most overrated clubs/brands? most underrated?

[dmband8985]

title says it all i think. definition of overrated in my book is clubs that have more brand appeal than performance appeal...not to say that they aren't good products, but rather that there name makes them seem better than what they are...price is usually a factor in this, but price alone doesn't necessarily have to equal overrated. underrated equipment is clubs that often get passed over or overlooked despite the fact that they are on par performance wise. let's throw out components and imports because its not something that everyone can get there hands on sometimes. that said, here are mine:

overrated:
- titleist ap-1s- just don't live up to the titelist name in my opinion, at least not as much as some of their other irons including their brothers the ap-2s
- callaway ft-iq driver- eh, i think a lot of people will agree with me on this one
- most new taylor made irons (anything newer than r7's)- i think taylor made is starting to think they can sell crap as long as it looks futuristic, which is sad because the r7 and r7 tp's were so good
- scotty cameron putters- there are a lot of flatsticks out there for half the price that pack the same tech and feel as a scotty.


underrated:
-wilson staff pi7
-nickent hybrids
-topflite gamers
-adams irons-though i think they are soon to be headed into the the so underrated they are overrated...kind of like the Lamar Odom of the golf club world

[Wazzu8]

Yeah Wilson's irons are pretty good. Don't believe me ask Padraig.

Everyone makes fun of me for playing a "rock flite" until I spin it more than their 45$/box callies

[flap]

Well look at it the other way for years Wilson made the best irons on tour.In fact if you can find a set of "Goose Necks" you hit golfers lotto.

[GaijinGolfer]

IMO, Titleist is very much overrated. A lot of people seem to think that anything Titleist is the best, which IMO is a result of Achushnet's aggressive marketing and the fact that they will sponsor almost ANYONE.
Taylormade is a close 2nd. Too have a very aggressive marketing campaign and will sponsor anyone.
People see so many pros playing Titleist or Taylormade equipment and they think, "if the pros play it, that must mean its better."
In terms of underrated, Id have to say Wilson and Cleveland are 2 that come to mind. Both companies make good stuff, but never seem to get the respect or media attention that they deserve.

[dagolfer]

NICKENT. I believe these guys are overlooked way too much. I got rid of my old steel shafted hybrid for a nickent hybrid and i ended up owning two when it was all said and done. I still might not be done because i might go get a 14 degree one to act as a 3 wood.

[TyCobb]

Most underrated is Bridgestone.

[gmanuel25]

Anybody playing Tour Edge/Exotics? I don't know if these are over/underrated, do they play as well as their high $ price would suggest?

Just curious.

[Spackler-esque]

Most underrated is Bridgestone.

Very much agree with this. Their irons are very nice (I almost bought a set of unhit J33 combos... Gave me about two to three weeks more pause before ordering my Mizunos) and their balls are money.

In terms of balls, I'm very happy with Srixon's tour balls, both old and new. Haven't seen much mainstream press on them, but very impressed.

[pshizz]

callaway irons and drivers are overrated. I also believe that the pro v1 golf balls are overrated.
The bridgestone and TAYLORMADE TP balls are very underrated, and perform fantastically when i use them. I also think that mizuno irons are overrated on this forum. Don't get me wrong, mizuno makes good irons, but everyone on this forum makes them seem like slices of heaven.

[meenman]

Overrated : anything Bridgestone, Taylormade or Callaway - I see alot of Bridgestone honks here, I tried a few of their balls and the best part about them was hitting them into the lake. Ive played with too many people that use Callaway clubs and they just annoy me. Their high end balls did not impress me. Taylormade goes without saying - they sponsor everyone and really dont have a product that *stands out.*

Underrated : Srixon and Scotty Cameron. Srixon balls are definitely my second choice to play. I dont care what anyone says to justify not spending the money on a Scotty - there is no other putter that compares.

