Why is every one of Tiger's clubs Nike?

[a456bt]

Don't tell me because he is sponsored by them. I realize that, I'm just a little puzzled as to why he would use only Nike clubs. It seems like he's sacrificing his performance just to please his sponsorship. Don't get me wrong, I love the new Nike clubs, in fact I'm due for a new set and I'll be getting the vapor driver, irons and woods. But, I'll be going with something like a vokey or an rtx 588 for my wedge, not nike. So does it not really matter that all his clubs are Nike or his he sacrificing his game because of it? And if he is sacrificing it, why?

[Chilli Dipper]

Because Nike pays him millions of dollars to use their clubs.

You may not want that to be the answer, but that's the answer.

And the way he's playing right now, a different set of wedges isn't the thing that's holding him back.

[dkolo]

Don't tell me because he is sponsored by them. I realize that, I'm just a little puzzled as to why he would use only Nike clubs. It seems like he's sacrificing his performance just to please his sponsorship. Don't get me wrong, I love the new Nike clubs, in fact I'm due for a new set and I'll be getting the vapor driver, irons and woods. But, I'll be going with something like a vokey or an rtx 588 for my wedge, not nike. So does it not really matter that all his clubs are Nike or his he sacrificing his game because of it? And if he is sacrificing it, why?

Well, two things. One is that the answer to your puzzlement in the second sentence is the thing you don't want to be told in the first. But the second answer is that manufacturers are building to tight tolerances and he isn't leaving much, if anything, on the table. With things like muscleback irons, there isn't a huge amount any manufacturer can do differently to really move the needle. But, more than that, Tiger himself has a huge impact on how Nike designs their clubs. He and Rory both have Vapor drivers that were built to fit their vision. The Vapor Pro irons were built with Tiger in mind. It's not like he's just being handed crap. He has these clubs designed in large part for him and they're also really good. If you put him into Titleists or Taylormades or Callaways, he'd be just as good. It's as much mental of accepting the clubs and having time getting used to them, as it is performance driven by the clubs. Tiger has in the past played old-model drivers because he didn't feel a need to upgrade. These clubs perform within very tight bands.

[iacas]

Even if Tiger wasn't paid by Nike (or anyone else, like we passed a law that he couldn't be), they're making the clubs to his exact specs, so he's not leaving anything on the table. They could flat out copy another club and stamp the Nike logo on it if they had to, for example, as he basically did when he turned pro (he played Mizuno irons prior to that).

[colin007]

do you really thing that vokeys are the best wedges you can get?

[dkolo]

do you really thing that vokeys are the best wedges you can get?

He's probably being sponsored by Vokey, haha.

[imsys0042]

I agree with the answers that the club makers at Nike will make whatever he wants.   I think he took a long time to switch to a Nike putter.  probably took a long time to get one right for him.   Besides Nike initially built their golf business around him.   I'm sure there is a lot of what he likes in their product lines.

[Patch]

I don't think he is sacrificing his game while exclusively using Nike clubs. My guess is,  if he likes another type of club they would make him one, and brand it a Nike club. Heck, they might even take another brand's  club he likes and brand it a Nike. Nike pays him millions to use their stuff. Just because Woody uses their stuff does not make it any better than any other brand on the market. Wait. let me rephrase that.  It's most likely better than what K-Mart, or Wal-Mart sells.

[Shindig]

This might be an unpopular answer, but I think it's because Tiger thinks the 14 clubs in his bag are the best 14 to achieve his goals. Most pros have equipment contracts that mandate either eight or ten clubs from the sponsor; Tiger's contract with Nike has no such mandate. But it does make him give his feedback on clubs to them, and this allows them to make clubs based around what he wants, with the expected result that he likes what they make. Whether he'd play 14 Nike clubs if he were Tiger, that accountant in our Sunday foursome who is really good at golf, isn't clear.

[colin007]

I don't think he is sacrificing his game while exclusively using Nike clubs. My guess is,  if he likes another type of club they would make him one, and brand it a Nike club. Heck, they might even take another brand's  club he likes and brand it a Nike. Nike pays him millions to use their stuff. Just because Woody uses their stuff does not make it any better than any other brand on the market. Wait. let me rephrase that.  It's most likely better than what K-Mart, or Wal-Mart sells.

what you are implying is just ignorant. be better than that.

