[me7777]

Golfsmith has released two new Macgregor golf balls and kept the "VIP" "MT" name. Maybe they will do the same for the club line? The balls might even be made by Bridgestone, since they are 330 and 432 dimple. Anyway, GS is off on the right foot.

Note: I know this isn't the most exciting or interesting post, but I felt compelled to do it anyway!

http://www.golfsmith...1/MacGregor/VIP

http://www.golfsmith...egor/MT_16-Pack

[Mike_C]

me7777, on Oct 13 2009, 12:51 PM, said:

Golfsmith has released two new Macgregor golf balls and kept the "VIP" "MT" name. Maybe they will do the same for the club line? The balls might even be made by Bridgestone, since they are 330 and 432 dimple. Anyway, GS is off on the right foot.

http://www.golfsmith...1/MacGregor/VIP

http://www.golfsmith...egor/MT_16-Pack

The first one does sound like the Bridgestone B330-S

The MacGregor VIP features a urethane cover that provides the ultimate in control-shot shaping, spin control, pin point distance control and stroke-saving short game control. All of this with no sacrifice in distance. The unique core design provides exceptional ball velocity combined with ideal high launch angle, low spin launch conditions for greater carry and distance. Finally, the high trajectory 330-dimple pattern provides a strong and penetrating trajectory in all wind conditions.

VS.

Tour B330 Series Technology

The New Tour B330 Series maximizes Tour Caliber Performance for highly skilled players with varying swing speeds.
Features

* SOFT Gradational Core for explosive initial velocity and reduced driver spin
* Inner Mantle for smooth power transition and maximum distance
* Outer Mantle for high repulsion and workability
* SOFT Urethane Cover with Seamless 330 dimple design for pinpoint accuracy



At a $39.99 price point, it has to be similar. If it were more in line with the Bridgestone E series balls, I would expect a price about $20/dozen...

[bortwein]

you missed the DX double dozen pack:
http://www.golfsmith...DX_Double_Dozen

and I think I can tell you that the VIP ball is not the Bridgestone ball.

[Mike_C]

bortwein, on Oct 13 2009, 02:41 PM, said:

you missed the DX double dozen pack:
http://www.golfsmith...DX_Double_Dozen

and I think I can tell you that the VIP ball is not the Bridgestone ball.

I didn't think it would be exactly the same, but if Golfsmith wants to charge $40/dozen, it better perform pretty close to the top line balls....

[Lobber]

Macgregor Website is gone and redirects to GolfSmith. Sad.

[bortwein]

Mike_C, on Oct 13 2009, 01:52 PM, said:

bortwein, on Oct 13 2009, 02:41 PM, said:

you missed the DX double dozen pack:
http://www.golfsmith...DX_Double_Dozen

and I think I can tell you that the VIP ball is not the Bridgestone ball.

I didn't think it would be exactly the same, but if Golfsmith wants to charge $40/dozen, it better perform pretty close to the top line balls....

It will perform just as well as the top line balls. I don't know if I can disclose the maker, but they are very good at making top of the line golf balls. We stand by the quality of the ball that they have allowed us to produce with them under the MacGregor Name.

[me7777]

Oops. I forgot about the DX line. So, can you leak out some pics of the new clubs?

[Batchorbie]

Golf balls are being made by Srixon and they will be in stores by next week. Clubs will not be out till next year.

[2659edward]

Some pictures shared by bortwein in a thread about the great Snake eyes Bx wedge:

[attachment=478859:Snake_eyes_685.jpg]

[502 to Right]

Who is going to pay $40 a dozen for a ball made by a dead brand? Good luck with that. I say that as someone who still plays MacGregor 1025C irons too.

[bhmgolfer]

Baffling to me why MacGregor would introduce a premium ball at a $40 price point. There are already so many tour-proven balls (i.e Cally i/ix, TaylorMade TP/LDP, Srixon Z Star) that are currently going for $40 or below.

From the Golfsmith web site:

MacGregor VIP
The MacGregor VIP features a urethane cover that provides the ultimate in control-shot shaping, spin control, pin point distance control and stroke-saving short game control. All of this with no sacrifice in distance. The unique core design provides exceptional ball velocity combined with ideal high launch angle, low spin launch conditions for greater carry and distance. Finally, the high trajectory 330-dimple pattern provides a strong and penetrating trajectory in all wind conditions.




Wow, sounds like a ProV1 on steroids. Maybe it will be THAT good.

