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Equipment pricing realization

Livestrong

By Livestrong,
in Clubs, Grips, Shafts, Fitting

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Livestrong Member

Livestrong

Being new to the golf world, I've been excited about it and shown pretty good progress in the last 3 weeks. I bought my practice set and within a week I was out shopping for some "good" stuff. I found a new set of X18r irons for $330 with tax. Regular price $499 (I think). Also picked up an FT-i Draw for $160 with tax. Regular $499 (I think). I did some major shopping around to save as much as I could. I'm using the 3 and 5W from the old set since they are TaylorMade and the putter since its a Ping. Here is the realization that has dawned on me 30 seconds ago...

The freakin balls that I "should" be playing with are $60 for 12???? ProV1x.
I stood back for a second and thought is this really something I want to do for a hobby? That just blew me away. Luckily my buddy sells em on the side for $25/12. I dont know where he gets them, but it sounds like a deal. Any other recommendations for a good ball that doesnt cost $5 every time you lose one?

Also, someone please justify golf equipment being THAT overpriced when its new? Those guys make a KILLING on it brand new. I wouldnt think they are even going to lose money once they drop an FT-i from $499 to $160. So why try to sell it and rip people off in the beginning? I guess it goes for anything but I just dont see the same degree of overpricing in other sports. Maybe Im wrong.

FT-i 10 Regular
3W
5W
X18R Irons
Anser PutterHaven't decided on a ball yet

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Kellfire Well Established Member

Kellfire

If you're really a handicap 36, you shouldn't be using ProV1s. Get yourself a cheap, more distance ball for now.
In my bag

Superstrong 12*
- Firepower Hyper Ti 15*
- Launcher 18* Hybrid - 21* Hybrid - S2 Max 5i - SW - MP T-Series 47* - 60* LW - White Hot XG #1
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JawjaDawg Established Member

JawjaDawg

If you're a 36 I'd invest in Noodles.

In my stand bag:
9* G10 driver
904F 15* 3 wood
3-PW MP-52 irons
Burner Rescue 19* HybridSpalding 60* lob wedge Tiffany 34"Leupold GX-I rangefinderTitleist Pro V1 ball

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Livestrong Member

Livestrong

  • Author
Ive never played a round of golf so I dont know what I am. I just put that cuz it was the worst haha. Good stuff though. Thanks guys.

FT-i 10 Regular
3W
5W
X18R Irons
Anser PutterHaven't decided on a ball yet

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Clambake Great Member

Clambake

Congratulations on getting into the new hobby and getting some good equipment for a good deal. Nothing gets a thread going better than a discussion on golf balls.

Why do you feel you "should" be playing with ProV1's? You indicate that you're new to the game, so why do you feel this are the right ball for you? Why feel that a beginner should play the same ball as a tour pro? Golf ball technology has come an enormous way in the last 5-7 years, and almost any ball out there will take your game a long way. What is important is that you match your ball to your characteristics, including swing speed, swing style, courses you play, and ..... economics. Do a little searching here on the forum and you'll find a lot of choices and recommendations. Have a little fun trying different balls that are economical. Try sites selling used balls like lostgolfballs.com. Places like WalMart and Costco often have great deals on balls.

But don't feel you need to play something like a ProV1 - resist the peer pressure! I'm a mid-single digit handicap and I play them frequently because I keep getting them for gifts, but I often play all different types of balls and I can honestly say I don't see that big of difference in my game.
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Tone-NY Member

Tone-NY

Most large chain golf stores or sporting good stores run weekly specials on balls. Read up on the various types of balls and see what is on sale. When I first started I lost many a ball, it made it easier to swallow the loss. No pun intended!


 G15 4 Wood
 G15 3(20) and 4(23) hybrids
 JPX 800 Irons 5-PW

 Tw9 Wedges 48, 54, 60

 Island Antigua Putter  Q-Star

NXO Cart Bag    Speed Cart V1
 

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JawjaDawg Established Member

JawjaDawg

Ive never played a round of golf so I dont know what I am. I just put that cuz it was the worst haha. Good stuff though. Thanks guys.

Yeah, a tour ball would be detrimental to your game then. Look at Wally World for deals - TaylorMade makes good cheaper balls, and Noodles are perennial favorites around these parts.

In my stand bag:
9* G10 driver
904F 15* 3 wood
3-PW MP-52 irons
Burner Rescue 19* HybridSpalding 60* lob wedge Tiffany 34"Leupold GX-I rangefinderTitleist Pro V1 ball

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is2linda Well Established Member

is2linda

Get noodles, or D2 Feel or Straight. Best 2 piece cheap balls IMO.

As for clubs, golf shops make 20-30% margin on clubs. which is not that much, considering you have to buy inventory thats worth at least $200,000 PER BRAND! It is expensive retailing, and most of them are dying because of the internet.

