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FTF: How to rejuvenate the golf equipment industry

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The GolfWRX forums exist so golfers have access to the latest equipment releases, hottest discussions, real equipment reviews, best instruction, new technologies and everything golf you can imagine. So if you love golf, the GolfWRX forums are your sanctuary.

In the From the Forums weekly feature, we bring you the hottest, most buzz-worthy topics from our forums for your convenience. I’ll be your trusty tour guide to navigate the latest buzz. Here’s a peek behind the curtain into golf’s sanctuary.

Rejuvenating the golf equipment industry

Buying new golf equipment

We’ve featured threads of poetical waxing about participation numbers and potential shots of atropine for the game in general. This discussion deals specifically with the golf equipment industry. User uW0tM8 has an interesting take on directions manufacturers ought to go, including personalization and more opportunities to demo clubs on course.

To see what other WRXers think could help, check out the thread.

Winter set-up?

winter-guide-cover-wide

Probably not quite this wintry..

For those of you fortunate enough to golf during the winter months, Fenrir poses an interesting question: How do you adjust your arsenal for the colder months? He considered a “simpler, lighter” setup, and it seems many in the thread elect to go with something similar.

For the rest of us, Bomber_11 lays out our one-point plan: “It’s called I put the clubs in my downstairs storage room and weep while endless inches of snowfall cover every course.“

See the thread.

A positive spin on stronger lofts

rocketballz iron

The loft drift in modern clubs has been the subject of no shortage of discussion. And while takes on the subject of the strengthening loft of the 7-iron in the 21st century are usually dim (“marketing tactic,” and such), Pinger89 offers a unique personal account of his experience with getting new clubs in the RocketBallz era following a long time with older irons. But as a fitter in a retail environment, he offers an interesting perspective on why loft drift could be good for both golfers and the industry.

See the thread.

Hot takes on the John Daly 30 for 30

John_Daly_30_for_30

A thread that kicked off with vigor with the announcement that John Daly would be featured in ESPN’s 30 for 30 series, continued enthusiastically through the airing of “Hit it Hard.”

To see everything the WRX community had to say, check out the thread.

Predictions for 2017!

mcilroy-featured-

Who doesn’t love a bit of prognostication? GolfWRXers lay out their predictions for the 2016-2017 PGA Tour season as (in case you didn’t notice), we’re already four tournaments deep into the brimming calendar.

Check out the predictions!

Ben Alberstadt is the Editor-in-Chief at GolfWRX, where he’s led editorial direction and gear coverage since 2018. He first joined the site as a freelance writer in 2012 after years spent working in pro shops and bag rooms at both public and private golf courses, experiences that laid the foundation for his deep knowledge of equipment and all facets of this maddening game. Based in Philadelphia, Ben’s byline has also appeared on PGATour.com, Bleacher Report...and across numerous PGA DFS and fantasy golf platforms. Off the course, Ben is a committed cat rescuer and, of course, a passionate Philadelphia sports fan. Follow him on Instagram @benalberstadt.

10 Comments

10 Comments

  1. Scooter McGavin

    Nov 7, 2016 at 9:53 am

    Why does the golf equipment industry even need to be rejuvenated? Golf courses and equipment manufacturers are making their own bed with their pricing. Nothing to do but let the market take care of itself.

  2. UncleBuck

    Nov 7, 2016 at 1:21 am

    Well, I’ll tell ya, I walked into a very popular RD, rhymes with Dodger Bun, golf shop today and most customers were milling about with 1-2 people actually buying merchandise. On the way home decided to check out the now bankruptcy bound GS, rhymes with Dolf Swiss, and da place was jumpin’ like an outlet store the day after Turkey Day!! I mean folks were lined up getting merchandise marked down 5-30% of Steal’tail, I mean retail. Shelves were gutted, and 15 plus people lined up to trade dollars for “reasonably” priced goods. Like someone mentioned above, mark down the overpriced gear, $500 drivers, $260 golf shoes, $180 wedges, $140 golf shirts, etc., and the industry could quite possibly lift itself from the doldrums. It has to smash rock bottom at some point. Hope to never see it, but I have a haunting feeling it will be sooner than later.

  3. Dave R

    Nov 6, 2016 at 7:54 pm

    Yes shaft made in China ,head made in China cost $20.00 us . Assembled in Mexico cost $2.50 us . Your price $350.00 us . Who is making the bucks guess. I might be out a bit but not much.

  4. RAT

    Nov 5, 2016 at 8:06 pm

    It’s the cost!!! every course doesn’t have to look like the Masters!. Clubs, balls and etc all are going up in price. I believe that’s due to greed in management pay! Most all equipment is made over seas where pay is cents per day. JUST LIKE MEDICAL COST , MEDS where the key ingredient is marked up ( 600,000%) this is nothing but robbery . The head cheese IS going to get his money and the heck with the rest.

  5. Progolfer

    Nov 5, 2016 at 3:52 pm

    Honestly, the golf equipment industry is fizzling out– as evidenced by Nike and Taylormade exiting and trying to exit the market. Manufacturers have pushed equipment innovations just about as far as the USGA will allow them to. Today, almost all equipment is the same. Updates and changes in equipment will only yield slight improvements over current products. Personally, I think the focus in golf should shift from equipment innovation to an initiative in growing the game and actually improving a golfer’s game. Let’s make that the priority instead.

    • Desmond

      Nov 6, 2016 at 8:15 am

      Adidas is exiting the equipment market, not TaylorMade.

