#1 Drivers on Tour?!?

[Dr_Fu_Manchu]

I am sure that everyone has seen the commercial by now from TaylorMade about being the #1 Driver on Tour, even more that all the other combined.

I don't play a TaylorMade driver, but I have a hard time believing that the drivers are that much better. What is it that makes their drivers so much better that a Ping, Calloway, Titleist, etc? How did they get to this level?

[Taylor Shrake]

The taylormade r9 has 2 ways to change your shot. You can move the head around and move weights around. So if you always go right you can change the driver to bias left, which leads to a more straight shot. It was winning a lot of tourneys earlier in the year, but lately the Nike Dymo driver is taking over.

[Shindig]

  Dr_Fu_Manchu said:

I am sure that everyone has seen the commercial by now from TaylorMade about being the #1 Driver on Tour, even more that all the other combined.

The fact that they pay a number of professionals to use their driver comes to mind.

They also come out with a new one every week or so, so someone who loves new drivers and having the latest is always there. There was a rumor a while back that many of the "TaylorMade" drivers on tour were another brand (I forget which) with a TM headcover.

[deronsizemore]

Being #1 on tour doesn't necessarily mean it's better than what you currently have. A lot of it has to do with the golfer and a bad golfer will struggle with a Dunlap or a TaylorMade, it won't matter. Being #1 on tour just means that more players play TaylorMade drivers on tour than any other brand which also could mean that TaylorMade is shelling out more money to people to play their equipment on tour just so they can get the label of "#1 on tour." I'm not saying their drivers are bad because they're not; they are very good clubs actually but I personally don't care for them. However, anytime TaylorMade wants to give me a multimillion dollar contract to play their clubs, I'll gladly switch.

[chriskzoo]

I heard an interview with the President of Taylor Made and he said that in the end, every top manufacturer knows they all have good equipment, but that TM differntiates themselves as a "driver" company, just like Titleist is primarily a "ball" company, even though both make every piece of equipment. Inherently both companies put the bulk of their money into those two areas and that's usually what separates them.

[AmenCorner]

  deronsizemore said:

However, anytime TaylorMade wants to give me a multimillion dollar contract to play their clubs, I'll gladly switch.

Man, you really are a swell guy!

[capo]

Actually in that commercial I dont remember hearing Titleist. They list all the other companies and say they beat them combined.

I could be wrong though.

[CG031]

  deronsizemore said:

Being #1 on tour doesn't necessarily mean it's better than what you currently have. A lot of it has to do with the golfer and a bad golfer will struggle with a Dunlap or a TaylorMade, it won't matter. Being #1 on tour just means that more players play TaylorMade drivers on tour than any other brand which also could mean that TaylorMade is shelling out more money to people to play their equipment on tour just so they can get the label of "#1 on tour." I'm not saying their drivers are bad because they're not; they are very good clubs actually but I personally don't care for them. However, anytime TaylorMade wants to give me a multimillion dollar contract to play their clubs, I'll gladly switch.

Yup, I agree with this post here. Their drivers aren't inferior but I don't find them any better than the Callaway, Titleist, Ping, etc.(top brands) latest technology/equipment.

[Shindig]

  capo said:

Actually in that commercial I dont remember hearing Titleist. They list all the other companies and say they beat them combined.

I suspect that Titleist isn't mentioned, or beaten. Titleist is also kind of known for having a

huge stable of touring professionals. It isn't quite to the level of sponsoring anyone who asks, but it isn't that far from it either. And then those guys get just about everything.

[enis750]

big bank accounts = more tour players using their equipment - that's my guess
yeah, they don't metion Titleist in that commercial either....wonder why?
maybe because they don't sell more than Titleist? dunno

just seems to me like everyone and thier dog either has an R7 or R9 in their bag
i like to somewhat different AND still play gear that suits my game

R9 looks too complicated

[Big_M]

  deronsizemore said:

Being #1 on tour doesn't necessarily mean it's better than what you currently have. A lot of it has to do with the golfer and a bad golfer will struggle with a Dunlap or a TaylorMade, it won't matter. Being #1 on tour just means that more players play TaylorMade drivers on tour than any other brand which also could mean that TaylorMade is shelling out more money to people to play their equipment on tour just so they can get the label of "#1 on tour." I'm not saying their drivers are bad because they're not; they are very good clubs actually but I personally don't care for them. However, anytime TaylorMade wants to give me a multimillion dollar contract to play their clubs, I'll gladly switch.

I share many of the same sentiments

  chriskzoo said:

I heard an interview with the President of Taylor Made and he said that in the end, every top manufacturer knows they all have good equipment, but that TM differntiates themselves as a "driver" company, just like Titleist is primarily a "ball" company, even though both make every piece of equipment. Inherently both companies put the bulk of their money into those two areas and that's usually what separates them.

I don't think you could call Titleist primarily a "ball" company considering the popularity of other things they make... but I get your point, and I tend to agree that TM does focus a a fair amount of energy on their drivers. Funny thing is, the drivers they have been producing lately have been my least favorite of their equipment.

[ControlJunkie]

  Big_M said:

I don't think you could call Titleist primarily a "ball" company considering the popularity of other things they make... but I get your point, and I tend to agree that TM does focus a a fair amount of energy on their drivers.

I don't play any TM clubs, but don't have a problem with them either. I know they make some quality equipment. Having said that, I do know quite a few people that say the exact same thing you said. One friend of mine decided to stick with his R7 after looking hard at the R9. After taking a few swings with the R9, he said it just "wasnt quite there", meaning up to the same level with his R7. He said he wasnt disappointed with it, if he was shopping for a new one, it would be in his top 5, but it wasn't enough to unseat his R7.

I hit a R9 at a demo day, and I thought it was definitely a solid offering, but I walked away liking a couple of the other drivers (Ping G10 and Rapture V2) a little better.

[lazykoala]

I've always wanted a taylor made driver even though I am a nike fan and the dymo str8 fit looks pretty close to the r9. But my dream set would include a taylor made driver for sure.

[Kcas77]

Pros could use any companies driver head and produce similar results (to an extent) The shaft and loft is more important than the actual driver. Personally I think Taylormade is is way too concerned with making people hit the ball farther. They even promote having a lighter grip for a higher swing speed I MEAN COME ON! I have to say they make solid drivers but I would get the stock shaft replaced on the non TP clubs.

[whetstone]

From what I see, 95% of the difference between the top makers is marketing, the other 5% is paint.