We’ve told you about the new TP Balls from TaylorMade. We’ve shown you the reveal video. We’ve told you what it’s like to be there and we even produced a special-edition podcast. Now it’s time for the final piece, the video from the driving range last Monday morning.
The video largely features Dean Snell talking about the development of the TP Red and the TP Black. He begins by talking about the TrackMan system TaylorMade uses to analyze launch and flight data. He talks about the problems they had to overcome in getting pros to switch to the TP balls. You’ll also see Sergio’s, uhh, “unique” ball stamp. In the end, Sergio hits two drives – one with his old ball and one with the TaylorMade TP Red.
Throughout the video you’ll catch a glimpse at some of the private jokes and the lighthearted nature of the whole event. Enjoy.
Continue reading “TaylorMade TP Ball Launch: On the Range Video”
If you’ve played golf for any length of time – like in the past 70 years – and played a ball other than a Titleist or Top-Flite, you may very well have played a ball made by Sumitomo Rubber Industries. Never heard of them? Well, neither had I until this winter when hanging around my clubmaker’s shop wishing it were spring, I spotted an unusual-looking iron – a demo forged 6 iron my clubmaker had picked up at the PGA Show.
The Masters has concluded, and Phil sits alone at the top of the leader board. I don’t know about you, but I really think they need to move the jacket ceremony out of Butler Cabin and onto the 18th green or something else. It just seems so awkward watching the whole scenario play out. I’d also love to know what Tiger was thinking as he slipped that coat on Phil.
Well, Phil Mickelson finally knows how to close out in majors. Gone is the swashbuckling Phil of old, swapped out for a new safe-playing nearly bogey-less model. Phil was unwavering down the stretch at the Masters, playing nearly flawless golf on the way to his third career and second consecutive major. Speaking of the second consecutive major, there has been much talk of a Phil Slam with him having to win only two more majors in order to match a feat only Tiger has achieved. However, Lefty claims that hasn’t even entered his mind as he plays one shot at a time.
The road to excellence and success naturally takes one through difficult experiences. Tom Watson has walked that road before on and off the golf course. “If you want to increase your success rate,” said Watson, “double your failure rate.” I suppose thats what we fans have the hardest time understanding sometimes. Examples abound: Phil Mickelson was once “the best player to have never won a major,” Tiger Woods went through his “slumps,” Greg Norman had his epic meltdowns, and Tom Watson was once thought of as a “choker.”
Are you the sort of person who has multiple pairs of sunglasses laying about? One in the car, one in your briefcase, one in your jacket pocket. And, hopefully, one in your golf bag (in case you haven’t heard, prolonged exposure to the sun is bad for your eyes. Got it?).
Last weekend, Donald MacKenzie and I had an opportunity to head to Greensboro, GA and the 
There are a lot of great Masters moments. When I was growing up and starting to play and appreciate the game a bit, the scenes at Augusta were the ones that stood out. I wanted to take some time this week to look at the moments I remember most vividly… and some of the numbers behind them.