Equipment

Online golf equipment shopping is up 50 percent year-over-year, says Golf Datatech

Published

7 years ago

Sep 19, 2017

Golf Datatech’s Serious Golfer Shopping & Purchasing Habits Study, published roughly every two years, is one of the industry’s most significant indicators of what’s going on at the heart of golf retail.

“Like most consumer shopping preferences in the United States, serious golfers’ choices about shopping for golf equipment or apparel have changed significantly over the past few years,” says John Krzynowek, a Partner in Golf Datatech LLC.

“The retail environment is rapidly evolving across all consumer products in the USA, and the purchasing of golf products is no exception. In fact, shopping for, and buying golf products is frequently a multi-step process. Gone are the days when golfers would buy without shopping for product features, as well as comparing prices. Today’s golfer is savvier about product life cycles and price/value relationships.”

Golf Datatech tapped over 2,500 golfers from its database, surveying multiple demographics, including: golf handicap, gender, facility played, geographic region, alpha consumers (those that buy products most frequently) and price points, along with a special investigation of online shopping habits.

The survey found online shopping for golf equipment is up more than 50 percent year-over-year. Just last year, a GPAU study found participants were most likely to make their next equipment purchase online just 13 percent of the time.

Interestingly, buying more equipment online hasn’t made consumers more impulsive: The average respondent said it takes him/her three months to pull the trigger on a new piece of equipment.

Also worth remembering in evaluating the increase in online sales: More than 100 brick and mortar golf shops have closed in the U.S. in the past year.

Krzynowek also says, “Purchase cycles in clubs have shortened slightly over the past few years, but still remain elongated from an historical point of view.”

Another tidbit: Here’s what Golf Datatech found with respect to average equipment purchase cycles.

Drivers: 4 years
Irons: 5 years
Wedges: 4 years
Putters: 6 years

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35 Comments

SEO

Nov 3, 2017 at 10:06 am

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Reply Report comment
Mad-Mex

Oct 29, 2017 at 10:14 pm

Yet on another article online shopping and K-Sigs get bashed,,,,

Reply Report comment
Tamanna khan

Oct 11, 2017 at 1:09 am

Thanks a lot for this best idea about golf. this is a very effective post

Reply Report comment
Maxtest Xtreme

Oct 6, 2017 at 7:09 am

Quality articles is the main to attrqct the viewers to visit the web site, that’s what this ssite is providing.

Reply Report comment
moses

Sep 22, 2017 at 12:03 pm

Buying last year’s model or buying used = big’money savings.
I got a used 917D2 from Globalgolf for $230. No way in heck I’m paying $450 for a new club that’s worth $250 after I play a few rounds.

Reply Report comment
Justin

Sep 20, 2017 at 6:12 pm

M2 driver AND 3 wood, new in plastic, globalgolf.com for $299… what would that retail for? $649!!! you tell me who’s the asinine one

Reply Report comment
- JCC
  
  Sep 20, 2017 at 7:40 pm
  
  Um no – not the 2017 model you moron. It’s $650 at global. My local shop sells that for $600. If you’re talking about the 2016 model then you’re trying to deceive people.
  
  Reply Report comment
  - Justin
    
    Sep 20, 2017 at 8:19 pm
    
    I’m deceiving people or the manufacturers are deceiving people?????
    
    Reply Report comment
    - JCC
      
      Sep 20, 2017 at 11:01 pm
      
      Show us where globalgolf is selling the 2017 M2 driver and fairway for $299. Prove it.
      
      Reply Report comment
      - Justin
        
        Sep 21, 2017 at 5:07 pm
        
        ok i’m sorry i combined two arguments and you didn’t comprehend, 1. shop online 2. buy previous year models 3. SAVE MONEY
        
        Reply Report comment
    - birdie
      
      Sep 21, 2017 at 3:04 pm
      
      lol blaming the manufacturer for you stupidity it seems
      
      Reply Report comment
Mark

Sep 20, 2017 at 12:09 pm

Ok, with a sampling of 2500 from a population of 26,000,000 what is the confidece level and margin of error in the statistics?

