Taylormade Demo Day

HomerJSimpson

HomerJSimpson

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As I mentioned last night I was off to a TM demo day at a local range today to try out the TP irons and maybe look at new fairway woods. I have to say I was very disappointed. Yes, there were four reserved bays and unlimited balls, but not monitoring equipment and to be fair little reall in the way of help and advise.

I was lucky as I knew what I wanted but the guy (TM guy) didn't ask me anything about my game, why I was looking etc but just handed me the TP in a regular shaft and let me get on with it. He eventually wandered over and saw me hit a couple (one great, one a push right and one horrible hooky thing where I collapsed my legs through impact). I tried the 4 iron with mixed results.

I then asked to try a 3 wood (knowing I wanted to try a burner) and was immediately handed the R9 model )good salesman - can't knock him for pushing the expensive model). I didn't hit it well even with adjustments as I found the regular shaft a bit unresponsive. I asked to try the burner which is better matched to my irons and as I expected nailed the 3 and 5 woods.

I now know that I'm still not good enough to hit the TP's and that I'd struggle going back even to regular (R300) shafts so that idea has been binned. Even the deals they were offering (£429 for TPs in 4-PW with no facility to trade in) was hardly conducive.

It seems that TM are reducing their range now and are only selling the Burner range (two models I think) and the TP's and in woods are only selling the R9 and Burner range (no more Tour Burner). He wouldn't be pushed on anymore forthcoming models but said a new iron release this year was unlikely as the Burners are new but I get the feeling their still be a new kid on the bloc for 2010

Like I said very disappointed in the effort made by TM in terms of technology and support. There's a Cally day next Tuesday so I might look a the X22 tours instead
 
Thanks Homer, an informative post.

Having never been to a demo day, what should you expect in the way of advice and the time being spent one-to-one with a rep? Also, how pushy are the reps - do they expect sales or are they resigned to the majority turning up and just trying out the shiny new stuff? (that has probably put me off in the past) Final question - who puts on the best demo day in your experience?

Thanks
 
Quite surprised at the lack of response you received Homer.
I would have expected you to have been treated like gold dust in todays economic climate.
Perhaps you should E-Mail your post to the Taylormade Sales Director.

Golfmmad.
 
I like demo days on the whole as its the best way of trying the latest makes in a variety of specs. Most times, there has been a launch monitor of some description and usually the guy(s) doing it ask a bit about your game adn what you want first. Today was one of the worse I've been to especially from TM who are pretty good historically. I think reading between the lines now, if you want the full launch monitor experience they are only offering this on one of their tour truck/tour day events but don't quote me.

Most of the reps I've dealt with and being an equipment whore and always willing to try the latest shiny sticks I've dealt with a few, are not too pushy as they know that primarily everyone is there to try. The problems start when you get the sales assistants from the shop (AG or in this case from the pro shop) who are there firing prices at you and "we can do this deal...." Unless you book with the rep to go to their C/F sites most aren't there to sell directly on the day and its the shop, range or store that are after the sales.

Most reps will answer questions and as long as you are honest and realistic about your ability will try and find the best clubs for you. Out of all of them, Cally are normally very good and I'll be interested if they bring their monitors down next week. Ping were very good and as you would expect had loads of different specs (most of all I've been to). Wilson wasn't great but that was more the can't be asked attitude of the rep than the gear. Mizuno were very helpful and had a good range of gear and Yonex were nice guys but let down by a limited range.

My advice is go along and try one out. The balls are free and you've nothing to lose. No-one will judge you and your swing and its normally a good way of trying a model you have your eye on in different specs. I really wanted the TP but after today realised I can't do them justice and so will save my money.
 
Why are you looking at new sticks? Yours aren't that old, and sticking with what you have has to pay dividends in the long term.
 
To be fair golfmmad the bloke was ok in a non-commital sort of way. He controlled the way the clubs were given out (I've seem some where everyone helps themselves almost and a 6 iron with S300 shaft could be in any of 15 bays) but just didn't seem that clued in on trying to match golfers with products. He did seem to be working hard on one guy who was keen on the TP's (he was hitting them OK - better than me but not brilliant - in my opinion) and wanted a hybrid and a fairway wood too. Other than that it was ask for what you wanted to try and away you go.

I was tempted to say "don't you know who I am" (JOKE before anyone accuses me of using my "position", trading on the GM name or other similar crimes I've been chastised for in recent weeks) to see if that helped but refrained
 
Why are you looking at new sticks? Yours aren't that old, and sticking with what you have has to pay dividends in the long term.
Click to expand...

I promised myself I'd look at new sticks if I ever got back to 10. Having got cut to 11 last weekend and with the demo day on, I thought it was a chance to see how I liked the TP's. I liked them more than they benfited my game so another idea put to bed.
 
As advised numerous times on here, the clubs that get you cut are the ones perfectly suited to you.
Click to expand...

Very true but you know what a gear junkie I am and I can't resist trying new sticks even if most of the time I have no intention of purchsing them. I thought the TP's would give me a better ball flight and more feel but I couldn't do them justice. Plan B involves the Cally X22 tours next week (all in the name of research you understand)
 
I agree with Murph Homer...
When you get to 8 or below you may be striking it well enough to do the TP's justice. But I'd stick with what you've got - as has been said they've been good enough to get you almost to single figures they should see you well for a while longer.
 
Have to say Homer, I'm with the others - your handicap seems to be tumbling so it seems you have the right set up at the moment. 10 is an arbitrary number - maybe you should look to change when your current trend of dropping flattens off.

You can still look and try, just don't feel you have to buy when it might break the rhythm. :)
 
You sound like the wife on a bad night - look but don't touch! To be honest it was only something I was aspiring to really and thought if I could hit the TP's well it would give me the boost to reach 10. I don't really need new clubs but as a self confessed gear junkie I can't refuse a demo day and the chance to try new sticks out. Unless the X22 tours are showstoppers my tour burners (couldn't believe it when the TM guy said they have stopped this line) are in the bag for the foreseeable
 
There's a Cally day next Tuesday so I might look a the X22 tours instead
Click to expand...

You will love them mate. Very easy swing, no exertion as a result of very recent surgery. You will hit them like a dream.

Just wait till you are fully recovered :eek: :eek:
 
I've got the X22 Tours with 5.0 flighted shafts and love them, have only had them 6 weeks but am now getting on with them ,i'm roughly a club longer than my AP2's . IMO worth ago but you'll proably disagree with me as usual :D
 
I took around 6 months to decide on my new purchases (see bottom of my post) i took in demos from ping, mizuno, callaway, taylor made and cobra.

To be honest the worst day for info (from the technical rep) was delivered by Taylormade. They had absolutely no technical kit with them and only really showed an interest in getting sales rather than a proper fitting session.

It was just luck that i kinda knew what to ask for shaft wise and was just looking to hit a few balls to see if i liked the feel.

Mizuno and ping were absolutely fabulous in their knowledge of the golf swing and the kit they brought with them was state of the art.

On a brighter note to Taylormade, when i ordered all the kit they gave me a massive discount on the tour bag, threw in 24 tp red balls, umbrella, towel and hat all free of charge!!!
 
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