japanese recreational golfers...what do they play?

[chiromikey]

we get a lot of japanese golf tourists out here and i've never seen any jdm equipment in their bags. many of them tour the ping facility as their first stop on their golf vacation and come out the other side with full ping gear...but even the ones that don't all seem to have the typical usdm bag of equipment.

so...do most japanese (or row) golfers also succumb to the marketing of the major manufacturers? is the stuff we're all having fun with considered exotic in japan also...to the point that most japanese golf enthusiasts don't play jdm? or is usdm equipment considered exotic, a novelty, or a must have when playing in the states to them?

just curious...and maybe a little bored.

[xerobound]

I know a lot of Japanese golf enthusiasts and when they come to play some golf, they always want to try USDM equipment. A lot of them I know have multiple sets of clubs and treat some of the USDM equipment, kind of like a piece of their collection. They like to have some things that are not your typical Japanese stuff in their collection. Many of the people I know understand the quality of JDM equipment, but want a variety and something different to look at. I know people that play USDM clubs when they come to the U.S. and use their JDM set when they're back home. Crazy what golfers will do! :)

[supo]

over here... i see a LOT of taylor made... lots of callaway... LOTS of XXIO.

u have to remember the VAST majority of golfers here DONT play very much at all. bec its so damn expensive.

the ranges however are packed every day night morning evening. .

TM id say is the most popular.

XXIO with the choppers . or older guys is huge

the exotic stuff we all love is out there for sure. but u have to look hard to find a lot it.

when u see a guy with some similar gear theres a knwoing acknowldgemnt that were on the same wave length,

we"know", we know... kinda cool.

those that play it. are like us ,, they are willing to search for the truth.

in bags on courses u see everyhting......... absolutely everything in peoples bags.

[chiromikey]

interesting...thanks for the responses.

[gocchin]

I've done a couple of trend posts on the blog:

http://www.golftoimpress.com/interesting-golf-digest-online-surveys/

http://www.golftoimpress.com/the-driver-white-paper-current-driver-trends-in-japan/

From what I see though most play the bit brands, TM, Callaway, Titleist, Tourstage, Srixon and Mizuno.... average golfers have a huge following with XXIO and ONOFF. Tour AD shafts everywhere....

[chiromikey]

thanks for the links!

what kind of marketing presence do the big brands have in japan? would the average golfer there recognize any if the boutique jdm brands or is it like the states where nobody has any clue about the stuff we talk about here?

[gocchin]

The big brands have monster marketing presence as they of course have the deepest pockets... there are multiple golf publications here every wee and they are hard core and technical compared to US publications.. enthusiasts follow them closely.

Smaller brands do not have the same marketing ability but then again that is why they are smaller boutique brands, their niche is much smaller and more narrow and the reach more specialized audience. But all the small brands do get looked at in top magazines as well, they just don't spend as much marketing.

The hard core enthusiast like many on this forum who deeply care about technology, manufacturing processes and beyond the surface quality and performance are a small percentage, however it is this small percentage that boutique brands target and quite successfully. Its amazing how many smaller club makers and small shops carry Crazy, and these shops drive the sales.