What image does each club manufacter have - in your opinion?

[haplesshacker]

The 'umbrella' thread got me thinking. (Always dangereous!)

Apart from the title of the thread, let's not exlude balls, shoes and clothing. Let's not just go for the image of the manufacter, but also how that comes across to the individual user / golfer.

Personally. Callaway will always be an 'old man's' brand in my eyes. Probably because it was the first golf brand I was aware of as a kid, and well, just look at what's in the bag on a Monday morning seniors games. It's all Callaway.

Nothing wrong with the product, just my perception.

 

[birdieman]

Don't see that with Callaway although I can see why you do. I see innovation and players of the calibre of Mickelson, Els, McDowell etc.
I also happen to think their premium balls are as good as any and I have stuck with the tour iX this year and have had a good improvement in scoring.
I don't see old guys with Callaway per se, think Ping have that part of the market cornered.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Titleist - always came across as an elitist brand especially whwn I first started playing in the 80's - wasn't interersted in their blades - way too hard to hit so have always been reluctant to try thier clubs. The new AP's might change that though. Never really got on with their drivers.

Slazenger - were my original blades of choice (B51's if I remember correctly) and always made great kit. Pity they've long gone and are a company of cheap rubbish now

Wilson - Always viewed them as a great club producer until they went down the fat shaft route. I did buy a set which shows how a fool and his money.... Glad to see them making good solid irons again although their woods have never cut it for me.

Callaway - Working just down the road from their HQ they were the first "big" brand I wanted to play. I thought their X14 irons and steelhead + woods were brilliant. Still producing good stuff especially their wedges although the X series is looking a little tired to me now. No real difference between the X20 and X22 although both "pro" versions are very good. Have always produced decent accessories

Ping - The original Eye series were a real innovation. Have always produced great irons if pig ugly and fantastic drivers. The new I series are really good

Taylormade - My personal favourite (at the moment). Are their own worse enemy in the number of new models they bring out which pushes customer loyalty to the limit. The orginal Burner irons were a revelation in forgiveness (with the bubble shaft) and they have always produced good drivers. Their wedges are now much better too.

 

[mono217]

I see taylormade as a serious club manufacturer.

 

[andiritchie]

The one one that always come to mind is

Taylormade-all gear no idea

I just dont know why maybe its because some people who take up the game see the likes of Sergio etc and buy all the kit

Nothing wrong with it of course

 

[Putting_Green_Pro]

i dont see any one manufacturer as a main one. in some aspects other brands are better than others but i see the best overall brand as taylormade as they have an extensive range of clubs in each category. However for driver it changes from year to year, woods is taylormade, irons are titleist, wedges would be titleist but are too expensive and dont differ from year to year models. finally putters are completely personal and therefore you may like a golden bear putter (if they do one) but it may not be every elses cup of tea, for me its yes.

 

[Basher]

Nike.
Golf equipment for the younger golfer. If it's good enough for Tiger, it's good enough for me.

Titleist.
Equipment for the more mature and experienced golfer aiming for perfection in their game, especially drivers and woods.

Mizuno.
The choice of young to middle aged mid to high handicapper.

Dunlop.
The once a flood muni player, owns no golfing attire, just a bag of clubs from Sports Direct!

Callaway.
Another perfectionists choice. Plays well and likes to be equipped well.

Slazenger.
Either a newly returned older golfer playing on the equipments past merits, or a gullible Golf Channel viewer!

 

[Imurg]

Totally illogical and wrong I know but I relate the TaylorMade brand with Vauxhall cars - the default brand for those with no imagination.

I can't talk as I've got an R9 now but that's how I've always seen TM.

 

[Dodger]

Dunlop = utter gash gear....likewise slazenger.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Sad but true these days but I can remember salivating over Maxfli blades and Slazenger gear. All went tits up in the late 80's and never recovered.

 

[Dodger]

Still can't believe top players wear shirts with that pile of shite written on it!

Which part of Westwoods bag is Dunlop? The plastic holding it together??

 

[roccokj]

Callaway: Modern designs on clubs, mainly game improvement irons
Dunlop: Cheap and rubbish
Slazenger: I think of Sam Torrance and their drivers that are guaranteed to improve your game!
Taylormade: Modern equipment...i always think of the colour black when i see their name!
TopFlite: The ball that 60 handicappers use
titleist: Gear that only low handicappers could use right

 

[bobmac]

So what car manufacturer matches your clubs?
Ping---------Jaguar
Titleist-----BMW
Taylor Made--Merc
Mizuno-------Mondeo
Nike---------Golf GTI
Calloway-----SAAB
Benross------Skoda

Just a bit of fun

 

[HCFC]

For me...

