Mixed Bags Making A Comeback?

[1badbadger]

The last couple of weeks the winners on Tour had a much more mixed bag than the "head-to-toe" set-up than has been the norm.  Is this something that will continue to trend, or was it an anomaly?

[Piz]

10 minutes ago, 1badbadger said:

The last couple of weeks the winners on Tour had a much more mixed bag than the "head-to-toe" set-up than has been the norm.  Is this something that will continue to trend, or was it an anomaly?

Do you mean mixed brands?  If so; I think it is less likely the more "encouragement" one is offered.  I'd use Sears Craftsman irons if I was getting paid to do so.

[1badbadger]

23 hours ago, Piz said:

Do you mean mixed brands?  If so; I think it is less likely the more "encouragement" one is offered.  I'd use Sears Craftsman irons if I was getting paid to do so.

Right.  For example, Gary Woodland played TaylorMade woods, Titleist irons, Vokey and Callaway wedges, a Cameron putter and B-Stone ball.  Haotong Li played Callaway and TaylorMade irons and woods and a Bettinardi putter.

[Piz]

2 minutes ago, 1badbadger said:

Right.  For example, Gary Woodland played TaylorMade woods, Titleist irons, Vokey and Callaway wedges, a Cameron putter and B-Stone ball.  Haotong Li played Callaway and TaylorMade irons and woods and a Bettinardi putter.

It could be.  Perhaps the guys who are not, as yet, marquee names have more latitude in that regard.  

[dennyjones]

Tiger has a mixed bag.

[kpaulhus]

20 minutes ago, dennyjones said:

Tiger has a mixed bag.

Tiger plays what he wants. Every golf company would spend a fortune to have him play their stuff. 

Other guys play what they’re paid to play. 

[mvmac]

OEMs are cutting back on how much they're offering players this year, especially TaylorMade. So you'll see more mixed bags. Also some guys like Xander Schauffele are in a transition phase.

5 hours ago, 1badbadger said:

Right.  For example, Gary Woodland played TaylorMade woods, Titleist irons, Vokey and Callaway wedges, a Cameron putter and B-Stone ball.  Haotong Li played Callaway and TaylorMade irons and woods and a Bettinardi putter.

Dufner is trying out a bunch of drivers, playing Mizuno irons mixed in with his previous Titleist stuff.

Potter is a Srixon guy but is mostly playing PING clubs. Even had a Glide wedge.

[Birdwell49]

It appears that the clothing companies are the ones with the deep pockets (see Nike, Adidas, UA) and not as much the equipment companies.  If that trend continues, I imagine we'll see players continuing to find the right equipment for their game, unless of course a big payday limits them.  

[NM Golf]

Yeah, but even in the day Nike was one of the only companies that did a head to toe complete bag setup. A few of the big name guys got the big money to go with one company, but they knew (Tiger) that the company would make them something they liked. Most of what Tiger played over the years wasn't even available to the general public. His irons weren't a model they sold and his ball was more often than not a Nike "Prototype".

The rest of the guys play what they like for the most part.

[1badbadger]

10 hours ago, NM Golf said:

Yeah, but even in the day Nike was one of the only companies that did a head to toe complete bag setup. A few of the big name guys got the big money to go with one company, but they knew (Tiger) that the company would make them something they liked. Most of what Tiger played over the years wasn't even available to the general public. His irons weren't a model they sold and his ball was more often than not a Nike "Prototype".

The rest of the guys play what they like for the most part.

Nike was definitely one of the big "head-to-toe" companies, but so was TaylorMade/Adidas,  Titleist/FootJoy/Cameron/Vokey and Callaway/Odyssey.  It wasn't unusual for player's contracts to stipulate that they play 12 or 13 clubs from that manufacturer plus the ball, and wear the clothing, shoes, glove and headwear as well.  There were exceptions, but companies wanted "the count" in all the categories for the Darrell Survey.

 

[MarvChamp]

On 2/15/2018 at 5:54 PM, Piz said:

It could be.  Perhaps the guys who are not, as yet, marquee names have more latitude in that regard.  

That was what I was thinking. The head-to-toe bag is paid for. On the other hand, the ads indicate manufacturers encouraging the concept of another type of mixed bag...CB for longer irons and MB for shorter. Cleveland did this. Mizuno has for a long time. Now (I think) Cobra. This may be a trend. And the pros should be able to as well. I have noticed some of that. Good topic. Best to all, -Marv

[NM Golf]

8 hours ago, 1badbadger said:

Nike was definitely one of the big "head-to-toe" companies, but so was TaylorMade/Adidas,  Titleist/FootJoy/Cameron/Vokey and Callaway/Odyssey.  It wasn't unusual for player's contracts to stipulate that they play 12 or 13 clubs from that manufacturer plus the ball, and wear the clothing, shoes, glove and headwear as well.  There were exceptions, but companies wanted "the count" in all the categories for the Darrell Survey.

 

Titleist didn’t do much in the clothing area and neither did Callaway or PING. A lot of those guys went with clothing specific companies like Under Armor or Oakley. 

[RickPro]

a lot of companies now has gone bankrupt, sold off, or acquired. Because of this I think they had an exit clause on there contracts or just don't have a sponsor anymore and just go with whats available. Sergio was basically kicked out of TaylorMade. They low balled him a sponsorship offer because all there superstars are taking up most of it now and sergio isn't really liked or winning much anyway so they just gave them a take it or leave it offer.