Are You a Brand Snob?

[PaddyMac]

I recently picked up a new set of sticks, Wilson Staff FG Tour irons and wedges. My playing partner (without even trying them) thought it was a mistake. His motto is that if he’s going to buy equipment he might as well invest in what he perceives is the best, so he bought Taylormade everything except a Scotty putter. . He has a large cart bag; I have a Jones carry bag.  As I accused him of being a brand snob, I realised that I was a reverse golf snob deliberately not wanting to buy into what I see as marketing hype but opting for Titleist/Wilson Staff as it reminded me of my youth, allowed me to identify with older greats that played on tour that suited my age bracket more and my sense of identity better. We both used our ego to influence our purchase.... we are both brand snobs just different.

[ghalfaire]

Not me.  I have a Ping driver, Cobra 3 Wood, Adams 3 & 4 hybrid, Mizuno 5I-56⁰ wedge irons, Taylor Made putter, and Sun Mountain bag.  How's that for eclectic equipment? 

[PaddyMac]

18 minutes ago, ghalfaire said:

Not me.  I have a Ping driver, Cobra 3 Wood, Adams 3 & 4 hybrid, Mizuno 5I-56⁰ wedge irons, Taylor Made putter, and Sun Mountain bag.  How's that for eclectic equipment? 

Varied mix all right, all good brands.

[klineka]

I have a variety as well.

Nike bag and irons, Taylormade driver, 3 wood and hybrid, Callaway wedge, odyssey putter.

For me, physical appearance plays a more important role than the brand name does. I chose the M2 driver over others mainly because I liked how it looked the most. I could have gotten custom fit for any of them, but in my opinion, the M2 looks way better than a titleist or even the Callaway Epic, which both probably would have given me very similar results to the M2. Had Callaway painted the Epic in a 2 tone black and white with carbon fiber look and the M2 was a more standard black, then I would most likely have the Epic.  

[allenc]

First, Wilson Staff is a premium golf company and the clubs you bought are first rate.  I don’t know what your partner is talking about.  Second, I don’t have any alligance to any particular brand but would usually buy a name brand because they usually look the best and I get the confidence that they will perform the best.  I do think it’s a bit cooler to not play the most highly marketed brands though — like Wilson Staff.

[Lihu]

1 hour ago, PaddyMac said:

I recently picked up a new set of sticks, Wilson Staff FG Tour irons and wedges. My playing partner (without even trying them) thought it was a mistake. His motto is that if he’s going to buy equipment he might as well invest in what he perceives is the best, so he bought Taylormade everything except a Scotty putter. . He has a large cart bag; I have a Jones carry bag.  As I accused him of being a brand snob, I realised that I was a reverse golf snob deliberately not wanting to buy into what I see as marketing hype but opting for Titleist/Wilson Staff as it reminded me of my youth, allowed me to identify with older greats that played on tour that suited my age bracket more and my sense of identity better. We both used our ego to influence our purchase.... we are both brand snobs just different.

My guess is most people purchase what they can readily try out and buy locally. If they have to drive 150 miles to buy a particular brand or model of whatever, then I'd say that person is a brand snob. Brand snob is not necessarily a bad thing anyway, because it's something they trust and or like.

Now Mizuno lovers are definitely brand snobs.

[Kalnoky]

1 hour ago, PaddyMac said:

 Opting for Titleist/Wilson Staff as it reminded me of my youth, allowed me to identify with older greats that played on tour that suited my age bracket more and my sense of identity better. 

Completely valid (and very common) reason for buying products of any kind.

Lots of golf sales this time of year, including some very good deals on clubs, balls, and other equipment. Some products I won't buy, because I don't like the way they're marketed.

Nothing at all wrong with Wilson for my .02, if someone gave me new Wilson irons I would be thrilled. 

[bear996]

Just started and I ended up with Callaway Strata set, but replaced my irons with Big Bertha irons and my wedge is a Titlest, with a Taylormade Putter (really want a Cameron though).  Once I get better and can justify spending money on a higher priced set I plan on going with whatever I think looks good.

[PaddyMac]

6 minutes ago, Lihu said:

Now Mizuno lovers are definitely brand snobs.

Dangerous comment on this site I think...

[lastings]

yes and no.   I just bought a new set of irons over the summer.   Went with Mizuno.   Srixons were definitely in the running, as were Titleists.  
I just wanted what felt right.   That said, If I bought a new wood today, I just can't see myself getting an Adams, or even a Mizuno or Srixon wood.  Even if it felt the best when testing them.   No idea why, just don't think I'd be happy with it.  

[Lihu]

Just now, PaddyMac said:

Dangerous comment on this site I think...

Yup, waiting for the impending wave of Mizuno love. . .

 

 

 

I actually own two sets of Mizzies, so please keep the hate to a minimum.  

[lastings]

1 minute ago, PaddyMac said:

Dangerous comment on this site I think...

oh yeah...  and now that I have Mizuno irons, I know one thing for sure.   Everyone that doesn't have Mizuno irons is wrong..  

[Patch]

I actually own a set of Mizuno irons. Don't use them. They don't play as well for me as my regular gamers. Pretty sure it's a comfort thing. Mizuno has a good golf product.  

What I am, is really snobbish on "service after the sale" and is why I play the brand I do. 

[Groucho Valentine]

I've played mostly titleist equipment throughout my playing days. But its not really out of any sense of brand loyalty. Its just what i know. I played a set of callaway x forged irons for a little more than a year. I liked them alot, but ended up selling them to a friend and going with AP2's later. Then over the next two years i had the best stretch of golf in my life..

[iacas]

Poll added. It's very easy, folks: https://thesandtrap.com/how-to/add-a-poll . Please add them yourselves when you post questions/topics like this.

I voted "Ehhhhh…"

I'll play just about anything, but "Wilson" IMO counts as a "brand." Not so much some of the really small companies making stuff like drivers. I trust the R&D budgets of some of the bigger companies a bit more on those.

On putters, wedges… not a ton of R&D there. Much easier to make a flat piece of metal that performs well, than a driver.

[PaddyMac]

1 minute ago, Patch said:

What I am, is really snobbish on "service after the sale" and is why I play the brand I do. 

I'm not sure what the service after sale on my Wilson Staff are cause I haven't needed it yet but I would have thought that most of the big brand names that rely on name/branding would have a decent after sales service to be honest.

 

6 minutes ago, iacas said:

Poll added. It's very easy, folks: https://thesandtrap.com/how-to/add-a-poll . Please add them yourselves when you post questions/topics like this.

I voted "Ehhhhh…"

I'll play just about anything, but "Wilson" IMO counts as a "brand." Not so much some of the really small companies making stuff like drivers.

Thanks for sorting the Poll.... ( and adding the link... Gent)

[Foot Wedge]

No. 

Data nerd, so results are what matter.  But admittedly, looks are also part of the decision matrix.

[NM Golf]

I have an Oakley carry bag, PING driver, Taylormade 3 wood, Callaway Blades, Vokey wedges, a Scotty putter, and I prefer ProV1x golf balls. I am all over the place, but I play what catches my eye and works for me, no brand loyalties at all. I also don't change equipment very often.

That being said I do have some biases against certain companies, for instance I don't think Nike ever made a decent golf club, and their balls were awful. 

Edited November 1, 2017 by NM Golf