Not just ball wars. Here is the latest club spat.

WE’RE #1: TaylorMade-adidas Golf Company (TMaG) is out to defend its turf as the company filed a lawsuit against Nickent Golf. The dispute centers on claims made in Nickent’s recent print and television advertising and on its website concerning the success of Nickent drivers on tour.
TMaG is upset with Nickent’s online, print and TV campaign, which it believes is designed to lead consumers to think that its 4DX driver is the #1 driver model on the PGA Tour and Nationwide Tour. There are many ways to support this boast, but by in large its common knowledge within the industry that it speaks to the usage on the PGA Tour. According to TMaG, in 2008 there are 655 instances of TaylorMade drivers being used, compared to just 18 for Nickent.
“Occasionally fringe companies in the industry try to encroach on our territory as the #1 driver in golf by misrepresenting the facts,” said Bob Maggiore, TMaG’s vice president of marketing in a prepared statement. “Being the #1 driver model at a Nationwide Tour event does not equate to being the No. 1 driver on tour. TaylorMade has been the #1 driver brand on the PGA Tour, as well as the Nationwide Tour, since 2001. That more than qualifies us to question Nickent’s logic and judgment in making claims that are misleading at best, and blatantly false at worst.”
The independent third party that tracks these types of things is the Darrell Survey, which supports TMaG’s claims.
Now how much this influences recreational players’ buying habits is open for a spirited debate. But it is fair to suggest that Nickent is looking to elevate itself or some of its products in the same breath as TMaG’s perhaps as a strategy to leapfrog over some other well-established brands. Look for the respective legal eagles to have a field day with this one… In the real world, I doubt that this particular dispute registered beyond a nanosecond with recreational players who fund the bar bill at the end of the day.

As a recreational golfer I’m not influenced by what drivers tour players prefer for the simple reason I don’t and couldn’t play at their level.I am interested in designs which look good feel good and are within a reasonable price range and are recommended by genuine experience.Still I always like reading of issues between club brands .Will keep an eye out for developments on this one.Cheers for posting.

As they say, “only in America”.

As they say, “only in America”.

Damn you beat me to it, as I was reading I was thinking the same thing. What a waste of time and money.

100% of the players who beat the field using a brand x driver are winners!

taylormade is only the number 1 driver in the world as they sponsor the most people , there is alot better drivers outthere than taylormade .

taylormade is only the number 1 driver in the world as they sponsor the most people , there is alot better drivers outthere than taylormade .

not 100% sold on that…there are a fair share of non TM guys using TM drivers. Badds and Brain Gay both come to mind instantly.

Edit: not saying that what the pro’s use means much to the average guy…and I am not a TM fan, don’t have any TM clubs in the bag.

h

taylormade is only the number 1 driver in the world as they sponsor the most people , there is alot better drivers outthere than taylormade .

i couldn’t agree more

I can’t see anything special about taylor made drivers and the fact that tour players use them or don’t make very little difference to me.

Its called pay for play.

Even if you are not sponsored the companies TM included offer cash incentives to use their equipment say $1000 if you make the cut…

Its common that sometimes tour players do not carry 14 clubs for a particular course… so what do they do stick in the highest paying pay for play club for the week….

and its with this strategy that TM tops the charts weekly in the club counts…. don’t blame the pro’s they are pro’, they play for money so why not take the easy pay cheque! or in some cases the only paycheque if you don’t make the weekend!

and guess who is paying for that? you and I, Mr Joe Public thats why we pay $600 for a driver and not $50 (the sum of all parts). its that marketing spend.

Notice why Pro V1’s cost so much? well also notice every golf mag and golf website has Titleist adverts everywhere? well you guessed it that $$$ you pay has to pay for that as well… yes yes I know Urethane balls cost more to manufacture… but its still the advertising that has to be factored in….