I'd be interested to hear other comments on this topic, especially a review once the ball hits the store.

[lilhellmaker17]

Man, those Snake Eyes Irons look AWESOME!

[502 to Right]

I think Wilson has a tough row to hoe with their new tour level ball but they have two things going for them that MacGregor doesn't: 1) at least some tour presence (despite their tour players not using a Wilson ball); and 2) a price point at about $35.

When you can still get the TM TP Red/Black for $27.50 who is their right mind is going to pay $40 for a MacGregor ball?

[WhiteStake]

Have to agree with lilhellmaker, those forged Snake Eyes look great!

[BEND OF THE RIVER GC]

I cant find TM TP reds anywhere!

[Mattro]

totally agree why pay $40 for a dead brand name when you can spend the same and get the Z-Star or save a few bucks and get the new Wilson ball which from what I hear is awesome. Doesn't make sense, they aren't gonna try and release the irons at $800 a set I hope. That would be completely foolish.

And yeah those Snake Eyes are dead sexy!

[irvtrain]

Will they still have the players irons? It doesn't look like they are going to have the MT-Pro M irons anymore. Not available on the Golfsmith website. It will be a sad day if MacGregor will no longer make any blades.

[Yepyukon]

BEND OF THE RIVER GC, on Oct 13 2009, 11:04 PM, said:

I cant find TM TP reds anywhere!

I think the Penta golf ball is going to replace the TP Red. You might have a hard time finding them for that reason.

[pdobrove]

Damn those irons are sweet! Not sure about the $40 price point on the balls, but I would be happy to try the irons!

[PivotDriven]

BEND OF THE RIVER GC, on Oct 13 2009, 09:04 PM, said:

I cant find TM TP reds anywhere!

I've saw them at Wal Mart last week.

[AcesAZ]

I think you'll see these marked down in the stores (premium balls). I cant imagine people paying 40 per when you can get TM's (2 for 55) or Cally's (buy 12 get 6 free) for cheaper. Id say 30 per would be a much better pricepoint.

[67VIP]

I spoke with a Golfsmith salesperson yesterday and he said that the new Mac iron is a forged cavity back under the VIP name. If it looks anything like that photo of the snake eyes cavity back that would be nice. I still play MACTEC 685's and wish Mac had come out with a solid, one peice forged version of that. The hollow body business just doesn't give me the impression that it will have the same life span as the older one peice forgings. I played a set of Mac CB 92's for 9 years and there is still plenty of life in the v grooves of the clubs, but they were also made out of a harder steel. We'll see.

[swartzd]

Agree with AcesAZ, they'll be selling for a lot less than $40 VERY soon!

[jcamn1]

me7777, on Oct 13 2009, 11:51 AM, said:

Golfsmith has released two new Macgregor golf balls and kept the "VIP" "MT" name. Maybe they will do the same for the club line? The balls might even be made by Bridgestone, since they are 330 and 432 dimple. Anyway, GS is off on the right foot.

Note: I know this isn't the most exciting or interesting post, but I felt compelled to do it anyway!

http://www.golfsmith...1/MacGregor/VIP

http://www.golfsmith...egor/MT_16-Pack

Hmmmmm...I'm thinking Srixon & these balls look VERY similar....but since it's out in a previous post...Yup it's basically a Z-RUC

[me7777]

Those Snake Eyes irons look good. I always liked that line and would not think twice about building my own set with SE's. Hopefully, GS follows the same path with Macgregor.

[hagen35]

The new Macgregor VIP ball is made by Srixon for

[2659edward]

BEND OF THE RIVER GC, on Oct 13 2009, 11:04 PM, said:

I cant find TM TP reds anywhere!

WalMart 2/$55. Target and Meijer has them (Tournement Edition) $42

[AcesAZ]

Anyone play that ball yet? If its as good as the pro irons its going to be a winner.

[Pweb44]

me7777, on Oct 14 2009, 03:13 PM, said:

Those Snake Eyes irons look good. I always liked that line and would not think twice about building my own set with SE's. Hopefully, GS follows the same path with Macgregor.

+1 I hope they offer MacGregor in the components so you can have custom made clubs like the Snake Eyes line offers. I'm not sure I would play the new golfballs at that price point when my Srixons are kicking butt on the course for me.

[mac94]

Ive played both the 600 line and the 675 line. Awesome. Anyone trying the 685 line likely won't be disappointed.

[atom330]

ill be playing the vip's tomorrow. i saw them at work today and figured what the hell i might as well try them out seeing how we get half off. ill give updates tomorrow

[Mattro]

so how did the VIP's work out for you?