I guess its really expensive because of all the technology that goes into it. Just like any other sports, when you start buying premium equipment. It just pisses me off that certain brands drop prices like no other: IE taylormade and callaway. Either way its an expensive hobby.
In my Warbird Hot Stand Bag:

Driver: R9 420cc 9.5° stiff
3 Wood: Burner 07 Fairway #3 Stiff
5 Wood: Burner 07 Fairway #5 Stiff3 Hybrid: Burner 08 Rescue #3 StiffIrons: MX-25 4-G Project X 5.5SW: CG12 STD bounce 56° Black PearlLW: CG12 STD bounce 60° Black PearlPutter: California...
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steve8820 Well Established Member

steve8820

A couple of things...... One, be careful on where you buy your clubs online. Always buy from a legit retailer. You might end up with a fake otherwise. Two, you don't need to play a premium ball at this point. I am not saying go play something like a "rock-flite", but don't spend $4-5 per ball. Play something in between like a Titleist NXT, etc. They will spin less, you will be straighter off the tee, and you will still have some feel on/around the greens..... just my .02 cents

R9 460 9.5
R9 3-Wood
Irons AP1 4-PW
Wedge X-Forged 62*, 56*, 50*
Studio Select 34" MS Newport 2 TP Red

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revrat Member

revrat

For a great deal on some cheap but good balls, look at the Srixon AD333. Budgetgolf.com has them on sale right now for $40 for 4 dozen. I think the only top shelf balls I've ever hit have been ones I've found. I refuse to spend more than $20 per dozen at this point in my golf life. With my crappy(although improving) game, I just don't get any tangible benefit from a premium ball, so I can't justify the cash outlay for them. Noodle, TopFlite Gamer and D2, AD333, Precept Laddie, and TMade Bruner are all less expensive balls that get a lot of love.

In my Costco stand bag:

Tech A4 9015D 10.5 w/stock stiff Matrix Ozik
F60 16.5 4 wood w/stock stiff Exsar
Pro Gold 18* and 23* hybrids w/ Matrix Ozik reg J36 PC 5-PW Project-X Rifle flighted 5.0 CG14 52*, 56*, and 60* standard bounce Island Series Antigua AD333

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jlund Well Established Member

jlund

What a terrible post...

:cleveland:         Classic 10.5° w/ Miyazaki C.Kua Limited X-Stiff
:cleveland:         Launcher FL 3 Wood 17° w/ Miyazaki C. Kua Stiff
:cleveland:         Mashie 3H 20.5° w/ Miyazaki C. Kua Stiff
:mizuno:   MP-57 4 - PW w/ Dynamic Gold S300
:cleveland:         588 - 52° 56° 60°
:scotty_cameron:          Studio Newport 2
:srixon:              Z-Star Tour Yellow 

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kpaulhus Great Member

kpaulhus

I bought a used set of X-18's form my first good set of irons. I am waiting until the X-22's get to a more reasonable price before I buy another set. Then I should be good for a few years.

Kyle Paulhus

If you really want to get better, check out Evolvr

:callaway: Rogue ST 10.5* | :callaway: Epic Sub Zero 15* | :tmade: P790 3 Driving Iron |:titleist: 716 AP2 |  :edel: Wedges 50/54/68 | :edel: Deschutes 36"

Career Low Round: 67 (18 holes), 32 (9 holes)

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clubchamp Great Member

clubchamp

I agree you don't need a premium ball and buy whatever is cheap.


Golf equipment is no different than anything else in terms of pricing. It starts out expensive and when a newer model comes out the price falls. No offense but the ft-i hasn't been 499 in about a year. This is a good example the ft-i was 499 when it came out but than the ft-iq came out and the ft-i price dropped I saw one for 130 the other day. The same applies with the x18 they are two models old thats why they are so cheap. They are all great clubs but as soon as the newer model comes out they will drop in price.
Driver: i15, 3 wood: G10, Hybrid: Nickent 4dx, Irons: Ping s57, Wedges: Mizuno MPT 52, 56, 60, Putter: XG #9 
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kfowler Great Member

kfowler

$60 for ProV's! Wow. I only pay around $45.

As with the rest, you certainly don't need to worry about playing premium balls. Lots of quality inexpensive balls out there to get you going.

Kevin

-------
In the Bag
Driver: G15 9.0*3 & 5 Wood: BurnerHybrid: Pro Gold 20*; 23*Irons: MP-58 (5-PW)Wedges: Vokey Spin Milled 52*8; 56*14Putter: Newport 2.0 33"Balls: NXT

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Livestrong Member

Livestrong

  • Author

I also saw the FT-i for $130 2 days ago
I had already ordered it.

And yes I understand the prices drop. My point is, at 499, callaway is making a profit. At 130, are they still? Actually callaway sells the FT-i for 199 I think. So, the company isnt going to lose money right? This would suggest the price is bumped up 200 bucks on the 1st day its released brand new. Its no different now than it was then. 200 bucks overpriced for 1 club is pretty sick if you think about it. I know, its just the way it is. Gotta pay to play. I think I will always look for the 2 year old "New technology" clubs with this hobby lol.

FT-i 10 Regular
3W
5W
X18R Irons
Anser PutterHaven't decided on a ball yet

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