E9golf

Top Flite Viral Campaign Reaks of Desparation

But it is one funny ass video...  Where do you go when your brand no longer commands a seat on the Callaway Corporate Jet because you got squeezed by Odyssey and Hogan?  How about going after the 20 and 30-somethings who eschew the traditionally boring brands like Titleist and big brother Callaway?

I commend Top Flite for the viral campaign and the sheer genius of going after a targeted demographic using a medium that might actually reach them.  If only the Kenny Mayne spots were quite so funny...

TaylorMade-adidas Golf Company Unveils 2008 Golf Bag Collection

Innovative TaylorMade Cart and Stand Bags Offer Consumers Unprecedented Design and Functionality; adidas Golf Makes Entrance into the Market with New Line of Athletic Performance Bags

TaylorMade-adidas Golf Company today unveiled its 2008 golf bag offerings, including new TaylorMade cart and stand bags as well as a never-seen-before collection from adidas Golf.  Both new bag lines will be available at retail locations on October 15.

TaylorMade Golf, makers of the number one driver on the PGA Tour, introduced four exciting new bags, including the Burner stand bag, the latest edition to the company's "Burner family franchise."  The "Monza" and "Tourino" round out the collection of stand bags, while the company will also introduce one cart bag: "The GTR Cart Bag."

In an effort to create the best performing bags on the market, TaylorMade sought extensive feedback from its Home Pro Staff to improve aesthetics and overall functionality of the bags.

One of the biggest improvements to this year's line is an integrated stand and kickplate system, specifically designed to improve functionality and durability.

Simultaneous to the release of the TaylorMade bags, adidas Golf, an industry leader in apparel and footwear, brings its unparalleled innovation and performance into four stylish and athletic bags: "Rival," "Velocity ST," "Phase ST," and "Ascend."

The adidas Golf family of bags has utilized many of the fabrics seen in the footwear line to give the bags a distinct adidas Golf look and feel, plus incorporate all the necessary features and functionality expected in traditional golf bags.

All bags will be offered in single or double straps.

Complete list of golf bags include:

TaylorMade® Monza® Stand Bag (MSRP $169.99)

    * Satin finished polyester
    * Dual color seven-way fused nylon top with full-length dividers
    * Velour lined valuables pocket
    * Integrated stand system
    * Satin finished metal TaylorMade icon zipper pulls
    * Insulated water bottle pocket
    * EVA molded backside paneling
    * Six pockets
    * Offered in five stylish colorways: White/Fire Red; Jet Black/White; Green White; Midnight/White; Fire Red/White

    TaylorMade® Monza® Stand Bag (MSRP $169.99)

TaylorMade Burner® Stand Bag (MSRP $149.99)

    * Satin finished polyester with 420 propex accents
    * Five pockets with integrated valuables pocket
    * Tri-color seven-way fused nylon top with full-length dividers
    * Integrated stand system
    * Gunmetal finished TaylorMade zipper pulls
    * Water bottle holder
    * Black bag with Burner logo "emblazoned" on the side of the bag

    TaylorMade Burner® Stand Bag (MSRP $149.99)

TaylorMade Tourino Stand Bag (MSRP $129.99)

    * Satin finished polyester
    * Seven-way micro mesh color top with full length dividers
    * Three pockets with integrated velour valuables pocket
    * Integrated stand system
    * Water bottle holder
    * TPR rubber logoed zipper pulls
    * EVA molded backside paneling
    * Six pockets
    * Offered in five stylish colorways: Green/White; Blue/White; Jet Black/Titanium; Fire Red/White; Sky Blue White (Ladies)

    TaylorMade Tourino Stand Bag (MSRP $129.99)

TaylorMade GTR Cart Bag (MSRP $199.99)

    * 14-way fused nylon divider system
    * TPR rubber molded side venting
    * Nine zippered pockets for maximum storage
    * Velour-lined valuables pocket
    * TM gunmetal icon zipper pulls
    * TM gunmetal carabiner clip
    * Offered in three colorways: Jet Black/Jet Black; Fire Red/Jet Black; White/Jet Black

    TaylorMade GTR Cart Bag (MSRP $199.99)

adidas Golf Rival Cart Bag (MSRP $169.99)

    * Micro-perforated PU side panel accents
    * Two velour-lined valuables pockets
    * Brushed metal adidas brandmark zipper pulls
    * 14-way fused nylon top
    * All nine pockets accessible when on cart
    * Offered in three colors: Black/White; Navy/White; Red/White

    adidas Golf Rival Cart Bag (MSRP $169.99)

adidas Golf Velocity ST Stand Bag (MSRP $169.99)

