September 2012: Hot List 365: Golf Digest

Cleveland/Srixon installs new Japanese leader

Friday, September 28, 2012

By E Michael Johnson

It didn't take long for Cleveland/Srixon to name a new boss after Greg Hopkins' resignation Sept. 25. In a press release this afternoon, the company announced Hideki Sano as its chairman, effective January 1, 2013.

After earning a Master's degree in engineering from Osaka University in Japan, Sano joined Sumitomo Group in 1977, working his way up the ranks of the Dunlop Sports division, developing a strong background in R&D and production. Sano was executive officer of production engineering in 2004 and became a member of the board of directors in 2007. His most recent role was as executive director of R&D, Production, Purchasing and Logistics, as well as maintaining his membership on the Board. Sano's name also has appeared on golf-ball patents.

"I fully expect that making this organizational change in the North American business unit, with the team being led by Sano, will bring further improvement of the brand value of Cleveland Golf/Srixon," said Yasushi Nojiri, President and Representative Director of Dunlop Sports.

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Ryder Cup: The Technology of Choking

Friday, September 28, 2012

By Mike Stachura

Seeing all these somewhat unusual misses during Friday's Ryder Cup matches got me thinking about choking and specifically how fine the line is to properly execute a golf shot. Put it this way, the players on both sides may be a little nervous at the first tee or the 18th green, but if they knew how small their margin of error was for hitting a good shot in golf, they'd even feel worse.

I dug up a report from Fredrik Tuxen, the brilliant mind behind the Trackman ballflight monitoring system. In this study, he suggests that if you miss the center of the face by the width of one dimple, a 250-yard shot will miss its target by 10 yards to the right. (That effect obviously gets worse the farther you hit it. And, oh by the way, a dimple measures about one-eighth of an inch.) Tuxen's research also notes that an off-center miss of half an inch on a driver leads to a shot that flies 35 yards right of its target.

In putting, it gets worse, at least according to equipment guru Ralph Maltby. A 1-degree open face angle would miss a 7-foot putt to the right. How much off of square is a 1-degree open face angle? Maybe a millimeter.

Food for thought as you watch the best players in the world struggle with pressure this weekend at the Ryder Cup.

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Counterfeit Clubs: More arrests in China

Friday, September 28, 2012

The U.S. Golf Manufacturers Anti-Counterfeiting Working Group recently reported a string of raids and convictions of multiple counterfeiters of golf products in China. The efforts are part of an ongoing commitment to prosecuting counterfeiters and limiting the amount of counterfeit golf products that reach consumers' hands. These and other raids have resulted in the shutting down of more than 20 counterfeiting operations, the seizing of more than 350,000 counterfeit golf products and the arrest of more than 20 counterfeiters, including manufacturers, wholesalers and retailers.

"We continue to make significant progress abroad in petitioning government officials to take enforcement actions against counterfeiters," said Joe Nauman, executive VP for corporate and legal for the Acushnet Company, parent of Titleist and FootJoy. "In the last year, we've seen the length of prison sentences for convicted counterfeiters of golf products increase, which is an important step in the right direction. We are pleased with the efforts of the police, prosecutors and court system in China for helping to bring these criminals to justice."

A recent report from the International Chamber of Commerce predicts the global trade in all types of counterfeit goods will reach $1.7 trillion by 2015. New York Senator Charles Schumer recently called for stronger action from U.S. agencies, citing the struggles of the New Era hat manufacturer with Chinese counterfeits.

But the only logical solution to attack this problem is for consumers to stop purchasing these products. We offered some serious advice awhile back that's worth reviewing, and the U.S. Golf Manufacturers Anti-Counterfeiting Working Group's website provides more guidance on the topic.

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Maybe the groove rule is working

Wednesday, September 26, 2012

By Mike Stachura

In my recent post comparing the statistics of the vaunted 1981 U.S. Ryder Cup team to its current edition, I suggested the U.S. team's performance in driving accuracy was relatively poor vs. the '80s hall-of-famers. The U.S. team's average rank in driving accuracy is 75, compared to the 1981 squad's average rank of 36.

What I didn't realize is that the average ranking in driving accuracy for this elite group of current U.S. players is improving, dramatically compared to recent years as a matter of fact.

