Reality strikes the golf market and TaylorMade in particular.

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I honestly couldn't tell you what brand my driver is. It was going for about £50 in American Golf, had a few hits on the range and took it. As long as I put a good swing on it, it goes straight and long.

Perhaps people are tightening up collectively? To me £300 is crazy money for one club, that's more than my membership subs.
 
I think part of it is the fact that the price of new clubs has shot up quite considerably over the last 5-6 years. This may be me remembering things incorrectly but when I started played about 6-7 years ago, a new release driver was about £200, a new release fairway wood around the £100 mark and a hybrid was £60-£70. A new putter was about £80-£100. Look at it now, £300-£350 for a driver, £200 for a fairway wood, £120 for a hybrid etc. I know that there have been some more expensive items in the past but it just seems to me that prices have been going up at a time when they should have a best remained stable.
 
GB72 said:
I think part of it is the fact that the price of new clubs has shot up quite considerably over the last 5-6 years. This may be me remembering things incorrectly but when I started played about 6-7 years ago, a new release driver was about £200, a new release fairway wood around the £100 mark and a hybrid was £60-£70. A new putter was about £80-£100. Look at it now, £300-£350 for a driver, £200 for a fairway wood, £120 for a hybrid etc. I know that there have been some more expensive items in the past but it just seems to me that prices have been going up at a time when they should have a best remained stable.
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My Taylor Made Speedblade irons were cheaper (fitted) this year than my last set of irons (Callaway Big Bertha off the shelf) back in 2006-7
 
jimbob.someroo said:
Just to add some clarity on a couple o' tings within the thread. Obviously, not going to get involved in this convo but thought it was worth being factual about a couple of things for people that weren't aware:

TM Current Drivers:

SLDRs (only new driver released in 2014)
SLDR (released in 2013, with white option added after demand this year - same tech, different colour)
JetSpeed (again, released in 2013).
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That's what I said... where did I get that info from...? ;)
 
Beleive me I'm neither buying a game or a lower score!!! :rofl:

I just like trying different clubs.

Anyway....

Are there financial results from Callaway around? They're probably the closest to TM in terms of business model so would be interesting to see how they fair....

Nike golf always loses money but they make a fortune in all other areas so not too bothered. Not sure how TM sit within the overall Adidas Group either.

Not the case now as jimbob points out but I remember looking when the first RBZ drivers came out and there were about 5 different models (standard, tour, tp, tour tp and something else?)

TM must shift a lot of kit as loads of players I play with have it but wonder how much of it was bought at RRP....
 
SwingsitlikeHogan said:
They ain't buying a game - they are buying a better score. Not the same thing in my eyes.
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I'm Still not sure I understand this comment.

If I go out and buy a new putter, and I immediately drop my scores and they remain lower, then your saying I'm not a better golfer ?

I can only be a better golfer by practising ... And even if I don't drop my scores then still I'm a better golfer?

Two identical people shoot the same score, one practises twice a week, and one has recently bought a new driver .... the guy with new driver is the worse golfer?
 
Rooter said:
No, there is no place on the forum for actual information thank you James, its 100% whodoo, he said/she said and what the bloke down the pub said. There is no place here for the truth thank you! ;)
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Well the figures quoted in the original post were truthful.

Sales down 18% last quarter & 27% year on year. 15% of worldwide workforce reduction.

That is the basis of the OP.
 
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NWJocko said:
Are there financial results from Callaway around? They're probably the closest to TM in terms of business model so would be interesting to see how they fair....

Nike golf always loses money but they make a fortune in all other areas so not too bothered. Not sure how TM sit within the overall Adidas Group either.
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Latest quarterly figures show Callaway's worldwide sales down 7% compared with TM's fall of 18%.

However, as I said previously this is not an anti-TM post, rather it is an observation on the inability of the industry as a whole to come to terms with a changing and apparently shrinking market.
 
MetalMickie said:
Well the figures quoted in the original post were truthful.

Sales down 18% last quarter & 27% year on year. 15% of worldwide workforce reduction.

That is the basis of theOP.
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Golf. like all trends, is cyclical.. It's probably just starting a bit of a dip and something like cycling will grow... Nowt as fickle as folk (he says after a 30 mile ride on my new BMC Gran Fondo 105).
 
bluewolf said:
Golf. like all trends, is cyclical.. It's probably just starting a bit of a dip and something like cycling will grow... Nowt as fickle as folk (he says after a 30 mile ride on my new BMC Gran Fondo 105).
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Absolutely. That is my point and the manufacturers are struggling to come to terms with this.
 
SAPCOR1 said:
Why gullible? People change for a variety of reasons, not just wanting to have the latest model.
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It's highly unlikely that clubs will actually *need* replacing due to wear and tear inside 2-4 years so I suspect people who replace them that often do so either a. to have the latest kit all the time or b. because they think new clubs will magically improve their game. Both reasons are pretty daft imho.
 
muttleee said:
It's highly unlikely that clubs will actually *need* replacing due to wear and tear inside 2-4 years so I suspect people who replace them that often do so either a. to have the latest kit all the time or b. because they think new clubs will magically improve their game. Both reasons are pretty daft imho.
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Well that depends how often you play. I find after 2 seasons my shafts are loosing their stiffness and need replacing, so by the time you have paid for the new shafts and grips, you might as well just flog them on EBay and use that money along with what you save on re-shafting to be some new ones.
 
Aside from the driver turnround where it really did seem they were running about like London buses, the iron models have seemed a lot more consistent. There has been a few models but there did seem a longer period. I have to say that TM irons have always appealed to me too. Always enjoyed playing them and hitting the different versions with reasonable success. They do appear to be a common denominator in golf and I would suggest is the first point of call for a large number of golfers of all abilities and handicaps looking to change (unless they are very brand specific and loyal). That can't be all bad and I have no doubt this downturn won't stop them producing great gear
 
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