Nickent Golf is out of business. Golfweek's Gene Yasuda reported today that Nickent laid off the last 22 of its employees this week and is preparing to liquidate.
I liked a lot of Nickent's clubs, particularly the drivers it was making in the 2003-2005 range, along with its fairways and hybrids. The Pipe putter drew some modest attention, too. The company did a lot of growing in that period and up through 2007, including hiring tour players and getting quite of a few of its hybrids into play on the Nationwide, LPGA and Champions tours.
What happened? Yasuda explains:
The equipment maker's fortunes turned in early 2008 when it made an ill-fated gamble on the nascent adjustable-driver market. Hoping to make inroads into the driver category, Nickent pushed aggressively to be among the first to unveil a conforming driver that could easily swap shafts for immediate play.... But neither its driver, nor the product category as a whole, captured much consumer interest. Then, in the second half of 2008, the economy tanked. The combination proved fatal for Nickent.
Comments
I really is a shame that Nickent had to bite the bullet. The writing was on the wall since about April this year, so it’s not really a surprise out of the blue.
I was very fond of their recent hybrids, and I thought they were popular enough to provide some turn around for the company. From what I read Nickent will be sold in pieces, including the patents. I hope to see the quality hybrids live on, although quite likely under a new name.
Sad to hear a small company that had made inroads into the professional tour tanked. I play their hybrids and love them. a bit of a players hybrid but long also. I have the 3dx irons also with uniflex shafts and i have ‘”outgrown” the total game improvement irons but they’re a good set… hope someone buys the patents and does something good with them.
I play their 4dx No 5 and seven metals. Good solid clubs with great balance and plenty long. They have an eye pleasing set up. I hope their styling lives on.
wear can i by nickent 345 woods
Having used TNT (a Canadian Toronto-based gold club company) clubs and switching to Nickent now, I have noticed some improvement – especially in terms of straighter hybrid shots. Too bad…I will still move in the direction of Nickent if needed to compliment my current set.
I have a Nickent 3DX utility,2009 model. It is by far the best utility club I have ever hit.The feel and accuracy is 2nd to none.I am going to do some digging now to get a 4DX Driver before everything vanishes. I wish whoever buys up the patents, and equipment, continue to move forward and make strides in quality as Nickent did.
My wife just bought me a set of 3dx irons off of a closeout as an upgrade to my Wilson Ultras. I love them. Has anyone purchased the assets or patents yet? I would appreciate if you would keep us up to date on the status of the closure. Surely some equity firm would buy it for the potential growth, if presented the correct business model. These are great products for the price.
The Nickent brand and company assets were bought by sports Dick’s Sporting Goods.
So is the company back in business? I see the 6dt model is out. I play the 4dx 1 ironwood and it rocks. It is straight, long and consistent. 230-240 yards easily.
Nickent the company is dead and gone. Nickent the brand was purchased by Dick’s Sporting Goods and so Nickent-branded clubs are now marketed by Dick’s
The Nickent 3 & 4 Rescue/Fairway woods won me several comps in the period between 2006 and 2010….I heard one opponent say to another, ‘If you want to win you should stand on that blasted club’ Thats how good they are, so buy one before they are all snapped up