Mizuno - Your thoughts on their 'brand'

[dufferman]

Reading through the Luke Donald's new clubs thread, it struck me that, as a brand & manufacturer, it seems that Mizuno are well respected.

However, before I picked up Golf again 2 years back, and whilst I was playing as a youngster, Mizuno as a 'brand' seemed a bit - well, cheap. I'm not posh or only believe in £££ brands, but, growing up, Mizuno kinda looked like they were in the same league as Dunlop & Slazanger (not from a golfing POV, just from a 'brand' POV).

I just wondered whether this WAS the case but Mizuno have stepped up their game, or whether they just don't have a great 'brand' image.

And when I say 'brand' image, I mean they don't have an Olympic world record holder in a stylish TV advert advertising some new £150 trainers like perhaps Puma do at the moment...

 

[splashtryagain]

They have been around making golf clubs for donkeys years. Always had a really good rep (Faldo etc used to use tp blades) the issue is that outside golf their reputation is a bit mixed so a new comer to golf may not have the same respect after all who has mizuno trainers??
As an aside, to me, Nike make clothes and shoes not clubs - I see their clubs as cheap and nasty (I know they are not!) and can't bring myself to buy some:smirk:. Guess it's personal choice.

 

[PPE]

Well I play with all Mizuno except my Wedges i.e.
MP630 Fastrack Driver
MP Titanium 3&5 Woods
MP Titanium Hybrid
MP57 Irons 4-PW

I can honestly say that Mizuno are definately not in the same bracket as Dunlop/Slazenger etc and have never really been.

However my friend who is a TaylorMade whore always refers to Mizuno as 'Old Mans Clubs'!

 

[CMAC]

Played Mizuno since my 20's and will continue to do so, they make the best 'retail commercial' forged clubs out there, I switched from Titleist forged blades due to the Mizuno quality and havent looked back since. Unfortunately I'm selling my gorgeous MP69's for 'other' reasons but will revert back to an old Mizuno set I've had for 14 years.

 

[dufferman]

after all who has mizuno trainers??

Nail on the head!

 

[Fader]

I've not been playing long but always considered Mizuno to be aimed towards the better player with their blade and forged iron offerings.

Though someone posted images of the new JPX woods on here recently and they looked lovely.

Perhaps because they don't over flood the market like brands such as TM, Callaway and Nike with over the top hyped up marketing of those brands that they don't get the recognition amongst many. Instead letting the quality of their product do the talking, you always see them in the bags of decent players at the club.

That said not a brand I’ve ever thought of using yet nor is Titleist, happy with my Cobra Irons and they'll be in my bag for some time but when the time comes for a change maybe Mizuno might be my next port of call.

 

[Alex1975]

For me Mizuno have one of the best brand images in golf.The quality of their golf products is sensational. They try to position themselvestowards the better players market although they do make game improver clubstoo. In general they are respected as iron manufacturers and less so for theirwoods but the JPX range of woods has been extremely well received but the greatand the good(and crap).

They are a Japanese company and I understand they sell agreat amount of clubs to their domestic market. Japan is well known for theirquality metal work so their forged clubs fit well with that.

I find it very hard to look beyond Mizuno when it comesto irons although if I were after a pure super game improver club I may beforced to look to Ping or Callaway.

I also love blue!


I have the same thoughts about Nike golf even though I know they make some great kit. Its all preception hu...

 

[chris661]

They do seem to realease an AWFUL lot of clubs not quite Taylormade style but not that far off it......

 

[Alex1975]

They do seem to realease an AWFUL lot of clubs not quite Taylormade style but not that far off it......

They have a large selection in their stable but they only change the stable every two years.

I understand the JPX825 Pro will replace their JPX800 Pro and MP53 so there will be less if that is true.

 

[znuffzz]

Nail on the head!

most of japan

just perception isnt it.

They make good tennis rackets as well.

The japanese only Mizuno Majesty range go for c20k a set of irons.....theyve gotta be doing something right!

 

[GreiginFife]

I think there is a confusion between brand image, quality and the need to advertise.
Mizuno have a very strong brand image within golf, based on the quality of the product that they produce, so much so that they simply do not have the need to run extensive advertising campaigns like TM and Cally do.

I would never say that Mizuno have been a cheap golf brand like suggested (but it's important to note that both Dunlop and Slazenger were, at one time, both brand leaders in terms of high end success) it's just that they do not have a large presence in other sporting goods areas (trainers the given example) but they do have proven pedigree in golf.
In the US they make more baseball gloves than they do shoes but does that mean their gloves are cheap?

 

[dufferman]

It seems that most Golf manufacturers dip there brand in other places than just the golf course - Cobra now have Mr Fowler, who is becoming a style icon as much as he is a golfer. Adams golf do sponsorship's (I've been watching Big Break on the American Golf channel and seen they sponsor / endorse the winner as a bit of brand building). Mizuno aren't jumping on the band wagon! However, I guess their clubs speak for themselves so they do not need to!

