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Box-groove wedges set sales records
Hurry will supply lasts
By Ed Travis
Hurry will supply lasts
By Ed Travis
There’s a story making the rounds the sales of wedges
with “square or box” grooves have been strong in
anticipation of the imposition of the new rule from the
United States Golf Association. In essence the rule,
which is already being adhered to by all the professional
tours, says pros may not play irons (those with more
loft than a five-iron) that have box grooves because they
give too much control to iron shots especially hitting
from the rough.
Amateurs who play in USGA championships have until
2014 to switch to irons with allowable grooves. The rest of
us don’t have to replace those nonconforming box-
grooved irons until 2024, unless of course we were to buy
a new wedge or set of irons in the next 14 years.
The source of the sales increase story is Golfsmith
(NASDAQ:GOLF), the biggest golf specialty retailer, who
press release says wedge sales are up over 22 percent
versus last year. The impetus for the jump in sales is
another part of the USGA rule that disallows wedge-
makers from shipping box-grooved wedges after Dec. 31,
2010.
Marty Hanaka, Golfsmith’s president and CEO is quoted,
“Golfsmith customers are stocking up on wedges, more
than they ever have. The availability of the larger grooved
golf clubs affected by the change is a big unknown so our
customers are buying their favorite designs while the
inventory is there because after year’s end those types of
clubs won’t be made anymore.”
with “square or box” grooves have been strong in
anticipation of the imposition of the new rule from the
United States Golf Association. In essence the rule,
which is already being adhered to by all the professional
tours, says pros may not play irons (those with more
loft than a five-iron) that have box grooves because they
give too much control to iron shots especially hitting
from the rough.
Amateurs who play in USGA championships have until
2014 to switch to irons with allowable grooves. The rest of
us don’t have to replace those nonconforming box-
grooved irons until 2024, unless of course we were to buy
a new wedge or set of irons in the next 14 years.
The source of the sales increase story is Golfsmith
(NASDAQ:GOLF), the biggest golf specialty retailer, who
press release says wedge sales are up over 22 percent
versus last year. The impetus for the jump in sales is
another part of the USGA rule that disallows wedge-
makers from shipping box-grooved wedges after Dec. 31,
2010.
Marty Hanaka, Golfsmith’s president and CEO is quoted,
“Golfsmith customers are stocking up on wedges, more
than they ever have. The availability of the larger grooved
golf clubs affected by the change is a big unknown so our
customers are buying their favorite designs while the
inventory is there because after year’s end those types of
clubs won’t be made anymore.”
To conform to the USGA rule the grooves on the shorter
irons (most of the concern is about wedges) shipped after
Jan. 1, 2011 will have only 70% of the depth and size of
those previously allowed. Clubs with the so-called box or
square grooves have been made for the past two
decades since Karsten Solheim won his law suit against
the PGA Tour over groove design of Ping irons. (For a
fuller recounting of the groove story and the USGA’s real
agenda read “Groove Effect – The horse was out of the
barn and galloping down the fairway”).
Grooves may be compared to the tread on car tires. The
larger they are the more effectively they can channel grass
and sand away from the clubface thereby allowing better
contact with the ball. Every golfer knows the better the
contact, especially from long grass or sand, the better
control of spin and distance. The new style, smaller-size
grooves will provide less control.
irons (most of the concern is about wedges) shipped after
Jan. 1, 2011 will have only 70% of the depth and size of
those previously allowed. Clubs with the so-called box or
square grooves have been made for the past two
decades since Karsten Solheim won his law suit against
the PGA Tour over groove design of Ping irons. (For a
fuller recounting of the groove story and the USGA’s real
agenda read “Groove Effect – The horse was out of the
barn and galloping down the fairway”).
Grooves may be compared to the tread on car tires. The
larger they are the more effectively they can channel grass
and sand away from the clubface thereby allowing better
contact with the ball. Every golfer knows the better the
contact, especially from long grass or sand, the better
control of spin and distance. The new style, smaller-size
grooves will provide less control.
Artwork courtesy of Golfsmith Inc.
“Golfers are scooping up wedges as fast as they can,”
said Ron Partridge, Vice President of Club Merchandising
at Golfsmith. “Golfsmith’s wedge sales are up 22 percent
for the first eight months of the year. The supply of these
current high spin wedges will dry up over the next several
months. While the wedges won’t be produced after 2010,
amateurs can still use them for the next 14 years.”
The press release also provided some interesting
numbers that give a feel for the dimensions of the
situation.
>29 million Americans play golf each year
>3 - Average number of wedges in a golf bag
>$109 average cost/order value for a wedge at Golfsmith
in 2010
>Late 1800’s – a "jigger" something like a pitching wedge
was the first wedge
>1931- Sand wedge invented by Hall of Fame member
Gene Sarazen