Mizuno Woods - Are they really taking these seriously?

[jgpl]

Today I was looking on the Mizuno website to see if there was any further information on the new MP 64's and I started to look at their new MP650 driver

 

Not having had much success in the driver market before the new MP650 was supposed to be a breakthrough for the company.

 

However, when you examine the range of custom shafts available it is pathetic:

 

Grafalloy Prolaunch Blue

Grafalloy Prolaunch Red

Grafalloy Axis Platinum

PX Blue

 

Are Mizuno really taking the driver market seriously??? - While none of these are poor shafts, they are old hat options offered as standard in budget range drivers you can find in the likes of Dick's Sporting Goods, etc.

 

Mizuno wake up - the market wants adjustable drivers with modern, exotic shaft options

 

This is another Mizuno Driver going absolutely nowhere.......this is a shame, because if it is as good (and probably is alot better) than the MP630 it deserves more.

[freddyottawa]

I think you answered your own question really. Mizuno isn't really chasing the driver market. Irons and to some extent, wedges, is what Mizuno is really looking to sell.

That being said, I will be buying the new JPX825 driver and 3 or 5 wood. I really like the look of them. I play Mizuno woods already, so i'm look forward to getting these.

As for the shafts, have you hit the 650 with the stock Orochi in it? The shaft is one of the better "made for" shafts out there, a really low spin combination for me with the 650 head.

[lettucebcereal]

I agree with everything freddyottawa just said. I was talking with my club shop pro the other day and he was telling me Mizuno is really the best for irons because they spend like 80% of their time and money on making the best irons, while Taylormade spends like 80% of their time and money on drivers/woods/hybrids. The values may be blown out of proportion, but you get the drift.

I did try out the Mizuno MP 650 fairway and hybrids with the Orochi shaft, and I must say they felt pretty good.

[J13]

They don't care much for woods, that much is obvious. Irons and more recently wedges are their bread and butter.

[Skaffa77]

Makes me wonder why they would even produce a line of woods if they don't plan to invest the money to generate sales or Pro use. Just having a product line to have a product line seems like a waste.

[XYB34A]

but yet the F50 and then an even better F60 set of fairway woods are some of the best that you can find. really solid, great tracjectory, fairly decent on mishits. I have the 13.5, 15, and 18 degree in the F60 model. I replaced all the shafts. The 15 degree has an Aldila NV 85 X which is an 88 gram shaft tipped 1 inch. My son plays with this one. The 13.5 has an Aldila NV 95 X tipped 1", and the 18 degree has an Aldila NV 105 X tipped 1.5 inches. Great great fairway woods.

[tbowles411]

[quote name='Skaffa77' timestamp='1345644937' post='5515234']
Makes me wonder why they would even produce a line of woods if they don't plan to invest the money to generate sales or Pro use. Just having a product line to have a product line seems like a waste.
[/quote]
+1

The woods aren't bad. They're really not, but there just something that doesn't scream, "Hit me! You know you want to!" I don't know what it is...

[lettucebcereal]

[quote name='tbowles411' timestamp='1345645231' post='5515278']
[quote name='Skaffa77' timestamp='1345644937' post='5515234']
Makes me wonder why they would even produce a line of woods if they don't plan to invest the money to generate sales or Pro use. Just having a product line to have a product line seems like a waste.
[/quote]
+1

The woods aren't bad. They're really not, but there just something that doesn't scream, "Hit me! You know you want to!" I don't know what it is...
[/quote]

Tbowles411, I think that is the best way to put it. They're woods don't really catch my eye but when I do mess around with them, they do feel pretty good.

[HateTheHighDraw]

The 650 fairway and hybrids are very very nice. The fairway is Ti too. It bombs.

[Skaffa77]

[quote name='tbowles411' timestamp='1345645231' post='5515278']
[quote name='Skaffa77' timestamp='1345644937' post='5515234']
Makes me wonder why they would even produce a line of woods if they don't plan to invest the money to generate sales or Pro use. Just having a product line to have a product line seems like a waste.
[/quote]
+1

The woods aren't bad. They're really not, but there just something that doesn't scream, "Hit me! You know you want to!" I don't know what it is...
[/quote]

I've owned Mizuno woods since the MP001 and they had their run and eventually don't last. Good woods, but as you say, nothing that screams "amazing"...just a solid overall club.

With that said, my curiousity is more on the business side of it. Do they generate any returns on their woods to offset the cost of development (which appears to be small), production and marketing (limited promotional items, distribution, etc)? It just seems like they really don't do anything for their woods and consequently they don't sell well. It makes me wonder if they get enough sales to even make it worth producing...

