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FTF: How to rejuvenate the golf equipment industry

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The GolfWRX forums exist so golfers have access to the latest equipment releases, hottest discussions, real equipment reviews, best instruction, new technologies and everything golf you can imagine. So if you love golf, the GolfWRX forums are your sanctuary.

In the From the Forums weekly feature, we bring you the hottest, most buzz-worthy topics from our forums for your convenience. I’ll be your trusty tour guide to navigate the latest buzz. Here’s a peek behind the curtain into golf’s sanctuary.

Rejuvenating the golf equipment industry

Buying new golf equipment

We’ve featured threads of poetical waxing about participation numbers and potential shots of atropine for the game in general. This discussion deals specifically with the golf equipment industry. User uW0tM8 has an interesting take on directions manufacturers ought to go, including personalization and more opportunities to demo clubs on course.

To see what other WRXers think could help, check out the thread.

Winter set-up?

winter-guide-cover-wide

Probably not quite this wintry..

For those of you fortunate enough to golf during the winter months, Fenrir poses an interesting question: How do you adjust your arsenal for the colder months? He considered a “simpler, lighter” setup, and it seems many in the thread elect to go with something similar.

For the rest of us, Bomber_11 lays out our one-point plan: “It’s called I put the clubs in my downstairs storage room and weep while endless inches of snowfall cover every course.“

See the thread.

A positive spin on stronger lofts

rocketballz iron

The loft drift in modern clubs has been the subject of no shortage of discussion. And while takes on the subject of the strengthening loft of the 7-iron in the 21st century are usually dim (“marketing tactic,” and such), Pinger89 offers a unique personal account of his experience with getting new clubs in the RocketBallz era following a long time with older irons. But as a fitter in a retail environment, he offers an interesting perspective on why loft drift could be good for both golfers and the industry.

See the thread.

Hot takes on the John Daly 30 for 30

John_Daly_30_for_30

A thread that kicked off with vigor with the announcement that John Daly would be featured in ESPN’s 30 for 30 series, continued enthusiastically through the airing of “Hit it Hard.”

To see everything the WRX community had to say, check out the thread.

Predictions for 2017!

mcilroy-featured-

Who doesn’t love a bit of prognostication? GolfWRXers lay out their predictions for the 2016-2017 PGA Tour season as (in case you didn’t notice), we’re already four tournaments deep into the brimming calendar.

Check out the predictions!

Ben Alberstadt is the Editor-in-Chief at GolfWRX, where he’s led editorial direction and gear coverage since 2018. He first joined the site as a freelance writer in 2012 after years spent working in pro shops and bag rooms at both public and private golf courses, experiences that laid the foundation for his deep knowledge of equipment and all facets of this maddening game. Based in Philadelphia, Ben’s byline has also appeared on PGATour.com, Bleacher Report...and across numerous PGA DFS and fantasy golf platforms. Off the course, Ben is a committed cat rescuer and, of course, a passionate Philadelphia sports fan. Follow him on Instagram @benalberstadt.

10 Comments

10 Comments

  1. Scooter McGavin

    Nov 7, 2016 at 9:53 am

    Why does the golf equipment industry even need to be rejuvenated? Golf courses and equipment manufacturers are making their own bed with their pricing. Nothing to do but let the market take care of itself.

  2. UncleBuck

    Nov 7, 2016 at 1:21 am

    Well, I’ll tell ya, I walked into a very popular RD, rhymes with Dodger Bun, golf shop today and most customers were milling about with 1-2 people actually buying merchandise. On the way home decided to check out the now bankruptcy bound GS, rhymes with Dolf Swiss, and da place was jumpin’ like an outlet store the day after Turkey Day!! I mean folks were lined up getting merchandise marked down 5-30% of Steal’tail, I mean retail. Shelves were gutted, and 15 plus people lined up to trade dollars for “reasonably” priced goods. Like someone mentioned above, mark down the overpriced gear, $500 drivers, $260 golf shoes, $180 wedges, $140 golf shirts, etc., and the industry could quite possibly lift itself from the doldrums. It has to smash rock bottom at some point. Hope to never see it, but I have a haunting feeling it will be sooner than later.

  3. Dave R

    Nov 6, 2016 at 7:54 pm

    Yes shaft made in China ,head made in China cost $20.00 us . Assembled in Mexico cost $2.50 us . Your price $350.00 us . Who is making the bucks guess. I might be out a bit but not much.

  4. RAT

    Nov 5, 2016 at 8:06 pm

    It’s the cost!!! every course doesn’t have to look like the Masters!. Clubs, balls and etc all are going up in price. I believe that’s due to greed in management pay! Most all equipment is made over seas where pay is cents per day. JUST LIKE MEDICAL COST , MEDS where the key ingredient is marked up ( 600,000%) this is nothing but robbery . The head cheese IS going to get his money and the heck with the rest.

  5. Progolfer

    Nov 5, 2016 at 3:52 pm

    Honestly, the golf equipment industry is fizzling out– as evidenced by Nike and Taylormade exiting and trying to exit the market. Manufacturers have pushed equipment innovations just about as far as the USGA will allow them to. Today, almost all equipment is the same. Updates and changes in equipment will only yield slight improvements over current products. Personally, I think the focus in golf should shift from equipment innovation to an initiative in growing the game and actually improving a golfer’s game. Let’s make that the priority instead.

