Player personalities are not the only draw

[FHopper]

The PGA seems frantic to find other players to fill the personality void anytime Tiger does not play. I like the guys, most are entertaining to listen to and it is nice to have some feel for their personalities. However I wish the announcers would spend time on the equipment that is hitting each shot. I want to know what putter each person uses, I want to know what club brand is being hit and whether the club is current. I want to know if a player is using what his endorser is telling him to use of if he is using what he wants to use. For instance, NIKE certainly wishes Tiger would play a Nike putter but Tiger plays the putter and putter grip he likes. In other words I think there is a lot more to talk about when a player addresses the ball than his hair and funny belt. Golf hardware is a huge aspect of the game and it does not get the play by play "color" coverage it should.

[Shorty]

I want to know if a player is using what his endorser is telling him to use of if he is using what he wants to use.

Players always use what they are paid to play. Manufacturers and sponsors pay an absolute fortune for access to the Darrell Survey to make sure that they are. If a player is using a certain driver and a certain non-matching headcover, that doesn't mean they are being sneaky. They are keeping their sponsors happy and doing waht they are paid to do.

Tiger is not sponsored to use a Nike putter. Never has been. He is using what he wants to use in that department. As for the other part of your post, do you really think that commentators are going to talk about brand names and golf companies? They are paid to discuss golf, not endorse golf club manufacturers. If you are interested in what they are playing, you can usually see for yourself on TV or find out on the internet what they are using.

[Shanks A Million]

The PGA seems frantic to find other players to fill the personality void anytime Tiger does not play. I like the guys, most are entertaining to listen to and it is nice to have some feel for their personalities. However I wish the announcers would spend time on the equipment that is hitting each shot. I want to know what putter each person uses, I want to know what club brand is being hit and whether the club is current. I want to know if a player is using what his endorser is telling him to use of if he is using what he wants to use. For instance, NIKE certainly wishes Tiger would play a Nike putter but Tiger plays the putter and putter grip he likes. In other words I think there is a lot more to talk about when a player addresses the ball than his hair and funny belt. Golf hardware is a huge aspect of the game and it does not get the play by play "color" coverage it should.

Ah, all that equipment stuff is irrelevant. The equipment doesn't play the game, the players do. I think it's the scourge of high handicappers to believe that equipment makes the player (I used to believe it too). I used to constantly seek the club that would make me hit it long and straight, a fruitless (and expensive) search.

Any set of clubs these days is as good as any other. Whatever brand is stamped on these players' irons and woods means very little. All the clubs out on tour are precisely fitted to the player's individual swing. Whether they play Taylormade, Titleist, Nickent, Nike, or Ping, they are all merely tools. When you look at an amazing building, you don't ask what brand of hammer the builder used, do you? That's all a club is, a tool.

[FHopper]

I am a sailor, hardware is very important to me. Yes I care what brand hammer I use and the condition it is in. I like equipment, I would like to hear color about it. I do not chase the perfect clubs, I bought good enough so I know my equipment is not an issue. The players care deeply about their clubs, why else would Yang still carry a V Steel? I think the announcers are missing a great opportunity to improve the coverage without talking about why some people smile or not.

[ControlJunkie]

Ah, all that equipment stuff is irrelevant. The equipment doesn't play the game, the players do. I think it's the scourge of high handicappers to believe that equipment makes the player (I used to believe it too). I used to constantly seek the club that would make me hit it long and straight, a fruitless (and expensive) search.

While what you're saying is true - that it's the players are what matter, not the equipment - the equipment is hardly irrelevant. Personally, I find it quite interesting as well. For example, last year, I happened to notice that Retief Goosen was still using the TaylorMade R7 SuperQuad, even though the SuperQuad is a couple years old. I dont think that club will work wonders for my game, I just think it was interesting that he wasnt playing an R9, eventhough TM put a lot of emphasis on it last year. I agree with the OP, that it would be cool to hear a little in-depth info on why some tour players are playing something you may not expect. Another good example was during the President's Cup, when golf.com or someone went into detail about what balls each pairing was using and why. Yeah, the info may be slightly useless, but so what.

[Shanks A Million]

While what you're saying is true - that it's the players are what matter, not the equipment - the equipment is hardly irrelevant. Personally, I find it quite interesting as well. For example, last year, I happened to notice that Retief Goosen was still using the TaylorMade R7 SuperQuad, even though the SuperQuad is a couple years old. I dont think that club will work wonders for my game, I just think it was interesting that he wasnt playing an R9, eventhough TM put a lot of emphasis on it last year. I agree with the OP, that it would be cool to hear a little in-depth info on why some tour players are playing something you may not expect. Another good example was during the President's Cup, when golf.com or someone went into detail about what balls each pairing was using and why. Yeah, the info may be slightly useless, but so what.

No one is a bigger gear nut than me (ok, that's probably not true), but I just don't see that it would be feasable. The reasons Yang uses a V Steel are likely feel, comfort, and familiarity. But his V-Steel and the one you buy in the store are not at all similar. These guys clubs are all custom fit, bent to precise specifications. Any club made to your exact swing specs will be perfect, and when you have one like that, it's hard to want to change it. The same way that an old pair of shoes might be more comfortable than a brand new pair of much higher end ones, it's all about what fits you best.

