Are new clubs being introduced to quickly?

[jcjim]

What side of the fence are you guys on...are the new clubs being introduced to fast...

Frankly for me it's fine because I no longer purchase CURRENT new clubs...I buy the last generation of the new clubs at 1/2 or less that when they were introduced..

I really don't feel new clubs are revolutionary..so why purchase them at prices which I feel are out of line..

[newtogolf]

What side of the fence are you guys on...are the new clubs being introduced to fast...

Frankly for me it's fine because I no longer purchase CURRENT new clubs...I buy the last generation of the new clubs at 1/2 or less that when they were introduced..

I really don't feel new clubs are revolutionary..so why purchase them at prices which I feel are out of line..

Golf manufacturers have to release new clubs on a fairly frequent basis to keep revenues up, very similar to the car and electronics industry.  I don't buy new flat screens or cars every year but I do often pick up a few new clubs every year so I guess it actually works better for the golf industries than it does the others.

[David in FL]

Too quickly for what?

[Patch]

If I really believed that new clubs would help me score better, I'd probably buy a new set every year. As for R&D; divisions bringing clubs to the public too fast, that is just for keeping new revenue coming in on their part to pay their own bills.  Folks need to do their own homework before believing the advertisements.

[jcjim]

Too quickly for what?

Well there's many that complain that introducing clubs to quickly trashes the trade in value of their clubs.. It gets costly to change clubs...

Myself I don't care if they speeded up new clubs...because I buy 1 or 2 generations back...way way cheaper...

[David in FL]

Well there's many that complain that introducing clubs to quickly trashes the trade in value of their clubs.. It gets costly to change clubs... Myself I don't care if they speeded up new clubs...because I buy 1 or 2 generations back...way way cheaper...

So, as you say, the counter argument is that by introducing new generations more quickly, it allows clubs that were the "latest and greatest" very recently, to be purchased at discount, making it less costly to change clubs... All in all, I really couldn't care less how often new models, or new generations of current models are introduced. But then, with the exception of 2 relatively new (under 2 years) wedges, there's not a club in my bag that's that's not at least 5 years old, and my irons are 7 or 8....

[mvmac]

Poll added.

[BeCu]

(I am on side of consumer)

Yes the new clubs by many manufacturers have too many early release cycles imo. I understand the economic views of the company. They want to make money. Nothing wrong with a honest profit. However, I fear that marketing applied that produces that profit is misleading at times..

An example concerns the mighty distance gains possible with a new set of irons with jacked up lofts/lengths that compares itself with a previous different model/spec iron set. The marketing appears to make the contest apples to apples when in reality its not.

But this is an industry without standards in many areas and why I chose to switch to quality designed club heads like Tom Wishon produces so I could be more in control of what fits my game....

[newtogolf]

I voted no because like other products that have short product life cycles I'm under no obligation to purchase them.  I also like that I can purchase the previous model of clubs brand new at steep discounts.  You can't believe the hype, you have to test the clubs yourself and determine if their performance warrants the expense of upgrading.

[David in FL]

[RIGHT][/RIGHT][quote name="BeCu" url="/t/84142/are-new-clubs-being-introduced-to-quickly#post_1192131"] (I am on side of consumer) Yes the new clubs by many manufacturers have too many early release cycles imo. I understand the economic views of the company. They want to make money. Nothing wrong with a honest profit. However, I fear that marketing applied that produces that profit is misleading at times..  An example concerns the mighty distance gains possible with a new set of irons with jacked up lofts/lengths that compares itself with a previous different model/spec iron set. The marketing appears to make the contest apples to apples when in reality its not.   But this is an industry without standards in many areas and why I chose to switch to quality designed club heads like Tom Wishon produces so I could be more in control of what fits my game.... [/quote] As a general rule, more options (models) drives increased choice and more supply in the marketplace. Planned obsolescence through the introduction of new models, or different versions of existing models, results in deeply discounted pricing of previous versions. Both benefit the consumer. For the most part, the only consumers who don't benefit from the practice are those that can't live without the latest/greatest, whether there's any significant, demonstrable performance benefit or not.

[Lihu]

Not any more. The era of trying to pump out a new club every few months might be coming to an end. . .

[David in FL]

I voted no because like other products that have short product life cycles I'm under no obligation to purchase them. I also like that I can purchase the previous model of clubs brand new at steep discounts.  You can't believe the hype, you have to test the clubs yourself and determine if their performance warrants the expense of upgrading.

Exactly.

[SavvySwede]

I voted no. I wanted them to keep pushing out mountains of stuff so I can scoop up the older models for cheap. Everybody wins.

