1 00:00:02,319 --> 00:00:05,320 So every golf tea you've seen before, you know, typically a wooden golf 2 00:00:05,360 --> 00:00:08,160 te or most golf das are a circle on top. You look at the 3 00:00:08,160 --> 00:00:11,279 tea from the top down, and you've got a circle. And then performance 4 00:00:11,320 --> 00:00:15,240 golf teas they come on the market and they try to reduce friction on the 5 00:00:15,279 --> 00:00:18,480 tee, but they try to reduce the friction on the tea in all directions 6 00:00:18,640 --> 00:00:22,719 of that T three hundred and sixty degree orientation because they don't know which direction 7 00:00:22,760 --> 00:00:26,039 you're placing the tea, so they're trying to just reduce friction in all directions. 8 00:00:26,160 --> 00:00:29,800 So that actually limits you because you now have to conform all the way 9 00:00:29,800 --> 00:00:33,560 around. What we take advantage of here is a very simple first principle, 10 00:00:33,600 --> 00:00:36,560 and that's when you're driving, when you're teeing off, you're only hitting in 11 00:00:36,600 --> 00:00:41,119 one direction. So if that's the case, why not maximize as much friction 12 00:00:41,240 --> 00:00:46,240 reduction as possible in that direction which leads to increased performance. Hi, this 13 00:00:46,320 --> 00:00:51,520 is DJ Degala and I'm from Valparaiso, Indiana. I play the Creekside Golf 14 00:00:51,560 --> 00:00:57,479 Course. This is golf Smarter number nine hundred and twenty six, proven by 15 00:00:57,600 --> 00:01:03,119 science longer and straighter off the te flight Path Golf Tees with inventor doctor Daniel 16 00:01:03,119 --> 00:01:08,200 Whalen. This is Golf Smarter, sharing stories, tips and insights from great 17 00:01:08,239 --> 00:01:14,480 golf minds to help you lower your score and raise your golf IQ. Here's 18 00:01:14,519 --> 00:01:19,079 your host, Fred Green. Welcome back to the Golf Smarter Podcast. Daniel, 19 00:01:19,480 --> 00:01:22,120 Hi, Fred, how are we doing. We're doing great. It 20 00:01:22,200 --> 00:01:26,599 is so good to have you back on because I want to hear how exciting 21 00:01:26,719 --> 00:01:30,640 the year was for Flight Path Golf Tees. Yeah, we've been ramping up. 22 00:01:30,879 --> 00:01:34,400 It was great talking with you about this time last year. I'm kind 23 00:01:34,439 --> 00:01:38,319 of going through the background and introducing the product to you and the viewers there, 24 00:01:40,079 --> 00:01:42,239 and yeah, this year has been all about growth and scale and we've 25 00:01:42,239 --> 00:01:46,480 seen a lot of it through the year and it's nice to come around in 26 00:01:46,519 --> 00:01:49,840 full circle and end the year with you here on the podcast. Oh. 27 00:01:49,959 --> 00:01:53,079 Yeah, it's great to have you back on. It's not something you know, 28 00:01:53,200 --> 00:01:56,040 it's a topic that would be like, yeah, we'll do it once 29 00:01:56,079 --> 00:02:00,519 and move on with it. But I've been reading about you guys. There's 30 00:02:00,599 --> 00:02:05,560 great reviews that keep coming out and there's buzz about it, and I just 31 00:02:06,040 --> 00:02:07,280 you know, knowing you were a new company, I'm like, curious, 32 00:02:07,560 --> 00:02:14,240 what happens next, what's going on? So let's start with the reviews that 33 00:02:14,280 --> 00:02:19,319 have been coming in. I guess we start with my golf spy. Sure, 34 00:02:19,520 --> 00:02:22,759 sure, yeah, And and it's what we what we really saw over 35 00:02:22,800 --> 00:02:27,639 this year was a nice a nice baseline of organic growth and a nice following, 36 00:02:27,680 --> 00:02:31,879 a nice loyal following, nice repeat purchases. So it's it was it 37 00:02:31,919 --> 00:02:38,039 was good to see a leveling, a level playing field where our sales are 38 00:02:38,039 --> 00:02:43,280 increasing and it's not necessarily from a higher marketing reach. It's just organic growth 39 00:02:43,360 --> 00:02:46,719 and repeat customers. And you know, that's what every business wants to see 40 00:02:46,719 --> 00:02:51,319 in their products and and especially typically you know when you when you back the 41 00:02:51,360 --> 00:02:53,599 product and you rely on something that provides a value to the customer, you 42 00:02:53,639 --> 00:02:57,439 typically see that growth. So it was it was a nice, a nice 43 00:02:57,479 --> 00:03:00,879 win for us to see that month to month through twenty twenty three. Yeah, 44 00:03:01,280 --> 00:03:08,199 and repeat customers generally means testimonials. I mean that means people are talking 45 00:03:08,240 --> 00:03:10,879 about it with their friends. They're like, yeah, I'm still using these 46 00:03:10,919 --> 00:03:14,800 and they're like, well, what tell me what what you got here? 47 00:03:14,840 --> 00:03:17,800 Because that happened to me a friend of mine. You know, my friends 48 00:03:17,800 --> 00:03:22,199 have given me a hard time about these teas for years because they've been using 49 00:03:22,280 --> 00:03:25,000 him for years, and it feels like it. How long have you been 50 00:03:25,000 --> 00:03:29,319 on the market now, we've been on line since of twenty twenty, I 51 00:03:29,319 --> 00:03:31,199 think a mid mid twenty twenty. We really kind of came out of the 52 00:03:31,199 --> 00:03:37,439 scene online. So just that three years. Yeah, that's where I first 53 00:03:37,439 --> 00:03:44,120 saw it and bought a box and loved it and saw results and so my 54 00:03:44,280 --> 00:03:46,479 you know, again, my friends give me a hard time about it. 55 00:03:46,520 --> 00:03:50,240 But then a couple of weeks ago, friend of mine sent me an article 56 00:03:50,280 --> 00:03:57,319 that he read and it was with it from fastfit dot co. And this 57 00:03:57,599 --> 00:04:01,560 the title of the article was the world's most advance golf team. You may 58 00:04:01,599 --> 00:04:04,840 never have seen that one. There's enough. I think there's a number of 59 00:04:04,919 --> 00:04:06,879 them I haven't seen. I have. It's a nice one. I have 60 00:04:08,759 --> 00:04:15,080 friends or relatives send me links to information they're seeing online. Sometimes there articles 61 00:04:15,120 --> 00:04:16,639 that I've seen before. Sometimes they're ones I haven't seen that one I can't 62 00:04:16,639 --> 00:04:20,360 pinpoint off the top of my head. But hopefully it was a good read 63 00:04:20,399 --> 00:04:24,879 and if it's making the reach, that's you know, that's that's great. 64 00:04:24,920 --> 00:04:28,439 That's great for the product. That's huge. Yeah, that's huge. And 65 00:04:28,759 --> 00:04:30,360 my golf spy as well, right, yeah, Mike golf Spy. We 66 00:04:30,399 --> 00:04:38,079 had that original article. They did the T test in twenty twenty one, 67 00:04:38,639 --> 00:04:43,879 then they redid their same testing via video. I don't know if they chose 68 00:04:43,920 --> 00:04:46,120 the same tease, but they've done a number of T tests now and we've 69 00:04:46,120 --> 00:04:51,040 got a good amount of advertising through them without you know, independently, not 70 00:04:51,240 --> 00:04:55,720 with any collaboration or work, just which just in their own independent testing. 