[Kalen Braley]

I'd love to do see a double blind study done with unmarked golf balls....to see if people really can tell the difference.


I suspect other than pros and high end AMs, about the only ball the average joe could discern they are playing is a Top Flight ball as they are such rocks...

[Greg Tallman]

I'd love to do see a double blind study done with unmarked golf balls....to see if people really can tell the difference.


I suspect other than pros and high end AMs, about the only ball the average joe could discern they are playing is a Top Flight ball as they are such rocks...

This was done with tour pros back in the day with mixed results. I want to say John Cook was the best at identifying each ball.

[Kalen Braley]

I'd love to do see a double blind study done with unmarked golf balls....to see if people really can tell the difference.


I suspect other than pros and high end AMs, about the only ball the average joe could discern they are playing is a Top Flight ball as they are such rocks...

This was done with tour pros back in the day with mixed results. I want to say John Cook was the best at identifying each ball.

Greg,


Interesting....so even the pros couldn't tell with any consistency.


Enough said...

[Greg Tallman]

I'd love to do see a double blind study done with unmarked golf balls....to see if people really can tell the difference.


I suspect other than pros and high end AMs, about the only ball the average joe could discern they are playing is a Top Flight ball as they are such rocks...

This was done with tour pros back in the day with mixed results. I want to say John Cook was the best at identifying each ball.

Greg,


Interesting....so even the pros couldn't tell with any consistency.


Enough said...

I'll try to find it but it was back in the mid to late 80s as I recall.

[Jeff_Brauer]

The big question is....will Walgreens bring back the PO-DO, my first and forever golf ball!

[Dave McCollum]

I haven't checked lately, but some time ago we bought new range balls for something like $6/dozen.  Premium balls have a more complicated construction process using better materials.  However, the cost difference is probably not much more.  If the manufacturer was making money at six bucks a dozen, that's a fairly healthy markup to pay for all the promotion and hype.  Say a cost of $5 or less and a wholesale of $38.   

[A.G._Crockett]

I haven't checked lately, but some time ago we bought new range balls for something like $6/dozen.  Premium balls have a more complicated construction process using better materials.  However, the cost difference is probably not much more.  If the manufacturer was making money at six bucks a dozen, that's a fairly healthy markup to pay for all the promotion and hype.  Say a cost of $5 or less and a wholesale of $38.

Dave,
I think you would find the gap between production cost and retail price to be similar to this for almost any product you can think of and could research; golf balls aren't unique.  But the profit margin for the retailer is quite another thing, and I don't think there is anybody making much per dozen on golf balls off retail sales.

[A.G._Crockett]

I'd love to do see a double blind study done with unmarked golf balls....to see if people really can tell the difference.


I suspect other than pros and high end AMs, about the only ball the average joe could discern they are playing is a Top Flight ball as they are such rocks...

A long, long time ago, during the brief Titleist Professional era as premium golf balls transitioned from balata to the current ProV1 construction, I was talking to a friend who is still one of the better senior amateurs in the US; then and now, a far, far better golfer than I.  I was explaining that I really couldn't afford the Professional, nor balata balls, either.

His advice was simple; he told me that it didn't matter what ball I played as long as I played the same ball all the time.  His reasoning was borne out by the Pelz research, which is that balls of different construction behave differently enough on chips and putts to make it important to know what how the ball is going to behave.

I think it's even more true today; basically EVERY ball now is a Pinnacle off the tee, so it becomes a matter of how much spin you are willing to pay for on short irons.  I don't think I could tell you the difference between a Callaway Chrome Soft and a ProV1 in a blind test, but I promise you I could tell you the difference between either of those and a Pinnacle or a Noodle or an NXT if I was able to go check the differences between my pitch mark and where the ball ended up.  I also think the difference is noticeable in putting, though a decent player can make the adjustment fairly quickly.

[Dave Doxey]

I'd love to do see a double blind study done with unmarked golf balls....to see if people really can tell the difference.


I suspect other than pros and high end AMs, about the only ball the average joe could discern they are playing is a Top Flight ball as they are such rocks...

It will never happen.  Ball manufacturers buy a LOT of advertising, and their marketeers make their living convincing golfers that claiming to tell the difference marks them as skilled players.  As far as marketing targets go, I suspect that golfers are among the easiest.


I remember working in a golf shop as a kid.  We got our first fiberglass shaft driver to demo.  It had a "regular flex" sticker on the shaft. One of the loudest members stopped by the shop and took the demo driver to the range.  He came back and said to the pro "It feels OK, but I clearly need a stiffer shaft. This one is 'too whippy'", whereupon the pro said, let me see what else I've got." and took the club to the back storeroom.  He came back and gave the member an identical fiberglass driver, marked "Extra stiff".  Back to the range went the member, who returned saying "That's a lot more like it!", and ordered the new driver.  I told the pro that I thought we'd only gotten one demo club.  He said "Yes, but I've got a lot of shaft flex stickers....".

