"NOOG" Kyoei Golf Interview Part 2
Following on from the first part, we bring you an interview with Mr. Sakamoto, the president of Kyoei Golf, who is in charge of the production of NOOG's ONE LENGTH irons .
Click here for the first part.
Many challenges and trial and error encountered during the production process
Were there any challenges in creating the ONE LENGTH irons?
The most difficult part was making sure that all the heads, from the 4-iron to the P-iron, were the same weight.
Of course, the lower numbers such as number 4 and number 5 are lighter, and the later numbers such as number 5 and 6 are heavier, but the most difficult aspect of manufacturing was that we had to standardize the weight of these to the same as number 7 and 8, and this was the most difficult aspect, including for those on the manufacturing site.
Was there anything else that you found difficult while actually making the game?
The NOOG logo and club number on the head. We had never tried to create a design on the head that stands out with a concave and convex shape before, and the idea of a logo floating had never occurred to us before, so expressing it was a challenge, but also a new idea.
Revolutionary iron "One Length Iron"
What exactly is a ONE LENGTH iron?
Unlike conventional irons, ONE LENGTH irons are all the same length, but the angle of the club head affects the distance and height of the ball.
Since each conventional club has a different weight and length, golfers must use different swings to suit each iron.
However, with One Length Irons, the length and weight are the same for all clubs, so if you learn how to swing one club, you can handle all of them.
What are the pros and cons of the One Length irons?
The advantage is that you only need to practice one swing and then you can repeat the same swing with different clubs to hit the ball at different distances.
Also, since you only need to master one club, you will be able to practice irons for less time. You don't have to practice almost all clubs, but in extreme cases, you can hit other clubs in the same way just by practicing one club, so you will be able to practice less time and you will likely be able to improve your golf game efficiently.
I don't know if this can be considered a drawback, but I sometimes hear that people who are used to traditional irons find that when they first start using ONE LENGTH short irons, the ball flies too far, so I do think the fact that it takes time to get used to them is a cause for concern.
What kind of person would you like to try using ONE Length Irons?
I would like people who are not good at using middle irons to try this.
With conventional irons, especially with mid and long irons, there are many mistakes, and it is difficult to know your own suitable distance. However, with the ONE LENGTH iron, there are fewer mistakes, and I think it is highly likely that you will be able to hit the ball on the golf course with the same feeling you get at the driving range.
So, by understanding the distance you can hit with each club and taking into account the remaining distance, you will be able to use a middle iron in more and more places, and I think you will be able to enjoy hitting with a middle iron.
The current golf industry
Working in the golf industry, have you noticed any recent trends?
I think this is limited to Japan, but everyone is increasingly moving in the direction of wanting to hit the ball farther, so I think people are focusing too much on distance rather than on scores.
However, in reality, in golf, the lower your score, the more fun it should be, so if I could use this One Length iron to hit the ball at my optimum distance with the same swing for each club, in other words, to be able to "hit the ball well within that range of distances with my irons," I feel like golf would be even more enjoyable.
I would like the golf industry to move away from a focus on gradually achieving greater distances, and instead move towards a focus on hitting the ball at precise distances.
People often think of it as "entertainment" or "a sport for older people," but how do you feel about that?
I think golf is a wonderful sport that you can enjoy with friends in the great outdoors and that you can play for the rest of your life.
I think the way to break through the current situation is to communicate in a more understandable way to the younger generation who understand these values that golf is fun.
In fact, for example, I hear that the average age of golf course members is gradually increasing, making it difficult to run a golf course, so there is a sense of crisis that we need to attract more young people into the club.
Speaking of being able to become friends with complete strangers, I think it's something to look forward to in Japan, where the population is set to decline in the future, being able to make friends with everyone is something to look forward to.
Future expectations for NOOG
What are your expectations for the NOOG brand, and do you have any concerns?
To start with, I have some concerns about how well golfers, especially those with a long history of golfing, will accept the fact that all ONE LENGTH irons are the same length.
In terms of expectations, we are only involved in manufacturing, so with the aim of attracting young golfers, we have high hopes for the NOOG brand in terms of how it will appeal to customers.
I have high hopes for the chic yet innovative concept, and I think that the design, usability, and other factors will appeal to young people and those looking to try something new.
Since they are made in Japan, I think it would be really interesting to sell them overseas as Japanese-made irons.
Finally, do you have any message for us?
I hope to discover many people who will enjoy golf even more through this new approach.
I'm looking forward to seeing what interesting things will come out of a brand created by someone outside the golf industry!
This concludes our interview with Mr. Sakamoto of Kyoei Golf, which was split into two parts following the first part!
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