71 00:04:55,759 --> 00:04:58,879 So it's nice to see that, you know, recurring, and they've got 72 00:04:58,879 --> 00:05:01,519 a lot of treet cred. Yeah, yeah, yeah, so are are. 73 00:05:02,079 --> 00:05:06,720 What we liked most about that original article and what we had talked about 74 00:05:06,720 --> 00:05:11,879 before was seeing seeing I have a picture of it. Let me see if 75 00:05:11,879 --> 00:05:14,639 I can pull it up. It may not show up too well on the 76 00:05:14,720 --> 00:05:17,959 video, but I have a that's okay. It's an audio podcast for the 77 00:05:18,040 --> 00:05:21,639 viewers that that can see. There is a maybe you can't cannet see the 78 00:05:21,720 --> 00:05:25,720 green square there. So of the of the claims test that amongst the tees 79 00:05:25,759 --> 00:05:30,959 we did get a green check mark and seeing a benefit and accuracy and no 80 00:05:30,040 --> 00:05:33,399 other none of the other tea's got any green check marks. But to see 81 00:05:33,399 --> 00:05:39,439 an indication of performance benefit from a golf team, I haven't seen that done 82 00:05:39,439 --> 00:05:43,639 on any other product independently test that. I've seen plenty of the manufacturers putting 83 00:05:43,639 --> 00:05:46,040 out information that their product is the best, But to have an independent company, 84 00:05:46,120 --> 00:05:49,720 of course provide that type of data was a real benefit to us. 85 00:05:50,240 --> 00:05:55,560 No, that's fabulous. That's fabulous. And what other success stories have you 86 00:05:55,639 --> 00:06:00,560 been hearing and getting from from your customers? What I think and you hit 87 00:06:00,639 --> 00:06:05,279 home on it when you mentioned giving the teas to their friends, considering how 88 00:06:05,279 --> 00:06:09,199 long it kind of takes to break the tea's and you know, you typically 89 00:06:09,360 --> 00:06:12,839 if you don't break it to you lose one, maybe one or two around. 90 00:06:14,040 --> 00:06:17,519 So we suspect the repeat customers initially are probably people that are giving, 91 00:06:17,879 --> 00:06:21,000 you know, half the box to their friends. They go play around for 92 00:06:21,160 --> 00:06:24,959 some and that somebody gives it to three of their buddies and you know, 93 00:06:25,000 --> 00:06:27,560 now the half their box is gone, and next thing you know, they're 94 00:06:27,600 --> 00:06:30,720 buying a second pack. So I think we're seeing a lot of that growth 95 00:06:30,120 --> 00:06:32,800 and you know, spreading from there. And then those buddies that are trying 96 00:06:32,800 --> 00:06:35,759 to get for the first time, liking and having a good experience, and 97 00:06:35,800 --> 00:06:40,160 then making their first initial purchase. So I think that we're seeing a lot 98 00:06:40,199 --> 00:06:44,160 of that growth through this year, and given that this is our third year 99 00:06:44,160 --> 00:06:47,000 on the market, that's kind of trends well with with new businesses. You 100 00:06:47,000 --> 00:06:50,000 know, our first year, we didn't really have any reach or any marketing. 101 00:06:50,439 --> 00:06:56,680 We didn't have packaging that really got into retail stores. So it really 102 00:06:56,800 --> 00:06:59,240 you know, just getting our name out there the first couple of years was 103 00:06:59,240 --> 00:07:00,639 great. And now that the product is out and people have had time to 104 00:07:00,680 --> 00:07:04,920 test it and try it, now we're really seeing a growth from a loyalty 105 00:07:04,920 --> 00:07:09,199 and a organic standpoint. Yeah, the friend who sent me the article, 106 00:07:09,959 --> 00:07:13,160 I said, well, listen, i'll next time we play, I'll bring 107 00:07:13,199 --> 00:07:15,959 a tea for you and you can check it out right, because he was 108 00:07:15,040 --> 00:07:18,560 always reluctant to do it, because I think he gets annoyed with me going 109 00:07:18,680 --> 00:07:21,920 I gotta find my tea. I got to find when I hit it off 110 00:07:23,480 --> 00:07:29,600 with a driver, especially, it can fly in many different directions. They 111 00:07:29,680 --> 00:07:33,600 all call basically I don't want to go there, But I don't think I'm 112 00:07:33,680 --> 00:07:39,720 slow. I'm deliberate. He cannot help with that. Unfortunately, no, 113 00:07:40,000 --> 00:07:43,360 they cannot help with that. But anyway, so when we played, I 114 00:07:43,439 --> 00:07:46,920 let him use the tea and he was hitting the ball right up the middle 115 00:07:46,040 --> 00:07:49,480 every time, and I'm like, well, you know, towards the end 116 00:07:49,480 --> 00:07:51,279 of the round, what do you think of the tea? And he goes, 117 00:07:51,600 --> 00:07:55,519 well, I made some changes to my swing, so it's been better 118 00:07:55,600 --> 00:07:57,800 lately, so I'm not really sure. I'm like, oh, come on, 119 00:07:57,920 --> 00:08:01,920 give me a break. Then a couple weeks later we played again and 120 00:08:01,959 --> 00:08:05,759 he was still using that tea and it was like, ah, so they 121 00:08:05,759 --> 00:08:09,720 are durable and you are using it. He goes yeah, and I'm hitting 122 00:08:09,759 --> 00:08:11,600 the ball straight. Oh that's great, like really impressed. That's great to 123 00:08:11,639 --> 00:08:15,600 hear. Yeah, maybe not so good if you're if you're competing with him, 124 00:08:15,639 --> 00:08:20,000 but that's that's great to hear. We do compete, and of all 125 00:08:20,040 --> 00:08:24,519 the friends I play with, he and are the closest match and it's always 126 00:08:24,519 --> 00:08:28,079 one or two strokes going into the last hole man, and we keep track 127 00:08:28,199 --> 00:08:33,200 of match play, stroke play, and number of putts. So yeah, 128 00:08:33,279 --> 00:08:39,000 we we are pretty competitive. Just for bragging, right number a fairways head, 129 00:08:39,639 --> 00:08:41,360 we're gonna have to add something. Yeah, yeah, with the with 130 00:08:41,440 --> 00:08:46,559 the T, we're gonna definitely have to add number of fairways. Give me 131 00:08:46,600 --> 00:08:52,120 a rundown for those who have not heard about your product, flight Path golf 132 00:08:52,159 --> 00:08:56,279 teas, give me a quick rundown of what makes them unique? Sure, 133 00:08:56,399 --> 00:08:58,919 sure, yeah, So every every golf tea you've seen before, you know, 134 00:09:00,000 --> 00:09:03,080 typically a wooden golf tee or most golf teas are a circle on top. 135 00:09:03,200 --> 00:09:05,960 You know, you turn, you look at the tea from the top 136 00:09:05,000 --> 00:09:11,519 down and you've got a circle. And then performance golf teas, there's a 137 00:09:11,639 --> 00:09:15,320 numerous performance golf teas. They come on the market and they try to reduce 138 00:09:15,360 --> 00:09:18,279 friction on the tee. But they but they try to reduce the friction on 139 00:09:18,279 --> 00:09:22,759 the tee in all in all directions of that T three hundred and sixty degree 140 00:09:22,759 --> 00:09:26,919 orientation, because they don't know which direction you're placing the tea, so they're 141 00:09:26,919 --> 00:09:31,519 trying to just reduce friction in all directions. So that actually limits you because 142 00:09:33,120 --> 00:09:37,000 you now have to conform all the way around. So this the the advantage 143 00:09:37,039 --> 00:09:39,840 we take. What we take advantage of here is a very simple first principle, 144 00:09:39,879 --> 00:09:43,279 and that's you've when you're driving, when you're teeing off, you're only 145 00:09:43,320 --> 00:09:48,960 hitting in one direction, so hopefully, hopefully, so if if that's the 146 00:09:48,000 --> 00:09:54,240 case, let's why not maximize as much friction reduction as possible in that direction, 147 00:09:54,279 --> 00:09:58,320 which leads to increased performance. So we basically just provide the golfer as 148 00:09:58,399 --> 00:10:03,919 much bet as we can from that wooden tea. So with that direction in 149 00:10:03,960 --> 00:10:07,399 the arrow down the fairway in the point in the direction there, we remove 150 00:10:07,399 --> 00:10:09,200 a friction both in front of you and on both sides of the ball to 151 00:10:09,240 --> 00:10:13,480 decrease the side spin in case you're you know, you have a little bit 152 00:10:13,519 --> 00:10:15,639 of a draw or you have a little bit of a fade, and then 153 00:10:15,679 --> 00:10:18,639 also increase distance by removing that friction. So that's that's the premise of it. 154 00:10:18,639 --> 00:10:24,519 It's a very simple concept, but when applied provides maximum benefit to the 155 00:10:24,559 --> 00:10:26,559 golfer. Incredible. Listen, we're going to take a time out and we'll 156 00:10:26,559 --> 00:10:37,080 be back right after this. Daniel, you said that it's a very simple 157 00:10:37,159 --> 00:10:41,559 concept. Why are you the first one to come up with this idea of 158 00:10:41,639 --> 00:10:46,600 creating less friction in the