Taylormade Stealth 2……it’s happening?????? Black and Red

[FormerBigDaddy]

Looks to me like tiger and Charlie both still hitting the OG Stealth at PNC. 

[getair23]

3 minutes ago, FormerBigDaddy said:

Looks to me like tiger and Charlie both still hitting the OG Stealth at PNC. 

I doubt we will see these in tournament play until they hit the USGA conforming list.  

[capifico22]

They're so hot and so straight that the USGA hasn't approved them yet!

[03trdblack]

3 hours ago, Wayside said:

To an extent, but the “All advertising is good advertising” thing for a new model only applies when you haven’t got a load of current stock still in stores, which will then need bigger discounts to shift. 
 

It’s understandable that people want to see these pics, but there’s reasons things proceed at the pace they do. We maybe don’t think enough about the people who don’t want these things to leak, and who get disciplined when they do. Yes, speaking from past experience!

 

I understand, to a point, but that's their problem to figure out and people already know when the new stuff is coming out every year whether they have seen a picture of it yet or not.  It almost happens like clockwork for TM.  If you buy a driver in December, the new version is going to make its appearance in Jan. 

 

Take PXG for an example.  They've figured out that sitting on old inventory is bad and discount the begeezus out of it to get it out of the warehouse as soon as possible.

 

 

Edited December 16, 2022 by 03trdblack

[505]

4 hours ago, Wayside said:

We maybe don’t think enough about the people who don’t want these things to leak, and who get disciplined when they do.

 

If they don't want things to leak until the planned official release, perhaps having every youtuber on the planet come and see it beforehand and sending out countless samples isn't the best idea. They want to have it both ways, and act all surprised every single time this happens.

 

TM - I love your clubs, but this is not a good look. Going after people (that are simply reposting already posted pictures) with baseless legal threats is ridiculous. 

[505]

Sorry dbl post.

Edited December 16, 2022 by 505

[chisag]

8 minutes ago, 505 said:

TM - I love your clubs, but this is not a good look. Going after people (that are simply reposting already posted pictures) with baseless legal threats is ridiculous. They want to have it both ways.

 

 

... I just don't understand what folks expect from OEMs. Of course they want it both ways. Until I read where someone is actually served with a law suit I will just chalk it up to OEMs protecting their product. Like a letter from an HOA claiming legal action for installing a Direct TV dish that cannot be enforced due to the Freedom Of Information Act. Considering how many negative comments WRX gets from just looking at the sole of a club I don't blame the OEMs. I do miss the days of excitement building up to the PGA Show with constant speculation but no photos/videos then millions looking at the photo/video releases every day of the show. Anticipation is a rare commodity in todays I WANT IT NOW world. 

[eric61]

1 hour ago, 505 said:

 

If they don't want things to leak until the planned official release, perhaps having every youtuber on the planet come and see it beforehand and sending out countless samples isn't the best idea.

 

LOL, right? Trying to keep a secret while simultaneously telling that secret to hundreds of people who love to gossip, and hoping they won't blab until the exact date and time you want them to blab, might not be a foolproof plan.

[Wayside]

5 hours ago, 03trdblack said:

I understand, to a point, but that's their problem to figure out and people already know when the new stuff is coming out every year whether they have seen a picture of it yet or not.  It almost happens like clockwork for TM.  If you buy a driver in December, the new version is going to make its appearance in Jan. 

 

Take PXG for an example.  They've figured out that sitting on old inventory is bad and discount the begeezus out of it to get it out of the warehouse as soon as possible.

Sure, we know that, but ‘people’ who frequent places like this, and the typical golfer (the ones who actually buy the majority of the gear on the market) are very different. Your average hacker doesn’t really know when something is coming out.
 

I’ve seen it happen so many times - I fit a guy for a driver, he’s absolutely thrilled with it, then the forum guy at his club sneers at him that he’s bought something which is about to be replaced and he’s back at the counter calling me a con man and wanting his money back. But if I say ‘maybe wait’, he gets impatient and goes to another store and I lose a sale and a customer. 
 

I love PXG, I’ve recently bought some of their stuff, but they don’t have the constraints that other OEMs do. They have a slightly eccentric billionaire who does things on a whim!

