Why do we settle for second best in the UK

[munro007]

JDM Japanese Domestic Market Only do Forged Clubs.

But here in the UK we get cheep cast clubs.

Why do all the big names think this is ok.

Or am i missing something.

 

[Ethan]

I think you are missing the many sets of forged clubs available in the UK.

 

[ScienceBoy]

Its probably that the type of person who plays golf in Japan wants to use forged clubs. Here we have the space to offer cheaper more accessible courses so we need to offer full sets and a bag for £150 to ensure everyone who wants to can play.

There is one person I know on here who knows a lot about japanese golf!

 

[Foxholer]

Different cultures.

Japanese market for (Japanese produced) cast clubs is very low. UK market for forged clubs is quite low. What do you think OEMs are going to do?

Remember, Japan has a rather fine tradition of forging metal too. Ping and Vokey do pretty well in Japan I believe.

 

[munro007]

Thats not my point Ethan.

JDM market has far better clubs, than what is available to us in the UK.

Just look at TM Japan range http://www.golftoimpress.com/taylormade-2012-titanium-fairway-woods-gloire-and-r11/

Why cant we buy these quality items in the UK

 

[One Planer]

Thats not my point Ethan.

JDM market has far better clubs, than what is available to us in the UK.

Just look at TM Japan range http://www.golftoimpress.com/taylormade-2012-titanium-fairway-woods-gloire-and-r11/



Why cant we buy these quality items in the UK

Would you spend circa £300 on a fairway wood?


http://www.tourspecgolf.com/Taylormade-Japan-2012-Gloire-Forged-Fairway-Wood

Or nearly £400 for the driver?

http://www.tourspecgolf.com/Taylormade-Japan-2012-R11-J-Spec-Driver-1

This may go part of the way to answering your question..

 

[brendy]

Would a 20 handicapper benefit from forged irons? probably not, it is the bling effect that draws low ability high wallet levels types to forged when they arent necessary. Plenty of great cast clubs out there that do exactly what they say on the tin, Ping and Callaway traditionally make cast irons (yes they do also make some forged models), hardly market minnows.

 

[munro007]

Gareth yes i would spend that on a fairway wood.

The difference between forged and cast is very noticeable.

And if people have money to spend, whats wrong about that.

I just don't get why JDM only.

I understand that it is very elitist in japan. But i also believe that there is a market for these items in the UK.

 

[duncan mackie]

i also believe that there is a market for these items in the UK.

the only issue is whether such a market supports their sales and marketing costs in that area.

strangely (for you) the professionals in the market do not agree with you here

this happens in many many markets and products, and there's no doubt that they occassionally get it wrong over models and features - but they normally have it correct.

 

[One Planer]

Gareth yes i would spend that on a fairway wood.

Fair enough.

But... What's the difference between the Japan only TM and the Mizzy MP650 Fairway available in the U.K?

http://golf.mizunoeurope.com/woods/mp-650-fairway/

Both are forged but one is a hell of a lot cheaper.

Priced to reflect consumer base?

 

[SatchFan]

If you want second best try Golfukworld.co.uk. They are 100% forged.

 

[munro007]

If you want second best try Golfukworld.co.uk. They are 100% forged.

I have heard.

 

[MegaSteve]

I believe there is or was a supplier based north of the border that specialised in importing some of the Japanese 'specialist' brands...

A friend looked into buying some Epons [Sp?] from them but found it cheaper to import them directly from an outlet in Japan itself...

 

[JustOne]

Damn!... thought this was going to be a thread about why we can't even have flat tee boxes in this country.... or cut the grass on them!

 

[GTO NEMESIS]

Thats not my point Ethan.

JDM market has far better clubs, than what is available to us in the UK.

Just look at TM Japan range http://www.golftoimpress.com/taylormade-2012-titanium-fairway-woods-gloire-and-r11/

Why cant we buy these quality items in the UK

You can buy them.
My R11 5 wood is Ti.

Bought mine from American Golf.
Just as the manager to get you what you want.