direction you're hitting off the d You know, that's 159 00:10:46,639 --> 00:10:50,679 a great question, Fred, I think It has to do with the idea 160 00:10:50,720 --> 00:10:54,519 that we typically innovate from the top down. This is within all industries, 161 00:10:56,080 --> 00:10:58,159 you always go for the low hanging fruit, and the low hanging fruit is 162 00:10:58,159 --> 00:11:01,799 typically what's innov first. So if we were to talk about uh, let's 163 00:11:01,799 --> 00:11:07,000 take cars for example, You're going to innovate the bigger components of a car 164 00:11:07,080 --> 00:11:09,919 first, the comfort of the car, the performance of the car. By 165 00:11:09,960 --> 00:11:13,679 the time you get down to the tires of the car, you've probably already 166 00:11:13,720 --> 00:11:16,440 looked at and innovated other components of you know, the main the main driving 167 00:11:16,480 --> 00:11:20,639 force of the car. So in terms of golf, and we look at 168 00:11:20,639 --> 00:11:24,919 the products in golf and what what is actually giving you, you know, 169 00:11:24,120 --> 00:11:28,399 what are the components that make the golfer, you know, go from from 170 00:11:28,559 --> 00:11:31,519 being at the t box to putting a ball in the fairway. They've got 171 00:11:31,960 --> 00:11:35,720 their driver, which is probably other than their swing, other than their their 172 00:11:35,720 --> 00:11:39,679 mechanics. Equipment wise, it's probably their drivers the majority of the performance. 173 00:11:41,039 --> 00:11:45,759 Their golf ball is certainly a contributor, their golf shoes, maybe to a 174 00:11:45,840 --> 00:11:48,559 lesser extent, the golf glove, and then the golf tee. So in 175 00:11:48,639 --> 00:11:52,799 it's from a timeline scale. We see that you know, the golf clubs, 176 00:11:52,799 --> 00:11:54,519 from the shafts, the grips, the driver head, we see tons 177 00:11:54,559 --> 00:12:01,000 of innovation there. We have started seeing a lot of innovation with golf following 178 00:12:01,039 --> 00:12:05,039 suit. I think in the last ten to fifteen years you now start seeing 179 00:12:05,080 --> 00:12:07,240 it in shoes and in maybe the last five to ten years and gloves. 180 00:12:07,399 --> 00:12:11,039 I think the golf tea because it is it was. It's down to the 181 00:12:11,159 --> 00:12:15,799 very little, like the last one and two percenters and the components. I 182 00:12:15,879 --> 00:12:18,080 just don't think that it was given the attention to try to innovate. And 183 00:12:18,120 --> 00:12:22,759 now that we are at this point where we can grab those one and two 184 00:12:22,759 --> 00:12:26,840 percenters, I think we were somebody that were able to come out and take 185 00:12:26,840 --> 00:12:31,240 advantage of that and finally innovate that wood and tea that you always stick in 186 00:12:31,279 --> 00:12:35,200 the ground when you go out and play. Yeah, And I would think 187 00:12:35,240 --> 00:12:39,039 that people look at this and going, you know what, what kind of 188 00:12:39,080 --> 00:12:41,240 margins can we make? I mean, how many teas do we have to 189 00:12:41,240 --> 00:12:45,960 sell to make a living out of this? But you've got a job, 190 00:12:46,159 --> 00:12:50,600 right I do. Yeah. I work as an engineer. I have a 191 00:12:50,639 --> 00:12:56,879 passion in water engineering and very fulfilling and working in that space in that industry. 192 00:12:56,919 --> 00:13:01,039 So you know, I pull benefit and enjoyment from from being on both 193 00:13:01,080 --> 00:13:05,360 sides of the coin. So this is your annuity hopefully hopefully. But you 194 00:13:07,159 --> 00:13:11,679 invented this product. You you came up with the initial design, but not 195 00:13:11,799 --> 00:13:16,360 the initial idea. That is correct, That's correct. It's really a father 196 00:13:16,480 --> 00:13:20,720 son's story my dad. You know, my dad got me into golf when 197 00:13:20,720 --> 00:13:22,919 I was seven years old. He's the one that taught me to play. 198 00:13:22,279 --> 00:13:26,519 We share that together. That's that's where him and I bond on the golf 199 00:13:26,519 --> 00:13:30,200 course and we have my entire life. He has always been a tinkerer, 200 00:13:30,320 --> 00:13:35,320 an inventor. He has a patent for he held the patent for a fingerprint 201 00:13:35,320 --> 00:13:39,240 firearm technology. So he's gone off and you know he likes to invent things. 202 00:13:39,240 --> 00:13:43,360 And he had this dream in this idea, it was physically a dream, 203 00:13:43,399 --> 00:13:45,639 not a It was a you know, fall asleep and have a dream 204 00:13:45,679 --> 00:13:48,879 is what it was of a completely frictionless golf ball, just kind of floating 205 00:13:48,919 --> 00:13:52,200 on air and thinking, you know, that'd be really cool if we could 206 00:13:52,200 --> 00:13:56,919 invent something that did that. So, being the engineer that I am, 207 00:13:56,960 --> 00:13:58,159 I thought, well, let me see how far I can get with that. 208 00:13:58,240 --> 00:14:03,840 We you know, we prototype some different inventions and made some made some 209 00:14:03,919 --> 00:14:07,080 little protype models and realized very quickly it's going to take a lot of effort 210 00:14:07,120 --> 00:14:13,120 to make something you know, near frictionless, which is where we decided to 211 00:14:13,200 --> 00:14:16,480 just try to improve the standard design. What what can we do to move 212 00:14:16,519 --> 00:14:20,519 the needle forward from a regular golf tee and from the performance teas And that's 213 00:14:20,559 --> 00:14:26,879 really where we settled on flight path. So how did you get from a 214 00:14:26,080 --> 00:14:33,879 ball floating in the air to uh, just a simple T but it gives 215 00:14:33,919 --> 00:14:46,399 you directional insight and also the frictionless launch right after after trying to create something 216 00:14:46,440 --> 00:14:50,320 that was near frictionless, when when you're talking about levitating with air and realizing 217 00:14:50,360 --> 00:14:52,080 that the scope and scale of cost to do that with a golf ball and 218 00:14:52,080 --> 00:14:56,799 the weight of the golf ball passed a prototype standpoint, which was which was 219 00:14:56,840 --> 00:15:00,559 fun, but in terms of entering the market with something competitive we can bring 220 00:15:00,559 --> 00:15:03,720 out and still provide benefit, it really came down. I spent some time 221 00:15:03,840 --> 00:15:09,720 just thinking about what zooming into to a golf team, just looking at it 222 00:15:09,080 --> 00:15:15,320 and just playing around with the metrics of well how can we improve, how 223 00:15:15,320 --> 00:15:20,240 can we remove more friction? And once the thought came into my head that 224 00:15:20,360 --> 00:15:24,720 well, if we can just assume the parameter that is the direction they're hitting, 225 00:15:24,080 --> 00:15:28,879 we just opened ourselves up to a lot more friction percent wise that we 226 00:15:28,879 --> 00:15:31,919 can remove. And since no other golf tee had done that at the time, 227 00:15:31,360 --> 00:15:35,600 that just seemed like a great avenue for us to really improve and raise 228 00:15:35,679 --> 00:15:41,720 the bar that on golf teas and really drive that forward. So the next 229 00:15:41,759 --> 00:15:45,080 question is always going to come up, and I'm sure not just coming for 230 00:15:45,240 --> 00:15:48,039 me, but everyone wants to make sure. Is it legal? Is it 231 00:15:48,200 --> 00:15:52,879 USGA compliant? Can I take it out and use it on my local tournament? 232 00:15:52,799 --> 00:15:56,399 Yes? Yes, a great question, and the answer to that is 233 00:15:56,519 --> 00:16:00,480 yes, it is USGA conforming. We have USGA conformance on both of our 234 00:16:00,519 --> 00:16:04,320 sizes, the two point seventy five and the three point twenty five. Another 235 00:16:04,440 --> 00:16:08,960 opportunity for us in the market to the rules of Golf state that you cannot 236 00:16:10,080 --> 00:16:15,080 have a directional indicator on your golf tea. However, the rule applies if 237 00:16:15,120 --> 00:16:18,600 when you address the ball, you t up your you t up your golf 238 00:16:18,600 --> 00:16:21,519 ball, and you address the ball. If you can see that indicator. 