Tee Up Money and Quality of Pro Equipment

[SuaSponteMn]

Go ahead and tell every tour pro using an r7 that he's "taking away from the skills of the game."

Regarding the tour and the use of the R7, is it true (to a certain extent) that reason for it's popularity is that Taylormade pays out more than a lot of the other companies to the players using it?

Serious question, not trying to stir the R7 pot...

[iacas]

Regarding the tour and the use of the R7, is it true (to a certain extent) that reason for it's popularity is that Taylormade pays out more than a lot of the other companies to the players using it?

Edit:

Off-topic. I moved this to a new thread.

[aquacooled]

erik I know you just said off topic, however I just have to add my $0.02.

SuaSponteMn do you really think that tour players would play a piece of equipment if it wasnt of the very best quality?

I think not.....

[SuaSponteMn]

erik I know you just said off topic, however I just have to add my $0.02.

Since you're adding your $0.02 please allow me to respond, and with all do respect, my apologies...

I was not inferring that the driver wasn't a quality product, ALL the drivers built by the larger companies are quality products in my opinion (Callaway, Titleist, Taylormade, Cleveland, Cobra, etc). My question was related to the fact that most tour players can hit any of the previously mentioned drivers straight down the middle and as long as the summer solstice; but so many of them choose the R7. I heard rumors that it was related to how much Taylormade pays their atheletes and was just looking for clarification; nothing more. I don't dislike the club, I'm a huge fan of technology in golf and clearly the R7 was one of the ground breaking drivers with regards to that. Just to touch briefly on the nature and topic of my post, I was responding to other members who had already made comments specifically related to this golf club:

Hey, hey, hey! Trust me, the r7 is not some magical slice/hook-proof wand that can turn the high handicapper into Tiger Woods. It's akin to the old timers that you're talking about slapping lead tape on everything in the bag, and no different than your draw-biased r580 xd (which is heel-weighted, by the way). The only difference is those who do not need help squaring the clubface have the option of repositioning the weight toward the toe of the clubhead, while eliminating the inaccuracy of DIY lead tape jobs and dramatically altering the swingweight.

Me either. I actually don't like all the screws to adjust the way the ball flies on the R7. Takes away from the skills of the game

Had they been advised that they were off-topic I certainly would not have responded with my question. It was never my intent to respond in an off-topic manner. I included a caviat indicating that my question was sincere; my motives were nothing other than participating in the dicsussion.

-Mike

[Lefty2380]

i dont think it was off topic so much as it was further discussion...

The whole technology deal is a very sensitive topic right now (i think I'm going to start a new threead about it in a minute). With new meterials and clubs like hybrids and alike being developed year after year, its hard to say that technology takes away from the game when scores arn't getting any lower...

For instance, the R7 may allow you to adjust the weight, but for the average golfer, it doesn't alliow for improper swing mechanics...sometimes the adjustment in weight can amplify the undesired swing and push that 280 yard drive further into the woods...

that being said, i think further technological advances in golf would greatly benifit the game...anything to bring more people in is a great achivement, and making it easier to begin is even better...

As an equipment obsessed golfsmith myself (here is where i bring it back to topic) I am always looking for a new way to shape my shots. i have multiple hybrids (check out the ones they have on www.paradoxgolf.com ) with the movable weights and I like to hit them at the range. if i can blast a 240 yard 21* hybrid and shape the shot I want, what's the reason I can't use it? because it makes it easier? I still have to put the right swing with the right line with the right amount of spin with the right distance on the ball...call it what you want but DON'T call it easy...

[iacas]

Just to clarify, it's my understanding that pretty much everyone has a long-term contract (months, years) nowadays. There's no such thing as "tee up money" anymore. The bigger names have one-company deals, while everyone else mixes and matches their contracts - TM driver, Ping irons, Titleist fairway wood and putter, Cleveland wedges... that sort of thing.

Let's imagine a scenario in which Joe Schmoe is #160 on the money list but playing in a tournament. Let's suppose he can get $15k for the year playing a TM driver, but only $10k from Cleveland.