    * Athletic poly mesh with fused nylon
    * 14-way fused nylon top
    * Five pockets with outside mesh storage pocket
    * Insulated water bottle holder
    * Integrated kickstand system
    * Brushed metal adidas brandmark zipper pulls
    * Offered in five colors: Black/White; White/Navy; Red/White; Sky Blue/White; Green/Black

    adidas Golf Velocity ST Stand Bag (MSRP $169.99)

adidas Golf Phase ST Stand Bag (MSRP $129.99)

    * Athletic poly mesh with fused nylon
    * Water bottle holder
    * Five full-sized pockets
    * Velour lined valuables pocket
    * Four-way fused nylon top
    * Offered in four colors: Black; Green/White; Red/White; Navy/White

    adidas Golf Phase ST Stand Bag (MSRP $129.99)

adidas Golf Ascend Stand Bag (MSRP $129.99)

    * Five full-sized pockets
    * Insulated water bottle holder
    * Velour-lined valuables pocket
    * Six-way air mesh top
    * Integrated kickstand
    * Offered in five colors: Black/White; Green/White; Navy/White; Purple/Silver; Red/White

    adidas Golf Ascend Stand Bag (MSRP $129.99)

Callaway Golf Fusion FT-i

Sun Mountain launches new Carry System aimed to ease back strain when Carrying Clubs

I've been tracking this product launch for a while and am happy to announce that it's finally ready to roll.  Sun Mountain claims that the system transfers 60% of the bag and clubs weight to the hips, creating less fatigue because you walk when carrying the bag due to better posture.

HUG Technology works in conjunction with dual bag straps allowing the bag to be shouldered as usual and then for the HUG Carry System to be simply positioned around the waist. Using the HUG Carry System transfers the majority of the weight off of the shoulders which results in reduced upper body fatigue and more upright posture.

Research by backpack safety expert, Ralph Kester, showed that golfers carrying bags with HUG Technology walk with their heads forward 4% from vertical, while those carrying without HUG Technology walked with heads forward 25%. The further forward the head tilts, the more weight the neck and shoulder muscles have to support. The closer the neck is to straight vertical, the better the weight is dispersed throughout the entire body.

As soon as we get a few in stock we'll do a full product review and add it to JustGolfBags.com, but for now we can at least offer up the press release:

Take Off Pounds in Seconds

What is the Best Golf Travel Bag?

What is the best golf travel bag? 

Well, it's definitely a common question for us at JustGolfBags.com and the best way we can answer this question is to usually reply with "how much do you travel?". 

The reason we ask this is that we want to determine the best bag for the client to provide years of use while offering a suggestion that will protect their equipment sufficiently in the process.  But first, let's address a few myths.

Myth #1-I need a hard-sided bag.

Trust me, you don't.  They are a pain in the rear to travel with, are incredibly space consuming, and typically won't fit in the truck of a standard sized vehicle.  If they offered so much extra protection, wouldn't Tour Players use one?  Well, most tour players use a fully soft sided bag, the Club Glove Last Bag XXL.

Myth #2-The more I spend on a bag, the better the Protection.

While it's true that more expensive bags often offer better grades of nylon on the bag, it won't necessarily offer that much more protection.  A higher grade nylon will, however, offer enhanced durability.  The protection is in the foam protection in the top half of the bag and just make sure whatever bag you choose has a decent amount of padding.

Myth #3-Without a hard-sided bag the airlines will make me sign a waiver for my clubs. 

In my 20 plus years of golf related travel (with a soft sided bag no less), I have yet been required to sign a waiver for my clubs and have had only one incident of damage.  A driver head was sheared off where the shaft met the clubhead and I needed to get the club reshafted.  This likely would have been prevented had I used a Club Glove Stiff Arm to protect from a top impact on the travel cover.

Myth #4-Club Glove makes the best golf travel bags.

While it's true that Club Glove makes a great travel bag, the reason so many use one is because they spend great sums of money giving them away to any golf professional that requests one.  Brilliant marketing indeed.  However, matched up in head to head comparison we actually prefer the far less expensive Armor Gear Big Kahuna II.  Funny name, unbelievable protection for the dollar.