239 00:16:21,919 --> 00:16:23,320 That is an illegal golf tee. You're not allowed to do that. Because 240 00:16:23,360 --> 00:16:26,799 you've now addressed the ball. It shows the line of play, but because 241 00:16:27,000 --> 00:16:32,200 our tr row is small and you cannot see it at address, it does 242 00:16:32,240 --> 00:16:34,919 not provide that line of play at address. We were able to get USGA 243 00:16:36,000 --> 00:16:38,480 conformance so you can use them in tournaments. PGA players can use them in 244 00:16:38,519 --> 00:16:42,039 tournaments. Tiger can tee it up at the Masters. It's it's legal, 245 00:16:42,080 --> 00:16:48,679 it's conforming. We get that question often, and we we strongly recommend if 246 00:16:48,720 --> 00:16:53,360 anybody does question it, call USGA's Equipment Rules and Conformance and they will they 247 00:16:53,360 --> 00:16:56,120 will let you know that, yes, it is USA conforming, so we 248 00:16:56,120 --> 00:17:00,919 we we encourage that, we recommend it. We put the u SGA conformance 249 00:17:00,960 --> 00:17:03,000 on our website the letter, so that we can show that we're conforming and 250 00:17:03,680 --> 00:17:07,680 that people can use them in tournaments. And what about on your packaging. 251 00:17:07,599 --> 00:17:11,359 It's also on the packaging conforms with the Rules of Golf. Which is the 252 00:17:11,440 --> 00:17:18,519 exact statement that that is that the allowable verbiage. They do not like USJ 253 00:17:18,680 --> 00:17:23,119 does not want the that's the allowable verbiage there right, the allowable verbage Yep. 254 00:17:23,160 --> 00:17:26,519 They do not want their name on the packaging, so they give you 255 00:17:26,559 --> 00:17:29,000 the verbage that you're allowed to put on your packaging, which we follow. 256 00:17:30,039 --> 00:17:33,799 Good for you, Well, you just kind of dropped a hint here. 257 00:17:33,960 --> 00:17:37,559 I'm I'm is Tiger using this? I mean, are there are there any 258 00:17:37,599 --> 00:17:45,279 players on any professional tour, whether it would be the top tour, the 259 00:17:45,319 --> 00:17:56,359 competing exhibition tour, or even long Drive? Are there any players that have 260 00:17:56,440 --> 00:18:00,039 had success with the t or you know they're using it? Yeah, so 261 00:18:00,240 --> 00:18:03,400 we we on the long Drive circuit. We did have a number of guys 262 00:18:03,480 --> 00:18:07,039 using them on the Long Drive, particularly Maurice Allen uses them in his in 263 00:18:07,079 --> 00:18:11,480 his events and through the long Drive circuit. For the last few years now 264 00:18:11,480 --> 00:18:15,279 he has been involved with us and using the product and having some good success 265 00:18:15,319 --> 00:18:21,000 with it too. In terms of the PGA and the other the other tours, 266 00:18:21,880 --> 00:18:25,000 I am not familiar with anybody that is using it. If they are, 267 00:18:25,000 --> 00:18:27,720 they very well could be and we don't know. But that's a great 268 00:18:27,759 --> 00:18:32,759 topic. I'd love to I'd love to ask you and learn more to see 269 00:18:32,759 --> 00:18:37,160 what would the psychology be behind PGA players in their golf teas. Because I 270 00:18:37,240 --> 00:18:40,759 know you have this long standing stigma of well, you know the wooden golf 271 00:18:40,799 --> 00:18:45,240 tee is you know that this tried and true standard and there what would be 272 00:18:45,640 --> 00:18:48,960 what would lower the barrier for PGA player to try it? Because if if 273 00:18:48,960 --> 00:18:53,319 I can offer them, you know, two or three yards straighter on a 274 00:18:53,359 --> 00:18:59,359 twenty five yard fairway, I would imagine that's that that would be considered low 275 00:18:59,359 --> 00:19:02,279 hanging fruit and a competitive edge. I don't know why anyone wouldn't want to 276 00:19:02,319 --> 00:19:07,519 try that, well, considering that professional golfers don't pay for anything. They 277 00:19:07,519 --> 00:19:12,200 don't want to buy a box of these. It's like, what do you 278 00:19:12,279 --> 00:19:15,680 mean I gotta pay for these? It's like, come on, man, 279 00:19:15,680 --> 00:19:19,400 it's a small company. Give them a break. Go ahead and pull out 280 00:19:19,400 --> 00:19:25,319 your wallet. It's there, you've got. It's thick, yak some tees. 281 00:19:25,759 --> 00:19:27,480 Yeah, I would say, you know, if there is a if 282 00:19:27,519 --> 00:19:32,720 there are any competitive golfers and professional golfers that are looking to try it, 283 00:19:32,759 --> 00:19:36,880 we would certainly be interested in providing them some product to try it out and 284 00:19:36,880 --> 00:19:38,680 for themselves to see if there's a benefit that they feel that they can carry 285 00:19:38,680 --> 00:19:41,200 into their game. All right, let's take another break. We'll be right 286 00:19:41,240 --> 00:19:52,240 back, Okay. Well, whether the tour players and the professionals use them 287 00:19:52,319 --> 00:19:56,720 or not. Let's talk about why we need to use them. What are 288 00:19:56,759 --> 00:20:03,440 the benefits of flight path golf tea that you've not you know, designed into 289 00:20:03,440 --> 00:20:10,160 these te's, but your research in your testing has proven why these are superior 290 00:20:10,240 --> 00:20:15,319 teas to just the old fashioned wooden tea that we snap every every time we 291 00:20:15,400 --> 00:20:19,319 hit the ball. And yeah, that's a great question, Fred that what 292 00:20:19,400 --> 00:20:22,880 we did see a large benefit to the product that we did see that we 293 00:20:22,960 --> 00:20:29,319 didn't intend on having. It wasn't built in uh directly. It came out 294 00:20:29,319 --> 00:20:33,720 indirectly was the fact that you have to aim the aim the tee. And 295 00:20:33,799 --> 00:20:37,119 that sounds like such a simple concept. But when you stand on a tea 296 00:20:37,160 --> 00:20:40,519 box and you look out into the fairway, you know, your eyes are 297 00:20:40,559 --> 00:20:44,960 attracted to the sandbox, the sand bunkers, Your eyes are attracted to the 298 00:20:45,000 --> 00:20:48,240 trees on the right, the pond on the left, everything but the fairway 299 00:20:48,880 --> 00:20:52,839 left. Yeah, and typically from a psychological standpoint, when you know, 300 00:20:53,160 --> 00:20:56,400 when you have that thought in your mind, you typically end up hitting in 301 00:20:56,440 --> 00:21:03,039 the direction you're thinking of. So, because we provide the golfer the I 302 00:21:03,039 --> 00:21:07,319 guess you could call it a subconscious positive affirmation. The last thought they have 303 00:21:07,480 --> 00:21:11,799 is thinking of the fairway. They they aim the t so they're aiming at 304 00:21:11,799 --> 00:21:15,039 the fairway. The last thought in their head before they tee off is I'm, 305 00:21:15,359 --> 00:21:17,440 well, I I aimed it at the fairway. I'm I'm looking at 306 00:21:17,480 --> 00:21:19,200 the fairway. I'm not looking left, I'm not looking right. And that 307 00:21:19,279 --> 00:21:25,680 typically led to a better outcome on their on their drive after that, and 308 00:21:25,960 --> 00:21:29,759 so from a psychological standpoint, it did, and it meet myself included. 