I can’t remember any past year when we had so many new product lines being released so early in the year. For the last two weeks we have been busy unboxing and updating our proprietary fitting system with all the new 2025 OEM offerings. Fortunately the weather here has been very cold and miserable over the last few weeks which has actually helped us get prepared for a jump start to 2025. Well the great weather is back so contact us soon to schedule your private outdoor fitting to gain the advantage over your friends and competitors for the upcoming spring season. Please note we are still offering our discounted winter fitting fee’s which will increase to our Spring rates 3/1.
From everyone I’ve spoken to in the business the consensus is 2025 will be the most competitive year in the Golf Equipment Industry in terms of both performance and value. As noted above, all the major Golf OEM’s (Original Equipment Manufacturers) are releasing new lines of some sort for this spring. Due to various embargo dates, release dates, online advertising restrictions, blah blah blah I cannot mention any specific brands or models but rest assured we pretty much have all the new 2025 equipment lineups in-hand and ready for fitting.
Ever since the Pandemic golf has been on a tear and we have seen some of the most dominant players in the industry lose market share to smaller competitors due to both performance and price. I only see this trend continuing in 2025 which can be supported by the aggressive and competitive nature already unfolding in the media. Here are some takeaways that you should keep in mind when looking to purchase new golf equipment in 2025.
- First of all GET CUSTOM FIT – Golf clubs are only getting more expensive so why waste your money buying something off the shelf or online (Golfers are notoriously the most impulsive buyers out there). It only makes things worse when the ill-equipped clubs you just purchased on a whim don’t perform regardless of how much you spent. Obviously we would recommend you coming to us but if you can’t just make sure you choose an outfit that offers a wide selection of OEM brand heads, an even larger offering of shafts, and that the fitter knows their stuff (not some hourly guy getting kick backs/spiffs for pushing a specific brand).
- It looks like most of the O.E.M’s have taken well needed steps to avoid component shortages for their new line offerings. I can’t tell you how frustrating it’s been over the years having to deal with OEM shaft backorders! Fortunately we have dealer accounts directly with all the shaft manufacturers and were/are able to significantly reduce wait times as we have the tour trailer on-site with the capability of building up the clubs ourselves. Regardless of all the OEM assurances that they are fully stocked and ready to go, I would encourage anyone looking for new clubs this season to get fit early to avoid any delays/backorders which typically start arising in mid-late spring due to demand.
HODSON GOLF INSIGHTS FOR 2025
- PRICE – Overall 2025 clubs will be in somewhat the same price range as last year although some will be higher (sorry for the vagueness). My 2025 take away is the OEM clubs with decent shaft offerings will increase a bit in price while those with more inexpensive stock shaft offerings will remain the same (although there are always exceptions). I’ve gone over and over the pricing schedules for the various 2025 lines and to be quite honest none of them make much sense especially when it comes to custom upcharges. Several OEM’s are offering certain shafts as stock/no-upcharge offerings but only for certain weight/flex’s in that specific “stock” shaft. That same shaft with a different flex or weight (stiffer or heavier) are up-charged? – see value below.
- VALUE – You will see most of the “stock” iron sets offering shafts in light and/or ultralight steel (i.e. sub 100 gram steel). Make no mistake these lightweight steel shafts are simply less expensive to produce (higher margins), can be produced more in mass (i.e. more supply), but can lead to more dispersion and certainly add to more spin (typically producing higher “floaters” with moderate to higher swing speeds). Think about it – if your making a steel shaft as light and inexpensive as possible then the shaft wall is basically thin which can lead to instability at moderate to higher swing speeds. Keep in mind the shaft is the engine of the club so don’t forgo quality for price when it comes to the shaft (of any club).
- PERFORMANCE – The iron trend continues with “juicing up” the iron lofts. I get it – distance sells – but please be realistic. I know everyone likes to beat on their chest when they hit an 8 iron 15-20 yards further but understand that new 8 iron probably has a loft of your existing 6 or 7 iron. I’m now seeing new Pitching Wedges with 38-40 degrees of loft!. A pitching wedge back in my day had 48 degrees of loft. With these strong/juiced-up lofts you are forced to add another wedge to your bag (W1,W2,W3,GW,AW,UW or whatever you want to call it) which means you not only have to purchase an additional club up front with the set (to fill the wedge distance gap) but you now have to take another club out of your bag to stay within the 14 club minimum.
- BE OPEN MINDED! – As usual there are several of the large OEM’s sinking most of their money into advertising to help sell their products. Some are continuing this campaign for 2025 with several committing even more $ this year into media and more commercials. Personally, I’ve always focused on the brands that allocate more money into R & D in order to produce better performing clubs which will then sell themselves. Word of mouth is the best advertising medium in my opinion especially with the social media explosion over the last few years.
Andrew is proud to sit on the National Fitters Board with Callaway Golf and has been proudly designated as one of the top 100 fitting centers by Golf Digest ever since this prestigious designation began back in 2010.
