Jump to content
IGNORED

TaylorMade Prepping to produce Non-Conforming Clubs


Note: This thread is 3903 days old. We appreciate that you found this thread instead of starting a new one, but if you plan to post here please make sure it's still relevant. If not, please start a new topic. Thank you!

Recommended Posts

  • Moderator

In this article by Steve Pike , TaylorMade-adidas Executive Vice President Sean Toulon suggests the company is working on some non-conforming equipment to help grow the game. I guess we'll find out if the equipment rules are really holding golfers back from playing the game lol   Should be interesting.

Quote:
Neither TaylorMade-adidas Golf CEO Mark King nor Executive Vice President Sean Toulon are fans of the USGA’s anchoring ban that takes effect in 2016. King this past January went as far saying the ban – aimed at long putters and belly putters – would be the demise of the U.S. Golf Association. Toulon last week at an equipment seminar in Orlando said he believes the ban will keep Champions Tour stars Fred Couples and Bernard Langer from competing in 2016 when it takes effect.
TMaG’s next move? Probably within the next 18 months, Toulon told me, TMaG or one of its other companies (think Adams Golf) will unveil a new line of “bunny slope” clubs.

“We’ll go right to USGA jail with all this stuff,” said Toulon, the implication being the new clubs will not conform to the USGA Rules of Golf.

Stay tuned.

Mike McLoughlin

Check out my friends on Evolvr!
Follow The Sand Trap on Twitter!  and on Facebook
Golf Terminology -  Analyzr  -  My FacebookTwitter and Instagram 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Awards, Achievements, and Accolades

LOL @ bunny slopes.

Yours in earnest, Jason.
Call me Ernest, or EJ or Ernie.

PSA - "If you find yourself in a hole, STOP DIGGING!"

My Whackin' Sticks: :cleveland: 330cc 2003 Launcher 10.5*  :tmade: RBZ HL 3w  :nickent: 3DX DC 3H, 3DX RC 4H  :callaway: X-22 5-AW  :nike:SV tour 56* SW :mizuno: MP-T11 60* LW :bridgestone: customized TD-03 putter :tmade:Penta TP3   :aimpoint:

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Awards, Achievements, and Accolades

The USGA risks creating demand for a rival association.

Focus, connect and follow through!

  • Completed KBS Education Seminar (online, 2015)
  • GolfWorks Clubmaking AcademyFitting, Assembly & Repair School (2012)

Driver:  :touredge: EXS 10.5°, weights neutral   ||  FWs:  :callaway: Rogue 4W + 7W
Hybrid:  :callaway: Big Bertha OS 4H at 22°  ||  Irons:  :callaway: Mavrik MAX 5i-PW
Wedges:  :callaway: MD3: 48°, 54°... MD4: 58° ||  Putter:image.png.b6c3447dddf0df25e482bf21abf775ae.pngInertial NM SL-583F, 34"  
Ball:  image.png.f0ca9194546a61407ba38502672e5ecf.png QStar Tour - Divide  ||  Bag: :sunmountain: Three 5 stand bag

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Awards, Achievements, and Accolades

The ego of TM is getting a little out of control.

Whats in my :sunmountain: C-130 cart bag?

Woods: :mizuno: JPX 850 9.5*, :mizuno: JPX 850 15*, :mizuno: JPX-850 19*, :mizuno: JPX Fli-Hi #4, :mizuno: JPX 800 Pro 5-PW, :mizuno: MP T-4 50-06, 54-09 58-10, :cleveland: Smart Square Blade and :bridgestone: B330-S

Link to comment
Share on other sites


I only hope they're labelled properly, and in a way that can't be covered up with some paint. Otherwise this could make low-key amateur tournaments and club championships a mess.
  • Upvote 2

In my bag:

Driver: Titleist TSi3 | 15º 3-Wood: Ping G410 | 17º 2-Hybrid: Ping G410 | 19º 3-Iron: TaylorMade GAPR Lo |4-PW Irons: Nike VR Pro Combo | 54º SW, 60º LW: Titleist Vokey SM8 | Putter: Odyssey Toulon Las Vegas H7

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Awards, Achievements, and Accolades

I started playing golf a month and a half ago and I can tell you that before that time, I had never heard of a "long putter", "belly putter", or "anchoring". My recent interest in playing golf had absolutely nothing to do with the equipment.  Nothing. At. All.

"No man goes round boasting of his vices,” he said, “except golfers." 

-- Det. Elk in The Twister by Edgar Wallace

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Awards, Achievements, and Accolades

I only hope they're labelled properly, and in a way that can't be covered up with some paint..