[shortshift23]

i work at a gs too so it would be stupid not to get these balls i have felt them and compared to pro v1 and nike, the cover is rediculously tacky. i was actually surprised at how tacky it was. seems very intriguing since a cleveland rep came in and said that the macgregor vip were indeed made by srixon and they should be like the z-urc, maybe a little softer.

[bhmgolfer]

I stopped at Golfsmith a little while ago. They had the MT and VIP balls in stock. I asked if they had any individual sleeves or two-ball trial packs for either ball and was told no. I'm not coughing up $40 for a dozen VIP without at least being able to buy a sleeve or 2-ball pack to try first. Heck, they had 2007 ProV1 and V1x dozens for $40. If I really needed to buy some balls, the Titleists would have easily won out over the VIP's for my $40.

Come on Golfsmith. Make it easy for people to at least try these new balls!

[Pepperturbo]

I suspect Golfsmith will go under. Producing a golf ball, what a joke, and trying to be an OEM club maker; they don't have the revenue stream or name. If Greg N along with it's founder couldn't keep MacGregor healthy, it's highly unlikely retailers turned component club makers can.

Now, balls, no less with ridiculous pricing... There are so many better ball choices. Their contribution won't fly.. Golfsmith should stick to what it knows retailing. Watch and see.

[bhmgolfer]

Received a Golfsmith catalog today in the mail. The VIP's are listed at 39.99 dz or 2 dozen for $60.

[Golf472]

If any of you shopped at GS before you know that they put their own product lines on sale and with coupons you can get a good deal. I would not be surprised that this ball will be BOGO with a coupon during the holidays.

[A-Train]

Used a coupon recently at GS for a free box (dozen) of MacGregor DX Distance balls.
Each ball had "Golfsmith" written in red on it.
Box describes the cover as a "responsive thin cover material".
Pretty sure the cover has the same durometer as my sidewalk.
No one would ever buy these after trying them.

['53 Precision]

Pepperturbo, on Nov 3 2009, 12:12 PM, said:

I suspect Golfsmith will go under. Producing a golf ball, what a joke, and trying to be an OEM club maker; they don't have the revenue stream or name. If Greg N along with it's founder couldn't keep MacGregor healthy, it's highly unlikely retailers turned component club makers can.

Now, balls, no less with ridiculous pricing... There are so many better ball choices. Their contribution won't fly.. Golfsmith should stick to what it knows retailing. Watch and see.

The joke may be on you since Golfsmith was founded in the late 1960's as a mail order component company and didn't get into retail large scale until much later. Further, MacGregor golf was founded in 1897 and the founders have been building clubs in the sky for the better part of a century if not longer so Greg Norman never had the opportunity to work "along with it's founder" to keep "MacGregor healthy." Also, I am sure that Golsmith has a viable business plan for this MacGregor thing, including the golf ball aspect. we must also remember that Callaway, Taylor Made, Srixon, Wilson, Top Flite, Bridgestone, et. al. started producing balls at some point in the past when other companies were already dominating the market and seem to have done fairly well.

[Sid Vicious]

From Dec 27 2009, 10:34 PM:

Pepperturbo, on Nov 3 2009, 12:12 PM, said:

I suspect Golfsmith will go under. Producing a golf ball, what a joke, and trying to be an OEM club maker; they don't have the revenue stream or name. If Greg N along with it's founder couldn't keep MacGregor healthy, it's highly unlikely retailers turned component club makers can.

Now, balls, no less with ridiculous pricing... There are so many better ball choices. Their contribution won't fly.. Golfsmith should stick to what it knows retailing. Watch and see.

The joke may be on you since Golfsmith was founded in the late 1960's as a mail order component company and didn't get into retail large scale until much later. Further, MacGregor golf was founded in 1897 and the founders have been building clubs in the sky for the better part of a century if not longer so Greg Norman never had the opportunity to work "along with it's founder" to keep "MacGregor healthy." Also, I am sure that Golsmith has a viable business plan for this MacGregor thing, including the golf ball aspect. we must also remember that Callaway, Taylor Made, Srixon, Wilson, Top Flite, Bridgestone, et. al. started producing balls at some point in the past when other companies were already dominating the market and seem to have done fairly well.

That's right. They were a component retailer when I was a kid. They didn't even have any brick and mortar stores back then. GS and Maltby both, and Kenneth Smith was the "custom" club guy.