The Green Fee Its the end of 2021 and I hope you have had an incredible holiday season. I know I did. Hopefully you got everything you wanted and so did everyone in your life. With the year ending I decided it was time to throw out some crazy predictions for 2022. Let me know what you agree with and what you think Im totally wrong about. Im open ears on all social media platforms including Twitter, Instagram, and even Facebook. Lets start with predictions for 6 manufacturers
Titleist
We already know what Titleist is bringing to the table in terms of Irons this year. The T series has been here a while and they are impressive. It is time though for some new Vokey’s and Scotty Studio Select putters.
This year I think we see a high toe and a full face option from Mr Vokey. Everyone pretty much has one of these and I think Vokey will release on this year.
For Scotty I think we are going to get a black putter. The last Special Select release got back to the traditional solid milled face. No insert or anything like that. I think this release will go back to black. This will make people remember that 2012 release. Those still sell for a pretty penny and these will have the same look. While most of us wish he would go all the way back to the carbon steel days, that wont happen but I do think the putters will be black.
Srixon/Cleveland
I dont think we will see much from Srixon besides a new Z series golf ball. They did all of their releases this year an dit will kind of be an off year. Srixon is going to be in a lot of bags because of the Kopeka signing. Thats a huge get for Srixon.
A lot of people dont release Srixon and Cleveland are the same company. Now I do think we will see some movement from Cleveland. First of all I think we are going to get a Zipcore 2.0. The RTX Zipcore was great but Cleveland loves to tweak their wedges. I think we may see some new grinds as well. Cleveland has always used a low-mid-high grind and bounce to make it simple but with everyone else bringing a ton of grind options it feels like they are falling a little behind.
I also expect Cleveland to introduce some new irons. Its been a few years since we saw new irons from Cleveland. They are great game improvement irons that can be had for a great value. Dont be surprised to see Cleveland introduce a new iron set in 2022 and it be really damn good
Cobra
I think this is the year for Cobra to make some noise. We are getting some new drivers. The new drivers are bringing the LTD name back. This was a driver from a few years ago that was wildely popular. I do think we are going to run into some fitting issues with the driver this year. For the last few years Cobra’s tour staff have complained about too much spin, so this year I feel like we are going to see this driver be a major spin killer.
I could see SLDR like fitting issues. Guys who are normally in a 9.5 have to go to 10.5. 10.5 has to go to a 12 etc. When the driver is fit properly it wont be beat. Be prepared for a “loft up” style of marketing. If its not a marketing play look for the guys who normally play the low spin model to be in the higher spin model.
Callaway
This almost feels like a transition year for Callaway. The pictures of the new Rogue have already leaked. They show a really nice shaped driver but the weight in the back is a gold color. I think the driver looks great but the gold will turn a bunch of people off of the club. It will be pretty good but their will be better looking clubs on the shelf.
Where Callaway will shine this year is on their game improvements. The better players clubs launched in 2021. In 2022 I predict we will get some Rogue irons and they will be INCREDIBLE. Get ready to see them in bags all over the place. The pro version will have some people really confused if they should go with the Rouge or the Apex. I expect a huge improvement in ball speeds from these irons. Callaway feels like it is slowly becoming a “better players” brand but they are going to change that perception this year
Taylormade
Tiger played the new Stealth driver at the PNC Classic. It has an all carbon fiber face. Everyone who has hit it has reported big ball speed gains. I think its going to be fast but Taylormade is going to have a durability issue. Taylormade will sell a ton of these but it will also bring back a ton of returns. Taylormade has always kind of struggled with their carbon fiber pieces being a weak point in the drivers. The tee would literally get stuck on some of the M drivers. Ive seen SIM heads where the carbon fiber crown has literally popped off. Itll be good but its going to be a struggle. The driver will make a unique sound and some folks will hate that
PING
This is the one that pains me the most. I love PING. I play the G410 and it hasnt been beat. My putter is a PING. I love PING. With that said, it will be an awful year for PING. It will have nothing to do with product performance. They will probably release some new irons and they will be great.
The problem they will run into is a financial one. I have heard people have been waiting up to 6 months for clubs they ordered from PING. With everyone else releasing new product and being able to get it to them in a timely manner look for lots of order cancellations. That will mean PING is going to be losing money. In 2022 I can see PING having finacial issues and either being sold, laying off a massive amount of their workforce, or filing bankruptucy to restructure some debt.
Industry Prediction
This is something I have been predicting for a few months but the golf bubble is going to burst in 2022. in 2020 we saw a huge influx of golfers. Golf was the only real thing most kids could do outside so parents were buying starter sets and then playing themselves to get out of the house. Their wasnt much for kids to do. Now that youth sports leagues like Soccer, basketball and baseball have all opened back up the kids are back to playing in those leagues again. With College and NFL football returning Saturdays and Sundays are taken. I think the used market which has been heavilly inflated will get flooded and then eventually even back out. On the new side, Stores are going to put in massive stock orders but it will sit there longer than expected.
Brand of the Year
I think in 2022 the brand of the year will be.. COBRA! The LTD may have some fitting issues but the new driver is going to be great. Their putters last year were a huge positive surprise. I would imagine we will get some LTD irons plus the Forged TEC irons are getting redone. Its going to be a great year for Cobra.