    • Desmond

      Nov 6, 2016 at 8:15 am

      Adidas is exiting the equipment market, not TaylorMade.

  6. Pingback: FTF: How to rejuvenate the golf equipment industry – Swing Update

  7. JoBlo

    Nov 4, 2016 at 6:01 pm

    How about selling everything at half price? That should move the equipment off the shelves and into people’s hands

  8. Rimjob

    Nov 4, 2016 at 11:50 am

    You would know

    • Rimjob

      Nov 4, 2016 at 1:33 pm

      Yeah? My house is in the sky. How about that

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Equipment

I’m a 31 year-old male and I turned my apartment living room into a driving range stall – GolfWRXers react

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In our forums, our members have been reacting to a post from ‘GolferTodd’ who has turned their apartment living room into a driving range stall. ‘GolferTodd’ produced the following photo in our forums with the caption:

“To the exclusion of furniture. Bachelor life.”

And our members have been reacting to the post in our forums.

Here are a few posts from the thread, but make sure to check out the entire discussion and have your say at the link below.

  • MtlJeff: “This is amazing……When i was 28 i lived in an apartment that had my winter tires in the kitchen, i only had one plate and 1 set of knives and forks, and i cooked pasta in a witches cauldron from 1835. And i still convinced a woman to marry me. So i am all for this. In fact this is way better than what i had to offer.”
  • TiScape: “Love it Todd. Go Dodgers!!”
  • imkirby34: “Based on the view out the window, it looks like you’re on the first floor, which is probably a good thing because I’d hate to live below you, even if you have an extremely shallow AoA.  Haha.”

Entire Thread: “I’m a 31 year-old male and I turned my apartment living room into a driving range stall – GolfWRXers react”

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Equipment

Best classic irons – GolfWRXers discuss

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In our forums, our members have been discussing classic irons. WRXer ‘DonaldDunes’ has caught the vintage club bug, and wants to know other members’ favorite iron models that “have stood the test of time or were the top performers for their day.”

Here are a few posts from the thread, but make sure to check out the entire discussion and have your say at the link below.

  • Maine Golfer: “I love a lot of clubs but ’69 Wilson Staff’s are an all time favorite. Easy to hit in relative terms and they look amazing.”
  • Wilsonian: “No surprise from me, but the Wilson K-28 irons, specifically blades with the glide thru sole. I grew up playing Ram clubs, but got away from them as I got older. My return to vintage was with the Wilsons, and my first set of hickories were the Wilson Plus Success irons. You’ll try a lot of sets, but I think it’s a matter of what feels best in your hands, specifically your 7 iron which is the best indicator imo.”
  • Hawkeye777: “Hogan Redlines. Macgregor Nicklaus Muirfield 20th. Wilson Staff Tour Blade. Those are mine, don’t play any of them these days (no real reason to) and didn’t really “collect” them.  The Wilsons I played with for years.”

Entire Thread: “Best classic irons.- GolfWRXers discuss”

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Equipment

When buying used irons how much wear is too much? – GolfWRXers discuss

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In our forums, our members have been discussing how much wear is too much wear when purchasing used irons. WRXer ‘con_mon2’ is interested in a used set of iron and kicks off the thread, asking:

“Would love to hear everyone’s thoughts on this! How much wear are you comfortable with?

I found a set of irons on eBay that I am very interested in buying, but they have a bit more wear than I’m comfortable with. I have attached a few pictures showing especially the wear on the sweet spot on the PW and 9 iron. Maybe you can convince me that I’m being too picky and I should just buy them? Or maybe I should be concerned about the wear? I’m not really sure. They are Ping i230s which came out in 2022 so they aren’t that old. And the seller had this to say about the condition: ‘Good: Normal wear for their age. Excellent playing condition but they have cosmetic wear on faces and soles. Sweetspot wear is visible.’

Beyond the cosmetic, I’d really like to know this: At what point do you start to worry about the grooves being so worn that they have a substantial effect on the shots you’re hitting?”

And our members have been sharing their thoughts in response.

Here are a few posts from the thread, but make sure to check out the entire discussion and have your say at the link below.

  • rsballer10: “The term you are looking for is “browning” and these irons have some of that going on. They are completely playable, but I’d say they’ve reached their half-life.”
  • Nessism: “Those heads are stainless steel.  The “browning” that some people reference, is really the yellow shade of the nickel layer under the chrome. When forged carbon steel heads wear through the chrome, the “brown” is RUST.  These heads will never rust. People applaud the old Ping irons as being “indestructible”.  Those heads had no chrome. These heads, even if the chrome is beginning to wear through, on one head, are miles more durable than the older unplated “indestructible” Ping’s.  And even further ahead of any forged club.”
  • phizzy30: “Hard pass for me.  I would rather get a new set of DTC irons and would be glad to spend the extra couple to few hundred.”

Entire Thread: “When buying used irons: How much wear is too much? – GolfWRXers discuss”

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