Price of Clubs

I haven't been to a golf store in a while, but I stopped at Dicks yesterday and was shocked by the prices they are asking for clubs, have the manufacturers lost their minds? Irons in excess of $1,000, drivers at $600 and up., shoes $200+. They are going to kill the game of golf, just my opinion.

23 minutes ago, cooke119 said:

I haven't been to a golf store in a while, but I stopped at Dicks yesterday and was shocked by the prices they are asking for clubs, have the manufacturers lost their minds? Irons in excess of $1,000, drivers at $600 and up., shoes $200+. They are going to kill the game of golf, just my opinion.

There are quite a few irons, drivers and shoes that are less than your stated prices.

34 minutes ago, cooke119 said:

I haven't been to a golf store in a while, but I stopped at Dicks yesterday and was shocked by the prices they are asking for clubs, have the manufacturers lost their minds? Irons in excess of $1,000, drivers at $600 and up., shoes $200+. They are going to kill the game of golf, just my opinion.

Not sure about in stores, but you can get a set of irons from PXG for $600-700, and drivers/woods/hybrids for <$300.

1 hour ago, cooke119 said:

I haven't been to a golf store in a while, but I stopped at Dicks yesterday and was shocked by the prices they are asking for clubs, have the manufacturers lost their minds? Irons in excess of $1,000, drivers at $600 and up., shoes $200+. They are going to kill the game of golf, just my opinion.

Why? Nobody is forcing you or anyone to buy brand new clubs. 

There are plenty of ways you can get high quality barely used clubs for significantly less than full retail price. Websites that specialize in used clubs, demo clubs, Facebook marketplace/craigslist, forums, etc, etc.

Prices are crazy for the "new" models. Think you're a lot better off going with the prior year, or even a year or two before that. For instance, I wanted a new driver. Picked up a SIM Max in outstanding shape for under $300. 

Toyed with the idea of replacing my irons this year. Wasn't super impressed with any offerings, outside of the Mizuno 221/223/225 series. Figure I'll just hold off for a year or two and pick up a used set for considerably less than their current asking price.

Really, for iron/woods, anything you buy from the past 3-5 years (maybe even further back) will be comparable to the new "hotness" this year. 

The second-hand market is very active, and prices are keen.  You can pick up 1-2 year old models for sensible money, and stuff that's, say, 5 yrs old, for a very good price.  I just added a 3H to my bag - excellent condition, 2015 model - £50.  I seriously doubt that technology has advanced so much in 5 years that a recreational golfer, even one with a low handicap, would get enough benefit from the newest clubs to merit the cost.  Of course, there are people who have the money to spend, and who do want the latest and greatest, and clearly they're spending, because the  manufacturers are still in business, but I can't see how that in any way kills off the game.

20 hours ago, cooke119 said:

I stopped at Dicks yesterday and was shocked by the prices they are asking for clubs, 

You can substitute any word for "clubs" in this sentence and it would still most likely be true. 

Those golf equipment manufacturers pay some smart guys a lot of money to make sure their stuff sells. If the price becomes too much, people stop buying. If people stop buying, smart guys who like getting paid make some changes. 

Besides, I hear it is next to impossible to get a tee time this weekend. Can't be killing the game just yet.

$1K+ has been the price on top end irons for quite some time now, but they are certainly going up.  I don’t think the club prices are going to kill golf though.

On 4/20/2022 at 11:32 AM, cooke119 said:

I haven't been to a golf store in a while, but I stopped at Dicks yesterday and was shocked by the prices they are asking for clubs, have the manufacturers lost their minds? Irons in excess of $1,000, drivers at $600 and up., shoes $200+. They are going to kill the game of golf, just my opinion.

I think the reason they can get those prices is that golf is extremely healthy as an industry today. There’s a hell of a lot more tech in golf clubs today than there was even 10-15 years ago, so production costs have alot to do with prices. 

11 minutes ago, Big Lex said:

I think the reason they can get those prices is that golf is extremely healthy as an industry today. There’s a hell of a lot more tech in golf clubs today than there was even 10-15 years ago, so production costs have alot to do with prices. 