3 hours ago, 505 said:

If they don't want things to leak until the planned official release, perhaps having every youtuber on the planet come and see it beforehand and sending out countless samples isn't the best idea. They want to have it both ways, and act all surprised every single time this happens.

 

TM - I love your clubs, but this is not a good look. Going after people (that are simply reposting already posted pictures) with baseless legal threats is ridiculous. 

I get what you’re saying, but I don’t think they necessarily want it both ways. It’s just they need the YouTuber/social media angle so much that they risk it.
 

When your local rep shows you the driver, if he’s a decent rep he’s trying to look after you. What he absolutely doesn’t need is you sneaking a pic of the driver, which may be a sample which often isn’t reflective of the finished product, then sticking it on the net. He absolutely has to show you the product, much like OEMs now have to show ‘influencers’ (vomit), but there should be trust that goes both ways. 
 

All I know is that I wouldn’t want to be a sales rep just now. Such a tough job. 

Edited December 16, 2022 by Wayside

[getitdaily]

Who's with me on the train of "I couldn't care less that TM wants to control the narrative"?

[radiman]

I’m fine with oems trying to protect their work. I can’t say I’ve ever had a bad taste in my mouth because they won’t let pics leak or having to wait to see something. It is what it is. There are a lot of people behind the scenes busting their arses off trying to get these product launches put together and implemented. 

[Wayside]

11 minutes ago, radiman said:

I’m fine with oems trying to protect their work. I can’t say I’ve ever had a bad taste in my mouth because they won’t let pics leak or having to wait to see something. It is what it is. There are a lot of people behind the scenes busting their arses off trying to get these product launches put together and implemented. 

If only more people were of this opinion, rather than “I want to see it, it’s no big deal” or the typical “They make loads of money so I don’t care” take. 
 

There are people losing their jobs, or at the very least getting severely spanked asses, because this stuff gets out. If only people realised the cost of seeing pre-release pics of a golf club. 
 

After I worked in golf, I worked in trainers/sneakers. Sneakerheads are even worse. Instant gratification FTW. 

[505]

38 minutes ago, Wayside said:

I get what you’re saying, but I don’t think they necessarily want it both ways. It’s just they need the YouTuber/social media angle so much that they risk it.

 

As good as they are at marketing and design/manufacture, it baffles me that this is so difficult every year.

 

Say the target launch is February 28th. Discount the old line December 1st. That's three months to start moving out the old product and it's during prime holiday shopping season (1 month before xmas and 2 after for people that get gift cards/cash).  Keep the club under tight wraps to everyone including reps and these "influencers" (agreed on vomit), basically only the most trustworthy need-to-knows see it.

 

Start teasing the new line around January 15th-20th and start bringing in the influencers and reps to see it. Last week in January when the PGA show rolls around, you have the public reveal and end any embargoes. Preorders open immediately. Launch 1 month later February 28th / March 1st.

 

Seems easy enough, and only leaves a few days for mass chances of leaks instead of months.

 

Seriously, people in this very thread have claimed to have seen this driver months ago. Why did they need to see it in Sep/Oct if it's not out until Feb/Mar? Why do companies still think they can keep this stuff a secret for 4 months when they are showing it to 100's/1000's of people? It's always going to leak in uncontrolled conditions.

 

And once it does, going after people that repost the pictures with threatening legalese is just bad form IMO. 

[zap311]

53 minutes ago, getitdaily said:

Who's with me on the train of "I couldn't care less that TM wants to control the narrative"?

 

I'm with you in the sense that I think it's TaylorMade's right to present new products in the manner they desire, whether that be through a major launch date, seeding with tour players, etc.

 

My 2 cents:

• On sharing with influencers & wholesale customers first - Every industry that I've worked in always gives a preview of innovation to these audiences. It's best practice for suppliers to give a preview & insight to these partners prior to consumers. All of them already have or sign additional NDAs, which if they choose to violate, typically just means they won't be included next time or will lose right to distribution. In rare cases where it negatively impacts the launch or sales of the product, they may consider further legal action (i.e. YT influencer releases a video pre-embargo bashing the product and marketing claims).
• In regards to the legal letter - I agree with others that it is a bit aggressive, but it's likely a CYA letter rather than one that comes with any serious implications for the IG account. I'm sure TM Legal wants to have it on record that they sent a cease & desist, in case the leak takes a turn for the worse and materially affects product sales or the like. 