[onthehunt526]

In a way No, because of the last year's model deals you can obtain... For Example... I have a set of clubs I bought BRAND NEW over the winter that was the 2012 Model of every club and my putter was the 2009 model... Here is the damage: price I paid will be in parentheses, the cost if bought new in 2012 or 2009... All clubs are Tour Edge Exotics except the putter which is a Bazooka. XRail Driver $199.99 ($70) XRail 3-wood $179.99 ($65) XRail 3 and 4 hybrids $129.99 ea ($110) Exotics CU Irons 4-AW $575 ($249) Exotics CU SW $75 ($30) Bazooka Geomax 05 Putter $59.99 ($20) I would $1349.95 if I bought these clubs on release date, I only spent $544 plus whatever all the shipping adds up to... Probably $70 total so we'll say $614 total, which would probably be the same new so a mute point... I saved over $800 buying a model from 2012, I spent an extra $250 or so because I had a set of CU'S with KBS shafts and DG Tour Proto wedges, but still... I only voted YES for one main reason... Trade-in value goes down the shitter as soon as a club gets a few generations old... (Unless they are Ping Eye2 irons, still at nearly $80 32 years after their original release)... I think especially with Drivers, Taylormade and Callaway are big culprits in this... Callaway literally just released the XR line,now they are releasing the Great Big Bertha line, Taylormade with the acquisition of Adams is releasing at least 3 lines a year, with all the irons sometimes 4 or 5... I'm OK with new clubs coming out every year to a point if you are going to release a new line, make sure it covers all 3 types of players, players, Game improvement,and Super Game Improvement... No need for 13 total current models... (Hyperbole)... But with Callaway and Taylormade you do not need 3 new models a year... One is plenty... I honestly like what Acushnet does (the people who bring you Titleist) Drivers, Fairways, Hybrids, and Pro V1 and ProV1x in odd numbered years, Irons, Vokeys, lesser priced balls in even numbered years. And I guess Scotty Cameron putters whenever he feels like it I guess... The point is, too many things to choose from makes it hard for golfer's in my opinion... In conclusion, yes its a good thing in a way, but some companies do in fact OVERPOPULATE the Golf market...

[Zeph]

Too quickly for what?

My thoughts too.

Well there's many that complain that introducing clubs to quickly trashes the trade in value of their clubs.. It gets costly to change clubs...

Myself I don't care if they speeded up new clubs...because I buy 1 or 2 generations back...way way cheaper...

So maybe people don't want to trade them and the others end up buying new ones instead. Sounds like a good way to run a business.

[imsys0042]

I voted yes. Not that it's a terrible thing for golfers, although I find some companies product offerings confusing because they release too many and too often. However, it's not serving the golf industry any good by having more product. Also it doesn't help your company by producing too many competing products. With the separate R&D;, manufacturing and book keeping on multiple product lines, it's more overhead. I prefer Titleist's approach of put a lot of work into a 2 year cycle and have two offerings of each product. Not multiple product lines. This is what they do for their woods. Trying to have different product lines for multiple types of player, in addition to over lapping marketing and product features doesn't scale well. That's my take. Although I completely agree...you don't have to buy it or be tempted to buy it, so whatever they do shouldn't concern you. You also should ask for help (at any level) for club fitting and advice. Also do your research and understand the products and what they are intended for. However I think we all want a stronger golf industry and scaling back in some areas will make it more healthy.

[Grumpter]

I voted no just for the simple fact that them always changing models means I can get the 'old technology' (wink-wink) at discounted pricing.

[mvmac]

I voted "No", I don't mind having new content to review and talk about

I do think a lot of consumers are catching on that they can wait 6-9 months and get a great deal/discount on TaylorMade or Callaway woods. I think they both recently had a "buy a driver get a fairway wood" or get double your trade in type of deals going on.

PING, Titleist and Mizuno products are on two year cycles. What Titleist does that is different is that they'll have a new woods year and a new irons year. PING and Mizuno come out with new woods and irons every year but for different lines. This has basically been their patterns the past 10 years. Bridgestone came out with a new woods and irons earlier this year, first new stuff in 4 or 5 years, which is very rare. TaylorMade and Cobra are on two year cycles with their irons but they comes out with new "flagship" woods every year. TaylorMade sometimes twice a year. Callaway is on a two year cycle with some of their irons and one year with others.

So I don't think the industry as a whole comes out with new clubs too quickly, especially when you don't "need" to switch to the new stuff. I think TaylorMade (and sometimes Callaway) skews the perception of things.