Is false advertising = cheating.

[Shanks A Million]

Many golfers will try a particular club if the pros are using the club or ball or shoes glove etc. In the past I have seen a ping bag and head covers and not one ping club in the bag. I assume that this is with the OK with the PGA. I know there are forums where the contents of bags are posted but I am tired of doing that. If Phil or any player is misleading the public about what equipment sponsors are providing and paying a stipend for its usage then it is cheating the public. If professionals want to be whatever equipment they wish then they should use a plain bag or advertise what equipment they are using.

You think the cheap clubs you buy off the rack are in any way similar to the clubs tour pros play? That's pretty naive, I must admit. That's like comparing your Honda to the Formula 1 cars built by Honda.

The clubs the tour players use are meticulously hand crafted by very highly skilled club makers, everything is custom fit exactly to them, the head, the shaft, and the grips. Some tour players do use off the shelf heads, but most use very high end forged models you can't buy in the stores. The tour issue drivers are also different, they are very low spin models that are not sold to the public. If the general public tried to hit these drivers without a swing speed in the 110s or higher, they could not get them very high off the ground. The faces are wide open as well. You can buy tour issued clubs from eBay, but be prepared to spend several thousand dollars for a club you probably won't be able to hit. Tiger and Phil both play custom made forged clubs made by their companies. The ones you buy in the stores are similar, but not the same. So don't be a fool, you don't play the same clubs they do. Some companies do offer their tour clubs to the public, but be prepared to pay. http://www.callawaygolf.com/Global/e...Authentic.html

[Yukari]

I beg your pardon...i happen to have spent $6,000 on a buick wedge...with an AT&T; grip thank you...

Oops! I stand corrected! Good thing you didn't buy the Escalade driver. You would be hitting the trees and other hazards...

[Zeph]

Like fire hydrants? Perhaps they should introduce them as hazards on the golf course.

[FHopper]

I think the OP has it backwards, I buy the clubs I like then I look for the players that use them. Since I play game improvement clubs I only see hats... no clubs.

[sean_miller]

I think the OP has it backwards, I buy the clubs I like then I look for the players that use them. Since I play game improvement clubs I only see hats... no clubs.

I like Ernie Els' game. Should I get my company to use SAP?

[DBeane]

...Wow...the idea that a company would use misleading information to try and sell me something...........what is this world coming to. Its a good thing I work in the banking industry...we never lie.

-Beane

[Zeph]

Its a good thing I work in the banking industry...we never lie.

Except when selling insurances.

[Shanks A Million]

...Wow...the idea that a company would use misleading information to try and sell me something...........what is this world coming to. Its a good thing I work in the banking industry...we never lie.

I can haz sub-prime morguj?

[Yukari]

...Wow...the idea that a company would use misleading information to try and sell me something...........what is this world coming to.

I know what you mean. I buy all these products like Axe deodorant, bud light beer, etc. and I don't see all those hot babes anywhere!

[RCF]

At the very least, when a tour player endorces a brand isn't he saying this is a good company to do business with or I like their approach to club design / technology?

[woodzie264]

Many golfers will try a particular club if the pros are using the club or ball or shoes glove etc. In the past I have seen a ping bag and head covers and not one ping club in the bag. I assume that this is with the OK with the PGA. I know there are forums where the contents of bags are posted but I am tired of doing that. If Phil or any player is misleading the public about what equipment sponsors are providing and paying a stipend for its usage then it is cheating the public. If professionals want to be whatever equipment they wish then they should use a plain bag or advertise what equipment they are using.

why would you assume that the pros are playing the clubs on the bag? that's not a realistic or mature outlook on the world of sports marketing...you should get clubs fit for you based on performance, not because Joe Shmoe on TV is using them...if they jumped off a bridge, would you? Dont blame the pros for your inability to use certain equipment, take responsibility for your own performance and decisions.

[Yukari]

At the very least, when a tour player endorces a brand isn't he saying this is a good company to do business with or I like their approach to club design / technology?

There maybe some truth in that, but I doubt it. If the company is reputable (sometimes even that is questionable--look at VJ and others who advertised that Financial group--sorry forgot the name) and is willing to offer a lot of money, I can't imagine any pro not taking the money. It doesn't mean the company is the best in the field nor does it mean you should go out and buy their stuff.

I don't understand anyone who believes the golf bag is anything more than a simple billboard. I have a Callaway golf bag, but I certain don't use their club. In fact, I don't even like their clubs. Given most people also have bags and clubs from different companies, why would you believe pros won't have that?

[spitz20]

What Phil and others are doing can cost me money for equipment being misrepresented

lol who buys clubs because of what a pro has lol.....get the club that you like/fits your game best

[Shindig]

There maybe some truth in that, but I doubt it. If the company is reputable (sometimes even that is questionable--look at VJ and others who advertised that Financial group--sorry forgot the name) and is willing to offer a lot of money, I can't imagine any pro not taking the money. It doesn't mean the company is the best in the field nor does it mean you should go out and buy their stuff.

Stanford financial. But I think Vijay was friends with Allen Stanford, and even offered to post bail for him when he was arrested. Of course, they might have been friends

because of the endorsement.

I don't understand anyone who believes the golf bag is anything more than a simple billboard. I have a Callaway golf bag, but I certain don't use their club. In fact, I don't even like their clubs. Given most people also have bags and clubs from different companies, why would you believe pros won't have that?

And some endorsements, you have to wonder about. Gatorade endorsements, I understand: I've met many people who have a preference between sports drinks. The Ping pros with g15 on their hat? Do we really think Bubba Watson or Hunter Mahan is judging the best game improvement irons? And I wonder how much Zach Johnson has looked into retirement planners.

[woodzie264]

seems to be a general consensus...looking over all the responses, no one has tried to blame the pros for someone else buying clubs of their own volition...huh, go figure

[doof_dizzler]

The suggestion that advertising doesn't work by affecting purchases is foolish on the face of it. Why do all companies spend billions of dollars all over the world on ads if all consumers are so clever as to not fall for it? This afternoon, there is a football game during which 30 second spots are sold out despite costing 2.5 million each, and many people will watch just to see the commercials. Of course advertising works!

It is silly to suggest that anyone or any company should advertise in such a way to be totally honest so nobody gets any wrong impressions. While it's counter-productive to be blatantly dishonest in ads, the whole idea is to show your product/service in the most positive light.

If a player or company comes out and says they are using a particular club when they're not, that's dishonest and not good for either the player or company's reputation. If the player has "Callaway" on his bag but uses a Nike wedge, I don't see how there is any attempt at deception. Most consumers are reasonably perceptive so they can see the difference between a total lie and an advertising campaign.

[RCF]

I've changed my opinion since this thread started. I don't care about a pro's opinion on cars, banks, etc. but I am interested in their equipment or equipment opinion. Mickelson is being paid by Callaway to send a message and he talks about Callaway in his "whats in the bag" video.

I find it hard to believe that top PGA Tour pros are using the wrong head covers.

[Shanks A Million]

I've changed my opinion since this thread started. I don't care about a pro's opinion on cars, banks, etc. but I am interested in their equipment or equipment opinion. Mickelson is being paid by Callaway to send a message and he talks about Callaway in his "whats in the bag" video.

Sure they are.

Furyk, Harrington, Allenby, Clark, all use or have used Taylormade R9 drivers, but have their own brand's headcovers. Anthony Kim used a Burner 3 wood for a while. Tiger has a Scotty Cameron under a Nike headcover. Any other questions?