That's pretty amazing paint if it can disguise a long putter! ;-)

  • Upvote 2

Bag It:

3-Wood Wishon 525 F/D, 13*, Matrix Studio 65gm, Golf Pride Dual Compound
Hybrid: Wishon "321", 24*, MSF 85 HB, Winn DSI
Irons: Wishon 770CFE, Matrix Studio 74gm, Winn DSI

Putter: Odyssey DFX 2-Ball

Bag: Some big, honkin', ridiculous overkill of an Ogio cart bag with more pockets than I have teeth.

Link to comment
Share on other sites


That's pretty amazing paint if it can disguise a long putter! ;-)

I was assuming they were talking about non-conforming woods and irons too. The long putter is still legal as a piece of equipment, after all. But, y'know, maybe they'll take the "Ghost" name literally.

In my bag:

Driver: Titleist TSi3 | 15º 3-Wood: Ping G410 | 17º 2-Hybrid: Ping G410 | 19º 3-Iron: TaylorMade GAPR Lo |4-PW Irons: Nike VR Pro Combo | 54º SW, 60º LW: Titleist Vokey SM8 | Putter: Odyssey Toulon Las Vegas H7

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Awards, Achievements, and Accolades

I have no problem with this. If a hacker is going to take mulligans on every other hole who cares if he uses a nonconforming club? If someone rakes in their four-footer what's the difference?
  • Upvote 1

Colin P.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Awards, Achievements, and Accolades

Eh... kind of disappointed by this. What's the point of playing the game if your going to do it with clubs that are against the rules. Obviously a lot of people don't care but, still, I don't like it.

It seems like TaylorMade is just pressing the issue and trying to get under the skin of the USGA.

  • Upvote 1

Tristan Hilton

My Equipment: 
PXG 0211 Driver (Diamana S+ 60; 10.5°) · PXG 0211 FWs (Diamana S+ 60; 15° and 21°) · PXG 0211 Hybrids (MMT 80; 22°, 25°, and 28°) · PXG 0311P Gen 2 Irons (SteelFiber i95; 7-PW) · Edel Wedges (KBS Hi-Rev; 50°, 55°, 60°) · Edel Classic Blade Putter (32") · Vice Pro or Maxfli Tour · Pinned Prism Rangefinder · Star Grips · Flightscope Mevo · TRUE Linkswear Shoes · Sun Mountain C130S Bag

On my MacBook Pro:
Analyzr Pro

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Awards, Achievements, and Accolades

But, y'know, maybe they'll take the "Ghost" name literally.

Lol. Maybe they will. (I was just having some fun. Hope you don't think I was busting your chops :-D )

  • Upvote 1

Bag It:

3-Wood Wishon 525 F/D, 13*, Matrix Studio 65gm, Golf Pride Dual Compound
Hybrid: Wishon "321", 24*, MSF 85 HB, Winn DSI
Irons: Wishon 770CFE, Matrix Studio 74gm, Winn DSI

Putter: Odyssey DFX 2-Ball

Bag: Some big, honkin', ridiculous overkill of an Ogio cart bag with more pockets than I have teeth.

Link to comment
Share on other sites


Originally Posted by tristanhilton85

Eh... kind of disappointed by this. What's the point of playing the game if your going to do it with clubs that are against the rules. Obviously a lot of people don't care but, still, I don't like it.

It seems like TaylorMade is just pressing the issue and trying to get under the skin of the USGA.

Agreed 100%.

Playing a game by bending the rules and not playing it the way it was meant to be played is like playing Texas Hold'em against yourself, GoFish against yourself, a pick-up basketball game on a 7' hoop, etc. To me it is just pointless and lightens the challenge that makes the game appealing. Honestly, we all cuss our ball up and down sometimes, and even ourselves, but the challenge of the game and reaping occasional rewards against all odds on that "day maker" shot is what keeps us honest and coming back for more.

I don't want a 500cc driver, or a wedge with wider non-conforming grooves. I don't want to go to a bunny slope 9 hole course and shoot under par and hang the scorecard up on my fridge.

Damnit, I want to go shoot my 78-88 and either get celebratory drunk after my round or laugh in a crazy-guy way after blowing up back to back snowmen on my scorecard type of drunk! Either way, I'm grinding with the rules and continuing my borderline stroke-inducing game!

PS: F TaylorMade and Mark King.

  • Upvote 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites


I think its an interesting idea.

