Strengths/Weaknessess and "stereotypes" of Brands

[Knockglock]

Just curious/interested, what are the commonly agreed upon strengths and weaknesses of different golf brands? How are different brands looked at "stereotypically" (ie, brand x is for people with money to blow, etc.)

[ControlJunkie]

Mizuno - irons
Titleist - Balls, irons, wedges, putters
Callaway - Not quite sure what to say for Cally. Years back, the Big Bertha and Greatest Big Bertha drivers we probably the biggest stregth. Irons also. Oddessy is owned by Cally, so I guess putters as well
Ping - Irons, and the Anser putter, though I personally think the Rapture might be their biggest strength. Dont mean that as a knock on their irons, I mean it more as a compliment for the driver. G10 is a not too distant 2nd behind that.
Nike - I almost dont want to answer this one, because I tend to favor them a bit :) I'd feel like I wasnt answering the question fairly.
TaylorMade - Drivers

As far as the stereotypes, I really hate even getting into that discussion because I think it leads to nothing but flaming back and forth, and someone always ends up pissed off. Just my $.02.

[Shindig]

I'm discussing stereotypes here, because strengths and weaknesses aren't generally agreed upon.

Mizuno seems universally looked upon as clubs for good players. I was playing a few months ago with two guys whose handicaps had to have been around 30. One of them was using Mizuno's SGI set, and his friend told him those irons are only for really good players. I don't view this stereotype as true: Mizuno irons are great for great players, but they're also great for players who aren't. And there's a great player (Brian Gay) who has two Mizuno SGI irons in his bag.

Adams seems almost universally looked upon as your grandfather's clubs (I suspect this is especially true if your grandfather is Tom Watson). They're viewed as being aimed at slower swinging players who need help. However, I think they're starting to dispel this stereotype with their players' hybrids. However, including two hybrids in a set of players' irons doesn't help their stereotype any.

[Jesh]

Strengths:
Mizuno: Irons
TM: Drivers
Adams: Hybrids
Nike: I don't know really, never used 'em. I assume they are decent enough all around?
Titleist: Balls, Putters
Callaway: X series, be it woods, Irons. Also Odyssey are great putters

[Sowbug2000]

My opinion on the "stereotypes" of brands:

Titlest - players clubs, not so forgiving, good/expensive balls, some might say "elitist." < not me, but I've heard it said. Wedges and Putters are very popular and expensive. #1 Ball in Golf.

Mizuno - players clubs, great feel, strong following.

PING - irons, putters. Expensive. Some might say "elitist" < I wouldn't, see my signature! :) I'm not sure if they are considered players clubs, but classic maybe. PingEye2 are still played by many....and they are like 20 yrs old?

Calloway - great game improvement irons.

Taylor Made - Great drivers/fairway woods. Irons and balls are respected. TM owns Addidas. Good golf apparel.

Cleveland - Irons and Wedges. "Zip" Groves.

Cobra - I think they are great irons, but don't seem to be as popular as calloway.

Nike - My personal impression is "new" to golf. I did hit a 7 iron (don't know which set) and it was pretty good. Nike One balls are good/expensive. Good clothing. I'm not sure how much they pay Tiger, but it can't be enough.....without him, they wouldn't exist in golf.

Bridgestone - pricey but good golf balls.

Just my .02

[jamo]

Mizuno:forged irons
Titleist: Forged irons, vokeys, scotty cameron
Nike: Tiger Woods(nuf said), decent clubs
Taylor Made: Woods
Ping: Cast clubs, Anser
Callaway: Expensive
Cleveland: Hibore
Cobra: Odd-shaped drivers
Top Flite: rock-flites
Adams: hybrids
Bridgestone: good balls, underknown good irons

[CG031]

Mizuno:forged irons
Titleist: Forged irons, vokeys, scotty cameron, and top golf balls
Nike: More flashy clubs and equipment in general, cuz of Tiger
Taylor Made: Woods and Drivers
Ping: Woods, Drivers, and Anser putters
Callaway: Pretty well rounded, with the Odessey putters as well.
Cleveland: Wedges
Cobra: Odd-shaped, and sounding drivers
Top Flite: rock hard golf balls, lol
Adams: hybrids
Bridgestone: good balls, clubs fly 'under the radar'

[whip_it_out]

Mizuno for the irons, Titleist for Vokey's and balls, Callaway and Adams for ultra forgiving, adn Nike for clothing.

[HytrewQasdfg]

Titleist: the standard for balls, "players" irons, tour quality wedges, Scotty Cameron putters, woods do not have as good a reputation as rest of the line.

Mizuno: bi-polar company. Forged irons an object of worship by some (almost a cult following) while woods cosidered only average (or below) by most.

Callaway: high end game improvement clubs. If you need all the help you can get from your clubs, and want everyone to know that price was no object you purchase Callaways.

Nike: marketing company.

TaylorMade: Woods full of technology. This is what computer nerds play.

Adams: hybrids, several of their driver heads have a strong following among people that compete in long driving competitions.

Nickent: clubs people pass over because they look so strange, then fall in love with if they try them. Another nerd's club.

Ping: riding on their past reputation. Another brand with something of a cult following.

Cleveland: believed by most to be based in Cleveland, Ohio.

[Power_fade]

Callaway:
Strengths: FT series is made out of space-age materials, long-standing enigineering knowhow backed by a very talented staff. All-around good.
Cons: None, really.

