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

[need_my_wedge]

Meant to add what Murph says about Slazenger and Dunlop. Here in the UK the brands were both sold off, they are only related to their predessors by name, the development and manufacture is poor and predominantly done in China - at least that's what I was informed.

 

[DCB]

Remember the days when good old fashioned British clubmaking was amongst the best in the world ?

No one has mentioned Ben Sayers, before the name was sold off they used to make lovely clubs and had a factory in North Berwick. I had a great set of Sayers Crown irons in the early eighties. Heads the size of a matchbox and as thick as tinfoil.

Nowadays it's just all about marketing and selling units to mugs like me. Clubs that can do this and that, but obviously thats with a mechanical robot with a perfect swing plane in a workshop.

Anyway I tried TMs onec and never again. They asset stripped and destroyed several good brands of yesteryear. I'll never forgive TM/Addidas for that !Oh and their shoes are a bit nippit as well !

 

[Dodger]

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.

On the basis that ALL their gear is utter pish,have you ever looked at the design/set up/quality of ANY Dunflop or indeed Slashenger stuff??Some of the shafts alone in them are too poor to be used for flyfishing,as I say utter gash and I fail to understand any Pro that endorses them.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

What I think people are saying and I totally agree is that if you go back 20 years or so both Dunlop and Slazenger were LEADING brands in golf in terms of quality and performance. Once they got bought out that went almost overnight to their current position where their clubs are entry level at best.

Regarding the reason Westwood etc wears their logo, the answer is simple. Money and the fact that they are/were a British name and want to be associated with arguably one of Britains best golfers. Its the same with Slazenger. No one believes Torrance etc actually use their products but if the advertising cheque (possibly even a % of sold stock) is good enough a lot of players will swallow their integrity and take the money.

Ben Sayers are another case in point. I used a set of Ray Floyd blades and they were great quality and a very competitive price at the time. They were the MD or Benross of their day and produced a lot of good gear, sometimes off the radar for very good prices.

 

[haplesshacker]

Interesting read.

I think what this does prove is that customer perception is everything.

We accept that some of us on here are brand tarts, and that it often harps back to when we were younger. Whether there is any real difference between one makes GI set and another is debatable, especially when CF'd. It comes down to looks and preconcieved prejudices. It's surprising how brand loyal us golfers get. Whether that's a good thing for our game is another matter!

I wonder how any of us started out with 'one make' bags. Then as time passes we experiment with other brands and discover that sometimes we do actually like another brands kit? Was it such a barrier to cross to try another brands clubs, even with all the preconceptions?

 

[freddielong]

Callaway are a GI brand for High Handicapers with more money than ability who like Gimmicks and think another Hybrid will help more than a lesson

Taylormade are an asset stripping company who destroyed Maxfli, make gimmicky equipment that is poor quality, whos products don't stand up to the hype, that is why they spend so much money on advertising

Mizuno makes clubs for proper golfers

Titleist want to be as good as Mizuno but aren't

Nike like the brand all about image rather than substance

Wilson Solid brand makes quality products

 

[haplesshacker]

Freddie.

You surprise me with your Mizuno / Titleist thing!!

 

[Smiffy]

I quite like some of the Slazenger tops. Not bad quality for the price. Why pay twice as much for a fancy logo???
But as for their clubs....

 

[freddielong]

Freddie.

You surprise me with your Mizuno / Titleist thing!!

You know I suprise myself sometimes

 

[Smiffy]

Mizuno makes clubs for proper golfers

For fecks sake, don't tell them about me then

 

[USER1999]

So MX100s are for proper golfers? I think not.

I forgot Nike, for children and people who like their kit made by children.

 

[TonyN]

Bob, ben ross = skoda? Ya cheeky mere

 

[Redwood]

I wonder how any of us started out with 'one make' bags. Then as time passes we experiment with other brands and discover that sometimes we do actually like another brands kit? Was it such a barrier to cross to try another brands clubs, even with all the preconceptions?

I must admit Hapless, I'm there myself now.

Started playing Ping's as my first serious set, and ditched the wedges about a 8 months back for Vokeys, and love them. Now looking at replacing my i5's, and even though I really like the look of the i15's, am wondering if a move to Titleist's or some other manufacturer might not be the way forward!! I'm sure it will be the i15's though!!!

 

[HogansAlley]

Callaway are a GI brand for High Handicapers with more money than ability who like Gimmicks and think another Hybrid will help more than a lesson

Taylormade are an asset stripping company who destroyed Maxfli, make gimmicky equipment that is poor quality, whos products don't stand up to the hype, that is why they spend so much money on advertising

Nike like the brand all about image rather than substance

Wilson Solid brand makes quality products

Wise words, Freddie. I can't agree with Wilson though, but they do make great tennis rackets.

TaylorMade should be shot (yes, I own a TM 3wood) for crimes against Maxfli. Their Pro Special blades were superb, and that white/maroon tour bag that Woosie used in 1987 was a thing of great beauty.

 

[TonyN]

Callaway are a GI brand for High Handicapers with more money than ability who like Gimmicks and think another Hybrid will help more than a lesson

I know its your opinion but not sure these would help improve any high handicappers game

I agree on the mizuno front though

 

[freddielong]

obviously the exception that proves the rule, but they had to headhunt the head of another major manufacturer to make them.

 

[forefortheday]

So MX100s are for proper golfers? I think not.

I forgot Nike, for children and people who like their kit made by children.

So I'm not a "proper" golfer with a set of MX17's then Murph?

And they wonder why golf has an elitist image?

 

[viscount17]

I have no brand loyalty - they don't pay to have any - so it's pure perception as I can honestly say I haven't tried that many brands,

Nike - all flash and brash
Callaway - lumpy and ugly (I couldn't hit X20's)
Cleveland - a bit Newcastle - 'Grandad says they were great'
Titleist - expect everyone to be looking up to them in gratitude
TaylorMade - the brash kid from the Bronx, all the noise and colour but you know he'll make good.
Mizuno/Srixon - you just know he's going to go on forever, the Toyota/Subaru/Honda
Ping - the nice kid from college, you know he's makes howlers but you forgive him

 

[AndrewG]

Cobra - More bang for the buck, less flash and therefore more cool than TM. Gear for beginners through to scratch players with little difference in quality.

 

[colint]

Callaway are a GI brand for High Handicapers with more money than ability who like Gimmicks and think another Hybrid will help more than a lesson

Mizuno makes clubs for proper golfers

Wilson Solid brand makes quality products

Freddie, my Callaway X Forged would like to see your Mazda MX5's or whatever they're called outside, in the carpark, now !!