Look at these numbers for the the previous five U.S. Ryder Cup teams. In terms of average rank in driving accuracy for the 12 best U.S. players in a given year, here's how bad they've been:

2002: 98

2004: 102

2006: 92

2008: 112

2010: 98

This may be of no interest to anyone but me. Still, if the average rank in driving accuracy of this elite group of players is now 25 percent better than it has been, does that say anything about the impact of the groove rule, which went into effect in 2010? Maybe, maybe not. In the grand scheme of things, the PGA Tour driving accuracy average is actually worse than it was before the groove rule. But the average of those most successful? It seems to be suddenly improving.

But it's still a long way from 1981.

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1981 U.S. Ryder Cup team beats 2012 squad

Wednesday, September 26, 2012

By Mike Stachura

Monday night Golf Channel aired one of its Top 10 specials, highlighting the best teams in golf history. The top choice was the 1981 U.S. Ryder Cup team, which blew out the European team 18 1/2 to 9 1/2 and featured a hall of fame roster that included Jack Nicklaus, Tom Watson, Lee Trevino, Raymond Floyd, Hale Irwin, Larry Nelson, Ben Crenshaw and Johnny Miller.

It's obvious the current U.S. squad does not have the historical horsepower of their forefathers from three decades ago. But there is another way to look at the two squads, thanks to PGA Tour statistics. Those numbers reveal that what constituted success in the game in 1981 seems no longer to be a requirement for success today.

If you take just four significant statistical areas (driving distance, driving accuracy, greens in regulation and putts per round), and look at the 1981 Ryder Cup team vs. the 2012 Ryder Cup team, what you see is a mirror with cracks. Tthe two squads show similar statistical prowess relative to the field they were competing against, but not in every area. And those differences give us much to discuss.

Cleveland/Srixon CEO Hopkins steps down

Tuesday, September 25, 2012

By E Michael Johnson

Saying, "Now I'm at a point in my life where I want to do some things and explore some ideas that I've always wanted to pursue," Greg Hopkins, after 16 years with the company, has resigned as CEO of Cleveland/Srixon, effective immediately. Hopkins officially tendered his resignation to the Board of Dunlop Sports in Kobe, Japan yesterday. No successor was immediately named, although Todd Harman remains as the company's president.

Hopkins, 57, oversaw a company that had some peaks and valleys during his tenure at the helm. Hopkins, who started with the company as president in 1997, was named CEO in 2003. At one point in the early 2000s Cleveland rose as high as No. 2 in iron market share and enjoyed a market leadership position in wedges. In recent years, however, the company's shares in both those categories have declined. In 2007, Cleveland was purchased by SRI Sports Ltd. (parent of Srixon) for $132.5 million. (SRI Sports Ltd. changed its name to Dunlop Sports Co. Ltd. in May. The company is the sporting goods subsidiary of Japan-based Sumitomo Rubber Industries.)

"Being the CEO of Cleveland/Srixon was demanding on my time and certainly that takes a toll on the family," said Hopkins, who noted a desire to spend more time with his family as well as five grandchildren. Hopkins also has several outside interests to occupy his time as well, having at various times in his life been a black belt in Tae Kwon Do when he wasn't swimming with sharks (literally). Today Hopkins is more content to focus on his passion for golf. Currently possessing a +0.5-handicap index, Hopkins has played in two Senior British Opens, Hopkins also teed it several times in the Toshiba Classic on the Champions Tour. More recently he has taken to aviation, and said he is looking forward to having more time to fly planes.

As for what those ideas are that he wants to pursue, Hopkins merely said, "Well, now I'll have some time to contemplate that, won't I?

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Cobra debuts AMP Cell metal woods

Tuesday, September 25, 2012

By E Michael Johnson

Cobra's new line of AMP Cell metalwoods will be noticeable for its array of colorful choices (Silver, Directoire Blue, Barbados Red and Vibrant Orange) but that shouldn't overshadow the technology housed inside and around the flamboyant clubheads.

The drivers feature what Cobra is calling MyFly technology, which allows golfers to select from six different loft/trajectory settings--the theory being that golfers will alter the loft on their driver throughout the season based to adapt to their swing or course/weather conditions.