Titleist:
Strengths: Unmatched in the better player's department. Workable, accurate, a ton of custom options, and undoubtably the best looking clubs on the market. Not to mention Scotty and the Pro V1/V1x
Cons: Expensive, not much for high handicaps.

Cleveland:
Strengths: Wedges, decent irons, and the Hi-bore series really does work. Also have a good lineup of balls and putters.
Cons: Limited options, Hibore keeps getting uglier.

Ping:
S: Anser and Eye2 are legendary, all of their clubs are solid. Had the original fitting system.
C: No forged clubs, and lime green and orange? Really?

TaylorMade:
S: Really is No. 1 driver in golf. TONS of options available, and since a new one comes out every year, you can get last years model at an affordable price. Fairway woods are just as good as Drivers. Irons and balls are both decent.
C: New stuff costs an arm and a leg, wedges aren't great, and putters are crap.

And Mizuno has pretty much been summed up already.

[kleraudio]

Does Mizuno make irons that arent forged, and more forgiving for a higher handicap? I was gonna buy myself a new iron set for Xmas and by what everyone is saying about Mizuno, I think I may try out some of their irons....

Only if they have some more forgiving irons..

Jim

[tjy355]

Just curious/interested, what are the commonly agreed upon strengths and weaknesses of different golf brands? How are different brands looked at "stereotypically" (ie, brand x is for people with money to blow, etc.)

I think you misspelled "commonly repeated on internet forums by anonymous posters."

[Power_fade]

Does Mizuno make irons that arent forged, and more forgiving for a higher handicap? I was gonna buy myself a new iron set for Xmas and by what everyone is saying about Mizuno, I think I may try out some of their irons....

They have plenty that are forgiving and for higher handicaps, but there are more forgiving options. Look at the mx series. The lower the number, the more forgiving the iron.

[Shorty]

TaylorMade:

Since when was a year six weeks long?

[wedge player]

i like how everyone heres hatin on nike.

[RocketSauce]

Nickent = Hybrids
and imo deservedly so. the 5DX is THE best hybrid I have ever hit by far

[Jhans9c1]

When I was young(8-10 years) I used to think Mizuno was the raingear and umbrella company

[AlphaRider]

Nike - I tend to think of them as back of the pack in research and development. They are obviously a marketing machine. not just from Tiger but from how they even label there clubs. Sasquash has got to be the most retarded name ever concieved for a driver.....honestly. Not to mention there wood line is yellow....wheres the victory red huh?

On the bright side, I've played their balls and for some reason enjoy the super-soft and super-spins but have never tried the "one" series.

There blade irons are gorgeous and tempt me ever day...lol

Callaway - I'm a lefty so I've always followed my brothren Phil and play almost every callaway ball I can find. I enjoy how soft their "tour-i" balls and they rank as one of my favorite balls. Their irons seem to be an identical version of the "x-??" set before it. The fact that their driver is a flying brick is enough to detour me from giving it a shot (Call me shallow, but I like a good looking club).

I think that like Nike has Tiger driving it, Callaway owes Phil a great deal as well.

Titleist - I've used there 975D Driver since I was 14 and honestly hate the thing...lol. I know the stereotype is that their drivers are for "players" but I honestly agree with that. It reacts much more to an off hit or an outside-inside swing path than other drivers, this includes there new drivers as well.

There balls are very good and its kind of funny that I wont really play a ProV1 because I feel like I'm almost forced too. I play other premium balls and have been trying to find flaws with the ProV1/x forever and still cant.

The vokey wedges will be my next 56/60 and I've read nothing but good things about them.

The irons are viewed as "players" irons again. Although I've never tried their irons I somehow don't buy into that stereotype. I think there irons are above average in terms of quality and workability but also believe you could learn to hit a set without much difficulty.

Taylor Made - Like I said previously I hate feeling like I have to jump on the wagon and play the most popular driver so I dont. My two close friends play the Burner Tour and R7 and they absolutely love the club. It's very forgiving and I've seen a big improvement in my league partners game because of it.

I'm sure everyone remembers the Ti-bubble driver with the fat shaft, it was my frist driver and I loved it...lol.

The irons get no respect from me, I'm sure I'm being close-minded but I don't een want to give them the time of day.

I was lucky enough to find a TP Red ball last week and played a round with it 2 days ago. I think it's a step in the right direction but still doesn't compare to 5 other premium balls I could list.

Cobra - I've always been fond of this company because I drink King Cobra Malt Liqour 40's....LOL. It's a bad reason but hey, sometimes marketing does get the best of me.

The drivers in a no bias way are great . I went to a launch monitor and an outside range and out of ALOT of drivers I found the S9-1 to be my personal favorite

I've always been intruiged to try out their iron's, mainly the CB/MB Pro but I can't find them anywhere in right handed so theres not a chance of finding a left handed set to test...lol. I think they are comparable to the Nike Blades, and Bridgestone J-series.

I'm dissapointed with there cheapo iron sets though, The S9's were reviewed as great game improving irons but I actually dissagree.

Bridgestone - GREAT BALLS. Well, great "premium balls" I should say. The B330 is one of the balls I play which I enjoy more than the ProV's. The E-series is nothing special outside of the fancy marketing.

I've heard great things about the J-36 irons and would actually buy a set if they came in left handed. They are an under-rated iron as stated in previous threads but I also have to say they look like pure sex...especially the black series....OMG.



Side notes:

-Nicket hybrids are great
-Srixon balls are comparable to Bridgestone/ProV's
-The Gamer by Top Flight is no joke
-Oddessy putters are over-rated.....honestly