there. Even TXG had some clunkers in its early days. I think it's fair to say Mike deserves more time to develop his on-camera presence and figure out who he wants to be in these videos. 

 

I would actually like to see Mike play what's traditionally been Ian's role in some videos ... without Ian there. Somebody else could be the hitter. I think a lot of times, because Ian and Mike are both expert club-fitters and builders, they don't have a lot to add to what the other has said. Mike's on-camera presence might develop quicker if he was put in a position where it was on him to be the one explaining and interpreting everything. 

 

Finally, I just want to say, cut the guy some slack. Even if it turns out being on camera isn't something he'll ever be good at, he's still a good dude. He still answers tons of questions every week on his Instagram Q&As, as well as DMs in addition to those. He's out there helping the golf-obsessed community. 

 

I still don't like the way all this went down. I don't think the TXG guys fully understood that so much of their community had come to them precisely because they were everything that Club Champion is not. And I think Matt played a huge role, not just hitting but asking questions and sharing observations that would prompt Ian to offer the in-depth explanations that we've all come to love, and they haven't figured out how to fill that role at all. But I'm uncomfortable with how personal some of the criticism of Mike in particular has become. These are all good guys who have been helpful to us. It's totally fair to criticize the deal with CC and the quality of their videos, but I hope we can lay off the perosnal insults.

I posted this this morning, and just now watched the Sim vs. Sim2 vs. Stealth Plus video. 

 

I have to give Ian and Mike credit where it's due. In that video, you could see Ian making more of an effort to bring Mike in -- asking Mike to share his observations before Ian offered his own. That seemed to help Mike settle in and play a larger role, and also let Ian build on what Mike had said without taking the whole thing over. 

 

Look, it wasn't perfect. Far from it. But it seemed obvious they're trying, and I do give them credit for that.

[wy3134]

slow to the news and just catching up. was odd seeing that new vid out today without Matt.  

 

sucks for those of us who are more intelligent than the average joe off the street just looking to be fit into something with a deep credit card.... cant say i was ever really happy with CC when i did a full bag fitting a few years ago...sure they set me up in a good setup but HATED the continual pressure to buy from them....why I wont be going back anytime soon and tell people to watch out if going there. Also hated how CC says they dont carry certain shafts "because of all the fakes on the market" well if ur supplier is legit then why wont you carry em? oh thats right probably not paid to carry em. hard to say you got a fair fitting if they dont carry one of the best shafts out there (Graphite Design). Luckily i was in there for an iron set fitting, but even then i wasnt thrilled i had to ask to test a couple irons out because it wasnt on their push list. 

[Carolina Golfer 2]

25 minutes ago, eric61 said:

I posted this this morning, and just now watched the Sim vs. Sim2 vs. Stealth Plus video. 

 

I have to give Ian and Mike credit where it's due. In that video, you could see Ian making more of an effort to bring Mike in -- asking Mike to share his observations before Ian offered his own. That seemed to help Mike settle in and play a larger role, and also let Ian build on what Mike had said without taking the whole thing over. 

 

Look, it wasn't perfect. Far from it. But it seemed obvious they're trying, and I do give them credit for that.

Two good posts.  And first and foremost, you are correct anyone that comments on his weight or anyone's personal apperance is an out and out jerk.  That should have nothing to do with the way he's judged in the video quality.

 

And yes, I agree and said as much in one of my earlier posts that he is obviously a top notch fitter and seems like a very godo guy, somepone I would enjoy talking equipment with.

On tothe most recent video, the SIM comparisons.  I agree, I think it was improved alreday.  I think he definitely does better in the setting where they have real results and shots to discuss,  verus just sititng and talking over a subject, like the big annoucment earlier this week.   Which actually brings me to a thought I hadn't had until just now.   He semed very uncomforable in that video, as many have said.  It's entirely possible that it was the entire situation he was uncomforable with.   Remember this affects him very much, in a different way than it did Ian and certainly in a different way than it did Matt.  So he was probably still digesting al lthat.

 

 I will continue to watch the videos and give the new setup a chance to find their niche.   

[Fairways_and_Greens]

On 1/10/2022 at 9:33 AM, jj9000 said:

Looks like TXG is going to have an overnight epiphany that Oban iron shafts and VA Composite wood shafts are... and have been... the best shafts players across the board...for years.

 

 

Guy I play with got the exact setup. With PXG heads no less. 

[Fairways_and_Greens]

So long unbiased reviews that aren’t pure Pollyanna. 
 

🤑🤮😓

[salmon2]

I got fit with Mike a few years ago at their Burlington location and he was fantastic.  Ian is also as friendly in person as he is on camera.  I’m going to give the channel some time to see how or if it changes now that it’s CC owned.  

[Mookieb10]

9 hours ago, KBong said:

1000/179000 = 0.0056

You stated in both posts in a percentage (%).....therefore you have to multiple by 100 to get a percentage.