[Wayside]

1 hour ago, 505 said:

 

As good as they are at marketing and design/manufacture, it baffles me that this is so difficult every year.

 

Say the target launch is February 28th. Discount the old line December 1st. That's three months to start moving out the old product and it's during prime holiday shopping season (1 month before xmas and 2 after for people that get gift cards/cash).  Keep the club under tight wraps to everyone including reps and these "influencers" (agreed on vomit), basically only the most trustworthy need-to-knows see it.

 

Start teasing the new line around January 15th-20th and start bringing in the influencers and reps to see it. Last week in January when the PGA show rolls around, you have the public reveal and end any embargoes. Preorders open immediately. Launch 1 month later February 28th / March 1st.

 

Seems easy enough, and only leaves a few days for mass chances of leaks instead of months.

 

Seriously, people in this very thread have claimed to have seen this driver months ago. Why did they need to see it in Sep/Oct if it's not out until Feb/Mar? Why do companies still think they can keep this stuff a secret for 4 months when they are showing it to 100's/1000's of people? It's always going to leak in uncontrolled conditions.

 

And once it does, going after people that repost the pictures with threatening legalese is just bad form IMO. 

I genuinely mean this in the nicest way possible, but if a ‘solution’ seems obvious to a forum user, then it’ll be even more obvious to the industry experts who OEMs employ to make these decisions. If it’s not done, it’s likely because it’s not actually a good idea after all.
 

For instance, you can’t really set a specific date to start discounting. If a buyer (either the OEM or retail) has overbought then, yes, that’s partly his problem, but it’s also subject to various external factors. If you just set a specific discount date and you happen to have excess stock at retail, you’ll lose a fair bit of money. 
 

I agree with you that showing samples so early seems like a silly thing to do, but I know that if they do it so early there must be a reason for it. Possibly order projections. 
 

My old store was a key account for one of the big OEMs. We saw the stuff well in advance of our competitors and received other benefits. We, in turn, branded our store to suit the OEM, and in our country we were probably the main dealer. They scratched our back, etc. 

 

None of this was an issue until camera phones came out. I mean, the thing that caused a fuss for me was because I scanned some info and posted it 😄

Edited December 17, 2022 by Wayside

[AC168]

Quite a few staff pros have seen and hit driver and fwy woods from what I know.  At same time, I’m pretty sure they didn’t have phones on them and signed NDAs.

[9ccat9]

On 12/12/2022 at 8:53 PM, noodle3872 said:

Are you referencing the Stealth 3 wood fitting heads that popped up last year? 

Yes. 

[Carolina Golfer 2]

19 hours ago, Wayside said:

Sure, we know that, but ‘people’ who frequent places like this, and the typical golfer (the ones who actually buy the majority of the gear on the market) are very different. Your average hacker doesn’t really know when something is coming out.
 

I’ve seen it happen so many times - I fit a guy for a driver, he’s absolutely thrilled with it, then the forum guy at his club sneers at him that he’s bought something which is about to be replaced and he’s back at the counter calling me a con man and wanting his money back. But if I say ‘maybe wait’, he gets impatient and goes to another store and I lose a sale and a customer. 
 

I love PXG, I’ve recently bought some of their stuff, but they don’t have the constraints that other OEMs do. They have a slightly eccentric billionaire who does things on a whim!

I get what you’re saying, but I don’t think they necessarily want it both ways. It’s just they need the YouTuber/social media angle so much that they risk it.
 

When your local rep shows you the driver, if he’s a decent rep he’s trying to look after you. What he absolutely doesn’t need is you sneaking a pic of the driver, which may be a sample which often isn’t reflective of the finished product, then sticking it on the net. He absolutely has to show you the product, much like OEMs now have to show ‘influencers’ (vomit), but there should be trust that goes both ways. 
 

All I know is that I wouldn’t want to be a sales rep just now. Such a tough job. 

Both replies are so spot on.  Well said. 

[Carolina Golfer 2]

18 hours ago, 505 said:

 

As good as they are at marketing and design/manufacture, it baffles me that this is so difficult every year.

