OEM's and Junior Support

[kekoa]

I just thought it would be fun to discuss what you know about different OEM programs for Juniors.   Its not important about who gets support, but more how each program differs and the levels within each.  Hopefully we can keep this information limited to first hand knowledge or what you know to be fact.  Not what Joe's 3rd cousin told you.  Lets start with the big 4.  Points listed are in no particular order.  If I am totally off base or if anyone has additional information to share please do.  

 

Taylormade

- Very heavily vested in Juniors.

- Younger kids get balls/gloves to start and may eventually start getting clubs as they develop and show potential.

- Fittings at the Kingdom

- Support programs are not very structured until you reach a very high level of golf (ajga, TTC, USGA, etc)

 

Titleist

- More selective in players than TM.  They don't have much interest in the 11 year old winning USkids tournaments.

- Fittings done at TPI

- Most Juniors start out with balls/shoes/gloves and other soft goods.

- Equipment is normally not free, but discounted

 

Ping

-  I know very little about their program or how it works.  I only know one young Junior personally who gets support, but his father has ties with the company.

 

Callaway

-  More selective in players than both TM and Titleist

- Fittings done at their performance center.  They have both an indoor and outdoor facility.

- Program is very structured depending on level of play and performance.  Think Rose Zhang.  She would be at their highest level basically getting a full bag or replacements anytime she wants.  

[leezer99]

Can confirm the Titleist support. 

[Golfingdawg19]

You pretty much nailed it from what I have seen. Titleist told us a very specific  plan on what needed to be done to get support. TM never really gave specific guidelines. It also seems to vary depending on what rep you get. In all of my workings with the companies, I initiated the contact with them. The worst they can tell you is no. 

[wildcatden]

Taylormade playing it smart in many ways. In the past, didn't they pay Tour players to use their drivers?  This gained mindshare.  Now, they are gaining the mindshare with juniors. That being said, my juniors Stealth2 3W and Sim2 Max 5H are excellent clubs.

 

As far as Titleist, so what are the specific guidelines to get support?  Is it secret?

[iteachgolf]

For full support it’s generally top 15-30 in your class for boys and top 5 for girls.  Plenty of Titleist players on full support don’t go to TPI for fittings, in So Cal of course they do but I have several players with Titleist and I do most of their fittings.

[kekoa]

2 hours ago, wildcatden said:

Taylormade playing it smart in many ways. In the past, didn't they pay Tour players to use their drivers?  This gained mindshare.  Now, they are gaining the mindshare with juniors. That being said, my juniors Stealth2 3W and Sim2 Max 5H are excellent clubs.

 

As far as Titleist, so what are the specific guidelines to get support?  Is it secret?

I'm not sure if Titleist really has specific criteria to get support but it sure does help if you are on staff with another OEM that they compete with.   Both the kids I know who are with Titleist were approached by a rep at AJGA tournaments.  He basically just watched them tee off and checked scores after the round.  If the rep liked what he saw, they would get his card and go from there.   Both got 6 dozen balls and a few pair of shoes along with an invite to get fit at TPI since they are both from Cali.

[leezer99]

Taylormade is a marketing company that just happens to make golf clubs. 

[PostandGhost]

I apologize if this discussion is just about club OEMs, I'm starting to see a lot medium to smaller brands in different golf categories getting involved in junior support or sponsorship.  Foresight has their Upnext program, if I recall the name correctly, which seems like a great deal if your junior qualifies.  If you read the application is feels like they put a lot of emphasis on the social media aspect of the player.  Lots of smaller apparel brands seem to be attached to junior ambassadors as well.  

[Bizzle80]

My kid needs the Nike hookup...DM if you got it.

[Tugu]

1 hour ago, Bizzle80 said:

My kid needs the Nike hookup...DM if you got it.

May I request the same? Not complaining, but wrong size, wrong model, wrong color, wrong amount of shoes (1 instead of 2 on several occasions), wrong detail (laces instead of BOA) from current shoe supplier...has us looking at NIke.

 

Nike mainly because they don't want my kid to use any other piece of equipment, as he is already fully supported by good people at an OEM (who don't supply shoes).

 

Please DM. Thank you.

Edited August 10 by Tugu

[kekoa]

2 hours ago, Tugu said:

May I request the same? Not complaining, but wrong size, wrong model, wrong color, wrong amount of shoes (1 instead of 2 on several occasions), wrong detail (laces instead of BOA) from current shoe supplier...has us looking at NIke.

 

Nike mainly because they don't want my kid to use any other piece of equipment, as he is already fully supported by good people at an OEM (who don't supply shoes).

 

Please DM. Thank you.

I know 3-4 kids who get Nike support.  Some of the kids are what you might call elite and others are just middle of the road players.  One thing they have in common is that they know someone directly or indirectly who handles Junior support.  Needless to say, their program is difficult to get into.  

[Tannerbug33]

my kid needs a puma hookup lol. what ever ricky wears that day he's online looking it up for me to pay for it. 

 would it help he's had 2 aces with cobra irons lol

[leezer99]

4 hours ago, Tannerbug33 said:

my kid needs a puma hookup lol. what ever ricky wears that day he's online looking it up for me to pay for it. 

 would it help he's had 2 aces with cobra irons lol

 

Lucky bro... my kid started in on Travis Mathew's stuff and he's in adult sizes now. 

[kekoa]

On 8/9/2023 at 10:08 PM, leezer99 said:

Taylormade is a marketing company that just happens to make golf clubs. 

And they are very good at both. You must be a Callaway guy.  🤣

[Jkhogbear]

On 8/9/2023 at 1:38 PM, kekoa said:

Titleist

- More selective in players than TM.  They don't have much interest in the 11 year old winning USkids tournaments.

Nor should they.  Ridiculous if they did or if a parent even asked at that point.  Good grief. 

[wegobomber31]

In my experience they cast a wide net and then the relationship gets deeper from there. My son started with balls/gloves/shoes at Titleist and it’s evolved to full bag/tour truck experience more recently. He was already in Titleist full bag when we were paying for it so I didn’t feel like we were making any trade-offs.

 

One thing I’ve realized is just how high the markup must be for golf balls if they are just giving them away like candy to 13-14 year olds. 

[leezer99]

14 hours ago, kekoa said:

And they are very good at both. You must be a Callaway guy.  🤣

All Titleist with one Ping club under a TTC headcover. 

[Movingday]

1 hour ago, wegobomber31 said:

In my experience they cast a wide net and then the relationship gets deeper from there. My son started with balls/gloves/shoes at Titleist and it’s evolved to full bag/tour truck experience more recently. He was already in Titleist full bag when we were paying for it so I didn’t feel like we were making any trade-offs.

 

One thing I’ve realized is just how high the markup must be for golf balls if they are just giving them away like candy to 13-14 year olds. 

At what age did the balls/gloves/shoes start and at what level was your son competing at that time?

[Movingday]

20 hours ago, leezer99 said:

 

Lucky bro... my kid started in on Travis Mathew's stuff and he's in adult sizes now. 

That’s what grandparents are for. 

[wegobomber31]

4 hours ago, Movingday said:

At what age did the balls/gloves/shoes start and at what level was your son competing at that time?

 

This is his third full year of competitive (36+ hole) golf.  The first year was some regional, non-AJGA stuff (age 13-14) and that's when it started.  Last year was more regional and first year of AJGA and a couple national events.  He got fitted for irons but I paid for them.  This year it's mostly AJGA and national events.  He qualified for US Junior and US Am and after the second one is when the conversations started to get much more serious.