The 460cc AMP Cell driver ($299) can be adjusted to the following lofts: 8.5 degrees, 9.5 degrees, 9.5 degrees with a draw bias, 10.5 degrees, 10.5 degrees with a draw bias and 11.5 degrees. The 440cc AMP Cell Pro version ($399) can be adjusted to 7.5, 8.5, 8.5 with a fade bias, 9.5, 9.5 with a fade bias and 10.5 degree. An offset model ($249) also is available.

The real meat of the club, however, rests in Cobra's face technology which utilizes an elliptical face shape that is 12-percent larger than its Cobra AMP predecessor with a canted bulge and roll that aids distance and accuracy on mis-hits from heel to toe and above and below the centerline. Further, the Cell technology saves and redistributes weight to optimize the center of gravity position.

The AMP Cell fairway woods use much of the same technologies (and same colors) and are available in a 3-4 wood model (13 to 16 degrees with two draw settings) and a 5-7 wood (17 to 20 degrees with two draw settings) that can be adjusted into eight different lofts. The hybrids are available in 2-3 (16 to 19 degrees, two draw options), 3-4 (19 to 22 degrees, two draw options) and 4-5 (22 to 25 degrees, two draw options) models that can be adjusted into 10 different lofts, providing golfers the ability to dial in distance gaps. The fairway woods will sell for $219 with the hybrids selling for $199.

The drivers, fairway woods and hybrids all will be available at retail in February, 2013.

Follow @EMichaelGW

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Snedeker's driver: $11.44 million bargain

Monday, September 24, 2012

By Mike Stachura

Brandt Snedeker's win Sunday at the Tour Championship by Coca-Cola equalled the biggest single-day payday in the history of professional golf. His combined take for winning the final tournament of the FedEx Cup Playoffs was $11.44 million. Pretty impressive for a guy using a driver that you can get at Golfsmith for $120 these days. Technically, Snedeker plays a TaylorMade Superfast TP, but you can still find standard issue models of the same name for one-thousandth of one percent of Snedeker's Sunday afternoon payday.

Snedeker has been using a version of the driver for the last two years and he won with it earlier this year at the Farmers Insurance Open. He cracked the face midway through the season and was using a TaylorMade R11 for awhile before TaylorMade found one leftover model of the discontinued clubhead he could use to match his original.

"Some of the Taylor Made guys found one for me. They found it where it had been hidden away somewhere,'' Snedeker told WKRN-TV in his home of Nashville.

Snedeker is that rare player on tour who is not locked into one brand of clubs throughout his bag. Though he is a Bridgestone player (using the J40 irons and the Bridgestone Tour B-330), he also has a Ping Anser hybrid, a Titleist Vokey wedge, Tour Edge Exotics CB4 3-wood and, like his driver, an old school Odyssey White Hot XG Rossie putter.

The putter that won all that money? You can find the exact model on Ebay going for about $27.

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Ping to be featured on CNBC

Sunday, September 23, 2012

By Mike Stachura

Many of those who are inside the game know the story of the development and long-running success of Ping, which began in 1959 under the inspiration, diligence and guidance of founder Karsten Solheim.

The company still reflects Solheim's dogged pursuit of solutions to average golfer's problems and needs, even now some 12 years after his death. I thought of this when I heard the company is going to be featured on an episode of CNBC's How I Made My Millions on Sept. 24.

As I was walking out of the office Friday, I noticed an old copy of Golf Digest, circa 1998, with a back cover ad detailing the Ping TiSI driver. What caught my eye was a small feature on the club at the time, but something that we're finding more and more important today. The club featured the option to find different hosels for different lie angles, the idea to better fit each player's specific swing and measurements. Nearly a decade and a half later the idea of adjustability in drivers is common and increasing in its complexibilty. Ping's first venture into adjustability is the Anser driver, which seems to take adjustability in a different direction from its competitors, its foundation again seeming to be about individual solutions to golfers' problems centered on fitting. It is just one of a handful of current adjustable drivers that are attempting to solve problems better than drivers ever have before (and just wait a few months, you'll see drivers that encompass a range of possibilities that haven't been seen since the days of the 33-in-1 adjustable club). I write about it in the October issue of Golf Digest.

If the CNBC show wants to know how Ping made its millions, the short answer might lie simply in finding answers to questions no one else was asking.

Follow @MikeStachura

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