[Kalen Braley]

Touche Dave, well said!!      

[Matthew Essig]

My dad was just at Costco to see if they had any left. Obviously not. However, the guy said check again early Spring.


P.S. This is the Costco next to the headquarters.

[David_Tepper]

Costco's Chairman of the Board says the golf balls will be back:

http://m.stamfordadvocate.com/local/article/Costco-says-golf-balls-will-return-10883759.php

[Dave August]

If these balls do come back, with quality and material similar to the "original", and hangs around, what will be the effect on the current high end ball market?


I played this ball earlier in the fall, it is a solid product. If Costco can re-capture the magic and WOM of the first ball, it should move the golf ball market needle.


Shouldn't it?

[BCowan]

Dave,

    This revelation could truly save the game.  mggolf Golf Balls, Kirtland, Snell, and TM lethal could really rejuvenate people into playing more rounds.  It's the Golden Thank you note.     

[Richard Hetzel]

The saga continues....


http://www.seattletimes.com/business/retail/costco-says-it-hopes-to-get-kirkland-signature-golf-balls-back-on-shelves-shares-stats-on-year/

[Philip Caccamise]

I played a few rounds with the Kirkland ball (the "KSigs", as that equipment website has nicknamed it), and it's absolutely legitimate. It definitely felt firmer than the Pro V1 or Pro V1x, but kind of in a good way. I was ready to switch full time to it, based on a savings of $300 a year on balls (8-10 dozen/year at about $30 a dozen), so I sincerely hope it comes back.

[Ryan Taylor]

I played a few rounds with the Kirkland ball (the "KSigs", as that equipment website has nicknamed it), and it's absolutely legitimate.

That's because the Kirkland ball is a Nassau Quattro according to multiple sources!

http://nassaugolfballs.co.uk/golf-balls.aspx

[Philip Caccamise]

I played a few rounds with the Kirkland ball (the "KSigs", as that equipment website has nicknamed it), and it's absolutely legitimate.

That's because the Kirkland ball is a Nassau Quattro according to multiple sources!

http://nassaugolfballs.co.uk/golf-balls.aspx

That's the rumor I've heard as well. Makes sense.

[Jon Cavalier]

I heard a rumor that they were Taylor Made overruns (at least the cores). Marginally dubious source, however.

[JESII]

Does anyone think, if the exact ball comes back, it will be for less than $25?


How would you all feel about a 60% price gouge just because you liked the product?

[A.G._Crockett]

Does anyone think, if the exact ball comes back, it will be for less than $25?


How would you all feel about a 60% price gouge just because you liked the product?

Jim,
If the article that indicated these balls were overruns of the Nassau Quattro ball (and therefore sort of a one-off event) were correct, Costco probably won't be able to sell a 4 piece urethane ball for $15/dozen again. 

However, I can imagine a scenario where Costco negotiated with a manufacturer for a premium ball that Costco was able to sell at $25 or $30/doz under the Kirkland name; that wouldn't be "price gouging", really.  Costco has sold premium balls at around this price before, but they were rebranded discontinued Callaways instead of using the Kirkland name. 

I think the trick will be to get a manufacturer of premium balls to go into competition with their own brand by manufacturing for Costco at a lower retail price.  That'll be the trick more than keeping the price low.

[Jerry Kluger]

A few months back they had Pro V1s at my local store and they were $39.95

[Mike_Trenham]

A few months back they had Pro V1s at my local store and they were $39.95

Probably to build up the P&L prior to the IPO.  Don't count on that again.

[JJShanley]

A few months back they had Pro V1s at my local store and they were $39.95

Probably to build up the P&L prior to the IPO.  Don't count on that again.

I've seen previous year models sold for around $40/dozen.

[Mike Bodo]

I just ordered a box of Snell's on Amazon and will be curious to play with them this spring. What pushed me over the edge was the favorable comparison to the Pro V1 courtesy of Aussie Golfer Reviewer


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=50_f2QOF8y4


I told Ben (Cowan) at a meet-up last week that I just can't see myself ever playing a Kirkland branded golf ball no matter how good the quality was. It's predominately a food brand. I buy Kirkland coffee, dog food and wine, but I have to draw the line at golf balls. LOL! Call me a snob, but the thought of playing a golf ball with the name Kirkland stamped on it terrifies me. I'd sooner play Pinnacles or Rock Flite's (Top Flite). 

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