Why are Ping not in receivership?

[SharkAttack]

Went to a Ping demo day today, I was booked in for a fitting for irons and a new driver. Rolled up 10 minutes early to warm up and then went over. I had taken my own irons and driver to compare, hit a few with my own i10 irons with impact tape on them and and was told they were spot on. I then hit some with the i15 set up with the same settings as my own. Next I hit a few with my G10 driver for a reference and tried the G15 and i15 drivers, I hit the i15 well but ruled it out as I can't bring myself to like the black face. I liked the G15 and couldn't wait for the results.

Here goes-

Driver- 2yds longer but 5 yds less carry recomendation stick with my own.
Irons- Same flight and distance as my own even though they had different swing weights and recommended to keep my own.

Now thats the first time I have had someone say to me "Keep your own clubs, there would be no advantage changing" Any other times I have been told that club X would give me a advantage in a different weather condition or some other reason, so I should change.

With that attitude Ping will go bust I don't think. I would always go back now that I know it is not just about the sale.

Good on The Ping Man. What results have came from your fittings?

 

[Region3]

I went in to the local golf shop with the intention of trying a few drivers.

After about half a dozen hits with my own the guy said if it wasn't already yours I'd try to sell it to you.

 

[Alex1975]

Wow, Im stunned and very impressed. Good for them.

 

[Oddsocks]

Great customer service builds loyalty and good on them. My old pro was always very anti me getting new irons. You could argue he knew he would get more lessons out of me but I'm no longer with. By new 09 spec irons than I was with my 96 spec irons

 

[drawboy]

Hang on a cotton pickin' minute, are you seriously suggesting that there is a golf club manufacturer out there who's new gear doesn't go longer and straighter than the last lot they produced?...Stunned silence. No-no! this will never catch on.

 

[DMC]

I have had my I10 irons since they were launched, to date i have been told that there would be no appreciable difference in changing to the I15 irons. Got to love Ping's customer service.

 

[Toby_LeRhone]

Interesting. Don't want to hijack the thread but...

Those of you who found your existing club(s) to be perfect for you when tested; please tell me, had you previously been fitted for your clubs or were they straight off the shelf, and how long had you been playing with your existing clubs?

(this is part of my research into the extent to which the human body is adaptable to equipment)

 

[pokerjoke]

To answer your question,the human body is addaptable to virtually everything

 

[HomerJSimpson]

I was impressed with the whole Ping set up when I went to a demo day in August. No hard sell but an honest assessment of the Ping clubs performance vs your own.

To be fair though I've been to a number of demos this year (TM, Cally, Mizzy and Wilson) and most of the guys there are pretty much the same. it's the golfclub/range that put the hard sell on as it's their stock that is being bought and you're not buying directly of the manufacturers reps. Most of these guys are happy to talk shafts, lie angle etc and will give you an full breakdown of the launch monitor figures (you usually have to book a session on that though).

 

[JustOne]

Now thats the first time I have had someone say to me "Keep your own clubs, there would be no advantage changing"

They also said that to Smiffy, but for different reasons

 

[HomerJSimpson]

I heard them say it to you too James but I think they were waiting for you to rock up on the Antiques Roadshow with them

 

[Imurg]

I have had my I10 irons since they were launched, to date i have been told that there would be no appreciable difference in changing to the I15 irons.

Begs the question - What's the point of the i15's then?

 

[SharkAttack]

I have had my I10 irons since they were launched, to date i have been told that there would be no appreciable difference in changing to the I15 irons.

Begs the question - What's the point of the i15's then?

Something for those who are not yet part of the Ping Clan to buy .

 

[Alex1975]

Hey Shark, what you going to spend all the money you saved today on?

 

[SharkAttack]

Hey Shark, what you going to spend all the money you saved today on?

Muffins and hot chocolate. 'cos it looks like I'll not be playing for a few days and be snuggled up in front of the TV. Damn that Aled Jones

I'll probably get my irons regripped and a few lessons. I may even treat myself to a game down the coast.

Shark

 

[Ethan]

I don't think that is as uncommon as you imagine. I went for a fitting at Precision Golf in Egham, and they said that my iron shafts (TTDG) were not ideal, and a PX shaft would give better flight and distance, but that it really wasn't worth the expense, and I should wait until I was ready to change irons and get them with the PX.

Decent fitters know they are looking for customers for the long haul. They also know that when you get back home and think that you are spending all that dough for 2 yards, you will sober up. I wouldn't know if a club gave me 2 yards more. American Golf, on the other hand, would be pushing you to get the wallet out for that shiny set of Jack Nicklaus irons that they just happen to have in stock.

 

[Toby_LeRhone]

To answer your question,the human body is addaptable to virtually everything

So, you think that you can handle a 55 inch driver eh? I'd like to see that.

The point is to understand the value of devices such as the fitting of clubs to minute detail. Whilst noone would deny the scientific evidence that suggests a performance gain that might come from, say, a club that has been fitted to match an individual's biomechanical specifications and idiosyncracies, there is a convincing arguement that variation in practise cancels out the effective realisation of benefits that are indicated in laboratory conditions.

 

[surefire]

To answer your question,the human body is addaptable to virtually everything

So, you think that you can handle a 55 inch driver eh? I'd like to see that.

The point is to understand the value of devices such as the fitting of clubs to minute detail. Whilst noone would deny the scientific evidence that suggests a performance gain that might come from, say, a club that has been fitted to match an individual's biomechanical specifications and idiosyncracies, there is a convincing arguement that variation in practise cancels out the effective realisation of benefits that are indicated in laboratory conditions.

What about the non-physical side of things?

If you 'know' or 'believe' a club is perfect for you, the extra confidence will make a huge difference, compared to the doubt you might otherwise experience.

 

[Ethan]

To paraphrase the great curmudgeon, Mark James, psychology and self-belief are fine and well, but having a decent golf swing helps a lot too.

 

[SharkAttack]

American Golf, on the other hand, would be pushing you to get the wallet out for that shiny set of Jack Nicklaus irons that they just happen to have in stock.

Ethan

This Demo day was run by American Golf in East Kilbride. I have nothing but praise for them, they have never tried to miss sell me anything and have always offered a discount to match or better online or local pro/range prices. Maybe they are different with other people who are not sure what they want or need, it is just not my experience.

Surely now a days if you are looking for clubs you would go for a fitting? And even AG have launch monitors, so you can see if the clubs they are trying to sell you are as good as the next set.

Shark