 

Say the target launch is February 28th. Discount the old line December 1st. That's three months to start moving out the old product and it's during prime holiday shopping season (1 month before xmas and 2 after for people that get gift cards/cash).  Keep the club under tight wraps to everyone including reps and these "influencers" (agreed on vomit), basically only the most trustworthy need-to-knows see it.

 

Start teasing the new line around January 15th-20th and start bringing in the influencers and reps to see it. Last week in January when the PGA show rolls around, you have the public reveal and end any embargoes. Preorders open immediately. Launch 1 month later February 28th / March 1st.

 

Seems easy enough, and only leaves a few days for mass chances of leaks instead of months.

 

Seriously, people in this very thread have claimed to have seen this driver months ago. Why did they need to see it in Sep/Oct if it's not out until Feb/Mar? Why do companies still think they can keep this stuff a secret for 4 months when they are showing it to 100's/1000's of people? It's always going to leak in uncontrolled conditions.

 

And once it does, going after people that repost the pictures with threatening legalese is just bad form IMO. 

Reps show it to us (accounts) in the falls so they can get their spring pre bookings in by November.   The OEM needs to have these orders to habe somewhat of an idea of what they need to have in production and by when.   Also to set 1st quarter and 2nd quarter sales projections.   Public companies need to have that info. 
 

we all think it’s so simple.  But it’s not just like David Abeles shouts down the hallway.  Hey tell China to make 1.5 million stealths….that’s my hunch on how many we’ll sell. 

[Pastit]

16 hours ago, Carolina Golfer 2 said:

Both replies are so spot on.  Well said. 

There’s a danger in misunderstanding integrity in selling. If I conned a customer and he found out, he might not tell me and take his business elsewhere plus my name is mud in my locality. 
 

But if I’m honest with the customer about product releases I know about and discount the current product then he may return again and again. TM’s product-release cycle is well known by now and most fall for it once only. 

[johnnylongballz72]

This thread has gone off the rails. lol 

 

For the love of God..... Please someone leak a photo of the fairway woods to get us back on track. 

[Wayside]

11 hours ago, Pastit said:

There’s a danger in misunderstanding integrity in selling. If I conned a customer and he found out, he might not tell me and take his business elsewhere plus my name is mud in my locality. 
 

But if I’m honest with the customer about product releases I know about and discount the current product then he may return again and again. TM’s product-release cycle is well known by now and most fall for it once only. 

I think this shows how difficult it is to sell golf equipment, or anything with eagerly expected launches. 
 

You’re not conning a customer by selling him a driver which is mid-way through its life-cycle. 
 

If you’re ‘honest’ with your customer about product releases you won’t have an account to buy said product. More importantly, your rep might be out of a job. You have to show integrity towards your suppliers as well as your buyers.
 

Club release schedules aren’t widely known. A large part of the market wouldn’t even be able to tell you what the current model is called.

 

I’ll endeavour not to go into it any further as I guess this isn’t the place for it! Apologies. 

Edited December 18, 2022 by Wayside

[Jeffyr11]

Natalie Gulbis posted on IG and has a picture of the driver in it

[Jeffyr11]

[NewDecadeMultiCompound]

not fairway 😞

 

Edited December 19, 2022 by Glassmen61

[Gary Gutful]

11 hours ago, Wayside said:

I think this shows how difficult it is to sell golf equipment, or anything with eagerly expected launches. 
 

You’re not conning a customer by selling him a driver which is mid-way through its life-cycle. 
 

If you’re ‘honest’ with your customer about product releases you won’t have an account to buy said product. More importantly, your rep might be out of a job. You have to show integrity towards your suppliers as well as your buyers.
 

Club release schedules aren’t widely known. A large part of the market wouldn’t even be able to tell you what the current model is called.

 

I’ll endeavour not to go into it any further as I guess this isn’t the place for it! Apologies. 

It is the place for it. Well articulated, intelligent posts always have a place.

[getitdaily]

In 10 minutes I post a pic of the fairway...

[getitdaily]

Here you go

 

 

 

 

[TaylorMadeLuv]

2 hours ago, getitdaily said:

Here you go

 

 

 

 

Tease...Albeit, its nice to see one of these now and again...

[boggyman]

11 hours ago, Jeffyr11 said:

Natalie Gulbis posted on IG and has a picture of the driver in it

She still plays golf?? 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