Golf Putting Aid

[Catalyst]

Hey all,

I have been maintaining my progress thread in the insiders section for the past few months and wanted to widen the net on feedback. We are nearing the launch of our kickstarter and wanted to share our project preview with the community as a whole. Be gentle but we are open to any feedback that you may have.

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1231913128/1001292387?token=24e67ede

Preview link will only be open for a few more days until we start to lock down our launch date.

 

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[Catalyst]

we are live! and off to the races! https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1231913128/tiba-putt-a-personal-approach-to-improve-your-putt

 

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[DavidofMN]

This looks like an awesome little tool. I considered inventing a product, but I always worry about someone stealing it. What is to stop someone from having this same thing made, or even someone in China seeing it reproducing it and selling it right now on eBay or Amazon etc? I worry about that.

How did worrying about something that may or may not happen work out for @Likwid24 and The Paint Brush Cover? Oh yeah. He got on Sharktank and got a deal! Don't worry about it! Execute it better and market it better!

Or to quote Mark Twain:
I am an old man. Throughout my life I have worried about many things. Most of which never happened.

 

[throttleforward]

I think you'll want to just go to a local golf course, tell them what you're doing, ask them permission to use the demos on their practice green and approach other people with other demo units. Say "I've invented something, I was just wondering if you would mind trying it out and telling me what you think." Let them try it, gather feed back, and either use their raving testimonials on the kickstarter, or refine the product based on their feedback.

 

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[StartupsRFun]

So I got to checkout the Tiba putting aid last night, albeit on my carpet. First impression was the simplicity of the design, and its portable enough that I could keep it in my golf bag, and it wouldn't take up too much room or weigh the bag down. The alignment rails really help in giving immediate feedback and just for the hour or so I played around with it, Im already feeling more confident in my putting. Additionally I try and practice square to square, so just turning both sides around gives that straight runway effect. Overall awesome product

 

[Catalyst]

Thanks again for all the feedback guys it has been invaluable! In the past few days we have gotten the product in the hand of a high profile training pro and they love it and will be endorsing it when we go live.


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[Catalyst]

Thanks @DavidofMN appreciate the support ! @Eskil thanks for the pep talk last night, you and @JasonR always seem to give great advice right when I need it! @YMCMB there is always plenty of reasons to not take action, don't get it your own way. Consider eventualities and try to mitigate them as you push forward. In the us we have filed for patent protection I can't stop what someone does or doesn't do overseas but we can protect our IP domestically.

 

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[throttleforward]

I actually like it the more I think about it from a design and portability perspective. I think you absolutely need to get some user testimonials about how their golf game improved. You also need a PGA pro (even just the local PGA-affiliated instructor) to endorse it in the video, while holding your product. Give them some sort of incentive if needed. In the video, I'd compare it directly to your competition, which is simply putting another club down along the swing path. Show why existing solutions don't work as well. Also show putting it in and pulling it out of a standard golf bag to demonstrate the portability. The video is a little too repetitive from a visual perspective.

Running a kickstarter successfully is a serious endeavor. You need to have all your ducks in a row, including a full court press strategy, social media marketing, Youtube channel with multiple videos up, etc.

There is a book written by AndrewNC on how to run a successful kickstarter campaign. I think the link is in his signature.

Also, please don't let a fear of talking to people and facing rejection stop you from handing this out to real people you've never met and getting real feedback, especially before you do anything on kickstarter. I know the impulse is to just put stuff all online and let things happen, but unfortunately the experienced folks here will tell you that's not how it works. It always starts and ends with real, offline interactions with real people.

 

[Kak]

I'll buy one because I think it looks like something that will actually help. So many stupid golf aids out there, simple is better. As with any golf aid, whether it is shit or not, the golfing Asians will flock to it.

China will be a great place to build it and Amazon will be a great place to sell it. I'd shoot to have it be a more upscale item, sold in pro shops kind of like titleist. Also you could try a licensing agreement with a well known manufacturer like Titleist, taylormade, calaway....

 

[throttleforward]

I'll buy one because I think it looks like something that will actually help. So many stupid golf aids out there, simple is better. As with any golf aid, whether it is shit or not, the golfing Asians will flock to it.

China will be a great place to build it and Amazon will be a great place to sell it. I'd shoot to have it be a more upscale item, sold in pro shops kind of like titleist. Also you could try a licensing agreement with a well known manufacturer like Titleist, taylormade, calaway....

How huge-a paying customer! Largest hurdle=crushed!

 

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[Catalyst]

Our target retail is $25 outside of kickstarter. During our campaign we will have a limited quantity for $20 including shipping and then a non limited tier at $30 including shipping, some other options a little more expensive including a kickstarter green one and a I need it now tier that includes one of our aluminum prototypes shipped as soon as it funds.

 

[youngtrep]

I am an avid golfer and it is something I would definitely consider buying. Like throttleforward's friend mentioned, I like that I can easily fit it into my golf bag and have it with me if I decide to head to the putting green. I think $19.99 might be a little more appealing at retail, but $25 isn't too far off. For the Kickstarter, look into advertising on Golfwrx.com or at leasting posting in the forum. I feel like this kind of product will do best though in stores. If you could come up with some very easy to understand packaging with the pieces in side by side alignment and a golf ball image in the middle it could become an impulse buy near the cash register. Once you get some momentum you should try to head to the PGA merchandise show in January and meet with retail buyers.