Given that $5k is just about last-place money, if the pro feels that the Cleveland driver is even a quarter of a shot better over a round of golf, there's no way it's worth $5k to play something else - he can make that money back by playing better.

I've talked with TM, and without getting into specifics, I know that they feel that they're using the players as R&D; guys, too. They're testing, validating, and advertising the product on Tour.

That being said, the simple fact that the r7 itself is so flexible, and the service the TM guys give in the van is so great, that a lot of pros go with TM stuff.

I don't think the amount they're paid really ever factors into it. It's not chump change, the differences between TM and, say, Nickent or Srixon maybe, but at the same time, the difference in money pales in comparison to what a pro can earn by playing one or two shots better of the course of four days.

[SuaSponteMn]

I've talked with TM, and without getting into specifics, I know that they feel that they're using the players as R&D; guys, too. They're testing, validating, and advertising the product on Tour.

I appreciate the information, the impression I got from this particular person was that the money was substancially more, from what you're saying here, it's not. That would make a certain amount of sense seeing as this person worked for one of the larger golf retailers and was definately pushing me towards a different brand (Not Cleveland believe it or not

)

[allin]

Just to clarify, it's my understanding that pretty much everyone has a long-term contract (months, years) nowadays. There's no such thing as "tee up money" anymore. The bigger names have one-company deals, while everyone else mixes and matches their contracts - TM driver, Ping irons, Titleist fairway wood and putter, Cleveland wedges... that sort of thing.

I knew some pros have full bag deals, but aren't there still bonus pools that are shared by pros under contract, based on who has the best results? Last I knew Cobra, Titlesist and Ping did this. Maybe I am out of date on this. You are better connected than I am for sure.

[iacas]

I knew some pros have full bag deals, but aren't there still bonus pools that are shared by pros under contract, based on who has the best results? Last I knew Cobra, Titlesist and Ping did this. Maybe I am out of date on this. You are better connected than I am for sure.

Not too many bonus pools anymore, no. Went the way of the dodo for the most part around the turn of the century.

[Puttin4Bird]

Something I've noticed with the guys on tour is that perhaps they'll have a contract for Cleveland or something so they'll have that head cover on top of a Titleist or Taylor Made driver. Mickelson, when he was with Titleist had a Callaway 3 wood under a Titleist head cover. Some of it might be for looks etc but by and large I think anyone on the PGA Tour who earns his living based on how he plays golf is going want the club in his bag that he hits the best, no matter if it MacGregor or Northwestern.

[Rafcin]

indeed, but remember - most of the tour players (let's say bottom 50 of the top 125) makes definitely more money from endorsments than tournament prize funds... actually with the recent contracts (Woods and Wie are the poster kids) - even the top players (in Woods case) or most popular( in Wie's case ) base their income on endorsment money.
The most famous case of a "fake headcover" was Vijay Singh, who was playing with a r7 for 1/2 of a season in 2005 before Cleveland came up with a driver he liked...

[Xt1ncT]

I heard from a reliable source that Taylor Made were paying 2000 pounds to each pro who teed up with an R7 in The Open a couple of years ago.

Most of the better known players will have contracts that allow them to play something else if they are not happy with their sponsors product - a la Tiger when he went back to his Titleist driver a couple of years ago.

[ragontona]

The most famous case of a "fake headcover" was Vijay Singh, who was playing with a r7 for 1/2 of a season in 2005 before Cleveland came up with a driver he liked...

Just this year, Cobra staff player Geoff Ogilvy won the Accenture Match Play Championship with a Taylor Made r7 (with a Cobra headcover). He finally did switch to the Cobra X/Speed, and proceeded to win the US Open with that.

[aquacooled]

I purchase allot of equipment from TM for a small store. They told me they have contracts with players from clothing to equipment, but they do not pay per play that was a couple of years ago but not anymore.. and as far as every good player can just pound any brand right down the middle? that might be true to an extent however can they do it everytime, and do they like the feel, sound or feedback from there club? that is why there are so many companies. I myself could never play callaway not because they dont make some of the best clubs in the world, no because I cant stand the way any of them look. To me there soooo ugly.... if my dog was that ugly I would shave his ass and teach him to walk backwards..