Epic conspiracy/prediction/speculation about Nike/Tmag/Cally

[GolfSpy Barbajo]

Anyone see the latest Golf Digest Stix issue?  Story on Cally's year-end numbers -- only lost $11 million for 2013 - huge improvement over 2011/12.  Overall sales were up 14% for the year, and they're anticipating another jump in 2014.  Looks like the window at buying them at a bargain price may be closing...

[Rickles]

What's with the callaway iron love? Weakest part of their lineup (excluding hybrids, that belongs to Adams).

Have you hit the apex pro's. They are sweet. 

For me the Callaway love is about no weaknesses top to bottom. I can get the Alpha and do pretty much the same thing as the SLDR. Their fairway woods and hybrids are great. The Apex's are sweet. and you yourself spoke about the mack daddy 2 love. 

The bottom line though is that if you are well fit you could get a really sweet set of sticks from just about anyone. I'd take TMag, Cally, Titleist, Ping, Adams, or Mizuno and be very happy. I don't really care for cobra or NIKE but they'd probably be fine too.

[BestGrips.com]

Have you hit the apex pro's. They are sweet. 

For me the Callaway love is about no weaknesses top to bottom. I can get the Alpha and do pretty much the same thing as the SLDR. Their fairway woods and hybrids are great. The Apex's are sweet. and you yourself spoke about the mack daddy 2 love. 

The bottom line though is that if you are well fit you could get a really sweet set of sticks from just about anyone. I'd take TMag, Cally, Titleist, Ping, Adams, or Mizuno and be very happy. I don't really care for cobra or NIKE but they'd probably be fine too.

 

Have you hit the alpha? 

 

IMO, their irons have never been competitive, their hybrid category has had one winner in a long line of failures, and the same goes for the fairways. They have done a good job of creating a false image though, and it's the only thing keeping them in the game.

 

The mack daddy love is solely based on Roger Cleveland's designs. 

[RoverRick]

Have you hit the alpha? 

 

IMO, their irons have never been competitive, their hybrid category has had one winner in a long line of failures, and the same goes for the fairways. They have done a good job of creating a false image though, and it's the only thing keeping them in the game.

 

The mack daddy love is solely based on Roger Cleveland's designs. 

 

Twice I have travel and played golf and used rental clubs that were the latest and greatest Callaway clubs.  These were clubs that I would not have bought, mainly because I was harboring ill feelings because the Hogan deal 10 years earlier, and I have to say, the club's performance left nothing to be desired,  It was the Razr X Pro's and Razr Fits.  These clubs were pretty awesome.  Did I buy any?  No, because my personal bias.  But I am finally getting over that. 

[whiskey golf]

I've never been a real fan of Callaway's irons either. I haven't tried the Apex Pros but they look nice, I hit the normal Apex irons and the 5 iron was very clicky, not a fan.

[Honman]

I've always been convinced nike were going to become number 1. They're too big not to was my theory. But they keep screwing up, and I'm not so convinced anymore. Product is good, but marketing has been awful. And Nike are a marketing company! The play in the now campaign means nothing to anyone. They keep failing to leverage the brand power they have, and they've been going long enough now that I think they should have made bigger inroads then they have.

I agree for nike to make a real play for domination they should try to buy the driver count. And the putter count.

 

Callaway are on the right tracks. I think they will emerge a strong number two again and maybe even regain number 1 in Europe where they are traditionally strong.

 

The company that is in free fall is Cleveland. They're in an uncontrollable tailspin. Product is uninspiring and they need to throw some budget at the situation.

 

Adams will become stronger and stronger under tmag. Everyone worried about quality of

Product but if anything this years designs are their best ever. And outside of the US they have so much room for growth.

[Rickles]

Have you hit the alpha? 

 

IMO, their irons have never been competitive, their hybrid category has had one winner in a long line of failures, and the same goes for the fairways. They have done a good job of creating a false image though, and it's the only thing keeping them in the game.

 

The mack daddy love is solely based on Roger Cleveland's designs. 

No I have not hit the Alpha but I am confident that if Phil is playing it it has to be just as good as the SLDR or he would have kept playing it. I really like the Apex Pros. I think their woods are good. I liked your Xhot that you were playing last year. I can suck with just about any fairway wood anyway. This years hybrids look really good. They have some that have little to no offset. I also like the wedges. Taylormade would be a close second. If the new tour preferred wedges are good I could probably go with them.   

[BestGrips.com]

No I have not hit the Alpha but I am confident that if Phil is playing it it has to be just as good as the SLDR or he would have kept playing it. I really like the Apex Pros. I think their woods are good. I liked your Xhot that you were playing last year. I can suck with just about any fairway wood anyway. This years hybrids look really good. They have some that have little to no offset. I also like the wedges. Taylormade would be a close second. If the new tour preferred wedges are good I could probably go with them.   

 

Let me preface with saying that no one makes sub par clubs, even Cleveland. However, I don't think that many big guys can eat at the buffet table anymore. After all, its getting more competitive and the guy at the top is getting further and further away.