 

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[InMotion]

Don't want to criticize but having to put tees into the green may be limiting. Since going to soft spikes, higher end courses especially, do not like holes in their greens...especially the putting green...hence the tees may be an issue. I would shop it around as suggested and ask a few pros if this would be a problem at their course.

Perhaps design it where you can use a ball-marker instead, or maybe it comes with a couple of small plastic spikes already on the bottom...that way you can use it on carpet also?

 

[InMotion]

A selling point I notice:

I will say that it was a good design element to flare out the corners and make a smaller impact zone. Many putting aids only allow for straight back and forth, which is great for perimeter weighted putters; this one will accommodate toe heavy putters, and the like, where the arc of the swing is restricted on many aids.

 

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[Catalyst]

Kickstarter was just approved - will be posting a live date here and on my progress thread later today.

 

[splok]

Backed! Seems like a reasonable enough amount to ask for that you have the potential to hit some serious multiples if you can get some traction behind the campaign in the next few days. Any more videos planned? You could maybe drip in some short, coaching-type videos or testimonials. Adding a short clip each day would give people something to share and might sway people who are on the fence.

 

[Catalyst]

Quick update: we are at 8% after 5 days, well behind where we need to be but we are pushing forward hard. We have another BIG Break player endorsing us early next week, are lined up for the radio show next week, are playing in a golf charity event next weekend that we are small sponsors of, have made contacts at pga.com, golf digest, and the golf channel. Trying to work these angles as quick as possible. Pushing for as many backers as we can to continue pushing towards that social proof tipping point. Talk to you guys when I have a chance to update.

 

[Eskil]

I saw that Shark Tank episode. I don't get it. Sometimes the sharks would say about a product "How can I invest in this, what's stopping someone from creating the same product and selling it?" But then they see the Paint Brush Cover and all invest in it.

Reason is simple; The PaintBrushCover is at the very least patent pending, and has probably one or more full patents underway (or already perhaps, Sal could answer that).

When the Sharks (mostly Kevin) says "what's stopping someone from making the same thing?" you will notice that they are always products that either have NO provisional patents filed, or simply cannot be even patented. Stuff like a basic cupcake recipe, etc. (more often than not if you notice, its food products but not always). Those types of products will have to rely on their strength of a well-established brand, since they cannot be proprietary. They are only proprietary in WHO they are, not WHAT they are.

 

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[Likwid24]

Great Idea. Backed and Shared! Good Luck!!!!

 

[SteveO]

Does the video show how to use this? Could not get the video to run. I am assuming that it is fairly straight forward to setup and use. there should be more choices on the survey. I would vote as a "like". What will the cost be?

 

[Catalyst]

Yep setup is straightforward pick your line and secure to ground with tees forming a swing gate.

Via kickstarter inclusive of shipping limited quantities for 20 normal retail 30 so outside ks reg retail is 25


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[Catalyst]

Thanks @throttleforward all great info and appreciated input.

We agree on the endorsement of training pros and aim to have such testimonials prior to launch.

I can see the video being repetitive, that is partly by design, but if it would be a turn off to someone on the fence about buying it warrants a revisit.

I have our hitlist assembled for press and have been doing pre marketing for a while now. we have some decent targeted social deployment ready and waiting for our word to blast. I'll certainly check out the book by @AndrewNC

Good thing is I am in sales and marketing so I have no issue talking to people about our product. And the product is at a point that we are actually proud of it so no shame in handing it to people and asking for input.

Of course we are working on our kickstarter strategy and that is the ultimate goal of this feedback loop. We plan to move forward with launch but have contingency plans if it were to fall flat. We are in keep it moving forward mode! Again thanks this is all very valuable input and is central to our daily discussions.

 

[GravyBoat]

This is awesome man, your goal will be blown away. I'm trash at golf but as he said, there are demographics that will eat it up.

Cool to see another Kickstarter come from here! I'll definitely support

 

[Kak]

How huge-a paying customer! Largest hurdle=crushed!

Sarcastic a**hole.

@Catalyst what is the planned price point for this?

 

[Catalyst]

Love the responses guys, validates a lot of the work we have put in and has us ready to push HARD!

Oh and US Patent Pending for real now - forms are finally filed and fees paid- what a pain in the arse.

 

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[throttleforward]

Sarcastic a**hole.

@Catalyst what is the planned price point for this?

In all seriousness maybe you should purchase via his campaign page as soon as the kickstarter launches to add some social proof?

 

[throttleforward]

If you could come up with some very easy to understand packaging with the pieces in side by side alignment and a golf ball image in the middle it could become an impulse buy near the cash register.

This is a great suggestion. Also, the paint brush cover's success in scaling according to the thead could largely be traced back their successful trade show appearance - the results of which you can watch tonight on ABC at 9.

 

[youngtrep]

I should also add that I really like that this product isn't a gimmick. Putting alignment is used by most of the pros during practice, here is a video of Tiger using two tees to do it

.

I think you should push to get this used by at least one player, whether it be PGA, web.com or even the hooters tour. I bet another player would ask about it and it could snowball from there. Also, try to get a few AJGA or IJGT players to take it to a tournament. Everyone picks up on that stuff on the junior tours.

 

[throttleforward]

Also consider approaching golf coaches from local high schools and colleges. Do it from the standpoint of conducting a study on the efficacy of this training device vs. a control group (either another training method or no method).

 

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[throttleforward]

Also I'd consider creating a premium bundled package, containing the rails, a gate, and access to an instructional video online teaching how to use the devices to improve putting accuracy.