Mickelson with RocketBallz 3 wood?

[mvmac]

Phil Mickelson is Callaway's most notable staff player, so why did he decide to put in a black prototype TaylorMade RocektBallz fairway wood into the bag this week? According to Callaway's senior vice president of marketing, Harry Arnett, Mickelson arrived at a Callaway photo shoot last week in Fort Worth, Texas, and told Callaway designers that the Mission Hills course in China presented a problem.

Quote:

"He said, 'Here's my dilemma: Because of the course set-up, I'm not going to be able to hit driver. I need to have something that I can hit 290 off the tee. My 3-wood goes about 275 to 280 and my driver goes 305. I can't hit my driver there because if I do I'm in all the junk, but I don't want to hit it 270 because in some cases I may not be able to reach some of the par 5s. What do we have?'"

Arnett explained that Callaway is releasing a new fairway wood in a few weeks, but the company didn't have one ready to give to Mickelson for his trip to China.

Mickelson brought a TaylorMade fairway wood to Fort Worth and Arnett said he saw the club. While the off-the-rack RocketBallz fairway woods feature a white crown, Mickelson got one from TaylorMade that is black.

Arnett said, "We told him, 'Play whatever you want. We've got the prototype coming in a few weeks. If you really feel like this is the best way for you to compete and win, then go for it!'"

When Callaway releases its new fairway woods, Arnett said he was confident that Mickelson, who has already tested prototypes of the new Callaway woods, would take the TaylorMade club out of his bag.

[Beachcomber]

Wow.  Pretty interesting that Callaway even commented on the subject.  That basically shows that they agreed with Phil's claim that the RBZ 3W was superior.  If I was on the board of directors for Callaway, I'd be having a face to face with Arnett and tell him to pipe down.

[mchepp]

I wish TaylorMade would make a black one for the rest of us. I would buy one without the white.

[Ben]

From what my Callaway guy showed me a few weeks back and what this Arnett guy suggests, Callaway's next generation of woods will be out performing the RBZ line. Just really hard to believe that they don't have one to put in Phil's bag, of all people.

[gibbous]

Originally Posted by mchepp

I wish TaylorMade would make a black one for the rest of us. I would buy one without the white.

I saw an RBZ driver in a shop the other day that had been custom painted matte black, it looked really good.  Might be worth looking into if you like the club that much.

[Clambake]

Originally Posted by mvmac

From Phil:    "I need to have something that I can hit 290 off the tee. My 3-wood goes about 275 to 280 and my driver goes 305. I can't hit my driver there because if I do I'm in all the junk, but I don't want to hit it 270 because in some cases I may not be able to reach some of the par 5s. What do we have?'"

Wonder why Phil doesn't just grip down an inch with the driver and back off a touch.    Phil is magnificent player, but I somehow don't picture players like Hogan, Nelson, Snead, Nicklaus, or Palmer having to mess with equipment to hit a driver 15 yards less than normal.

[Mr. Desmond]

Originally Posted by Beachcomber

Wow.  Pretty interesting that Callaway even commented on the subject.  That basically shows that they agreed with Phil's claim that the RBZ 3W was superior.  If I was on the board of directors for Callaway, I'd be having a face to face with Arnett and tell him to pipe down.

Not superior - longer.

And I don't play Callaway.

[mvmac]

Originally Posted by Clambake

Wonder why Phil doesn't just grip down an inch with the driver and back off a touch.    Phil is magnificent player, but I somehow don't picture players like Hogan, Nelson, Snead, Nicklaus, or Palmer having to mess with equipment to hit a driver 15 yards less than normal.

Or why not a less lofted, "strong", 3 wood, like 11 or 12 degrees?

[Golfingdad]

Originally Posted by Clambake

Wonder why Phil doesn't just grip down an inch with the driver and back off a touch.    Phil is magnificent player, but I somehow don't picture players like Hogan, Nelson, Snead, Nicklaus, or Palmer having to mess with equipment to hit a driver 15 yards less than normal.

Originally Posted by mvmac

Or why not a less lofted, "strong", 3 wood, like 11 or 12 degrees?

Totally agree with both of you.  Seems odd that they wouldn't be able to get him what he needed.  However, I would say it's pretty commendable of them to be so confident in his loyalty (and in their upcoming products) to allow him this leeway for now.

Besides, because it is black, how may people would even notice (that aren't on this thread)?

[newtogolf]

This shows Callaway is losing the battle to TM and others.  Your #1 golfer comes to you for help and you can't offer him a solution for his time frame.  To make matters worse you endorse and comment on his use of a competitors clubs.

The message I get from this is, RBZ is the longest (maybe best) 3W out there.  This is a dream come true for TM's marketing department.

[Beachcomber]

This shows Callaway is losing the battle to TM and others.  Your #1 golfer comes to you for help and you can't offer him a solution for his time frame.  To make matters worse you endorse and comment on his use of a competitors clubs.  The message I get from this is, RBZ is the longest (maybe best) 3W out there.  This is a dream come true for TM's marketing department.

Exactly. Idiotic response by Callaway.

[Mr. Desmond]

Arnett said, "We told him, 'Play whatever you want. We've got the prototype coming in a few weeks. If you really feel like this is the best way for you to compete and win, then go for it!'"

The above is what Callaway said.

Sorry, guys, what do you expect Callaway to say? "No - you can't do it?" When it comes time to re-up, Phil would be thinking about that... It's a tournament in China, in the silly season, and no one but golf freaks are watching...

They're not saying the RBZ is the best or even good. They're saying, "Phil, if you want to do it, go ahead and play it for a couple of weeks."

[GaijinGolfer]

IMO, people are making a big deal out of nothing on this one.  Cally didnt make a 3-wood that suited Phil, so, at least for now, he went with something else.  Its not as if he said Cally woods are junk, they just dont make one in the specs that he wants.

[Mr. Desmond]

Originally Posted by mchepp

I wish TaylorMade would make a black one for the rest of us. I would buy one without the white.

www.aceofclubstp.com

Custom everything in a club, and paint jobs...

[Beachcomber]

Hi[quote name="Mr. Desmond" url="/t/63007/mickelson-with-rocketballz-3-wood#post_782476"] Arnett said, "We told him, 'Play whatever you want. We've got the prototype coming in a few weeks. If you really feel like this is the best way for you to compete and win, then go for it!'" The above is what Callaway said. Sorry, guys, what do you expect Callaway to say? "No - you can't do it?" When it comes time to re-up, Phil would be thinking about that... It's a tournament in China, in the silly season, and no one but golf freaks are watching... They're not saying the RBZ is the best or even good. They're saying, "Phil, if you want to do it, go ahead and play it for a couple of weeks." [/quote]How about, 'No comment'?

[Mr. Desmond]

Originally Posted by Beachcomber

HiHow about, 'No comment'?

Because whenever anyone says "no comment," it says something negative, as if you're trying to hide something. No comment is a cop out - just be upfront.

[Datsyuk]

How bad are the current Callaway 3-woods? I can't imagine such a difference that you'd potentially embarass your sponsor, unless he's looking at a change?

[Beachcomber]

Because whenever anyone says "no comment," it says something negative, as if you're trying to hide something. No comment is a cop out - just be upfront.

No comment means, no comment to me? Nothing bad, or good. And it doesn't give the media a juicy quote to use.