If it looks like a pro-v1, launches like a pro-v1, spins like a pro-v1 and feels like a pro-v1 then it must be a pro-v1. Right? Not quite.
D to C golf balls (direct to consumer) are considerably cheaper but many golfers who are used to paying premium prices for their golf balls may give such brands the swerve.
With Seed, there is no need to. Born in Ireland and sold worldwide. A niche brand packing a punch and looking to change the game with their subscription model.
The seed mantra is high performance, low cost and the SD-02 is the latest golf ball to arrive on the market to rival the premium brands.
The SD-02 The Pro Tour rivals the pro-v1x golf ball and during testing was found to perform very well for a fraction of the price.
The four piece golf ball is often referred to as the ‘links ball’ while still maintaining a cast urethane cover for both feel and performance.
Along with the SD-01 (Seed’s original ball) and 02, Seed have four other golf balls that come in a range of colours to cater for every golfer, particularly the younger demographic who may be attracted to the brighter colours.
For the regular club golfer who won’t be able to tell the difference between the Seed-02 and the pro-v1, this is the golf ball for you.
So, who is the man behind the balls?
Back in 2015 Australian Dean Klatt and his friends came off the golf course decided to come up with a plan to combat high golf ball prices. The seed (pardon the pun) had been planted and after being officially founded in 2017 they have gone from strength to strength and are punching with the big brands in the golfing market.
Since the covid pandemic, a younger demographic of golfers has emerged and Klatt saw a gap in the market where he could take advantage of his new Seed company and capitalise on the growth of online shopping.
18-34 year olds are the largest customer audience since the pandemic which certainly puts paid to the old white male over 50s golf stereotype. Of that category, 6.3 million play on course and 5.8 million interact with golf off the golf course, at driving ranges, indoor launch monitors etc.
57% of this demographic are junior girls and 25% of female golfers are playing on the golf course. Klatt believes Seed are in the perfect position to attract this market to the Seed brand.
“We only sell online and we sell directly to the consumer, so we are breaking that mould from what the traditional golf brand would be. What we want to show our consumer is that we can develop a product that can perform as well as your premium products for significantly less than you would play and we see that as a pretty good place to be.”
Seed’s mission is to make the game more enjoyable and more affordable for more people which ties in well to catering to the new, younger demographic of people either starting their golfing journey or returning to the fairways after some time away.
In order to compete with the leading brands, Seed try to target the new and emerging market.
Klatt believes that these people would benefit from using a premium golf ball but is also a product that they can afford.
“Seed is a really interesting brand in that we speak to recreational golfers and then your younger audience who are into reusable packaging and all the branding so that really works for them rather than the traditional stuff where we tell you our ball is ten yards longer.
“The traditional market also like getting something that is premium in performance and then a little less money. If you look at the stats of the people who use facilities like simulators as well we hope that if they keep playing the game in ten to fifteen years time, they will continue to use our brand.”
Seed has grown massively and quicker than Klatt ever imagined. The brand has customers in 44 countries across the world and he believes it’s down to being an Irish company. Seed now trades in countries like Bahrain, Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, New Zealand, Australia and America where the Irish angle has definitely helped grow the brand.
Seed now has three warehouses situated in Carlow, England and Texas while a fourth headquarters is set to launch in Australia.
What makes Seed stand out is their subscription model. 30% of their business is via subscription where their mantra of affordability really comes to fruition.
Customers can also avail of the ‘buy now’ option which is a once off purchase with no commitment.
Golf Balls Tested:
Seed SD-01 – Pro One
The Pro One is the 3rd generation of the original SD-01 design which features some new improvements. This three piece golf ball delivers a tour launch and trajectory with a tour construction urethane cover. A soft golf ball that is designed to play like the pro-v1 golf ball.
Customers can subscribe for €29 per month and receive a dozen golf balls monthly or buy once off for €29.
Seed SD-X1 – Pro X1
The SD-X1 golf ball aims to provide a more penetrating ball flight, It plays like a pro-v1, Taylormade TP5 and Callaway Chrome Soft X. Customers can subscribe for €29 per month and receive a dozen golf balls monthly or buy once off for €29.
Seed SD-02 – Pro Tour
The ball is slightly firmer and comparable to the TP5x and pro-v1x.