Reply Report comment
Johnnythunders

Sep 19, 2017 at 8:50 pm

For all of you uniformed people saying all golf equipment sold on EBay is fake, get real. You have no idea the current state of how a very large portion of golf clubs are sold in the United States. And by the very manufacturers that also sell to brick and mortar. Callaway has a great preowned site, best trade-in prices, authentic certificates and there “like new clubs” are in a large number of cases, new. They have the number one selling driver now on there, Epic. And the prices are good but get really great when they have sales like ever other week. And guest were Callaway also sells clubs, right now they have 66,667 clubs listed on EBAY.. Mizuno is different they don’t have a preowned site but they sell clubs to lots of small internet dealers or brick and morter who sell on eBay, you place your order, it’s built by Mizuno and shipp d by them to you at a lower cost.

Now if you play Pings or Titelest they are still trying to control pricing especially Ping. So you have to pay way more to get your shiny new clubs.

And that’s the key lower cost, authentic clubs, faster. Retail stores are dead. The golf store is dead.

Internet has enabled a new retail model. Get on board.

Reply Report comment
- SoloGolfer
  
  Sep 20, 2017 at 6:08 pm
  
  Only idjits buy a set of clubs online and just to brag about WITB. That’s why golf is the game for goofballs and gearheads.
  
  Reply Report comment
- JCC
  
  Sep 20, 2017 at 7:46 pm
  
  how do you know what lie angle you need? what shaft you need? what loft you need on drivers? keep acting in ways that will result in not being able to test clubs out. “the internet” isn’t selling clubs at 1/2 the price of a brick and mortar. that’s just not logical. most brick and mortars will price match if you give them the chance.
  
  Reply Report comment
  - birdie
    
    Sep 21, 2017 at 3:07 pm
    
    anyone can go to a reputable fitter, get fit, and then buy the clubs online new or used.
    
    no, we don’t need to go beat balls with random clubs at the closet golf galaxy to figure out what to buy. this is actually probably more detrimental as their launch monitors aren’t all that accurate to begin with.
    
    Reply Report comment
Bert

Sep 19, 2017 at 7:39 pm

Why is it when eBay is mentioned I immediately think counterfeit? Maybe it’s because when the price of a set of irons is $1300 and you can get a new set on eBay for $600, something doesn’t seem correct. Some mfr’s are listing their authorized eBay Sellers. That’s a good thing for the buyer.

Reply Report comment
- birdie
  
  Sep 20, 2017 at 9:09 am
  
  can’t help but laugh at those who think everything on ebay is fake. the joke is on you for paying retail prices when same clubs can be bought at a steep discount. your example is an exaggeration of course.
  
  Reply Report comment
Boobsy McKiss

Sep 19, 2017 at 6:50 pm

Seems some people here are still in denial about the future of brick and mortar stores. Do we really need stats to tell us this? Amazon and other online retailers are growing quickly and so are the number of people buying from them. Sure it’s nice to support local from buying local, but it’s dumb to believe this is somehow going to stem the tide permanently. And a lot of people seem to believe they can stop the train.

Like it or not, the future is a lot of empty retail stores (not just in golf) and almost everything you buy will be from online retailers. Toys R Us just became the next victim of Amazon. Who is next? Best Buy is on the brink. And it will take some time (10-15yrs) but eventually the sporting goods stores will go too and that will be that for the in-store golf buying experience. Send all thank you cards to Amazon and Walmart.

Reply Report comment
Justin

Sep 19, 2017 at 4:25 pm

If you don’t buy online, you probably enjoy wasting money

Reply Report comment
- JCC
  
  Sep 19, 2017 at 7:26 pm
  
  asinine comment
  
  Reply Report comment
  - birdie
    
    Sep 20, 2017 at 9:11 am
    
    sorry, but he’s right. if you walk into a store and pay retail you are over paying. its that simple
    
    Reply Report comment
surewin73

Sep 19, 2017 at 3:59 pm

If I know my specs I would be comfortable purchasing equipment at one of the larger sites (TGW, PGA Superstore, etc.). But I rather purchase from a local shop.

