What if TaylorMade put more $ into development and less in advertising?

[delav]

Thanks for the input guys, most of what you have said makes perfect sense. I guess I am going to move this in the direction that someone else said then...if Mizuno advertised more, do you think they would get more people on board (Is the shaft optimizer an attempt to help?) Their irons seem big on this forum but I rarely see them on the course (eventhough most pros I have met with say they are excellent clubs).

This forum is a microcosm of the golf population. Mizuno is popular here, but 9/10 golfers outside this forum play with other irons... if not more.

Yes, they make a great product, but they also take fewer risks than other manufacturers. Mizuno's product line is fine, but it's safe and they are hardly innovative in what they do. Unfortunately, their awesome forging experience with irons doesn't really translate into other clubs. For what it's worth, I don't think they've ever made a great driver or fairway wood. They could spend more on advertising, but Mizuno seems to use a pull strategy in marketing and likely their margins and manufacturing capabilities are built around the expected sales volumes they've historically had with a smaller pool of buyers. Have you hit any TM clubs, btw?

[Cussin hacker]

If you can get 20 years of quality golf out of a set of clones, go for it.

I'm not saying every clone made. There are some junk clubs out there for sure. There also some not so well known companies that sell great stuff. Most folks are caught up on the brand name stuff. Again my .02.

[tws1098]

This forum is a microcosm of the golf population. Mizuno is popular here, but 9/10 golfers outside this forum play with other irons... if not more.

Yeah, they are alright. I have hit the RAC LT, r7, and Burner. I hit the Burner and RAC pretty well but did not care for the feel and appearance. The Burners just felt way to big at address.

[delav]

I agree with you there. I'm a fan of a traditional looking club as well. Although the r7, r9, and burner irons go like hell, I don't like looking down at any of those clubs at address.

After reading the review of the MX-300 at this site, I think Mizuno has it figured out. I've thought a few times about kicking my blades for something more along the lines of the mp58.

[tws1098]

I agree with you there. I'm a fan of a traditional looking club as well. Although the r7, r9, and burner irons go like hell, I don't like looking down at any of those clubs at address.

I hit the 58s, they are sweet. I warn you though, if you have not hit them and do not plan on buying new irons, you may not want to demo them lol. Ultimately I went with 52s, but if I was a 4.4 I would have went 58s for sure.

[delav]

I hit the 58s, they are sweet. I warn you though, if you have not hit them and do not plan on buying new irons, you may not want to demo them lol. Ultimately I went with 52s, but if I was a 4.4 I would have went 58s for sure.

Yeah... I have a personal policy against hitting clubs when I'm not looking to replace what is in my bag. I find it can be very dangerous.

With that said, I was helping a friend pick out some GI irons and I thought it wouldn't hurt to hit a few mp58's as they had my length and lie in the demo cart. Huge mistake. I can't stop thinking about them, and my fiance will kill me if they find their way into my bag before our wedding/honeymoon after i told her they were $1k a set.

[tws1098]

Yeah... I have a personal policy against hitting clubs when I'm not looking to replace what is in my bag. I find it can be very dangerous.

Haha, I hear you on the Fiance thing. Mine is very understanding but I think she would have dropped over if I bought them new. I suggest looking around if you are interested. The pro at my local course talked with his Mizuno rep and gave me a price of $850 for a split set 52s and 58s. I would think you can find them a little cheaper. Ebay also frequently has sets that were only hit a couple times and that knocks a good bit off the cost.

[delav]

Haha, I hear you on the Fiance thing. Mine is very understanding but I think she would have dropped over if I bought them new. I suggest looking around if you are interested. The pro at my local course talked with his Mizuno rep and gave me a price of $850 for a split set 52s and 58s. I would think you can find them a little cheaper. Ebay also frequently has sets that were only hit a couple times and that knocks a good bit off the cost.

Thanks man. We will see where my scores end up mid-summer. As of now, I'm not missing enough GIRs to warrant a big purchase... although if I can sell my ZMs and afford to fit a set of 58s I could be easily convinced.

[zeg]

Also, Mizuno is more of a general sporting goods company, so they're probably less tied to how well their golf division does. As long as it's profitable, they're happy to stay the course. A profitable but small company is still profitable, after all. Plus, as much money as TM and others already throw at the US market it would take a huge increase in spending to make a noticeable impact. That's risky. Finally, as a Japanese company, they may be less focused on the US market than they are at a more general worldwide presence, but I don't actually know whether they are any more prominent elsewhere. I'd imagine they do very good business in Japan, which tends to be very supportive of its homegrown industry.

[GaijinGolfer]

I hope Mizuno sells enough pieces of equipment to stay in business, but I'm glad they don't bombard me with advertizing.

I dont see why they wouldnt stay in business. Mizuno has a very loyal following with their irons, the new MP T-10 wedges are getting rave reviews and Ive heard nothing but good things about the MX-700 and MP-630 drivers, fairway woods and hybrids.

If anything, Mizuno is on the way up, not down.