As for why they are not a standard on the shelf item (although mine was) is due to the UK market not wanting to pay higher prices for higher quality.
In Japan, metal is still very much an art form - here (and most of the world) metal is just a material.

I have a ridiculously expensive kitchen knife collection, they are made in Japan with top quality steel.
Most kitchen wear supplier in the UK just don't stock top quality knives for the very same reason that most UK golf retailers don't sell the higher quality/more expensive forged clubs. The UK vision of quality Vs price is very different to the Japanese view.

 

[timchump]

that's why mizuno are the best irons you can buy off the shelf in the uk,
did i mention i play mizuno

 

[duncan mackie]

You can buy them.
My R11 5 wood is Ti.

Bought mine from American Golf.
Just as the manager to get you what you want.

As for why they are not a standard on the shelf item (although mine was) is due to the UK market not wanting to pay higher prices for higher quality.
In Japan, metal is still very much an art form - here (and most of the world) metal is just a material.

I have a ridiculously expensive kitchen knife collection, they are made in Japan with top quality steel.
Most kitchen wear supplier in the UK just don't stock top quality knives for the very same reason that most UK golf retailers don't sell the higher quality/more expensive forged clubs. The UK vision of quality Vs price is very different to the Japanese view.

there's also the small matter of maintaining a multi steel (normally high carbon sandwiched with a soft iron) single beveled knife and the cuisine associated with the various designs .... and lets not forget the whole golf culture in Japan is somewhat different to over here! I agree that basically the concept of a cheaper golf club wouldn't exist in Japan - their vision of quality v price would be that far over to quality.

 

[Dave B]

You can buy cast clubs in Japan just like anywhere else however the difference between the UK and the USA when compared to South Korea and Japan is that golf is an elite sport that only the wealthy can afford.

To give an example in Korea where the cost of living is cheaper than Japan it costs more than £1000 p/a just to get membership of a driving range.

The Japanese spec clubs such as XXIO, Yamaha and Tour Stage/Bridgestone all use Japanese spec shafts as do the foreign imports because the philosophy in each respective country is that the components used must be procured from their respective countries where possible hence the use of Nippon NS Pro and other Japanese branded shafts.

It is true that some companies do design clubs specifically for the far east market, (MacGregor was a big surprise), however you can get Callaway and Taylormades which are same as the UK spec, (mainly drivers, woods and putters), but you pay substantially more for the privelege.

Some of the irons and drivers such as the Yamaha Inpres X are beautiful however the truth is they don't offer any improvement in performance over UK spec clubs.

Now if you want to talk about tour bags, that's another subject as the Japanese and Korean bags are a sight to behold however I could never justify paying more than I would for a set of irons for a Japanese spec leather tour bag

 

[Ethan]

Thats not my point Ethan.

JDM market has far better clubs, than what is available to us in the UK.

Just look at TM Japan range http://www.golftoimpress.com/taylormade-2012-titanium-fairway-woods-gloire-and-r11/

Why cant we buy these quality items in the UK

The world does not need any more Taylor Made models.

I think we already have a bewildering choice of stuff. Perhaps that is because I started golf at a time when you could have persimmon or laminated drivers, both mostly with steel shafts, usually one make, or occasionally a graphite shafts that felt like a fishing rod. Irons were bladed or GI clubs which hit the ball straight up.

Now we have loads of different designs with hundreds of shafts and adjustable stuff and fitting all of it. Its a wonder anyone can make a decision what to buy.

The Japanese market has always had more blingy pimped out stuff, some of which is hideously garish, but rarely anything that is really a better playing club. A lot of the Japanese stuff is aimed at the duffer with no club head speed anyway.

If you find something you like or want, order with confidence from Tourspec golf. They are very reliable and ship fast to the UK (Parcelforce's contribution excepted).

 

[Yerman]

Its all bling. On a recent trip to Osaka I was surprised to find the only golf seemed to be simulators, never mind a driving range. Japan is 90% mountain and has many active volcanos, so land for people never mind golf is at a premium esp with a population twice that of the UK.