Agreed that golf is pretty healthy right now. The reason they can get these prices hasn't really changed over the years. And that is, they're great at selling the idea of improvement.

Yes, tech has changed from what it was 10-15 years ago. But it's incremental. Comparing irons now to those 15 years ago is one thing. Comparing irons now to a set from 2-3 years ago is a different story. And it also depends on the specific type of club. For instance, true forged irons really haven't changed all that much. I hit the Mizuno 221s next to my 600Bs. The only thing that was different is the stronger lofts of today's irons. And while the 221s felt the best of anything I hit from today's irons. They frankly weren't as nice as my current set that's 10 years old. And the distance gain was negligible. But again, that's only thanks to the lofts being stronger by a couple degrees. 

To the point about production. I don't know costs have gone up that significantly. Because over those past 10-15 years the quality of tooling, automation, etc. have also improved. Trying to put together a players forged distance iron 15 years ago would have been crazy expensive. Today, the industrial tech makes it far more reasonable.  

Golfers have, and likely forever will chase the next best thing. And golf manufacturers are great at selling exactly that. However many would be better served buying a used set from the past few years. And spending the rest on lessons. Or just skipping the set altogether and spending it all on improving their swing. But that's always been true. 

7 hours ago, Big Lex said:

There’s a hell of a lot more tech in golf clubs today than there was even 10-15 years ago, so production costs have alot to do with prices. 

Maybe in some specific clubs yes, but is there really THAT much more technology in most irons, wedges, putters, etc today that wasn't in them 10-15 years ago?

I don't think the price of these clubs (about $27,000.00) has gone up much:

I'm sure I could hit much better with these, if one of you kind folk would like to gift me with a set.

25 minutes ago, Zippo said:

I don't think the price of these clubs (about $27,000.00) has gone up much:

BERES 5-Star Irons

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STANDS ALONE Designed by Honma's most experienced master craftsmen known as Takumi, BERES 5S is the ultimate statement of golf luxury. ELEGANT ARTISTRY BERES irons shapes are meticulously hand cut and ground from...

I'm sure I could hit much better with these, if one of you kind folk would like to gift me with a set.

27k and they’re hideous.

1 minute ago, Vinsk said:

26 minutes ago, Zippo said:

I don't think the price of these clubs (about $27,000.00) has gone up much:

BERES 5-Star Irons

---

STANDS ALONE Designed by Honma's most experienced master craftsmen known as Takumi, BERES 5S is the ultimate statement of golf luxury. ELEGANT ARTISTRY BERES irons shapes are meticulously hand cut and ground from...

I'm sure I could hit much better with these, if one of you kind folk would like to gift me with a set.

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27k and they’re hideous.

Well! I guess no one's going to gift you with a set! Neener, neener...

59 minutes ago, Zippo said:

I don't think the price of these clubs (about $27,000.00) has gone up much:

BERES 5-Star Irons

---

STANDS ALONE Designed by Honma's most experienced master craftsmen known as Takumi, BERES 5S is the ultimate statement of golf luxury. ELEGANT ARTISTRY BERES irons shapes are meticulously hand cut and ground from...

I'm sure I could hit much better with these, if one of you kind folk would like to gift me with a set.

I think they're ugly, but then again I'm banned from playing in Japan, so what do I know.

I haven't bought a new club since, I think, summer 2017 when I bought my 4-wood.  I should probably get new wedges at some point, although I am currently borrowing from friends to experiment with different loft combinations.  

I wish I kept better track of what I paid for clubs and when I bought them;  it would be interesting to adjust for inflation and see if I did pay today's real prices, then.  At one point, I had a maximum I was willing to pay for a 12-pack of soda based on what I paid for the same when I was an undergraduate.  A few years ago, a friend of mine pointed out I should at least adjust that for inflation;  I did and was then more willing to buy soda, and that I did.  I have yet to forgive the friend.  

I don’t buy new clubs because I think they’ll improve my game. I buy them because I love shiny new clubs. Hell, I just bought a new set of Titleist 620MBs. Sure as hell won’t improve my striking but damn they’re gorgeous.😃