Therefore the drop is 0.56%.

 

EDIT....just saw the above post while I was typing my post.

 

I'm slow at typing....2 finger chicken plucking...even though I took typing in grade 9...but I didn't pay any attention to actual typing in class because I just looked at the teacher....she was a SMOKESHOW and the only reason I registered for the class.🤣

 

ya , math-doin, two finger-plucker you. 

[cgasucks]

Matt leaving TXG reminds me A LOT of the time when Eben Britton left Mike Tyson's Youtube Channel.  When Eben was with him, the synergy between them was very similar to Matt and Ian.  Both had something to offer in an entertaining way.  He left in early 2021.  Now a year later, Tyson's channel hasn't been the same, in fact, he hasn't posted a new video in 3 months.  Don't think it will happen to TXG that fast but it will be a slow decline I think, especially if Ian's sidekick Mike is co-hosting.  He is hard to watch and listen to.

Edited January 15, 2022 by cgasucks

[I'_rather_be_golfing]

Watched a couple of videos of the latest TXG reviews. And yeah, just doesn’t do it for me. The other guy beside Ian seems like he has zero personality. And just seems awkward. Just doesn’t seem to fit with Ian. 

Edited January 15, 2022 by I'_rather_be_golfing

[Mustard_Tiger]

I just checked CC's YouTube channel. They have 2k subscribers. They clearly don't give two (bleeps) about YouTube. I'm certain all they wanted from TXG was an inroad into Canada for fitting and pushing over priced gear on poutine eating rubes.

 

 

Edited January 15, 2022 by Mustard_Tiger

[Thayneil]

2 hours ago, cgasucks said:

Matt leaving TXG reminds me A LOT of the time when Eben Britton left Mike Tyson's Youtube Channel.  When Eben was with him, the synergy between them was very similar to Matt and Ian.  Both had something to offer in an entertaining way.  He left in early 2021.  Now a year later, Tyson's channel hasn't been the same, in fact, he hasn't posted a new video in 3 months.  Don't think it will happen to TXG that fast but it will be a slow decline I think, especially if Ian's sidekick Mike is co-hosting.  He is hard to watch and listen to.

Seems like Mike lacks the confidence to say much with Ian there bit too much respect if you like.Easier for Matt being a bit more independent?

[Copacetic]

On 1/11/2022 at 9:43 PM, borloryau said:

Actually Matt was an expert.  He has his own production business, that was his job.

He was far from an expert on filming and audio,,production values were ok for amateurs, but not professional. Constant  audio, focus and colour issues. In fairness to Ian, they’ve obviously realised that they need to push values  the Taylormade video they put out last night has much better quality. They’ve clearly brought in professionals, colour, lighting, focus, audio, graphics and editing much improved over anything they’ve done. 

[GolfTurkey]

I guess all good things come to an end and I hope Matt finds success going forward.

 

Don't write Mike off yet. If you watch TXG's early videos, Matt was pretty awkward before he grew into his role.

[gsrjc]

20 hours ago, Carolina Golfer 2 said:

If you went to the one in Rockville, I had a great fitting there a few years with Buddah.  He didn't bother with giving me a quote as I was upfront with him and told him I was getting the club for testing for a golf fourm and would happily pay the fitting fee.  I feel like he gave the fitting 100% effort knowing I wasn't goting to buy and evne commeting my swing seemed a bit off that day, as he had fit me before for another test...and told me I could coem back in a day or two if I wanted to double check the specs.  Just an absolute great experience fitting.

 

Contrast that to a fitting in the Baltimore store just 1 year ago, where I kind of had to ask to hit certain shaft combos. This time I was actually open to buying form them if everything was good to go.   In the end, I didn't feel comborable with the fitting results, thinking he was just trying to get me into something, and then the hard sale on the upgrded shafts came.   That's the CC that we all hear about and despise. 

 

Buddha was great.  Nick at CC Rockville store is awesome. 

[gsrjc]

5 hours ago, GolfTurkey said:

I guess all good things come to an end and I hope Matt finds success going forward.

 

Don't write Mike off yet. If you watch TXG's early videos, Matt was pretty awkward before he grew into his role.

Mike seemed to talk more and be a little more comfortable in the new OG SIM, Sim2, and Stealth video. 

[anw79]

Obviously the departure of Matt is a tough one and from what we can tell, a bit abrupt.  It does sound like he realizes that he had a pretty good gig with TXG where he could take on a bunch of other projects while running TXG youtube channel.  Unfortunately, when you are basically a contractor, that freedom can come at a cost and an acquisition can change quickly change your situation.  Hopefully it works out for all.

 

I have to disagree with the comments saying this is the beginning of the end for TXG youtube.  Those expecting Mike to jump in and fill the spot right away are being completely unrealistic.  They have also said they're not going to try and fill the role with a single person.  Pieces of it, such as video production can easily be replaced.  They need to get some other people hitting balls, Ian is best when he's behind the desk.  Matt and Ian had great chemistry and that will take time to build with other people.  The one thing in TXG that is not replaceable is the deep knowledge that Ian brings to every basically every subject they touch.  As long as that is still there I think they will figure out ways to make it work.