[WUGolfer3118]

The woods' bottom line is helped by the fact that Mizuno doesn't blow millions in marketing on hyping their driver. They charge similar prices as the other guys who do, so more of the purchase price goes to covering manufacturing costs and profit and less on marketing expenses.

[highergr0und]

Realistically, what percentage of golfers on the open market really get into the exotic custom shaft game? Remember the golfwrx presents a small fraction of golfers out there, ie those who have the need and money to spend on several hundred dollar shaft upgrades.

My guess is Mizuno is playing right to their target market, which just doesn't happen to be the golfwrx long bombers. There's enough variation in those shafts to fit the needs of the vast majority of golfers without breaking the bank. It probably just isn't worth the money to get into the exotic shaft game to them...... plus a fitter can throw in whatever they want anyways.

[freddyottawa]

[quote name='Skaffa77' timestamp='1345646985' post='5515424']
[quote name='tbowles411' timestamp='1345645231' post='5515278']
[quote name='Skaffa77' timestamp='1345644937' post='5515234']
Makes me wonder why they would even produce a line of woods if they don't plan to invest the money to generate sales or Pro use. Just having a product line to have a product line seems like a waste.
[/quote]
+1

The woods aren't bad. They're really not, but there just something that doesn't scream, "Hit me! You know you want to!" I don't know what it is...
[/quote]

I've owned Mizuno woods since the MP001 and they had their run and eventually don't last. Good woods, but as you say, nothing that screams "amazing"...just a solid overall club.

With that said, my curiousity is more on the business side of it. Do they generate any returns on their woods to offset the cost of development (which appears to be small), production and marketing (limited promotional items, distribution, etc)? It just seems like they really don't do anything for their woods and consequently they don't sell well. It makes me wonder if they get enough sales to even make it worth producing...
[/quote]

From my own personal experience, you will see alot more golfers playing Mizuno Drivers/woods in Europe than you will on this side of the atlantic. I'm pretty sure Mizuno only has so much money to spend on marketing and they decide to use it on maintaining a market share that they already have established rather than trying to gain a share of a market dominated by other OEM's.

Of course, that could be totally wrong, but it made sense in my head

[Badgergolfer2]

What about the Orochi? Its a great shaft. IMO, Mizuno IS taking the driver market seriously and is trying to break into it but when your #1 tour pro isnt using your woods, its difficult for people to take you seriously.

[Frenchman]

No left handed options = not taking my driver needs seriously at all.

[finalist]

[quote name='HateTheHighDraw' timestamp='1345646525' post='5515398']
The 650 fairway and hybrids are very very nice. The fairway is Ti too. It bombs.
[/quote]

I hit the 3 FW a while back and really liked it. Old Titleist pear shape with a better "player" thwack sound... It was like an improved Titleist FW without the fat adjustable hosel. Super low launching for me on that day with the Orochi shaft. Better shafts and I'd love the FW line.

[Judge440]

Supposedly the next round of JPX woods are supposed to turn some heads. We'll see.

[hayzooos]

[quote name='highergr0und' timestamp='1345648129' post='5515548'] Realistically, what percentage of golfers on the open market really get into the exotic custom shaft game? Remember the golfwrx presents a small fraction of golfers out there, ie those who have the need and money to spend on several hundred dollar shaft upgrades. My guess is Mizuno is playing right to their target market, which just doesn't happen to be the golfwrx long bombers. There's enough variation in those shafts to fit the needs of the vast majority of golfers without breaking the bank. It probably just isn't worth the money to get into the exotic shaft game to them...... plus a fitter can throw in whatever they want anyways. [/quote]

I agree 100% with this. GolfWRX members, while we're always around us, only make up a small percent of the overall golfing market. Mizuno does way more business outside the states than in the US, so I'm sure that plays a significant role as well. The majority don't care, and certainly don't want to pay for, an upgraded shaft. They don't know how spin and launch can greatly affect their ballflight. They just don't take the game seriously enough to really care.

[BigPete]

[quote name='ClevelandBaller' timestamp='1345656284' post='5516396']
Supposedly the next round of JPX woods are supposed to turn some heads. We'll see.
[/quote]

I doubt they will in the States tbh. If any store bothers to stock any, general public might give them a second glance on their way to the latest revolutionary adjustable drivers.

They do better in Europe

[da555ve]

[quote name='Gaijin_Golfer' timestamp='1345651681' post='5515944']
What about the Orochi? Its a great shaft. IMO, Mizuno IS taking the driver market seriously and is trying to break into it but when your #1 tour pro isnt using your woods, its difficult for people to take you seriously.
[/quote]

If I got it right, TM pays as much as half million per year at Donald for playing TM woods... Even if it's not a big amount for TM, it's probably too much for Mizu for woods...