[ryohazuki222]

title says it all i think. definition of overrated in my book is clubs that have more brand appeal than performance appeal...not to say that they aren't good products, but rather that there name makes them seem better than what they are...price is usually a factor in this, but price alone doesn't necessarily have to equal overrated. underrated equipment is clubs that often get passed over or overlooked despite the fact that they are on par performance wise. let's throw out components and imports because its not something that everyone can get there hands on sometimes. that said, here are mine:

Just wondering how you can plop the Tour Preferred irons in the overated category if you think the r7 tps were so good. It's basically the same thing.

As far as irons I think bridgestone is underated. And as far as balls, I think TaylorMade is underrated. Most overated thing in golf is Scotty Cameron, imo.

[Kcas77]

callaway irons and drivers are overrated. I also believe that the pro v1 golf balls are overrated.

completely agree callaway sucks. I cant stand people who play all callie game improvement

[JetFan1983]

Damn, everyone knocking poor Taylormade. I've never tried any of their irons, drivers, putters, wedges, or golf balls, but dang it, my 5-wood Burner is my hero. I'd have no chance of survival on 6500+ yard courses without that club.

[uttexas]

underrated clubs (on this forum) Yonex, Bridgestone/Precept, Cobra, Wilson

Overrated clubs Nike, Callaway

Long overrated clubs, coming back down to Earth Ping, Titleist

[Spackler-esque]

Overrated : anything Bridgestone,

I guess you've never hit Bridgestone's irons. The really are wonderful. Bridgestone really isn't just their balls, though they do a great job with those, too.

Srixon balls are great. As for Scotty...

Most overated thing in golf is Scotty Cameron, imo.

I agree with ryo that they are overrated. I mean, with the cult following that will pay thousands and thousands of dollars for a putter and the presence that SC has on tour, how can you possibly call it underrated? Scotty's are considered by most golfers to be the best possible putter available. I just don't get calling them underrated.

Damn, everyone knocking poor Taylormade. I've never tried any of their irons, drivers, putters, wedges, or golf balls, but dang it, my 5-wood Burner is my hero. I'd have no chance of survival on 6500+ yard courses without that club.

If they didn't come out with a new driver, woods, and iron set every other week...

[Grndslmhttr3]

- most new taylor made irons (anything newer than r7's)- i think taylor made is starting to think they can sell crap as long as it looks futuristic, which is sad because the r7 and r7 tp's were so good

Agreed. My dad got for Christmas the R7 TP irons, and they have amazing feel and look to them. I am not a fan of the more recent TM irons. Their 3i Burner Rescue is phenomenal though.

In my opinion, many people overlook Cleveland clubs. Although I may be biased towards Cleveland, there is not much of a touring staff from Cleveland, obviously with Vijay as the one who sticks out. I think that I'm going to go Cleveland irons all the way. Their putters are excellent, too. And their wedges? Well that goes without saying...

Underrated : Srixon and Scotty Cameron. Srixon balls are definitely my second choice to play. I dont care what anyone says to justify not spending the money on a Scotty - there is no other putter that compares.

I find it a bit tough to call Scotty Cameron overrated when that seems to be the putter brand that about 90% of the people here drool over.

[maycam10]

overrated-callaway, some taylormade drivers,


underrated-adams no doubt, bridgestone, wilson

[iacas]

Okay, so here's the way this thread seems to have gone: "over-rated" = "I don't like them" and "under-rated" = "I like them."

Virtually every golf manufacturer makes good equipment for someone. Look at - just as an example - one company: Acushnet. They make Pinnacles and Titleist balls. They make Cobra and Titleist clubs. Both serve different markets. For a hacker, a Pro V1 and a Titleist ZM might be "over-rated." For a duffer who's just looking to have some fun and wanting game-improvement, Cobra clubs and some Pinnacles might be "under-rated."

I guess I just don't understand the point of these kinds of threads. It's just going the same way as "what's the best driver?" type threads go: everyone just recommends or says good things about whatever they've got.