Turning Japanese, I really think so...

[markb]

To quote The Vapors, it seems like the US golf market might finally be going full Japanese after some time of shifting gradually.   Cleveland is largely done and Srixon will be slipping into its shelf space with formerly Japan-only products.   Bridgestone is coming on strong with the introduction of the XXIO Dunlop lines here.   Callaway essentially rebadging its Legacy products as the Big Bertha V series.  Shall we go on?

 

Maybe this frog has been getting scalded by degrees for some time -- after all, virtually all graphite shafts are Japanese and we don't even notice anymore and few would argue that it's not a good thing (I think it's great).   Maybe the current weakness of the "American" equipment market will leave a void that will be filled by Japanese manufacturers with a eye towards quality and slower product life cycles.   I kinda think we'll be looking back in five years to a golf industry that is dominated by Srixon, Bridgestone, Mizuno, Acushnet (Korean), other Japanese brands we haven't heard of yet, with Ping and Nike  as the American hold-outs.  I think Callaway is vulnerable (sold off to someone in Asia?), and who knows what will happen to a crippled Taylormade!  

 

It used to be that the product lines made for the American market were sold everywhere, with a few modifications for the foreign markets which were largely cosmetic.   Now the reverse is becoming more true.  Nike balls are made by Bridgestone.   I myself have bought Japan-only forged wedges because they're better than their US counterparts.   Miura fans in the US bemoan the fact that can't get all the Miura Giken models.   Callaway seems out of good US ideas, so they're bringing over their Callaway Japan brainstorms. 

 

What do you think?

[BK in TEXAS]

Just about everything you can touch is going overseas.  I hate to say it but things are going to get worse here long before they get better.

[Jmikecpa]

From a marketing angle it makes complete sense....the Asian market has not reached the level of saturation that the US market has reached.  The game to a large degree is still in a growth mode in that part of the world as golf is becoming affordable to a larger percentage of the population than it had in the past.  It also makes sense to import equipment that has not been attainable through normal channels that many people can on see on the web to help stimulate sales in a declining US market.  Consumers may not need the 4th new driver that Callaway has put out this year, but the Bridgestone driver that they had no way of getting a few years ago may appeal to the same consumer.  The global nature of the game is also a plus as in the US we are now exposed to brands that were traditional Asian brands that we would love to give a try, but there is no channel of distribution in the US.  

[ZenGolfer]

Its certainly not a bad thing.  JDM clubs have been superior for quite a few years now.  If we can get JDM quality at USDM prices, thats certainly not a bad thing.

[markb]

Its certainly not a bad thing.  JDM clubs have been superior for quite a few years now.  If we can get JDM quality at USDM prices, thats certainly not a bad thing.

 

I don't think we can, that's the problem.   The JDM market prices are so high and the J consumers are so acclimated to paying $2000 for a set of forged irons that if they were to bring over a JDM product with an "acceptable" USDM price on it, it would create reverse gray market trade.   A US distributor would export his $1200 irons back to Japan directly.   This factor has probably been the sticking point for the Srixons, Bridgestones and Mizunos of the world so far.   They'd love to capture those stratospheric prices in the larger US market but we're showing less willingness to buy our $500 BB Alphas at full retail when they first come out, knowing that the price will drop in 3 months and the product will be replaced in 6.

[ZenGolfer]

Some would say that Mizuno has been offering JDM quality at USDM prices for decades.

[markb]

Some would say that Mizuno has been offering JDM quality at USDM prices for decades.

 

True, I wouldn't argue.  Do they have a separate line up in Japan at different prices?

[westy]

I'm not quite in agreement I'm afraid, mizuno are the bridge between Jdm quality and the rest of the world. They are lovely, but there's a reason they are 100's of dollars less than Mira, Maruman, epon etc.

 

Interestingly some of the big companies used Jdm companies for their forgings in years gone by; still very sought after. Correct me if I'm wrong but the TM 300 irons and coin forged racs I think were Japanese?

 

If we changed clubs less would we be more willing to drop $1500 on a set? I guess not?

[markb]

Interestingly some of the big companies used Jdm companies for their forgings in years gone by; still very sought after. Correct me if I'm wrong but the TM 300 irons and coin forged racs I think were Japanese?

 

If we changed clubs less would we be more willing to drop $1500 on a set? I guess not?

 

Supposedly those old forged TMag's were made by Miura.   Still much admired and played, but rather hard to hit (not surprising).  A used set can be had for about $150.  Expensive to produce and therefore replaced for cheaper production is what I heard.  

 

The price barrier is what holds the Japanese invasion temporarily at bay.   We're too cheap and won't pony up JDM prices.  No manufacturer wants to take less when they've seen they can get more.   3 high margin forged sets at $2000 may equal the profits made on 30 deeply-discounted, low-margin, credit-for-overstock sets sold in a big box US store after the bottom line is tallied.

[westy]

Tell me about it, played the coin forged combo irons for a season, when I was good I was amazing - when I was bad I got injured! They were that unforgiving - misfits felt like a broken arm was an option!