Reply Report comment
Thomas A

Sep 19, 2017 at 2:50 pm

I bought a set of brand new Wilson Staff v4 irons 4-GW on ebay for $330. Brand new, in the Wilson box with all the plastic head wrap and everything. Why the heck would I pay $900 in a store? Or even $650 when they get marked down after a product cycle?

Reply Report comment
- JCC
  
  Sep 19, 2017 at 8:09 pm
  
  because they are probably fake or stolen. how do you logic out that you can buy clubs for 1/3 or even 1/2 the price online? do you honestly think there is that much margin in golf clubs? if you do then you’re a moron.
  
  Reply Report comment
  - birdie
    
    Sep 20, 2017 at 9:13 am
    
    you couldn’t be more wrong. hope you enjoy wasting your money. yes, for a set of clubs that are one to two years old, the margin between online discounts and retail prices is huge. sometimes more than half.
    
    I can walk into a retail store today, see the 716 ap2 irons still near their original price. online, i’d pay hundreds less for the same set.
    
    continue assuming anything online is fake. its your money your wasting
    
    Reply Report comment
  - birdie
    
    Sep 20, 2017 at 9:15 am
    
    lol you couldn’t be more wrong. enjoy wasting your money
    
    Reply Report comment
    - JCC
      
      Sep 20, 2017 at 7:48 pm
      
      enjoy double posting like an idiot
      
      Reply Report comment
  - BIG STU
    
    Sep 21, 2017 at 3:23 am
    
    SERIOUSLY??? Just had to say that and who in the hell would want to counterfit Wilson clubs to begin with?
    
    Reply Report comment
RonMcD

Sep 19, 2017 at 2:25 pm

I suspect a majority of the online purchases is for balls and other such golf accessories. Buying club equipment online is moronic.

Reply Report comment
- LaBraeGolfer
  
  Sep 19, 2017 at 7:12 pm
  
  This could very well be possible. I have made over 100 online purchases in the last 3 years buying used clubs, through various sites. I have been a club fitter so I know what my specs are and it is fun to try new equipment just to have something new in the bag. It doesn’t effect my scoring at all and I still go to lessons like any serious golfer.
  
  Reply Report comment
Mark

Sep 19, 2017 at 2:21 pm

This is based off a sampling of 2,500 golfers from over 26 million golfers in the US. Real convincing.

Reply Report comment
- JDR
  
  Sep 19, 2017 at 2:30 pm
  
  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sampling_(statistics)
  
  Reply Report comment
  - Boobsy McKiss
    
    Sep 19, 2017 at 6:41 pm
    
    +1 for your reply to Mr. Mark. LMAO
    
    Reply Report comment
- birdie
  
  Sep 20, 2017 at 9:14 am
  
  apparently you have no idea how poll sampling works.
  
  Reply Report comment

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Equipment

A shocking Backstryke putter appearance + 7 interesting gear photos from the Zurich Classic

Published

3 hours ago

Apr 25, 2024

Andrew Tursky

Welcome to New Orleans, where TPC Louisiana plays host to the 2024 Zurich Classic. In between breakfast beignets and nightly Creole feasts, PGA Tour players are also competing in the unique two-man format at the Zurich this week.

Although the vibes in Nawlins are a bit lighter-fare than the recent back-to-back competitions the Masters and the RBC Heritage signature event), the gear news was no less serious this week.

We spotted some recent changes from Rory McIlroy, a very rare Odyssey Backstryke putter, dove into the bag of legendary New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees, and spotted Patrick Cantlay continuing to test new equipment.

Get your beads out and crack your crawfish, because it’s time for an equipment rundown from The Big Easy (meaning New Orleans, of course, not Ernie Els).

See all of our photos from the Zurich Classic here

Rory’s on-and-off lob wedge

Since the end of 2023, Rory McIlroy has had an on-again, off-again relationship with a Titleist Vokey K-Grind lob wedge. In his last start, it was on, and the wedge is back in the bag again this week. We got a great look at the complicated grind that McIlroy uses.