 

 

[casey_0507]

19 hours ago, Fairways_and_Greens said:

So long unbiased reviews that aren’t pure Pollyanna. 
 

🤑🤮😓

I fear this is true as well.  I don't think they are gonna outright lie, but it's how you tell the story of why new product is better than old.  Their pressure from boss company will be to entice people to get fitted and buy new product. 
 

Again I don't think that means they lie, just need to take everything with a grain of salt as they will pick and choose what to focus on.  Sure one video dispersion will be why you should by new club A, and next video it's the extra distance even though dispersion was worse with new club B compared to last years model, etc. 

 

These things never happen where big parent company lets small acquired company keep operating the way they are. It's why In 1-2 years you'll see TXG using trackman for fittings but it'll be spun that the new Titleist ball makes it a superior product. The promise of no change is to get signatures on contracts. 

[Red4282]

Man, i was wondering what happened with matty. The new videos STINK. Matty was the only reason i was still watching. Wish he would hook up with Alex Etches. Would be great. 

[Carolina Golfer 2]

5 hours ago, gsrjc said:

Buddha was great.  Nick at CC Rockville store is awesome. 

Yeah I believe it was Nick I talked to also once when I was there.   Great guy. That is one location I never had a bad experience with. 

[Rutgersgolf]

15 hours ago, Mustard_Tiger said:

I just checked CC's YouTube channel. They have 2k subscribers. They clearly don't give two (bleeps) about YouTube. 

 

They own at least two channels. One has 2K subs the other has 177K.

[USCHawks31]

 

20 hours ago, salmon2 said:

I’m going to give the channel some time to see how or if it changes now that it’s CC owned.  

 

That's not how we do things here on the internet.

[gsrjc]

2 hours ago, Carolina Golfer 2 said:

Yeah I believe it was Nick I talked to also once when I was there.   Great guy. That is one location I never had a bad experience with. 

Agreed. I go there too much. 

[borloryau]

7 hours ago, casey_0507 said:

I fear this is true as well.  I don't think they are gonna outright lie, but it's how you tell the story of why new product is better than old.  Their pressure from boss company will be to entice people to get fitted and buy new product. 
 

Again I don't think that means they lie, just need to take everything with a grain of salt as they will pick and choose what to focus on.  Sure one video dispersion will be why you should by new club A, and next video it's the extra distance even though dispersion was worse with new club B compared to last years model, etc. 

 

These things never happen where big parent company lets small acquired company keep operating the way they are. It's why In 1-2 years you'll see TXG using trackman for fittings but it'll be spun that the new Titleist ball makes it a superior product. The promise of no change is to get signatures on contracts. 

Yah. You gotta take a lot of what you see there with a grain of salt anyways.  Even the Quad data they show on screen is just averages, and can be easily manipulated by picking and choosing which shots are counted.  I've seen some posts out there that show that club A was far superior to club B, but when you look into the individual shot data for Club B, there's clearly some outliers in there skewing the data.

Don't take everything you see on the internet at face value.  Just understand what you're looking at 

 

[RC245]

20 hours ago, GolfTurkey said:

I guess all good things come to an end and I hope Matt finds success going forward.

 

Don't write Mike off yet. If you watch TXG's early videos, Matt was pretty awkward before he grew into his role.

Came to say just this. 

 

Go back to the first videos on the channel. Ian was good, but nothing like he is on camera now. Matt was expectedly a bit uncomfortable in the early going being on the other side of the camera and the lads have talked about this on Live Streams. 

 

Being on camera is difficult and takes time to learn how to be your "on-camera self". Mike is a great dude that everyone would enjoy talking gear with. Give it some time. 

[RCGA]

Mike adds nothing and with Ian hitting balls, you quickly realize it's just two salesmen reading the OEM's marketing notes while hitting into a net. 

 

Also, their Quad is glitching again. On the latest Srixon ball "review" they're getting 292y carry and 316y total on a 165mph ball speed. Plugging those numbers into Flightscope I get 270y carry, 281y total. 

[Fairways_and_Greens]

7 hours ago, RCGA said:

Mike adds nothing and with Ian hitting balls, you quickly realize it's just two salesmen reading the OEM's marketing notes while hitting into a net. 

 

Also, their Quad is glitching again. On the latest Srixon ball "review" they're getting 292y carry and 316y total on a 165mph ball speed. Plugging those numbers into Flightscope I get 270y carry, 281y total. 

They are definitely setting the elevation and temperature high. 

[rlb4]

2 hours ago, Fairways_and_Greens said:

They are definitely setting the elevation and temperature high. 

Club Champion tactics being implemented? 🙂