309 00:21:29,880 --> 00:21:33,480 I I noticed when I started getting out on the course and and aiming the 310 00:21:33,519 --> 00:21:34,839 to the fairway, I started forgetting about, you know, the bunkers that 311 00:21:34,839 --> 00:21:37,519 I'm seeing on the left or the trees on the right, and it improved 312 00:21:37,559 --> 00:21:44,759 my game something something indirect Oh in mine as well. I'm here there's You 313 00:21:44,839 --> 00:21:48,599 could not convince me that these have not helped my drives. That is really 314 00:21:48,640 --> 00:21:52,319 weird. And anybody who's like, no, just go ahead, try at 315 00:21:52,319 --> 00:21:55,759 melse Fred like, Nope, not gonna do it, not gonna do it. 316 00:21:56,400 --> 00:21:57,799 I like my clubs, I like my putter. You know, it's 317 00:21:57,880 --> 00:22:03,839 like love these t's and I'm not gonna lose them. But when you have 318 00:22:03,920 --> 00:22:10,240 success, like this. What inevitably is going to happen is you're going to 319 00:22:10,319 --> 00:22:17,200 get competition, You're going to get knockoffs. Have you had any but you've 320 00:22:17,240 --> 00:22:22,160 got patents on these things, So what have you had any problems? Yeah? 321 00:22:22,200 --> 00:22:26,279 And I'm glad you brought that up. We not only we have a 322 00:22:26,359 --> 00:22:29,559 US patent, we put the US patent number on the box to make it 323 00:22:29,680 --> 00:22:33,680 very blatantly clear. And the US patent was the claims and the patent were 324 00:22:33,680 --> 00:22:38,359 designed to make sure we cover the orientations and what we're the perform performance benefit 325 00:22:38,400 --> 00:22:41,920 of the tea. So we put the US patent number on the box. 326 00:22:41,319 --> 00:22:45,680 We also hold registered trademarks for flight Path. We hold registered trademarks for our 327 00:22:45,720 --> 00:22:52,079 slogan and tea above all US patents and US registered trademarks. I would say, 328 00:22:52,599 --> 00:22:59,799 right after our first interview Fred from last year, late December last year, 329 00:23:00,319 --> 00:23:07,039 I started seeing a foreign product knockoff appearing online and by it wasn't the 330 00:23:07,079 --> 00:23:12,119 golf Smarter's fault, I promise. By February of this year, that product 331 00:23:12,319 --> 00:23:18,799 made its way into a number of different distributors into the US market and started 332 00:23:18,799 --> 00:23:21,880 flooding the US market. And this wasn't just a knockoff. This was a 333 00:23:21,880 --> 00:23:26,359 complete copycat. It was the exact same product. They took our marketing materials, 334 00:23:26,759 --> 00:23:32,359 my demonstration videos and marketingterials from the website was put on this product. 335 00:23:32,559 --> 00:23:37,480 So they stole the marketing materials. They the packaging is exactly the same. 336 00:23:37,799 --> 00:23:41,559 They copied the style, they copied the design, they stole the logan A 337 00:23:41,640 --> 00:23:47,279 tea above all, and they took every they took. They blatant patent infringement, 338 00:23:47,359 --> 00:23:51,480 blatant copy of the product, exact replica, and then they put their 339 00:23:52,279 --> 00:23:56,119 slogan on it. So that started flooding the market in February and we saw 340 00:23:57,079 --> 00:24:00,799 I'm so sorry. Yeah, no, it was a good lesson learned. 341 00:24:00,799 --> 00:24:06,680 I would say for most entrepreneurs and small businesses, if you did not protect 342 00:24:06,680 --> 00:24:11,119 your product intellectually, that two to three year mark, if you have success, 343 00:24:11,200 --> 00:24:15,839 that's typically when foreign markets will invade and take over. In this case 344 00:24:15,960 --> 00:24:21,559 is a success story because we had the US patents. So from February to 345 00:24:21,799 --> 00:24:29,720 July we spent about six months fighting this foreign product that got into a number 346 00:24:29,759 --> 00:24:34,200 of different distributors online and thankfully with the US patent protection, a lot of 347 00:24:34,200 --> 00:24:40,559 the US distributors and any companies that were in the US that respect intellectual property 348 00:24:40,680 --> 00:24:42,519 that we filed with, we were able to cease and assist and have those 349 00:24:42,559 --> 00:24:48,759 products taken down, and especially on Amazon. It flooded Amazon late this last 350 00:24:48,839 --> 00:24:52,160 year. And thankfully Amazon offers an independent review. They have a third party 351 00:24:52,160 --> 00:24:56,279 independent review where you can submit your intellectual property. They review the intellectual property 352 00:24:56,279 --> 00:25:00,799 and if they feel that it as an infringement, they will remove products that 353 00:25:00,839 --> 00:25:04,400 are infringing on US intellectual property. And thankfully that is the case. Can 354 00:25:04,440 --> 00:25:10,720 you stop these competitors? Can you stop these thieves? We can. We 355 00:25:10,720 --> 00:25:12,920 can do it on US soil. So if it hits US soil, it's 356 00:25:12,960 --> 00:25:21,720 it's it's a blatant, fraudulent infringement on our intellectual property. We we in 357 00:25:22,119 --> 00:25:26,799 their market, it's going to be difficult because we we don't have protection in 358 00:25:26,839 --> 00:25:30,400 their market, but anything in the US certainly, and they've made in addition 359 00:25:30,480 --> 00:25:36,400 to the exact replica, there's three or four knockoffs. There's another version now 360 00:25:36,440 --> 00:25:38,960 that's not an exact copy, but it is still a blatant infringement of our 361 00:25:40,079 --> 00:25:44,119 intellectual property. So now there's multiple variations of this product coming out. And 362 00:25:44,160 --> 00:25:48,720 then again just taking our marketing materials and just putting their logo on it. 363 00:25:48,960 --> 00:25:53,079 Wow, the product is they use cheaper materials, they use cheaper packaging. 364 00:25:53,200 --> 00:25:56,559 It's not the authentic product. So I urge anybody, you know, if 365 00:25:56,559 --> 00:26:00,599 you're looking to buy the true product flight Path, Go Tease, you would 366 00:26:00,599 --> 00:26:06,759 be through our website, our Amazon channel, our Shopify store in those areas. 367 00:26:06,759 --> 00:26:10,599 But there are there are websites that still have that product up and we're 368 00:26:10,640 --> 00:26:14,359 taking you know, we send one Cson Assist letter at a time distributor takes 369 00:26:14,480 --> 00:26:15,759 down and then another distributor you know, it pops up, you know, 370 00:26:15,799 --> 00:26:18,440 a week later. So it's been a great you know, it's been a 371 00:26:18,440 --> 00:26:23,839 big lesson in understanding and navigating intellectual property as a small business. And you 372 00:26:23,880 --> 00:26:27,920 know just how how quickly foreign markets can try to take advantage of that. 373 00:26:29,559 --> 00:26:33,759 Are there other markets, other foreign markets that you can go in and try 374 00:26:33,799 --> 00:26:38,519 to get your patent and your trademarks or is it only work in the United 375 00:26:38,559 --> 00:26:44,279 States because it's a US based product. So with US patents, when you 376 00:26:44,319 --> 00:26:47,880 file a US patent and you're accepted for US PEN, you have one year 377 00:26:48,079 --> 00:26:52,440 from the date of acceptance to file that patent and other markets, and there 378 00:26:52,480 --> 00:27:00,200 is no international patent you can file. I believe the European Union has a 379 00:27:00,319 --> 00:27:06,200 patent treaty European Pantrty, which gives you access to fifteen or sixteen different countries 380 00:27:06,240 --> 00:27:08,319 there, but each country you need to file individually into those countries, so 381 00:27:08,359 --> 00:27:11,759 you have one year from the time that you get acceptance to do that. 382 00:27:12,359 --> 00:27:17,279 Our approval was in twenty eighteen, so if I wanted protection in a number 383 00:27:17,319 --> 00:27:19,200 of different markets, it would have been by twenty nineteen. So we do 384 00:27:19,279 --> 00:27:25,240 not have that. We have us intellectual property, but again international patent protection 385 00:27:25,640 --> 00:27:29,160 for a small business, the amount of money that you are going to get 386 00:27:29,160 --> 00:27:33,480 into you could you could sink yourself right out of the gate if you try 387 00:27:33,519 --> 00:27:37,640 to protect yourself and in markets that even with the intellectual property, you're not 388 00:27:37,720 --> 00:27:41,279 really going to do much. So we decided to double down on our branding 389 00:27:41,720 --> 00:27:45,839 flight Path. People know the brand, people understand the brand, and once 390 00:27:45,880 --> 00:27:48,599 a brand you know, once you associate the brand with a product, it's 391 00:27:48,640 --> 00:27:52,880 easy to disseminate the knockoffs. Yeah, and plus with a product like this, 392 00:27:53,759 --> 00:27:57,640 you need at least a year, if not two or more to like 393 00:27:57,880 --> 00:28:02,000 is it going to work. Is it worth investing? You know, I 394 00:28:02,039 --> 00:28:06,759 mean one year is not a lot of time that's right for you know, 395 00:28:06,960 --> 00:28:11,079 a smaller product that you'd want to be able to try to protect that's right 396 00:28:11,160 --> 00:28:15,559 internationally, and wow, those are the waters to navigate. I strongly urge 397 00:28:15,319 --> 00:28:19,119 small businesses to file for US patent protection when they're ready to you know, 398 00:28:19,200 --> 00:28:22,359 close again in the market. And just know, if you don't get that 399 00:28:22,400 --> 00:28:27,039 protection and you start becoming successful, the foreign markets will identify it, they 400 00:28:27,079 --> 00:28:30,519 will infringe on it, and they will try to take it over. So 401 00:28:30,559 --> 00:28:33,960 we were luckily around August we were able to kind of win that battle against 402 00:28:34,000 --> 00:28:37,799 a lot of these foreign distributors coming into the country with the product, so 403 00:28:37,839 --> 00:28:42,359 we were able to successfully do then we've also been successful in branding the product 404 00:28:42,880 --> 00:28:48,079 appropriately too, and to follow up on that as well in terms of resiliency 405 00:28:48,119 --> 00:28:52,759 and given you know, the geo political tensions that we're seeing these days. 406 00:28:53,839 --> 00:28:57,960 We also made a considerable effort to manufacture the product in the US, though 407 00:28:57,960 --> 00:29:03,559 it would be more expensive our injection molding facilities, the product is made in 408 00:29:03,559 --> 00:29:07,480 the United States, so that also helped, you know, keep us up 409 00:29:07,519 --> 00:29:11,079 and running and also gave US those two or three years before the foreign markets 410 00:29:11,079 --> 00:29:14,359 were able to take it over, So we manufactured in the US, we 411 00:29:14,440 --> 00:29:18,079 keep it in the US, and we maintain our intellectual property here in the 412 00:29:18,200 --> 00:29:21,480 US. All right, listen, we're gonna check out what's happening on Golf 413 00:29:21,519 --> 00:29:26,759 Smarter Mulligans this week and to hear what you know old episodes we're bringing back 414 00:29:27,079 --> 00:29:30,799 from the Golf Smarter archives, and when we come back, we're going to 415 00:29:30,880 --> 00:29:34,880 start talking about what's next for Flight Path golf teas. This week on Golf 416 00:29:34,880 --> 00:29:41,039 Smarter Mulligans, we go back to an interesting conversation, maybe a bit dated, 417 00:29:41,119 --> 00:29:45,440 but is fascinating nonetheless, because we speak to Aubrey McCormick, who is 418 00:29:45,480 --> 00:29:51,559 a multiple time contestant on Golf Channel's Big Break reality show that ran from two 419 00:29:51,599 --> 00:29:56,759 thousand and three to twenty fifteen. She talks about the level of competition and 420 00:29:56,839 --> 00:30:02,519 how this type of competition impacted her, along with what it was like to 421 00:30:02,799 --> 00:30:07,319 come back a third time. The producers when I walked up for the third 422 00:30:07,359 --> 00:30:11,880 time, they all greeted me with open arms and they welcomed me and said, 423 00:30:11,960 --> 00:30:15,400 Hi, Aubrey, great to see you again. It was never that 424 00:30:15,559 --> 00:30:18,799 sort of feeling of oh great, here she is again. You know, 425 00:30:18,839 --> 00:30:22,000 they were very very welcoming to me, which made me feel like, okay, 426 00:30:22,039 --> 00:30:26,880 wow, they remember me. The reason why I believe I got on 427 00:30:26,960 --> 00:30:30,160 the show this time was because I was true to who I was, So 428 00:30:30,200 --> 00:30:36,079 I wasn't trying to make anyone kick me. I was being true to my 429 00:30:36,400 --> 00:30:41,599 roots, true to who I was, meaning answering questions with an honest answer 430 00:30:41,720 --> 00:30:48,000 instead of what I thought they wanted to hear. And I believe that's very 431 00:30:48,039 --> 00:30:52,079 important. Sure I could have gone in and been like, yeah, I 432 00:30:52,200 --> 00:30:56,400 want to be everybody on this show, and I'm a tough guy. The 433 00:30:56,519 --> 00:31:00,359 truth is I'm not, And I just wanted to get on show because I 434 00:31:00,400 --> 00:31:04,519 thought I really deserved a chance. Originally published in May of twenty twelve, 435 00:31:04,559 --> 00:31:10,200 it's episode two hundred and forty one of Golf Smarter Mulligans with Aubrey McCormick, 436 00:31:10,319 --> 00:31:15,000 a contestant on Golf Channel's Big Break. So if you like the variety of 437 00:31:15,079 --> 00:31:18,960 topics and guests that we provide here at Golf Smarter, then don't miss the 438 00:31:18,039 --> 00:31:22,279 chance to get insights, advice, and the unique people that make golf so 439 00:31:22,400 --> 00:31:29,359 compelling as you join us twice each week for Golf Smarter and Golf Smarter Mulligans. 440 00:31:29,599 --> 00:31:38,119 They're both available for free from wherever you're listening right now. It's awesome 441 00:31:38,119 --> 00:31:44,279 that you've got it online on your website, but you also have it available 442 00:31:44,319 --> 00:31:48,759 on Amazon. I wasn't aware of that. Are there other major websites that 443 00:31:48,880 --> 00:31:53,759 the teaser available? Yeah? So in addition to our own Shopify online, 444 00:31:53,960 --> 00:31:59,079 our website online store, our Amazon store is very big and authentic now that 445 00:31:59,160 --> 00:32:02,599 we have the intellectual property and the protection on Amazon, so that's a big 446 00:32:02,640 --> 00:32:07,319 market for us. We have a number of different third party distributors and companies 447 00:32:07,319 --> 00:32:10,400 that are also selling it. So as long as you see the name flight 448 00:32:10,440 --> 00:32:16,119 Path, the branding flight Path, you're buying the authentic product. So we 449 00:32:16,160 --> 00:32:22,000 have a number of different avenues. We are going into twenty twenty four looking 450 00:32:22,079 --> 00:32:28,240 at early spring launching a line of retail packaging. So we should be in 451 00:32:28,400 --> 00:32:32,079 local stores through twenty twenty four. Oh wow, And when when do you 452 00:32:32,079 --> 00:32:37,240 think that's going to hit? We're hoping. We're hoping to spring. We 453 00:32:37,279 --> 00:32:40,880 plan on bringing that, We plan on having the product available in early spring 454 00:32:42,240 --> 00:32:45,200 retail blister packaging, and we plan on starting to get our you know, 455 00:32:45,240 --> 00:32:49,640 on the ground and grassroots level, so we can get these into the golf 456 00:32:49,880 --> 00:32:52,039 the pro shops at the local golf courses, the golf stores, you know, 457 00:32:52,480 --> 00:32:55,559 the shops around the country, and a lot of the big box retailers 458 00:32:55,599 --> 00:33:00,240 that we you know as a market that we just haven't entered yet. We 459 00:33:00,319 --> 00:33:02,640 plan on doing that this year. We're at a position now where we're ready 460 00:33:02,640 --> 00:33:08,119 to go there and we're hoping early spring. Oh, that's phenomenal. And 461 00:33:08,200 --> 00:33:13,599 because your manufactured in the United States, your supply chain isn't that brutal, 462 00:33:13,680 --> 00:33:16,000 is it. That's correct. Our supply chain is intact. We have a 463 00:33:16,000 --> 00:33:20,920 good handle on that, and that allows us to go ahead and ramp up 464 00:33:20,920 --> 00:33:25,039 manufacturing and meet the demand that we've been seeing. We had a big increase 465 00:33:25,079 --> 00:33:30,000 in sales and a big Russian sales over the last few months. And given 466 00:33:30,240 --> 00:33:34,319 that increase in sales, we still are able to diversify and develop this blister 467 00:33:34,400 --> 00:33:38,480 packaging and bring it out. And why do you think you've had this you 468 00:33:38,519 --> 00:33:44,200 know surge going on in you know, the end of through the end of 469 00:33:44,200 --> 00:33:46,920 twenty twenty three. Yeah, I really think a couple things. I think 470 00:33:47,160 --> 00:33:52,880 that the product has finally gotten to customers long enough now that they've been able 471 00:33:52,920 --> 00:33:57,640 to test it, give it to their friends, your classic example, have 472 00:33:57,799 --> 00:34:00,519 them test it, like it and start sharing their friends and seeing a benefit. 