Dan

:tmade: R11s 10.5*, Adila RIP Phenom 60g Stiff
:ping: G20 3W
:callaway: Diablo 3H
:ping:
i20 4-U, KBS Tour Stiff
:vokey: Vokey SM4 54.14 
:vokey: Vokey :) 58.11

:scotty_cameron: Newport 2
:sunmountain: Four 5

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Awards, Achievements, and Accolades

I'm with Jamo, as long as they have some identifying feature that can't be masked so you know what it is...maybe a built in mp3 thingy that screams "cheater!" when you swing it.

Yours in earnest, Jason.
Call me Ernest, or EJ or Ernie.

PSA - "If you find yourself in a hole, STOP DIGGING!"

My Whackin' Sticks: :cleveland: 330cc 2003 Launcher 10.5*  :tmade: RBZ HL 3w  :nickent: 3DX DC 3H, 3DX RC 4H  :callaway: X-22 5-AW  :nike:SV tour 56* SW :mizuno: MP-T11 60* LW :bridgestone: customized TD-03 putter :tmade:Penta TP3   :aimpoint:

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Awards, Achievements, and Accolades

Originally Posted by Forsythe04

well I play wedges that are no longer conforming (cg15's) and I certainly dont care. Im in no way going to play any type of competition. I'm like the idea a little

FYI, if you don't play in competition, then your wedges are not actually non-conforming until 2024.  I'm guessing most people like you will have bought new ones by then, not even necessarily because they want to conform, but simply because it's a long time to have wedges.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Awards, Achievements, and Accolades

Originally Posted by GaijinGolfer

The ego of TM is getting a little out of control.

Originally Posted by jamo

I only hope they're labelled properly, and in a way that can't be covered up with some paint. Otherwise this could make low-key amateur tournaments and club championships a mess.

Originally Posted by tristanhilton85

Eh... kind of disappointed by this. What's the point of playing the game if your going to do it with clubs that are against the rules. Obviously a lot of people don't care but, still, I don't like it.

It seems like TaylorMade is just pressing the issue and trying to get under the skin of the USGA.

Is it possible that that King guy is just full of hot air?  I mean, he seems to be kind of a loudmouth jerk, so perhaps he's just talking big, but doesn't actually plan on doing this?

I really can't imagine that there would be THAT big of a market for non-conforming clubs.  People you see on the golf course that use goofy things like the no-slice tees or the ball (that starts with a "p", but I forgot the actual name) that promises to go straight, are few and far between, AND are usually laughed at IN FRONT of their backs.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Awards, Achievements, and Accolades

Note: This thread is 3903 days old. We appreciate that you found this thread instead of starting a new one, but if you plan to post here please make sure it's still relevant. If not, please start a new topic. Thank you!

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now


  • Want to join this community?

    We'd love to have you!

    Sign Up
  • TST Partners

    TourStriker PlaneMate
    Golfer's Journal
    ShotScope
    The Stack System
    FlightScope Mevo
    Direct: Mevo, Mevo+, and Pro Package.

    Coupon Codes (save 10-15%): "IACAS" for Mevo/Stack, "IACASPLUS" for Mevo+/Pro Package, and "THESANDTRAP" for ShotScope.
  • Posts

    • Day 82: 3/18/24 Tried a Stack session but could not certify my warmup. Finished with indoor chips and putting. 
    • Day 96 (18 Mar 24) - Continued work with the Divot Board with the GW and hard foam balls.  Focused on small target/small miss…setup to hit target about 30yds out - success if it hit within 6’ circle of target, fail if outside.  Had decent success averaging about 3 out of 4 (hitting in groups of four).  
    • Wordle 1,003 3/6 🟩🟩🟩⬜⬜ 🟩🟩🟩⬜🟩 🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩   felt a little like Wyndham when the first three green and I began the fist pump…
    • I'm relieved someone finally defined hiking. I was giddy when I saw these new TPI videos a day or so after they dropped. Very easy to understand the problem and solution the way they have presented it. Been working on fixing this for about a year and a half now. It's nice to be able to call it something so communication becomes easy.  I was working on more lateral and up too, but just having someone define it clearly in video form was so helpful for me to continue confidently with what I thought was wrong and how I had to fix it.  My conceptual error here was just trying to rotate like a tour pro but without including the necessary forward pressure/weight shift associated with enough lateral and upward motion of the pelvis.  This video is great too, as is Greg Rose.
    • Day 2.    couple mins of rolling putts end over end.    10 mins of Slow, mirror work, working on starting the downswing and impact wrist positions. Hit a couple balls into the net after.    Then finished with a couple chips to see if I could repeat what I worked on yesterday. 
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

Welcome to TST! Signing up is free, and you'll see fewer ads and can talk with fellow golf enthusiasts! By using TST, you agree to our Terms of Use, our Privacy Policy, and our Guidelines.

The popup will be closed in 10 seconds...