Golf Simulator 'PiGolf' Scores Good Shots Overseas

Screen Golf Available Anytime, Anywhere... Jungjingong's 'Export Voucher Project' Boosts Exports 10-Fold in 3 Years

Pai Golf

Our small and medium-sized enterprises are achieving remarkable results in the global sports equipment market with their own technology. Pine Networks' golf simulation system, 'Pine Golf,' has gained such popularity that its export performance has increased about tenfold in the past three years.

According to Pine Networks on the 13th, the company's export performance last year was $3.577 million, an increase of about 150% compared to the previous year ($1.423 million). Considering that exports were $340,000 in 2018, the overseas market performance has grown more than tenfold in the past three years.

The flagship product is Pine Golf, introduced in 2017. This system is a device that enables 'smart screen golf' anytime and anywhere. Its advantage is that it allows actual play while swinging with a 9-axis motion sensor equipped with various measurement functions. The usage is also simple. Just attach the Pine Golf sensor into the small hole behind the grip for replacing the golf club or swing practice stick grip.

The lightweight sensor, weighing about 9g, does not interfere with the swing and does not fall off during the swing. With this sensor and a TV, users can check objective data on their swing and enjoy rounds anywhere. Kim Young-hoon, CEO of Pine Networks, explained, "It analyzes all types of data from head speed to swing path and estimated distance to accurately coach the user's swing."

There were quite a few trial and errors. Initially, the company created the product page in-house and the responsible staff started global sales through Amazon. Sales were only one or two units per month, at most a few dozen. Although confident in the product, they did not achieve significant sales results.

Younghoon Kim, CEO of Pine Networks

Pine Networks found a solution in the Small and Medium Business Corporation's 'Export Voucher Project.' This support project grants vouchers to promising SMEs, allowing selected companies to freely use export support services through executing agencies that provide services.

From July 2019, Pine Networks added Japanese to the Pine Golf application languages alongside English and Chinese through the export voucher and began aggressive advertising marketing focused on Amazon and Facebook. Sales volume increased from the third month. Last year, Pine Networks also concentrated on Amazon and Facebook ads and pioneered the Vietnamese and Philippine markets using influencer advertising marketing. They also registered the 'Pine Golf' trademark in the U.S. market.

CEO Kim emphasized, "The Export Voucher Project had the advantage of a wide range of support service fields, allowing us to select and utilize the necessary services," adding, "We will diligently run toward the vision of being a sports equipment specialized company designing health and happiness."