Has a club ever gotten a bad review?

[mcanadiens]

40 minutes ago, boogielicious said:

It still leads to the recommendation that you try the club for yourself. If you read all the Golf Digest review elements, you will see comments from the testers on things they didn't like as much. We each have our own preferences for feel, sound, etc. Sales indicate the consumer preferences more than reviews.

Agreed.

Honestly, I'd never read the mags if I didn't get a free one with my Association dues.

[CarlSpackler]

My wife gives them bad reviews all the time. 

[mchepp]

5 hours ago, CarlSpackler said:

My wife gives them bad reviews all the time. 

My wife complains more about the quantity than the quality of the clubs that I get.

[Rainmaker]

I have watched and read a lot of club reviews over the years - particularly when I'm in the market for some new ones.  I rarely, if ever, see a negative review . .and if there are negative comments they are usually on something that is completely subjective . .ie . .looks. 

I think there is a scam going on . .but it's not in the reviewing.  What golf club companies don't really want you to know is that all clubs within a given category are basically the same.  There's not a whole lot the manufacturers can legally do to improve performance - so the performance is basically the same. 

I always laugh to myself a little when I see Mark Crossfield hit an iron and say "it feels solid".  Does he realize he always says that?  That's because they all feel pretty solid, lol. 

[woodzie264]

The Hammer - POW!

[Piz]

What would constitute a bad review?  How could a clubs performance, at an audition, justify negative comment concerning its essential character?  

[Rainmaker]

2 hours ago, woodzie264 said:

The Hammer - POW!

The old hammer was a joke, sure . .but have you seen the NEW Hammer X.  It has 0 cc's of displacement.  0!!   I guess somebody spent more time on the driving range than in school - but you get the idea . .  

[woodzie264]

40 minutes ago, Rainmaker said:

The old hammer was a joke, sure . .but have you seen the NEW Hammer X.  It has 0 cc's of displacement.  0!!   I guess somebody spent more time on the driving range than in school - but you get the idea . .  

Hahahah - POW! 

Edited September 3, 2016 by woodzie264

[newtogolf]

I think magazine publications would opt to not publish a review for a product they didn't like rather than risk alienating the manufacturer.  

[Buckeyebowman]

4 hours ago, woodzie264 said:

The Hammer - POW!

Haw! Woodzie you read my mind! I'd like to read Golf Digest's review of the Hammer driver, or the Warrior hybrids!

[woodzie264]

@Buckeyebowman, great minds think alike 

[boogielicious]

16 hours ago, Rainmaker said:

I have watched and read a lot of club reviews over the years - particularly when I'm in the market for some new ones.  I rarely, if ever, see a negative review . .and if there are negative comments they are usually on something that is completely subjective . .ie . .looks. 

I think there is a scam going on . .but it's not in the reviewing.  What golf club companies don't really want you to know is that all clubs within a given category are basically the same.  There's not a whole lot the manufacturers can legally do to improve performance - so the performance is basically the same. 

I always laugh to myself a little when I see Mark Crossfield hit an iron and say "it feels solid".  Does he realize he always says that?  That's because they all feel pretty solid, lol. 

I get what your saying, but wouldn't call it a scam. Their in the business of making golf equipment and it's their job to try and improve it. If the just made the same club over and over, the market would go stale. You don't have to believe that the improvements are revolutionary, but they are spending time and money developing and testing the improvements. I see them as incremental changes.

I see each OEM as having a different style that appeals to different types of players. They set their marketing for that style. Reviews are a way of marketing their products. Not getting a "Wow" review can be a big hit in sales. It can influence which clubs folks try out. In the end, you are the real judge of your preferences and not the reviewer. Companies take a risk sending out clubs for reviews.

[Rainmaker]

1 hour ago, boogielicious said:

I get what your saying, but wouldn't call it a scam. Their in the business of making golf equipment and it's their job to try and improve it. If the just made the same club over and over, the market would go stale. You don't have to believe that the improvements are revolutionary, but they are spending time and money developing and testing the improvements. I see them as incremental changes.

I see each OEM as having a different style that appeals to different types of players. They set their marketing for that style. Reviews are a way of marketing their products. Not getting a "Wow" review can be a big hit in sales. It can influence which clubs folks try out. In the end, you are the real judge of your preferences and not the reviewer. Companies take a risk sending out clubs for reviews.

True - it's more of a "tactic" than a "scam" in the fraudulent sense.  It seems to have stopped working, too . .as is evidenced by the disappearance and consolidation of OEMs and the glut of cheap, used clubs on Ebay and elsewhere.   You can convince me I need a new driver every 5 years maybe . . but not every year (or even every 6 months) as some of the OEM's would've hoped. 

 

[oregongolfguy]

yeah.  you put a shaft and grip that i like on the club.  and they pretty much perform all the same for me.  i may have preferences on looks, feel, sound, shape etc.  but on pure performance, pretty much all the same.  i will buy a new driver and 3 wood this year.  the driver is almost 10yrs old.  and the 3 wood shaft and look i dont like.