News
Short game items remain steady; ball sales continue to struggle
1/10/2003
November sales of short-game products continued to outperform the rest of the struggling equipment industry. According to Kissimmee, Fla.-based Golf Datatech, putter sales increased for the sixth consecutive month in year-over-year comparisons -- up 11.5 percent to $8.7 million from $7.8 million in 2001. It marked the third straight month the putter category generated a double-digit sales increase. The number of putters sold fell 2.4 percent to 74,040 from 75,880. November marked the third consecutive month that wedge dollar and unit sales increased. Wedge sales climbed 9 percent to $3.6 million from $3.3 million while units sold rose 1.1 percent to 40,220 from 39,790. The ball category continued its freefall. Sales declined for the eighth consecutive month --down 12.3 percent to $27.1 million from $30.9 -- and dozens sold decreased 8.3 percent to 1.1 million from 1.2 million. Woods and irons also experienced declines in dollar and units sales. Iron dollar sales fell 8.4 percent to $21.9 million from $23.9 million in November, while units sold decreased 3.2 percent, to 355,740 from 367,550. Meanwhile, dollar sales of woods slid 6.9 percent to $31.1 million from $33.3 million, while units sold fell 2.5 percent to 159,730 compared with 163,890 in 2001. Date Posted: 1/10/2003