Nike...Audi TT
Taylor Made...BMW
Callaway... Volvo
Titliest...Porsche 911
Wilson...Vauxhall
Ping... Jaguar
Dunlop... Daewoo
Slazenger...Hyundai

 

[Herbie]

Dunlop = utter gash gear....likewise slazenger.

On the basis of what? The reality is that the brands that capture the bigger names by investing big money in tour players, advertising and media swamping as well as production get a batter popularity purely through the ignorance of the public as much as quality of product.

I can remember times when those two names had a bigger market share and greater popularity, just because one company becomes more popular than another doesnt always mean a brand becomes gash, nor does it mean a brand becomes quality. I do however believe those two companies have invested less and taken a different market route aimed at mass market access to golf, something that in itself deserves a little respect.

From what I read in another thread, made to measure,fitted brand named clubs are pretty gash compared to and old set from testeryear.

 

[brendy]

The funny thing with clubs, especially irons, if you were able to close your eyes and hit the ball with any set they would all feel very similar to all but the most sensitive of golfers.
My AP2s feel similar/same to my old mizuno pro tour IIs. The only set I ever owned that felt different were the callaway x12's and they had graphite shafts.

Here is the question.
Would you rather hump a crud bag filled with exotica or carry a totr bag with various brands within and play well? Is it really all about image? I have a Nickent callaway copy basically, which I alternate with a Nike T40 17 deg 4 wood. To be brutally honest, Id be happy keeping either, the name in this instance means nothing.

 

[madandra]

I remember when Slazenger had Seve wearing their gear and I used to wear my dads brown V neck and thought I was the mutts nuts. I was 13 at the time

I like the lesser brands for irons and love my Cleveland CG4 tours. I have had TM but thought they were guff.

 

[bobmac]

I remember when Slazenger had Seve wearing their gear and I used to wear my dads brown V neck and thought I was the mutts nuts. I was 13 at the time

I like the lesser brands for irons and love my Cleveland CG4 tours. I have had TM but thought they were guff.

Also, Dunlop 65 was the most common ball used back in the 70's.
I remember the bin at the 1st tee being full of the 65 black wrappers

 

[USER1999]

The likes of Slazenger, Maxfli, Dunlop, etc (and possibly now MacGregor) were sold off and asset stripped, and have no bearing now to the original companies. The names continue, but there is no real development to speak of, and the quality is now poor. Yes, they are chasing a particular market segment, but for the proper golfer, they are not brands that will appeal.

Callaway to me are bland GI stuff. Drivers make a dull thud too.

Ping are old man sticks. Dad always plays Ping, and he is 76. Point proved.

Titleist is for players who have aspirations above their game. Quality stuff, hard to use.

Wilson make middle of the road stuff, built to flatter with stupid lofts.

Taylormade are for fashionistas who must have the latest gear. Luckily TM cater for this by bringing out a new stick every lunch time.

Srixon is for people who like to play an unusual brand. Probably sport strange facial hair.

Cleveland are for people who drive Morgans or Bristols. A niche brand for oddballs.

Nickent is for Yanks.

Specialist Japanese stuff is for guys with too much money (Fourteen, Miura, Epon, etc).

Mizuno is for people who actually think they can tell the difference between a forging and a cast club. Princess and the pea springs to mind.

Now, who haven't I insulted......

 

[need_my_wedge]

Slazenger used to be a very good golf manufacturer. My first set back in the early eighties was Slazenger designed by Johny Miller! I bought Slazenger then because Seve was playing them so they had to be good .

Nowadays, Slazenger and Dunlop have a downmarket image in my eyes. Slazenger because they only seem to advertise on the Golf Channel, and only retail through JJB sports, and Dunlop because they only retail through Chavworld. Having said that, it's not like Dunlop don't make good golf gear or invest in golf - they own Srixon, the largest investor in golf equipment development, but it's the perception of their own name brand.

As for the other main players, I think Ping, Taylormade/ Adidas, Titleist and Callaway are the higher profile brands, with the likes of Mizuno, Cobra and Nike close by. They're certainly the brands with big money advertising, and big name tour players touting their equipment.

What image do they have in my opinion

Taylormade/ Adidas - I've always been an Adidas whore, ever since I saved my own money as a 13 year old to buy my first pair of Adidas trainers (parents wouldn't dream of spending that much). Mainly wear the brand (shirts and shoes) - would like to upgrade to TM clubs at some point. Quality wear if slightly expensive.

Ping - Top range, expensive, first custom fitters - out of my league. Something to aspire to.

Callaway - As above, something to aspire to and too expensive for my taste.

Titleist - Expensive and for a player way better than my handicap.

Nike - Tiger

Cobra - Good quality at an affordable price - popular and trendy.

Mizuno - Good quality at an affordable price, should have considered them when I bought new clubs a couple of years back.