From Hobbyist to Golf Innovator: Tom Bailey’s Journey with Avoda Golf
Have you ever taken on a project that kinda spiraled out of control? Well, that’s exactly what happened to Tom Bailey, the founder of Avoda Golf. What started as a simple quest to build himself a set of golf clubs has turned into one of the most incredible equipment stories of 2024!
Bailey isn’t your typical golf entrepreneur. He left his college life in the U.S. back in 2017 to focus on his playing career. Unfortunately, he faced a series of annoying back injuries. Instead of giving up, he decided to figure out the technical side of those issues and dove deep into understanding how his golf swing was affecting his overall game. “A lot of folks out there suffer similar problems, and it felt like I was onto something,” Bailey shared. His curiosity led him to the coaching world almost by accident.
Curiosity Leads to Creativity
During his coaching journey, Bailey became fascinated by the unique swing of Bryson DeChambeau. “I noticed that Bryson had a swing style that really resonated with mine. So I thought, why not explore the concept of single-length golf clubs?” This idea was the beginning of his deep dive into the equipment side of the sport.
Amid the pandemic lockdowns, Bailey didn’t sit idle. He got in touch with Mike Schy, Bryson’s long-time coach, and together they brainstormed online while waiting for travel restrictions to lift. Once January 2022 rolled around, Bailey was on a flight to California to train at Mike’s Academy in Fresno, a decision that would change everything for him.
Creating a New Kind of Iron
At the Academy, he spent countless hours grinding heads and fiddling with different iron lengths. After lots of experimenting, he struck gold — the Avoda combo-length irons. The beauty of these clubs? They are single-length up to a certain point in the set, then change in length based on the player’s swing speed and style. “It’s all about customization,” Bailey explained. For instance, someone might do fine with a single-length club up to a 9-iron, but when it comes to the 8-iron, they might need an extra boost and opt for a half-inch longer model.
Once Bailey’s homemade clubs gained traction with fellow players at the range, requests began flooding in. “Suddenly, everyone wanted me to custom-build their sets too! I thought, maybe I’ve stumbled onto something here,” Bailey chuckled. But he needed help. That’s when he turned to his brother, Nicholas, who had experience in the firearms industry and they began the hunt for a factory to build their creations.
Overcoming Obstacles and Making Connections
Finding a manufacturer wasn’t easy. “I can’t tell you how many rejections we faced,” Bailey recalled. “Everyone kept saying, ‘It’s not a product for the mass consumer.’ I was determined though, believing that if I could make it work for me, others could find value in it too.” His tenacity finally paid off when they found a business willing to help them out, and soon enough, the first batch of 50 sets was ordered. Avoda Golf was officially underway!
The Big Break: A Collab with Bryson DeChambeau
Just when things were getting exciting, Bailey’s journey took an incredible turn. In September, while hanging around the Academy, he reconnected with Bryson DeChambeau, who was looking for new irons to complement his game. “At that point, I had been quietly designing and building clubs,” Bailey said, “and it just happened that Bryson had his eye on something I was working on – an iron with bulge on the face.”
Things escalated quickly! With Schy unaware of Bailey’s club-building endeavors, a collaboration was born as Mike decided to blend his ideas with Bailey’s prototypes to create something truly unique for Bryson. After a whirlwind of design changes and adjustments, prototypes were ready just in time for The Masters.
The Last-Minute Shipment
What happened next is almost movie-worthy — on the Monday before The Masters, DeChambeau’s team called Bailey, needing iron sets ASAP. In a race against time, with only hours to spare, a dedicated UPS employee made sure those precious irons were shipped out just in time. The outcome? Bryson hit a first-round 65 in the tournament, and golf aficionados were buzzing with curiosity about his new clubs.
The Future of Avoda Golf
So where does that leave Bailey and Avoda Golf now? “While Bryson’s set is one-of-a-kind, we believe in the idea of custom fitting. We want the right product for each individual,” Bailey told us. Exciting plans are on the horizon, including fitting locations and the potential for more tailored products in the public sphere. However, Bailey promises, “If I wouldn’t use it myself, I won’t sell it!”
It looks like we might just be at the beginning of an exciting ride for Avoda Golf. Will they revolutionize golf equipment as we know it? You’ll have to keep an eye on them!