[Club Rat]

Probably because people will buy or choose to buy Nike products over other manufacturers.

Most golfers do not make wholesale changes, but purchase specific items every year.

So if someone is interested in a different putter or driver or set of irons, they make like several brands, but may choose on the basis that it's "Nike" because Tiger or Rory won events.

Think about how many times you have heard someone refer to their new driver or irons as the club which a tour player plays.

Most of the time it's usually a club which was used when the tour player won an event, especially if it was a major.

Some people will buy equipment even if it may not be the right product for their ability, solely for bragging to their buddies.

Club Rat

[a456bt]

0.0 Eeeeek, I almost feel bad. It seems like I've asked such a stupid question, I thought there might be an explanation

[MrDC]

This question is pretty much summed up- they pay him to use nothing but Nike.

As for the insinuation that he would be better off with something else, like wedges, I say no, Nike is making great stuff these days, even the wedges look top notch, I think he's just fine with the tools.

[Zeph]

With the deals Tiger's got and the money he brings into Nike, he can ask for whatever he wants. It's of course in the interest of Nike as well to give him the best equipment they can. A winning Tiger is worth a lot more than a mediocre one.

If anything, getting used to different equipment or feeling mentally okay with them might be a bigger issue than the performance itself. Especially when you compete at the highest level, you don't want to stand over clubs and not feel comfortable mentally. He probably doesn't even want to think about it at all, but focus on the shot. Not that I believe the equipment of Tiger has ever been a cause for his problems.

[SavvySwede]

Pretty much all of the big name players can get their sponsor to make them anything they want.

Phil Mickelson- all callaways

Bubba Watson- all pings

Rory McILroy- all Nike

Jason Day- all Taylormade

Ricky Fowler- all Cobra (except Scotty putter but Cobra hasn't made putters in a while)

So it isn't really a rare thing to see

[newtogolf]

Pretty much all of the big name players can get their sponsor to make them anything they want.

Phil Mickelson- all callaways

Bubba Watson- all pings

Rory McILroy- all Nike

Jason Day- all Taylormade

Ricky Fowler- all Cobra (except Scotty putter but Cobra hasn't made putters in a while)

So it isn't really a rare thing to see

I don't know about the others but Phil has had other manufacturers clubs in his bag.  I'm pretty sure he had TM woods in his bag in 2013 before Callaway built the Phrankenwood for him.

[SavvySwede]

Quote:

Originally Posted by SavvySwede

Pretty much all of the big name players can get their sponsor to make them anything they want.

Phil Mickelson- all callaways

Bubba Watson- all pings

Rory McILroy- all Nike

Jason Day- all Taylormade

Ricky Fowler- all Cobra (except Scotty putter but Cobra hasn't made putters in a while)

So it isn't really a rare thing to see

I don't know about the others but Phil has had other manufacturers clubs in his bag.  I'm pretty sure he had TM woods in his bag in 2013 before Callaway built the Phrankenwood for him.

It didn't last very long though, Callaway was already in the process of making the X hot 3deep specifically for him. http://www.sbnation.com/golf/2012/11/2/3592684/phil-mickelson-taylormade-rocketballz-hsbc-golf  It was just filling out the bag until Callaway was ready to release his new stick.

[Shorty]

Don't tell me because he is sponsored by them. I realize that, I'm just a little puzzled as to why he would use only Nike clubs. It seems like he's sacrificing his performance just to please his sponsorship. Don't get me wrong, I love the new Nike clubs, in fact I'm due for a new set and I'll be getting the vapor driver, irons and woods. But, I'll be going with something like a vokey or an rtx 588 for my wedge, not nike. So does it not really matter that all his clubs are Nike or his he sacrificing his game because of it? And if he is sacrificing it, why?

What does what you would do have to do with what Tiger does? Vokey wedges and Cleveland wedges are no different/better/worse than those of any manufacturer you can name. Next you'll be saying that Scotty Cameron makes the best putters. I have spoken to a club designer from the Nike Oven at great length and over several days, and if you think Nike is a level below any other brand in ANY area you are sorely and profoundly mistaken. The 975 D days (when TW insisted on using a Titleist driver until Nike made one he liked) are long gone. Please tell us how Nike wedges are holding McIroy back.