473 00:34:00,559 --> 00:34:04,400 So I think we're finally starting to see, you know, that three 474 00:34:04,480 --> 00:34:07,599 year mark where people have the product has been accepted in the market, it 475 00:34:07,599 --> 00:34:10,119 has shown its benefit and its value, and people are ready to capitalize on 476 00:34:10,199 --> 00:34:15,639 it. We also a lot of our sales were being cannibalized by that the 477 00:34:15,679 --> 00:34:21,119 fraudulent products, and once we were able to get them off of US soil 478 00:34:22,119 --> 00:34:24,880 around July August is when we really got them off of our you know, 479 00:34:25,119 --> 00:34:29,840 coming in from you know, into the US. Around that time, we 480 00:34:29,840 --> 00:34:32,599 were able to bring those sales back that we were losing to the four knockoff 481 00:34:32,639 --> 00:34:36,599 products, those illegal products. So I think it's a little bit of both. 482 00:34:37,000 --> 00:34:39,559 We this is this product has been one color, it's in white, 483 00:34:40,079 --> 00:34:45,440 with two sizes and going into early spring. In addition to retail packaging, 484 00:34:45,480 --> 00:34:49,559 we're looking to bring out several colors, so that's coming in early spring as 485 00:34:49,559 --> 00:34:53,679 well. We're ready to diversify the product line. It's it's got it a 486 00:34:53,719 --> 00:34:58,920 good organic base and we're ready to start bringing this product to your local stores. 487 00:35:00,159 --> 00:35:04,800 Scoop colors. Are you going to do like a variety of colors in 488 00:35:04,840 --> 00:35:07,760 a box? Are you gonna you know, like a box of or just 489 00:35:07,880 --> 00:35:13,639 like orange ones and blue ones? And what are the colors and what other 490 00:35:13,719 --> 00:35:17,239 options are there? You said two sizes. I know when we talked last 491 00:35:17,320 --> 00:35:22,239 year, you had talked about introducing a longer version. Where do you where 492 00:35:22,239 --> 00:35:25,360 does that stand? Yeah? Yeah, the products is in two sizes right 493 00:35:25,400 --> 00:35:30,559 now, two point seventy five regular long tea and then use three point twenty 494 00:35:30,599 --> 00:35:35,960 five long tea, both in white. So we're looking at bringing out probably 495 00:35:36,039 --> 00:35:38,280 two or three colors in the spring, and then another two or three colors 496 00:35:38,320 --> 00:35:44,199 going into the middle of next year. And initially those would be sold as 497 00:35:44,320 --> 00:35:47,079 you know, the eight pack for that color. But I like your idea 498 00:35:47,119 --> 00:35:51,039 for it. I like the idea of a mixed pack and mixing some colors 499 00:35:51,119 --> 00:35:53,480 up. But they'll be available on both sizes in two to three colors early 500 00:35:53,519 --> 00:35:58,079 spring, and hopefully another two to three colors after that and in the middle 501 00:35:58,079 --> 00:36:01,000 of the year. Oh wow, the long teas, so we're still that 502 00:36:01,119 --> 00:36:06,039 option. There would be a three point five or a four. What we 503 00:36:06,159 --> 00:36:12,119 have seen though, is the large consumer market doesn't typically go for tees longer 504 00:36:12,159 --> 00:36:15,000 than three point two five. So it is still that's still very much a 505 00:36:15,079 --> 00:36:20,239 niche market and geared towards whether it be long drive athletes, long drive professionals. 506 00:36:20,840 --> 00:36:23,920 But in terms of a consumer market, that's still that's still a smaller 507 00:36:23,960 --> 00:36:28,280 market. If it is towards the end of next year or twenty twenty five, 508 00:36:28,320 --> 00:36:30,840 we do, we still hope to pursue that market and and you know, 509 00:36:31,000 --> 00:36:36,880 build the infrastructure necessary to sell that product. So we're thinking retail packaging 510 00:36:36,920 --> 00:36:40,039 first, color, second, and then longer size is third. And what 511 00:36:40,039 --> 00:36:45,039 about shorter sizes for iron play? Yeah, I I the two point seventy 512 00:36:45,199 --> 00:36:50,320 five is great with irons. You can put them in the ground, right, 513 00:36:50,360 --> 00:36:52,480 you can stick them down as part as if I when I break them, 514 00:36:52,719 --> 00:36:55,480 when I break them, where I snap them. It's generally with an 515 00:36:55,480 --> 00:37:00,760 iron with an iron yep, yep, or especially those you know if you 516 00:37:00,880 --> 00:37:02,719 use like a wedge or something with a with a you know, a sharp 517 00:37:02,760 --> 00:37:07,559 angle on it. But yeah, we we keep the two point seven five 518 00:37:07,559 --> 00:37:09,800 for iron play. We haven't thought of of something we haven't thought of the 519 00:37:09,960 --> 00:37:14,760 of bringing out something shorter than two point seven five. We haven't seen too 520 00:37:14,840 --> 00:37:19,800 much feedback from our our consumers on wanting something shorter. We have seen the 521 00:37:19,800 --> 00:37:23,760 feedback on the three point five that they really like, and then more feedback 522 00:37:23,760 --> 00:37:25,800 on the lomergy. So that's a that's a good thought, that's something to 523 00:37:25,840 --> 00:37:30,239 think about. We haven't really we haven't really seen that. Yeah, because 524 00:37:30,320 --> 00:37:35,119 I know that when I use an iron and I put this tea in and 525 00:37:35,159 --> 00:37:38,920 I like to tee it up for my iron play, you know, really 526 00:37:39,039 --> 00:37:45,320 low, so the so that the ball is as if it's sitting on you 527 00:37:45,320 --> 00:37:50,440 know, the fair way or something, just not not that high off the 528 00:37:50,519 --> 00:37:54,079 ground unless I'm trying to shorten the distance a little bit, right, And 529 00:37:54,119 --> 00:38:00,719 so sometimes the ground's too hard and this is so long that it doesn't go 530 00:38:00,800 --> 00:38:02,559 all the way in, and I got to like pound it in there, 531 00:38:02,880 --> 00:38:06,400 and I'm like, God, if I only had one that was an inch, 532 00:38:06,400 --> 00:38:08,800 sure, an inch and a half. But the head is because of 533 00:38:08,840 --> 00:38:15,480 the arrow and the direction. I love the indentations for the finger and your 534 00:38:15,519 --> 00:38:20,639 thumb to place it in. I just love the feel of the design of 535 00:38:20,679 --> 00:38:22,920 it. When I put it in, I just think it's great. Thank 536 00:38:22,920 --> 00:38:24,679 you for I would really hope, you know, if there are people out 537 00:38:24,679 --> 00:38:28,599 there that haven't, you know, haven't tried the product, we really encourage 538 00:38:28,639 --> 00:38:30,599 them to give it a try, try it out, see how you feel 539 00:38:30,599 --> 00:38:32,360 with it, give it around, give it one round the eighteen holes with 540 00:38:32,400 --> 00:38:36,320 the product, and you know, after eighteen holes, if you feel that 541 00:38:36,719 --> 00:38:38,039 you know there's a benefit there, you know, we hope that we have 542 00:38:38,119 --> 00:38:40,960 a customer there that we can, you know, really supply a good product 543 00:38:42,000 --> 00:38:45,559 too. Well, I'll tell you after one round. What I'm going to 544 00:38:45,639 --> 00:38:50,000 tell you is it'll still be there. It will still be