Tadashi70
Well-known member
After having a short discussion in the Equipment Mail Bag: Choosing the R...com/forum/showthread.php?t=98652&share_type=t
It got me thinking about the role of OEM. And I’ll preface this by saying, I have nothing but love for the OEMs. I just think this will be an interesting topic. But what is that role of the OEM? Are they making the game better or just producing gear? I know they are in it to make money, so let’s get that out of the way.
OEM ‘A’ producers 4 drivers a cycle that the educated golfer needs to get fit for. This cost money that a percentage (very small) don’t mind paying. The rest will buy what they think works. Out of that bunch you’ll get a new purchase in a few months, swap out the shaft, trade ins or even walk away from the game. That last one is kind of extreme but it happens.
In the above scenario, and I know I didn’t cover all my bases, the OEM maybe enhanced the game in small percentage but they made dollars. Shaft companies and fitters also made dollars. But did it make the game better as a whole? I know so will argue that, making the game better is in the golfer, I can get down with that. But I also think the OEMs should be striving to do the same. And don’t get me wrong, I know that are making golf better. Could they make it better and take more steps to make average joe’s golf experience that much better.
We have golf instructors, shafts companies, grip companies, ball manufacturers and so many other pieces that make the game better. All cost dollars and time. What if attention paid to this at the source? Can they do more? I don’t know, what do you think?
It got me thinking about the role of OEM. And I’ll preface this by saying, I have nothing but love for the OEMs. I just think this will be an interesting topic. But what is that role of the OEM? Are they making the game better or just producing gear? I know they are in it to make money, so let’s get that out of the way.
OEM ‘A’ producers 4 drivers a cycle that the educated golfer needs to get fit for. This cost money that a percentage (very small) don’t mind paying. The rest will buy what they think works. Out of that bunch you’ll get a new purchase in a few months, swap out the shaft, trade ins or even walk away from the game. That last one is kind of extreme but it happens.
In the above scenario, and I know I didn’t cover all my bases, the OEM maybe enhanced the game in small percentage but they made dollars. Shaft companies and fitters also made dollars. But did it make the game better as a whole? I know so will argue that, making the game better is in the golfer, I can get down with that. But I also think the OEMs should be striving to do the same. And don’t get me wrong, I know that are making golf better. Could they make it better and take more steps to make average joe’s golf experience that much better.
We have golf instructors, shafts companies, grip companies, ball manufacturers and so many other pieces that make the game better. All cost dollars and time. What if attention paid to this at the source? Can they do more? I don’t know, what do you think?