Today’s exploration started with a simple question:
“Is the new Vessel Player V bag better than my Vessel Player IV bag?”
As the calendar year ends, the new golf gear season begins. Over the next few months, companies will sing the praises of their new products.
But are they actually better?
For clubs, companies can quote and promote the superior spin and distance data generated by robots and analyzed by computers. Naturally, their statistics will show that you should ditch the previous model and spend another $600 this year on that new driver.
(Good thing there is a place you can go for unbiased testing.)
But what about something like a golf bag? Throwing golf bags past a launch monitor is fun and all, but the data provided is not typically definitive.
Ever curious, I sent an email to Vessel to find out how the Player IV compared to the Player V.
The response from Vessel was informative. Not only did they share info about the bags but also about Vessel’s overall plan for upgrading a bag from one generation to the next.
Here are the five key components of Vessel’s new model plan.
1. Listen to customer feedback
I didn’t decide to list this one first. Vessel did. Customer feedback is the first thing Vessel takes into consideration when developing a new bag. What did the customers say about the last incarnation of the bag? What did they like or dislike? Were there specific features customers wanted for future bags?
Customers represent a huge R&D department for any company. Listening to them makes sense, assuming you would like to keep them as customers.
The new Vessel Player V bag features a cart strap pass-through because customers requested it. The Player IV pockets were designed to sit below the cart strap so this was not a huge issue with that bag.
However, since customers kept requesting it, Vessel added the slot.
As you can see in the photos, the addition of the pass-through added design challenges as well as opportunities.
The position of the slot required Vessel to change the umbrella attachment system from the elastic-and-hook system of the Player IV to the buckled strap in the Player V. The new strap seems a little more reliable but I never had any issues with the elastic-and-hook system.
Adding the strap slot also allowed Vessel to add another pocket to the front of the bag. Without the strap pass-through, this pocket would be covered by the strap and inaccessible. Now the strap slides under it.
2. How can we improve functionality?
Jokes about using a launch monitor to test a golf bag aside, making the bag better for playing golf is a key part of making a new bag. Golf bag improvements are more often qualitative rather than quantitative but they are still critical for playing better, or at least more enjoyable, golf.
Though not a Player IV to Player V change, Vessel’s development of their jam-resistant base is a prime example of improving functionality. Not having your clubs getting stuck in the bag is a big upgrade.
Focusing on the Player IV versus Player V, you can see some of the functionality improvements on the body-facing side of the bag. The shape of the back pad has changed, extending closer to the top of the bag on the Player V than it did on the Player IV.
This change makes carrying the bag more comfortable.
Below that, you’ll notice the new magnetic pocket that replaces a zippered pocket. This subtle structure swap dramatically improves the ease of access to the pocket when the bag is on your back.
3. What parts of the bag can be upgraded?
There is a difference between an upgrade and an overhaul. When you look at the photos of the Player IV and the Player V, it’s obvious Vessel stuck to the same overall design plan.
Why wouldn’t they? It’s a good plan.
In terms of upgrades, this involves making the good parts even better. Some of these upgrades are noticeable, some are not.
On the noticeable end, it’s tough to miss that the mesh top of the Player IV has been replaced by a lush velour material in the Player V. This is the same material found on the Player V Pro bag that earned Most Wanted honors this year.
It’s a plush top and it ensures that you’ll scratch your expensive driver shaft zero percent of the time.
The leather touch points on the bag were also upgraded for quality, similar to the leather you’d find on a luxury steering wheel.
All of the leather tabs and the magnetic pocket handles feature new cross stitching to enhance durability.
Speaking of durability, Vessel upgraded the abrasion resistance of the bag’s materials from 5,000 to 30,000 cycles of resistance.
That’s a 600-percent increase in durability!
The durability of my white Player IV bag impressed me. I don’t know that I’ve ever even cleaned it in two years of usage and it still looks amazing. The Player V should be minty fresh for years to come.
Vessel also upgraded the waterproofness (is that a word?) of their zippers for the Player V.
4. Can we add value to the bag?
There is no arguing that Vessel bags are more expensive than many others. The way Vessel builds their bags causes to them to be more expensive. They are next level in terms of construction.
For example, take a look at the legs and the top and tell me how many rivets are holding the leg section to the top section. Did you count to zero?
Other bag companies hire Rosie to rivet all the parts of their tops and legs together. Vessel bag tops and legs are integrated and you’ll not find a single club-scratching rivet inside a Vessel top.
As such, Vessel can’t really make their bags less expensive but they do search for ways to enhance the value in their bags.
For example, the Player V and other current Vessel bags come with a cart strap cover. Run that abrasive cart strap through the Vessel cover and your bag is protected from strap scratches.
Even more clever is how Vessel added function and thus value to the rain hood.
Most of us remove the rain hood from a new bag and forget about it. Maybe it comes out for a rainy round or to keep the clubs in place on a road trip.
Typically, a rain hood just serves as a dust collector in the garage.
Vessel attached some rings, a cinch cord and a detachable strap to their rain hood, converting the rarely useful hood into a club bag for range sessions.
How outside of the box (bag?) is that?
Minor changes in design delivered a major increase in value. I scoffed a bit at the bag initially but once I dropped a few clubs in it, I understood.
It’s like getting a second bag for free.
5. Keep to a two-year refresh cycle
Vessel upgrades their golf bags every two years, like many other golf companies, but the reason Vessel does that is a little different.
Rather than settling for relaunching their current bag year after year, Vessel works to make a better bag every two years.
Arguably, there is a survival motivation to the cycle. Vessel bags are heavily copied by other companies. Vessel needs to keep innovating to stay ahead of the competitors who just deconstructed a previous Vessel bag to make their “new” bag.
This copycat practice is common in all aspects of the golf equipment industry: zero-torque putters, for example. Lots of companies are trying to tap into the market that L.A.B. Golf created for those putters. As a result, competition has never been greater in the zero-torque putter market.
Vessel faces the same challenge that L.A.B. Golf does these days: keep innovating or get overshadowed by the mimicking masses.
Vessel builds a better golf bag
Starting this project, I really just wondered if I should consider getting a Vessel Player V bag. Knowing myself, I was likely just trying to find a way to justify picking up a bag in the cool tuxedo color scheme.
Ultimately, I did learn how the Player IV differs from the Player V but I also learned about Vessel’s bag building philosophy.
In the process, I fine-tuned my eye for golf bag design and construction. Vessel bags are more expensive than other bags. But when you look closely, you’ll see how they are different and, for the most part, better than other bags.
Vessel makes sure their new golf bags are better than their old, albeit still excellent, bags. Vessel made sure the Player V bag improved on the Player IV bag.
I expect more of the same when we see a Player VI bag down the road.
Also, Vessel is in the midst of their Black Friday sale, and from now until December 1st, you can snag 20% off any bag site-wide.
The post Vessel’s 5 Rules For Updating A Golf Bag appeared first on MyGolfSpy.