 

The Alpha is late to the game and Callaway is already in a tight spot. It is going to have to kick some major butt to beat the SLDR in the distance category at least. But since they are releasing a club to compete with a club TM released last year, what happens when TM unveils the SLDR 2 and the Alpha is still sitting there at $500, while the SLDR sits next to it at $300? 

 

The 3 deep is an awesome club. My favorite FW ever, btw

 

As far as Phil goes, he plays everything. He changes his grips out between tournaments. He also won last year without a driver. I hope they don't plan on putting everything on him, because he will be experimenting almost immediately something new is released.

 

T has suggested that they may try and create a false sense of demand with limited supply and the high cost. That is a really dangerous game to play. With the internet and twitter, you can't keep things like that as secret as you could in the days of Golf Digest and the telegram. Heck, spend 5 minutes on Callaway's financial records (they are public) and you can tell they are a little clenching right now.

[HighFade]

I have to be a dissenter on this one. I don't know the market reports, but TM and Callaway have always been neck and neck to me. Nike never marketed the game improvement as much, so they struggled, and will continue to struggle until they embrace the average/novice players. But TM and Callaway always marketed the "next big thing" with new drivers and irons built for everyone from a scratch to a +30 consumer.

[BestGrips.com]

I have to be a dissenter on this one. I don't know the market reports, but TM and Callaway have always been neck and neck to me. Nike never marketed the game improvement as much, so they struggled, and will continue to struggle until they embrace the average/novice players. But TM and Callaway always marketed the "next big thing" with new drivers and irons built for everyone from a scratch to a +30 consumer.

 

 

I agree with that 100%. Callaway is definitely a something for everyone kind of company. But when you make bold moves and they backfire, well that's like going double or nothing and losing with nothing left to bet.

[HighFade]

True, but I don't think they have nothing left to bet.....they'll be fine.

[BestGrips.com]

True, but I don't think they have nothing left to bet.....they'll be fine.

 

 

Big companies like that always seem to find a way to make it through rough patches.

[RookieBlue7]

UnderArmour is a long way from trying te golf market cause the cash flow isn't there

[BestGrips.com]

UnderArmour is a long way from trying te golf market cause the cash flow isn't there

 

 

Any word on when their golf shoes release? I love their bball shoes.

[MarcKilgore]

Golf is a shrinking market, and you have artificial constraints (COR, etc) placed on the products that can be marketed. I think most large companies could find other product areas that have much more potential for a positive return on investment - compared to investing in a golf company. I just don't see the return for Nike or Adidas to worry too much about their golf product lines. It's going to become like marketing clothing - it will be about what is in style and how things look. I think it's more likely that Nike is going to be more focused on expanding what they are doing with mobile devices and wearable technology than be too concerned about their golf clubs.

 

I'm more excited about envisioning things like Oakley being bought by Google and how that could impact golf and other sports. I've seen the huge explosion of HD video with the small GO video cameras... how cool would it be to integrate on the course video with GPS, automated scoring, etc in your Oakley sunglasses with google display technology? Nike already has the sensors in the shoes for tracking your workouts. I think the idea of putting sensors in everything, is where all the money is going to be made. There's going to be someone that pulls that off, and creates an entirely new golf experience with the use of technology, and they are going to be the ones generating huge profits. Everyone will want the new software upgrade for their driver or whatever so they can get more accurate data...   Then again... maybe I've been watching too much Sci Fi   :-D

[BestGrips.com]

I'm more excited about envisioning things like Oakley being bought by Google and how that could impact golf and other sports. I've seen the huge explosion of HD video with the small GO video cameras... how cool would it be to integrate on the course video with GPS, automated scoring, etc in your Oakley sunglasses with google display technology? Nike already has the sensors in the shoes for tracking your workouts. I think the idea of putting sensors in everything, is where all the money is going to be made. There's going to be someone that pulls that off, and creates an entirely new golf experience with the use of technology, and they are going to be the ones generating huge profits. Everyone will want the new software upgrade for their driver or whatever so they can get more accurate data...   Then again... maybe I've been watching too much Sci Fi   :-D

 

That is probably the coolest idea I've read on this blog/forum!

[GolfSpy Barbajo]

Golf is a shrinking market, and you have artificial constraints (COR, etc) placed on the products that can be marketed. I think most large companies could find other product areas that have much more potential for a positive return on investment - compared to investing in a golf company. I just don't see the return for Nike or Adidas to worry too much about their golf product lines. It's going to become like marketing clothing - it will be about what is in style and how things look. I think it's more likely that Nike is going to be more focused on expanding what they are doing with mobile devices and wearable technology than be too concerned about their golf clubs.

