Why do golf companies, the past few years, make their irons loud, colors, etc?

[jsherm45]

Let your dollar vote and don't buy and laugh at people who do.

There are plenty of awesome-looking clubs out there (especially from years past) that don't have that nonsense.

[Alohaed]

I want to thank you members who use and mention both KZG and Nakashima. I've never heard of them before reading this forum. What beautiful clubs. Wow!!!!! As I've I've stated, my proshop does not stock the KZGs and I doubt the Nakashimas also. I don't know how one would get fitted for these if not in stock. So I will Email the companies to find out who carry these in my area. Alhough I've posted, in another subject, that I will wait a year, practice, and bring my handicap down before purhasing new irons, I am so in love with the looks of these 2 irons, I might just scrape up some $$$$ and buy a set. I'll also ask them which irons are better suited towards mid to high handcap golfers.

[Bullitt5339]

I play a set of clubs that are considered "ugly" by purists, but when they are hitting crappy shots with their "beautiful" blades, and I pure one with my "ugly" Cleveland CG Red Tours, which is truly uglier?

I could care less, but it's all marketing. Golf is trying to break through to more younger people, and having a teenager that is into golf, he thinks the Callaway X-22 is the sweetest looking club out. That's how the younger generation chooses things at first, so it's a naturally progression for companies who want to make money to follow their wants. Older golfers who typically want traditional looking clubs don't typically go in and look at GI and SGI clubs, which are typically the most gaudy. (Except for my Clevelands, they're pretty badged and decorated for a player's cavity back)

[FHopper]

I have one snake eyes iron, it is beautiful. Snake eyes are clubs you build yourself.

[Fourputt]

After reading threads such as "best looking irons", "dream sets", etc, I want to know why these companies no longer make traditional looking irons. I know everyone has their own tastes and many of you like the new irons that are out. Cleveland CG7s, TM R7s, R9s, Callawy Fusions, Nike Mach Speed... all ugly. Yet I wish they would start making traditional looking irons. Simply cast or forged, no colors, simply the company name/and or logo, small, and located in a non intrusive part pf the head. Like the old Clevelands, or the TM Racs. Especially for the GI irons. Even the new Titilest AP1s and AP2s still have too much going on. I think they are ok looking, not ugly. I drool over the new Titleist CBs, the best, classiest looking irons out there(just my opinion). Yet they are not for high handicappers. Mizunos are beautiful(MP57s), the new 58s are just ok, but better than anything else out there. Yet their MX series has too much going on. Srixon and KGZ are sweet and traditional. Yet my pro shops can order KZGs. which are damn nice looking, but doesn't have them in stock. So it would be kinda hard to get fitted unless he can order them to hit some balls and fit them, then order them again with my specs. But.... how many out ther agree with me, wishing the irons would go back to traditional looks?

It's pure marketing. For the average shopper, what catches the eye is what sells. And there are more casual golfers shopping for clubs who couldn't care less about tradition than there are serious players who DO like the classic look. Most blades still have a classic, understated look because the target market is composed of experienced players who are more likely to prefer the traditional look. SGI irons are being marketed to the general public and casual player and thus are colored up to be eye catching.

The modern world is run by Madison Avenue..... the only way you get what you want is if you are part of the buying majority. Any product is going to be marketed toward the preferences of the target majority. Golf traditionalists are in the minority. So we are left out in the cold with few options to choose from. I like my 2009 AP-2 irons as a good compromise. I might be able to hit a more forgiving club better, but I'll make the sacrifice for a club that I just feel better about playing.