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A full look into McIlroy’s bag above also shows that he switched out of the TaylorMade BRNR Mini Copper that he used at the RBC Heritage, and he’s back into the Qi10 core 3-wood. As we discussed last week, McIlroy will likely keep the BRNR around as a course-specific club, trading it in and out for the 3-wood.

See Rory McIlroy’s full 2024 WITB from the Zurich here

Turning Back the clock

Unless Tommy Gainey is in the field, it’s unlikely you’ll ever see Odyssey’s Backstryke technology make an appearance on the PGA Tour.

But then, when you least expect it, Russ Cochran shows up.

For more than a decade – since the 2013 Sony Open in Hawai’i – Cochran has been stuck on 599 PGA Tour starts. This week will be his 600th.

Cochran is in the field at the Zurich this week playing alongside Eric Cole, whose regular caddie is Reed Cochran, Russ’s son.

The Backstryke putter was first released back in 2010, and its unique design helps shift the axis point of the putter closer to the CG of the head. And, the putter is getting a nod this week at the Zurich Classic, thanks to Cochran’s 600th career PGA Tour start.

The putter is certainly awesome, but don’t forget to check out Cochran’s full WITB from this week.

Drew Brees with a Super Bowl winning Scotty Cameron putter

Drew Brees, a legendary retired quarterback for the hometown New Orleans Saints, made an appearance at the Zurich’s Wednesday Pro-Am, playing alongside Zach Johnson, Ryan Palmer, and current Saints QB Derek Carr.

Brees’ bag included a TaylorMade Stealth2 Plus driver, a BRNR Mini 13.5-degree, a Stealth 5-wood, a mixed set of P-790 and P-760 irons, Milled Grind Hi-Toe wedges, and a custom Scotty Cameron “New Orleans Saints” putter, which Scotty made for Brees following his Super Bowl MVP-winning performance in 2010.

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It should also be noted that Brees has his Venmo QR code as a bag tag.

If you’re gambling with Brees on the course, just know that not having cash won’t work as an excuse.

Brilliant.

See Drew Brees’ full WITB from the Zurich here

Stricker’s unrecognizable putter

Steve Stricker has made numerous upgrades to his bag recently, including a new TSR3 driver and T100 irons, but his longtime Odyssey White Hot No. 2 putter is still going strong. It’s the most recognizable unrecognizable putter ever.

Here’s a better look at Stricker’s flatstick, which he started using back in 2007.

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Patrick Cantlay has opened the equipment-switching floodgates

Over on the PGA Tour’s Equipment Report this week, we covered Cantlay’s recent switch into Ping Blueprint S irons, and a Titleist TSR2 driver.

Cantlay hadn’t switched irons for about seven years, so the iron switch he made at The 2024 Masters came as a shock to the norm. He simply isn’t one to change gear very often, so anytime Cantlay makes a switch, it’s news.

It seems the floodgates of equipment testing have opened up a bit for Cantlay, who was also spotted testing a custom Scotty Cameron blade putter on Tuesday this week. By Wednesday, Cantlay was back practicing with his familiar Scotty Cameron T5 Proto mallet, but it’s certainly something to keep an eye on going forward.

Daniel Berger’s custom Jailbird site lines

Berger, who’s currently using Odyssey’s Ai-One Mini Jailbird mallet putter, has a unique 3-dot, 2-line alignment on the crown of his navy-white-navy-white mallet putter. Looking down at the putter, it’s easy to see why this alignment system would help; it just seems impossible to set up to the ball off-center, or misaligned to the target.

Also, for anyone worried, you can rest easy. Yes, he’s still playing the 2013 TaylorMade TP MC irons, which we highlighted in our recent “Modern Classics: Old vs. New” video testing series.

FitzMagic teams back up

Brothers Matthew and Alex Fitzpatrick are teaming up once again at the Zurich this year, and Bettinardi Golf hooked them up with some festive “FitzMagic” headcovers to match this week.

See what else is in Alex Fitzpatrick’s WITB here

And, with that, we say goodbye to the Zurich Classic in New Orleans. Don’t forget to check out all of our photos from this week, including 30 unique photo galleries full of equipment photos.

We’ll see you next week in Texas for the 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson!

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