 

I'm more excited about envisioning things like Oakley being bought by Google and how that could impact golf and other sports. I've seen the huge explosion of HD video with the small GO video cameras... how cool would it be to integrate on the course video with GPS, automated scoring, etc in your Oakley sunglasses with google display technology? Nike already has the sensors in the shoes for tracking your workouts. I think the idea of putting sensors in everything, is where all the money is going to be made. There's going to be someone that pulls that off, and creates an entirely new golf experience with the use of technology, and they are going to be the ones generating huge profits. Everyone will want the new software upgrade for their driver or whatever so they can get more accurate data...   Then again... maybe I've been watching too much Sci Fi   :-D

 

Agree with BG - very cool.  It's probably the reason Google paid something like 3 BILLION DOLLARS to buy the Nest thermostat…they find value in what we're up to...

[Mr_Theoo]

Golf is a shrinking market, and you have artificial constraints (COR, etc) placed on the products that can be marketed. I think most large companies could find other product areas that have much more potential for a positive return on investment - compared to investing in a golf company. I just don't see the return for Nike or Adidas to worry too much about their golf product lines. It's going to become like marketing clothing - it will be about what is in style and how things look. I think it's more likely that Nike is going to be more focused on expanding what they are doing with mobile devices and wearable technology than be too concerned about their golf clubs.

 

I'm more excited about envisioning things like Oakley being bought by Google and how that could impact golf and other sports. I've seen the huge explosion of HD video with the small GO video cameras... how cool would it be to integrate on the course video with GPS, automated scoring, etc in your Oakley sunglasses with google display technology? Nike already has the sensors in the shoes for tracking your workouts. I think the idea of putting sensors in everything, is where all the money is going to be made. There's going to be someone that pulls that off, and creates an entirely new golf experience with the use of technology, and they are going to be the ones generating huge profits. Everyone will want the new software upgrade for their driver or whatever so they can get more accurate data... Then again... maybe I've been watching too much Sci Fi :-D

Nike actually filed patent for something like that already. I think they have plans to use it for fittings.

[MarcKilgore]

Well crap...they beat me to it!    LOL

[BestGrips.com]

Well crap...they beat me to it!    LOL

 

 

See that just feeds to my theory. The next evolution of golf will not be 17 yards longer. That has literally been beaten dead. You need something out of the box.

[RookieBlue7]

I just don't see google glass as a very feasible tech for golf. Could it work? Sure. But in a game that's losing popularity, it's a tech that alienates more golfers due to cost IMO.

[MarcKilgore]

check out icaddy.com - I think that's just a taste of where things are headed.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ivdi4IXgFIU

 

You've also got some wild looking stuff at skydroid http://golfsight.skydroid.net/

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y9BAwPrpDZE

 

Is Google Glass the next product to revolutionize the game of golf?

http://www.sbnation.com/golf/2013/12/12/5203652/google-glass-golfsight-app

[apprenti23]

Great commercial for that icaddy but there's no way it gives directly to pin when she's putting,right? In fact, unless it's equipped with a laser, how does it give directly to pin yard ages period? Call me a skeptic. That thing is sweet and I'm sure it wouldn't take long before you didn't realize the box in the upper right hand corner.

[whiskey golf]

How are you supposed to select stuff, with a phone or app? Like if a wrong score was put in or it's on the wrong hole then how could you fix that?

[MarcKilgore]

Great commercial for that icaddy but there's no way it gives directly to pin when she's putting,right? In fact, unless it's equipped with a laser, how does it give directly to pin yard ages period? Call me a skeptic. That thing is sweet and I'm sure it wouldn't take long before you didn't realize the box in the upper right hand corner.

Homing beacons added to the bottom of the cup. That will be next.    I do remember reading about some company working on something with google glass where it would scan the surface of the green (kind of like what Strakaline was supposed to do but seems to have never got off the ground) and automatically calculate slope, contours, etc.  It's just software and image analyzing... only a matter of time. I'm sure we'll see that kind of tech within the next 10 years. I'm actually kind of surprised that some courses aren't already feeding exact GPS pin locations when they set the pins everyday. That's certainly possible today. When you get to the course proshop, you could suck in the pin locations via bluetooth or whatever into your device. Of course, the GPS isn't perfect, but there's no technical reason why that couldn't already be done.

[BestGrips.com]

I can't handle white clubs. I'm almost positive I couldn't handle a HUD while trying to focus/swing.

[apprenti23]

Honing beacons in the bottom of cups? Unless the cost of golf starts going up, I think you'll be hard pressed to find the extra money for those in an already strapped maintenance budget.

[apprenti23]

Unless- the icaddy gives 50 of them for free to the golf courses

[silver & black]

The Icaddy looks pretty cool. I have a question. If you need reading glasses to see up close, can the screen focus be adjusted so you can read it or are you just out luck and not able to use it?

[RookieBlue7]

Wow, LMAO., that's how clueless I am, lol.

 

I didn't know that Keegan tried a pair, or even that they made a pair.

 

Did you see em?

 

Were they decent looking?

 

What was the price, or did they just do a proto for him?

 

Fairways & Greens My Friend,

Richard

As a person that's liked the Jordan brand I was okay with them. Didn't care for the colors but they were alright. Would've been better if the colors were different. The elephant print turned a lot of people off.

 

 

http://ftw.usatoday.com/2013/10/keegan-bradley-michael-jordan-air-jumpman/