[Shorty]

I agree with the OP, that it would be cool to hear a little in-depth info on why some tour players are playing something you may not expect.

It would be a great way to get the manufacturers on side too. Not. Stricker uses irons that are five years old and a lot of TM players are not using the R9 and most of the Titleist players ditched their 907 drivers after a week and and reverted to the older 905R. The commentators know what side their bread is buttered on and leave this kind of stuff alone. It's very very obvious that they do it and they clearly do it for a reason. They are not about to change.

The only time you will hear commentators talking about brands is when it is a thinly veiled infomercial masquerading as a "playing tip".

[shaank0]

To expand the subject even more I want the whole Golf channel to put out more quality shows and series.

The paid programming during the day needs to go. More instructional shows like the golf fix. maybe like a Golf channel Crib' s series lol.

Ultimatley i wanna know whats going on with the played on and off the course so there personality can shine. Along with reviews of what is coming out from companies.

They have the right shows on right now i beleive but i just want more of it.

[FHopper]

I would love to see tours of design and manufacturing with interviews of engineers.

[The Road Dog]

How about a "How It's Made" episode featuring golf equipment from different companies. That might be fun to watch.

[Shanks A Million]

How about a "How It's Made" episode featuring golf equipment from different companies. That might be fun to watch.

The show "How It's Made" did actually do some segments about golf clubs, specifically putters, and a segment showing Louisville Golf making drivers, as well as a segment with golf balls. I'd like to see a golf version too, but I think most manufacturers would shy away from this due to the fact it would be Chinese kids investment casting their clubs.

[ControlJunkie]

I would love to see tours of design and manufacturing with interviews of engineers.

I don't remember where, but I've seen a video from someone taking a tour of The Oven in Dallas (Nike Golf's R&D;/Center of Operations). There was a few segments where they interviewed a couple of engineers, and they talk about the entire process, how something is tested, put into CAD modeling and design, etc. Regardless of anyone's feelings toward Nike, I would think almost anyone would find it interesting. I wish I could remember where it was though.

I work at the NASA facility where the External Tank for the Space Shuttle is/was designed, engineered, and manufactured. After seeing how something like that is built, it kinda makes you look at things differently and wonder how it's made, in my case, especially golf clubs

[WUTiger]

...The paid programming during the day needs to go. More instructional shows like the golf fix. maybe like a Golf channel Crib' s series lol. ... Along with reviews of what is coming out from companies. ...They have the right shows on right now i beleive but i just want more of it.

If you have a series of some sort on the Golf Channel, you have to write scripts and pay people to coordinate things. This costs money. A lot of what I see on the GC is first cousin of reality TV: Just show up and start videotaping.

Reviews of equipment would be interesting, but then again, not enough golfers would pay attention to the physics lessons. Just look at some of the comments on this forum: A fair number of people who buy a new $800 set of irons don't really know how a golf club works, and don't seem to care. Then again,the Golf Channel has a problem faced by all lower-budget broadcast networks - how to fill dead air. Seriously, maybe some of us should get a mini-cam and do a half-hour tour of an interesting course in our area, some guy who makes custom wedges in his garage, etc.

[jamo]

I work at the NASA facility where the External Tank for the Space Shuttle is/was designed, engineered, and manufactured. After seeing how something like that is built, it kinda makes you look at things differently and wonder how it's made, in my case, especially golf clubs

Thats sick!

Anyway, i think I've seen the The Oven interview. It would be interesting for them to do that with all the manufacturers. The problem with any space-filler is that they will be exhausted pretty quickly. I mean , the first couple times people will watch, then they will become just as entertaining as re-watching The Hammer infomercial. Edit: I would, however, love to see another season of Fore! Inventors Only.

[Joeyvee]

If you are interested in what they are playing, you can usually see for yourself on TV or find out on the internet what they are using.

If A LOT of people werent interested in what they were playing the info wouldnt be on the internet. The fact that it is shows that people are intersted and it would be a whole lot easier if they would jsut talk about that while theyre on the subject. They dont even have to go into manufacturers. A simple Ernie electing to play a forged player iron while Y.E. is still using Game improvement clubs or whatever would be cool. Not saying YE using GIs im just saying. Anyone using an x-22 insteads of blades is worth noting.. Same with balls. How would you like to know if tiger plays the V-1s or the V-1x's on a certain day. for wind, or maybe hes not feeling good in the control department etc..

[Shanks A Million]

If A LOT of people werent interested in what they were playing the info wouldnt be on the internet. The fact that it is shows that people are intersted and it would be a whole lot easier if they would jsut talk about that while theyre on the subject. They dont even have to go into manufacturers. A simple Ernie electing to play a forged player iron while Y.E. is still using Game improvement clubs or whatever would be cool. Not saying YE using GIs im just saying. Anyone using an x-22 insteads of blades is worth noting.. Same with balls. How would you like to know if tiger plays the V-1s or the V-1x's on a certain day. for wind, or maybe hes not feeling good in the control department etc..

Well, if it's on the net then people are interested... OK, I buy that, but at the same time there's a lot of stuff on the net that is better left alone...

And Tiger doesn't play ProV1s or ProV1xs, he always plays the same Nike ball.