Ultimately, you don't need to spend over $200 to get a great quality travel bag, particularly if you are only taking a few trips per year.  Here's a list of our favorites in three different price points:

1. The Armor Gear Big Kahuna II  $179
2. The Burton Galaxy $139
3. The Bag Boy T-6 $79
4. The Sun Mountain Atlas $189

With a few quick questions we can narrow in on the best travel bag for you.  Just give us a call at 877-524-6755. 

Adams Golf pushes into the Women's Market through Acquisition

This announcement came down today that Adams Golf was making a stronger move into the Women's golf market through the acquisition of the Square Two and Lady Fairway Brands.

Adams' revenues have been steadily increasing over the past 4 years and this is a great way to move them toward the sweet spot, $100 million in revenues.  It seems that while maintaining separate brands, Adams will use their R&D team to create products that really dominate the ladies market, just as they do with the Senior Market.  I would hardly call Adams a niche player, but an organization focused on game improvement clubs such as hybrid woods, easy to hit fairway woods and hybrid iron sets.

I have a feeling they could fold these new companies straight into their corporate mix without a tremendous increase in overhead.  Not sure how they'll handle the sales teams yet as I imagine there is overlap with the existing territories, but any way you look at this it seems like a great deal for all.

The article on yahoo:  Adams Golf to Acquire Women's Golf Unlimited Brands

Callaway to sell online, Sortof

In an interesting announcement, Callaway Golf announced that they are going to sell direct to consumer off of their website www.CallawayGolf.com.  It's an interesting move to say the least, and based on the success of the program will certainly pave the way for other golf retailers to sell direct.

The press release with a great deal of detail can be viewed here.

The concept is pretty simple, Callaway sets up on it's website a secure shopping cart with all of the Callaway and Odyssey products featured, including even licenced items such travel bags and sunglasses.  Once the order is completed, Callaway basically broadcasts the order to authorized retailers in the general area who will respond if they can fill the order from their stock.

Even as the owner of an ecommerce site, at first glance I think it's a fine idea.  It gives Callaway a chance to promote the program to their green grass properties who likely aren't too involved in ecommerce as a way that they can generate more Callaway revenue.  They might even be able to require these retailers to carry a larger inventory than normal to be eligible to fill orders. 

A few of the potential disasters...  What happens when a retailer sends the wrong item?  What happens when someone buys a "new" club to learn that it is "shop worn" and has been manhandled by every tire-kicker that has come through the shop?  How quickly will an order get shipped by an overworked assistant pro who can't find the appropriate box to ship the club in (or, takes an Adams Driver out of its packaging to ship the Callaway Club in its place)? 

I am certain Callaway has contracted a third party company to manage this program for them so they are probably viewing this as low risk.  What they are really risking is their brand.  To truly build or maintain a premium brand you need to be fanatical about every component of the process, including shipping, customer service, quality control, etc.   When someone buys direct from Callaway they are going to have a certain expectation regarding the process.  "I'm sorry Mr. Johnson, the fact that the 9.5 Regular driver arrived as a 8.5 Xtra Stiff really wasn't our fault, it was our partners" isn't going to fly with most consumers. 

I'll be very curious to see where this leads, but in my humble opinion the risk is very significant for Callaway.  Their retailers, if smart, will be ok with process and hopefully embrace the program.  But will golfers really shop on www.shop.callawaygolf.com?  Probably...  but, with the non-discounted prices, lack of free shipping and the question mark about the service process, I don't think it will be as many shoppers as Callaway has been led to believe.

Datrek Miller Parent Company purchases Burton Golf

While we don't think that they were actually listening to us, but we did write here not long ago that we thought Datrek should make a run at Burton and combine the operations of the two companies.

Well, today it was announced that Datrek has purchased the struggling bag company.  Obviously we thought it was a great idea a few weeks ago when we mentioned it in our original post but now it's time to see if it will help both companies reach the pinnacle of the golf business and compete with Sun Mountain, Ogio and Great Divider.

Datrek Miller International Announces Corporate Name Change

As a follow up to an earlier post on Datrek, here's the official press release regarding the Corporate name change.

Datrek Miller International Announces Corporate Name Change

We are looking for confirmation as to whether or not they will continue to sell under the Miller or Datrek brands...

Club Glove introduces new color

Club Glove announced today that they are adding a new color to their already vast collection of colors for their travel gear. 

Club Glove Introduces New Mocha with Pink Luggage

This move comes on the heels of adding camo a few weeks ago.  The thing we really like about Club Glove is that while they add colors frequently, to our knowledge they've yet to remove a color.  We struggle to stock all of the colors but with their efficient drop ship program we are able to offer all the colors at www.justgolfbags.com.