intact. These 545 00:38:50,039 --> 00:38:57,119 things last a long time. I actually I traveled this year. I went 546 00:38:57,159 --> 00:39:02,039 back East to play with my nephew, and I brought my shoes, my 547 00:39:02,079 --> 00:39:07,599 glove, a sleeve of balls, two sleeves of balls, and one tea 548 00:39:07,960 --> 00:39:15,000 and I lost it on the fourth hole and my game just deteriorated from that. 549 00:39:15,159 --> 00:39:16,679 Was like, I can't find my tea. I don't want to play 550 00:39:16,719 --> 00:39:22,239 with these crappy teas. And it was just like everything just went downhill from 551 00:39:22,280 --> 00:39:23,760 that point on. And it's like, what's wrong with you? I said, 552 00:39:23,800 --> 00:39:28,440 I lost my tea, leave me alone. We got to get you 553 00:39:28,440 --> 00:39:35,159 another pack out there. Yeah, okay through the eighteen Yeah, well here 554 00:39:35,280 --> 00:39:39,679 you can listen right now. Hear that that's my empty box shaking. I'm 555 00:39:39,719 --> 00:39:46,039 out of tea. Well, I would love that, but also, you 556 00:39:46,079 --> 00:39:51,679 know, you're encouraging people to try it out, and you and I had 557 00:39:51,679 --> 00:39:55,719 a conversation before we started this recording, and I'm so excited to announce that 558 00:39:57,159 --> 00:40:00,679 if you're a Golf Smarter listener and you'd like to try them out, we 559 00:40:00,760 --> 00:40:05,400 are now going to be giving the flight Path golf tees away to our Golf 560 00:40:05,440 --> 00:40:10,360 Smarter ambassadors who introduce a new episode of Golf Smarter. So I will pitch 561 00:40:10,400 --> 00:40:16,000 this again at the end of the episode, but now our choices are going 562 00:40:16,079 --> 00:40:21,079 to change. We'll have the gloves from Red Rooster Golf, We'll have the 563 00:40:21,119 --> 00:40:25,880 Tony Mansony video and a box of flight Path golf tees. And I hope 564 00:40:27,400 --> 00:40:32,119 that the Golf Smarter listeners will take advantage of this and introduce an episode. 565 00:40:32,199 --> 00:40:36,639 Tell us where you're from, where you play, and what episode it is, 566 00:40:37,079 --> 00:40:40,159 and you two can get a box of flight Path golf tees. Daniel, 567 00:40:40,239 --> 00:40:45,559 I'm really excited about this and I'm so grateful that you guys are willing 568 00:40:45,559 --> 00:40:47,360 to participate. Thank you very much, Fred, Oh, it's always a 569 00:40:47,360 --> 00:40:52,079 pleasure being on talking with you, and you know, having the opportunity to 570 00:40:52,119 --> 00:40:53,440 give you an update where we are and how we're growing, you know, 571 00:40:53,679 --> 00:40:58,239 it means a lot to us and we really appreciate it. And I just 572 00:40:58,400 --> 00:41:01,880 am going to keep following you guys and so excited for your continued growth and 573 00:41:02,360 --> 00:41:07,679 really curious to see what colors come in the box, if there's multicolors or 574 00:41:07,719 --> 00:41:10,760 just one color, and we'll make sure to fix that empty box problem you're 575 00:41:10,800 --> 00:41:15,800 having. We'll take care of that going into the day. Thank you very 576 00:41:15,920 --> 00:41:20,199 much. Oh, Daniel, have a happy holidays, thanks so much for 577 00:41:20,280 --> 00:41:23,360 coming back on the show, and best of luck with continued success for you 578 00:41:23,480 --> 00:41:27,119 and you're dead. Thank you very much for had happy holidays to you and 579 00:41:27,480 --> 00:41:35,559 all the fans out there. So this week I was diagnosed with tennis elbow 580 00:41:36,039 --> 00:41:39,800 carpal tunnel syndrome, a pinched nerve and the doc threw in, eh, 581 00:41:39,840 --> 00:41:45,719 your age, it's probably arthritis too, and Merry Christmas to you too, 582 00:41:45,840 --> 00:41:49,880 doc gee. Thanks Now, I remember a number of years ago I had 583 00:41:49,920 --> 00:41:53,280 about with tennis elbow and took a lot of winter away from playing golf, 584 00:41:53,599 --> 00:41:59,039 and things got better, as did my game. But a few months ago 585 00:41:59,760 --> 00:42:05,159 I made a slight change in my grip where I rotated my left hand clockwise 586 00:42:05,280 --> 00:42:07,880 slightly, and for the first time I was hitting a draw off the tee 587 00:42:07,880 --> 00:42:14,199 with some regularity. Could that have contributed to the tennis elbow again? Sure? 588 00:42:15,000 --> 00:42:19,559 Tennis elbow? Right? Actually, I'm pretty sure that tennis elbow is 589 00:42:19,559 --> 00:42:22,239 when the pain is on the outside of the arm, and golfer's elbow is 590 00:42:22,239 --> 00:42:27,119 when it affects the inside. But I'll get a physical therapist center a golf 591 00:42:27,119 --> 00:42:31,079 fitness expert on the show in the near future to learn more about the distinction 592 00:42:32,039 --> 00:42:37,119 for me, But staying away from golf won't prevent me from creating new content. 593 00:42:37,679 --> 00:42:43,760 The problem is the carpal tunnel syndrome. If that continues to get worse, 594 00:42:44,280 --> 00:42:46,880 then I have to curtail the amount of time I spend at my computer 595 00:42:47,280 --> 00:42:52,920 creating new content. So please, let's all keep our fingers crossed that I 596 00:42:52,960 --> 00:42:57,239 don't need to take a break from new episodes. But if I have to, 597 00:42:58,000 --> 00:43:00,679 I guess then the winter would be the best time for that. All 598 00:43:00,800 --> 00:43:05,199 that is to say that if a Tuesday rolls by in the next month or 599 00:43:05,199 --> 00:43:08,119 two and there's no new episode, you know why I couldn't do it. 600 00:43:09,000 --> 00:43:14,440 I want to welcome our newest Golf Smarter Ambassador, DJ Degallo of Valparaiso, 601 00:43:14,679 --> 00:43:19,639 Indiana, because all he did was record this week's show opening. DJ is 602 00:43:19,679 --> 00:43:24,159 receiving a free link to Tony Manzoni's video of the Loss Fundamental. I invite 603 00:43:24,159 --> 00:43:29,840 you to become a Golf Smarter Ambassador with the incentive of getting a choice of 604 00:43:30,039 --> 00:43:34,320 three great gifts for your effort for telling us where you're from and where you 605 00:43:34,320 --> 00:43:39,000 play and what you heard in today's episode. Is pretty exciting because, along 606 00:43:39,039 --> 00:43:44,760 with Tony Manzoni's video of the Loss Fundamental, a glove and glove storage compartment 607 00:43:44,800 --> 00:43:50,800 from redroostergolf dot com. Our third choice is now an eight pack of flight 608 00:43:50,920 --> 00:43:54,239 Path Golf tees. I know it's crazy to say this, but I wouldn't 609 00:43:54,239 --> 00:44:00,239 be surprised if an eight pack lasts you an entire year. That's sturdy and 610 00:44:00,360 --> 00:44:07,519 that good. Learn more at flightpathcolf dot com. Flightpathcolf teas a tee above 611 00:44:07,639 --> 00:44:13,079 all, so here's your chance to try them out for free. Just write 612 00:44:13,079 --> 00:44:16,079 to me directly and I'll send you simple instructions on how to record an episode 613 00:44:16,119 --> 00:44:21,519 opening that takes less than one minute. Check out today's show notes to find 614 00:44:21,559 --> 00:44:24,960 links about each gift you have to choose from. To see and hear the 615 00:44:24,960 --> 00:44:30,400 most compelling and helpful short tips and insights of our podcast interviews for both Golf 616 00:44:30,400 --> 00:44:36,880 Smarter and golf Smarter Mulligans. Please follow us on social at golf Smarter, 617 00:44:37,079 --> 00:44:42,239 on YouTube, TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and x for our 618 00:44:42,320 --> 00:44:46,559 ongoing posts of videos and articles five times each week. If you have any 619 00:44:46,719 --> 00:44:52,280 questions, comments, suggestions for upcoming episodes, or want to join our list 620 00:44:52,360 --> 00:44:57,360 of golf Smarter Ambassadors who've received a free gift, write to golf Smarter podcast 621 00:44:57,400 --> 00:45:02,480 at gmail dot com or click on the Hey Read button when you visit golfsmarter dot com