 

[dufferman]

I think there is a confusion between brand image, quality and the need to advertise.
Mizuno have a very strong brand image within golf, based on the quality of the product that they produce, so much so that they simply do not have the need to run extensive advertising campaigns like TM and Cally do.

I would never say that Mizuno have been a cheap golf brand like suggested (but it's important to note that both Dunlop and Slazenger were, at one time, both brand leaders in terms of high end success) it's just that they do not have a large presence in other sporting goods areas (trainers the given example) but they do have proven pedigree in golf.
In the US they make more baseball gloves than they do shoes but does that mean their gloves are cheap?

I agree - I am just interested to see so many people who like them and yet never see and advert on the TV or 'major' brand building like TM etc.

 

[GreiginFife]

However, I guess their clubs speak for themselves so they do not need to!

Now THAT is nail on the head ;-)

 

[Hobbit]

Mizuno certainly used to cover the full spectrum of the market, from the Littlewoods catalogue sales in the early 80's right thro' to the TP's that were out back then. Great quality, but as with all makes you need to go to a decent custom fitter to find out what suits. I love Mizuno blades to look at but on the 3 occasions I've been for a fitting they've not come out as the best for me.

 

[Qwerty]

Ive always put Mizuno in the same bracket as Titleist, serious clubs for serious Golfers!

No silly names or bits of plastic, just simply good golf clubs.

But I could see that someone new to the game could think along the lines that the OP has mentioned.

 

[Piece]

My view is that Mizuno have never been at the level of low-end golf, if meant as in a "buy me from Argos" manner. They have always been a brand that is aimed at the better golfer. It's only recently that they have moved into helpies, purely I guess to compete with the rest of the market.

They see (I'm sure someone will correct me) that their home market is more of a focus and likely don't have the marketing/advertising clout to compete with Nike & TM globally. I'm sure if you lived in Japan, you would see Mizuno adverts left right and centre, perhaps Luke Donald smashing a driver across Mt Fuji, a-la Quiros and Callaway!

Us golfers are fairly fickle and can be fiercely brand loyal. Personally, I love feel of a Mizuno because they are forged, have little offset and look like a proper golf club (what does that mean!? ). I did move from MX-23s to Clevelands for a year, but it was never the same, partly due to a bad shaft fit. Mizuno were the first clubs I ever used; I think that has alot to do with it.

I think we could all do with opening our eyes a bit to other brands, including me. There's really good stuff out there and at a good price...

 

[Jungle]

In my short time playing the game and reading these boards It seems mizuno irons are universally loved.

Quite impressive considering the small scale marketing compared to say callaway/Michelson ads.

 

[One Planer]

I rather like them actually

I'll agree that Mizuno don't advertise half as much as the other names (Cally, TM, Nike etc) but then again neither do Miura, Vega or MacGregor (......And Orka) but they do some fantastic equipment.

It's like any sport. One you actually participate in it and learn more about it the more you understand about the quality you get from each manufacturer.

I'm a (teeny, tiny) bit brand loyal to Mizuno, simply becuase of the quality they offer. The "Made for" version of the Fubuki shafts in my woods absolutley muller the TM Made for (Especially the Motore in the R9). The quality of their forgings, as has been said, is fantastic especially for players at handicap level proving you don't need to play on tour to sample fine, forged heads.

I used to consider Nike a lesser make, a trainer maker if you will, but not any more. Some of their equipment is simply excellent. Mizuno dabble in other sports such as running, judo, volleyball etc. Does this mean that Mizuno should be branded a tranier maker also?

If so, you could say the same about a lot of companies in the industry with TM being owned by Adidas. Puma owning Cobra. Titleist being owned by Fila. Would this change your opinion on these brands?

 

[Fader]

It seems that most Golf manufacturers dip there brand in other places than just the golf course - Cobra now have Mr Fowler, who is becoming a style icon as much as he is a golfer. Adams golf do sponsorship's (I've been watching Big Break on the American Golf channel and seen they sponsor / endorse the winner as a bit of brand building). Mizuno aren't jumping on the band wagon! However, I guess their clubs speak for themselves so they do not need to!

Cobra now owned by Puma are putting masses into marketing now as they have a young icon that they hope will attract younger players to their brand. Even launched an Orange Version of the Amp driver in Rickies favourite shade of Orange. The fact they have Puma behind them helps with the marketing as Puma are renowned for their apparel and shoes in other sports so need to spend big to raise their golf profile.

Adams likewise now have a rich bigger brother that enables them to start big sponsorships and get their name out there, having recently been aquired by Taylormade.

I work in marketing, few months ago making the move from a very well known newspaper (the only true broadsheet left in the country) to a Water company, the reason being yes more money but also the challenge of trying to help raise the name of a poor brand as all water companies are. It really does help marketing a product such as Cobra or Adams when you have investment from a proven maker with big bucks behind them.