  6. Pingback: FTF: How to rejuvenate the golf equipment industry – Swing Update

  7. JoBlo

    Nov 4, 2016 at 6:01 pm

    How about selling everything at half price? That should move the equipment off the shelves and into people’s hands

  8. Rimjob

    Nov 4, 2016 at 11:50 am

    You would know

    • Rimjob

      Nov 4, 2016 at 1:33 pm

      Yeah? My house is in the sky. How about that

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Equipment

Best ‘forgiving’ wedges – GolfWRXers discuss

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In our forums, our members have been discussing the most forgiving wedges on the market. WRXer ‘aaronpoling’ lays out his current setup and what he’s currently considering, saying:

“I am looking at getting new wedges, but looking for a forgiving wedge.

I currently play Ping G25 50°, MD4 54° and 58°. I used to play the CBX2 in the 50°, 54° and 58° and liked them a lot; but like any good dad, my son took them.

I am currently looking Callaway’s CB12 and Cleveland’s CBZ. Anyone have thoughts on these? Or recommendations of other wedges that I should check out?”

And our members have been weighing in with their thoughts and recommendations in response, with one brand coming out emphatically on top.

Here are a few posts from the thread, but make sure to check out the entire discussion and have your say at the link below.

  • boggyman: “CBZs are amazing wedges!”
  • drewbens: “Agreed, the Cleveland CB wedges are great! Already had a CBX Full Face 2 54 and recently added a 50 and 58 (for well under $100 a piece). Was chipping so well last week that my brother-in-law asked if the wedges were legal. Definitely underrated wedges for those of us that are not scratch golfers.”
  • BogeyTed: “Get Cleveland CBX/CBZ. Very underrated clubs.”

Entire Thread: “Best ‘forgiving’ wedges – GolfWRXers discuss”

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Equipment

I built the worst fitting clubs ever – GolfWRXers discuss

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In our forums, our members have been reacting to a WRXer who claims to have built the “worst fitting clubs ever.” ‘dlow206’ recounts his experience with plenty of insightful findings for where he can go better next time in a detailed post, saying:

“Here’s my story of building the worst fitting clubs ever (for me). And my findings of what a better fit is.

I am short in stature, as well as a very short wrist to floor of 30.5″. I went down a rabbit hole of wanting to try irons 1″ shorter of more than standard length. Given the shorter lengths, the swingweights would be super light unless I added back a ton of weight to the heads, but I don’t like adding an extreme amount of weight back to the heads, so I decided to compensate with heavier shafts (115 grams instead of 95). Played with this set for a while and was hitting all irons extremely poorly. Thin, fat, right, right, left. My swing didn’t deteriorate that much because I was hitting my driver well, woods well, etc.

Went back to my older set of irons, playing at standard length, and my iron play improved immediately. Since then, have been doing more testing, while paying more attention to different possible variables. What I have found is I actually prefer lighter total weight with relatively normal or slightly heavier swingweights. Did a recent fitting and found that 85 gram shafts were better for me than 95 grams with standard length and relatively standard swingweights. 

Still trying to dial in a final iron shaft choice, so have a few contenders that I will be testing. Will be moving away from my current Steelfiber i95 S parallel to lighter and softer

  • MMT 80 parallel R – worked pretty well in a limited number of swings at a fitting
  • Fujikura Travil 85 R – the fitter liked the Axiom 95 R for me at Club Champion, but i didn’t love the effort required to swing them. If there was a 85 Axiom, that would probably have been a great fit. So i am going try a Travil 85 R which is japan only
  • Steelfiber i80 CW R – i have been playing Steelfibers for a long time, so need to give one Steelfiber shaft a shot

Given I do club building work, I am going to build all of these shafts with the All-Fit universal iron adapters to pair with a Srixon 7 iron head for testing. With these adapters, there isn’t a swingweight issue because the amount of weight from drilling out is about equivalent to the universal adapter components.”

And our members have been sharing their reactions in our forum.

Here are a few posts from the thread, but make sure to check out the entire discussion and have your say at the link below.

  • Mikey_HACKilroy: “That length cut costs you a fair amount in swing points. I’d posit the length mattered more than the weight because a 115g shaft isn’t going to actually add enough back after cutting an inch off. Does it mean 115 would ultimately work? Hard to say. Maybe try a 1/2″ cut and add 2g to the head to compensate assuming the 7i is 37″ long. Maybe that will feel better. It translates to the same ~D2 you’re swinging at with the 95g shafts (estimated based on common weight, but you can weigh your parts on your own obviously).”
  • Stuart_G: “Your process is good – keep at it and trust it.”

Entire Thread: “I built the worst fitting clubs ever – GolfWRXers discuss”

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Equipment

PXG Secret Weapon Version 2 mini driver lands on USGA conforming list – GolfWRXers react

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A second version of PXG’s Secret Weapon has this week landed on the USGA’s conforming list, much to the interest of our members.

The original version of the brand’s Secret Weapon launched in January of 2025, with the second version also featuring four distinct weight ports in the head and coming with 13-degree of loft.

In our forums, our members have been assessing the new version and sharing their thoughts.

Here are a few posts from the thread, but make sure to check out the entire discussion and have your say at the link below.

  • DTorres: “Kinda looks like the face on the new one might be slightly deeper. Little bit more rounded leading edge.”
  • snagy2000: “The current version is REALLY good, long…This one looks like they’re bringing some lightning tech to it…”
  • SEP1006: “Agree with this, hard to tell from that angle but looks like the face may be the same as the Lightning. If that’s the case may have to give this a serious look. Absolutely love my 2wd which is also a 13* loft. But that Lightning Tour Mid Driver face is hot and forgiving.”

Entire Thread: “PXG Secret Weapon Version 2 mini driver lands on USGA conforming list – GolfWRXers react”

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