Woods signs with Bridgestone

[jbishop15]

16 hours ago, Abu3baid said:

I would like to see the statistics on the outcome of this deal in a couple of years.

They are also taking a chance, but I wonder if they have a clause just in case he gets hurt again?

They're not really taking a chance, though. Tiger is still a guaranteed draw, and probably always will be. If Arnold Palmer can make $40 million in endorsements, long after he's played, than Tiger can do triple that, easy. 

[saevel25]

I agree. There is no risk for Bridgestone on signing or having Tiger play their golf ball. Tiger still draws attention. People will still want to play the ball he does. 

[Hardspoon]

45 minutes ago, saevel25 said:

People will still want to play the ball he does. 

Yup. I think there is also a "bonus" to signing former Nike players to equipment deals, because of the way things went down.

Even if Tiger gets hurt and never plays again, people will remember that he was free to choose any ball, (presumably) tried them out, and selected Bridgestone.

[Abu3baid]

14 hours ago, jbishop15 said:

They're not really taking a chance, though. Tiger is still a guaranteed draw, and probably always will be. If Arnold Palmer can make $40 million in endorsements, long after he's played, than Tiger can do triple that, easy. 

He can't be much of a draw if he is sitting at home.  I'm also looking at the specific thing he is endorsing, the golf ball that can be most effectively endorsed while playing and winning.  

Finally, I'm sure tiger will make a lot of money in endorsements, but that's not the topic.  I would not have made my comment if we were talking about an insurance company endorsement, or an apparel one.

14 hours ago, saevel25 said:

I agree. There is no risk for Bridgestone on signing or having Tiger play their golf ball. Tiger still draws attention. People will still want to play the ball he does. 

Right, and I was specifically speaking to him not playing.

14 hours ago, Hardspoon said:

Yup. I think there is also a "bonus" to signing former Nike players to equipment deals, because of the way things went down.

Even if Tiger gets hurt and never plays again, people will remember that he was free to choose any ball, (presumably) tried them out, and selected Bridgestone.

I have a hard time believing he lined up all the balls and tested them and then said hey ya I want to go with these guys..  more likely it was Bridgestone that convinced him to go with them.

-------------

anyway, in a couple of years in sure someone would be able to evaluate their revenues and market share and how they were impacted by this deal.  

[wannabe]

[iacas]

39 minutes ago, Abu3baid said:

I have a hard time believing he lined up all the balls and tested them and then said hey ya I want to go with these guys..  more likely it was Bridgestone that convinced him to go with them.

My source tells me that's almost exactly what he did. Some were eliminated quickly. It's not a super long process and he's had quite a while…

And Tiger not playing until February is not new. And for all we know he plays Dubai or something before that.

[Pendragon]

On 12/15/2016 at 6:09 PM, dennyjones said:

It would not surprise me to see the ball he uses go up in price.  I bet the demand will increase.

He used a Nike ball for years, and the price on those never went up as a result. Why would that change now? 

[No Mulligans]

9 hours ago, iacas said:

And Tiger not playing until February is not new. And for all we know he plays Dubai or something before that.

Maybe Torrey Pines? (Jan 26-29)

[Zeph]

How much difference is there between various high-end balls across the different brands? I would be surprised if he couldn't play any of the better brands. Of course he's looking for a ball that he prefers, not just one he can play well with, but if there are minor differences, I'm sure he can work those out as he goes.

[HitAndGiggle]

I was always amazed that Bridgestone balls have names more complicated than attack/reconnaissance, carrier-based Navy aircraft.  

[saevel25]

On 12/18/2016 at 6:44 AM, Zeph said:

How much difference is there between various high-end balls across the different brands?

It depends on what you are looking for. When it comes to PGA Tour players they are trying to fine tune it in to what they like to see. A 300-500 RPM consistently off a driver could effect how comfortable they are with the ball. 

There are slight difference between premium golf balls, but it's just smaller than at other price levels. Companies that make premium golf balls know the range of parameters they are going to make their golf balls within. 

Here is a graph of just pitch shots. All the premium balls are in the bottom right. The spin rate range is really tight. The launch angle can vary a bit more. 

I am sure Tiger took the time to check out a wide variety of brands. For him it's probably just a comfortability level. 

[Blackjack Don]

On 12/17/2016 at 7:00 AM, iacas said:

My source tells me that's almost exactly what he did. Some were eliminated quickly.

He's hit so many balls he could probably tell if a dimple was out of place. I'm going to sign with Ron's Retreads. They make a lousy ball, but the money's good.

[Hardspoon]

41 minutes ago, saevel25 said:

Here is a graph of just pitch shots. All the premium balls are in the bottom right. The spin rate range is really tight. The launch angle can vary a bit more. 

 

Huh...what is #21? Kirkland Signature? Top-Flite Gamer?

[saevel25]

1 minute ago, Hardspoon said:

Huh...what is #21? Kirkland Signature? Top-Flite Gamer?

My Tour Ball from Snell ;) 

[Hardspoon]

Just now, saevel25 said:

My Tour Ball from Snell ;) 

Ah, duh. 

[colin007]

1 hour ago, Hardspoon said:

Ah, duh. 

And yet GD will still probably give them a silver rating because of their wacky "demand" criteria....