65 replies to this topic

[HawkeyeDan]

I have been watching a lot of GC lately and have noticed a lot of Titleist commercials touting them as the #1 ball on tour.  So who is the #2 ball on tour?

Just curious - not a flame or anything.  I know Titleist has the most staffers, but there are a lot of non-Titleist guys playing ProV1/ProV1x.  And yes, I do understand some OEM's, like PING and Mizuno do not make balls.  Just curious as to who holds the #2 spot.

My guess is Taylor Made - anyone know for sure?

[RW_Shankar]

Good question.  I was going to guess Srixon, but then maybe Cally, but maybe it is TM afterall.  I doubt it's Bstone.  Definiltey not Nike...Hmmmmmmm.  Nitro?

[siegel159]

Pinnacle

Seriously though, no idea.  I'm slightly curious as well

Edited by siegel159, 17 August 2012 - 10:14 AM.

[dgn]

I'm pretty sure it's TaylorMade.

[jack1123]

I would guess Srixon

[jack1123]

Although saying that, they seem to have more staffers on the European Tour than the PGA. Maybe I'm wrong here though?

[HawkeyeDan]

 siegel159, on 17 August 2012 - 10:13 AM, said:

Pinnacle

Seriously though, no idea.  I'm slightly curious as well

LOL - Pinnacle is owned by Titleist, BTW...so that would be very impressive indeed.

[HawkeyeDan]

 jack1123, on 17 August 2012 - 10:39 AM, said:

Although saying that, they seem to have more staffers on the European Tour than the PGA. Maybe I'm wrong here though?

I seem to notice more Taylor Made guys then Cleveland/Srixon guys on the PGA...just an observation, no real empirical data there.

[HawkeyeDan]

Also, I found this on the Titleist website - equipment count.

http://www.titleist....ent-Counts.aspx

Of tourney's through last weekend on the PGA, 65% of players were using a Titleist ball.

[twgolf]

I would have to say TM, because they have the largest stable of players on tour, even though do of them do not use the TM ball.  I am not sure but I can't think of any not TM staff players using the TM ball.

[miz85uno]

i'd guess taylormade

[morebeerbettergolf]

Molitor

[DLiver]

I would guess it it Callaway. I see a lot of players using the Cally ball. Not so much with TM.

[inthefairway]

Srixon would be my guess!!

[Pondy]

Taylormade

[J13]

Prob Taylormade or Bstone.

[cristphoto]

From a recent tournament:
1. Titleist
2. Taylor Made
3. Callaway
4. Srixon
5. Nike
6. Bridgestone

[swanry30]

TaylorMade was #2 at the PGA championship.

[morebeerbettergolf]

Hard to believe Nike is above BStone.

[cristphoto]

 morebeerbettergolf, on 17 August 2012 - 07:54 PM, said:

Hard to believe Nike is above BStone.

Agreed. I hardly ever see Nikes or Bridgestones in the woods.  Ironically a couple years ago Nike almost had the "Grand slam" (Schwartzel - Masters, Glover - US Open, Cink - British Open).

[miz85uno]

 cristphoto, on 18 August 2012 - 12:06 PM, said:

 morebeerbettergolf, on 17 August 2012 - 07:54 PM, said:

Hard to believe Nike is above BStone.

Agreed. I hardly ever see Nikes or Bridgestones in the woods.  Ironically a couple years ago Nike almost had the "Grand slam" (Schwartzel - Masters, Glover - US Open, Cink - British Open).

charl's masters was 2011...cink and glover were 2009

[NRJyzr]

 HawkeyeDan, on 17 August 2012 - 11:01 AM, said:

Of tourney's through last weekend on the PGA, 65% of players were using a Titleist ball.

I'd expect that.  Titleist has about 60% of the PGA Tour on a ball/shoe/glove contract.

Tour pros are consistent, it's almost always about the money.  

[cristphoto]

 miz85uno, on 21 August 2012 - 03:18 PM, said:

 cristphoto, on 18 August 2012 - 12:06 PM, said:

 morebeerbettergolf, on 17 August 2012 - 07:54 PM, said:

Hard to believe Nike is above BStone.

Agreed. I hardly ever see Nikes or Bridgestones in the woods.  Ironically a couple years ago Nike almost had the "Grand slam" (Schwartzel - Masters, Glover - US Open, Cink - British Open).

charl's masters was 2011...cink and glover were 2009

Oops - can I get a mulligan?

[kjbowen]

The best ball for pros is the ProV1 line. There is zero argument there. But for his mere mortals we can play a variety of different balls and achieve similar or better results. I enjoy trying out other golf balls. I am currently gaming the FG Tour ball.. Great great ball.

[dlygrisse]

 kjbowen, on 22 August 2012 - 07:53 AM, said:

The best ball for pros is the ProV1 line. There is zero argument there. But for his mere mortals we can play a variety of different balls and achieve similar or better results. I enjoy trying out other golf balls. I am currently gaming the FG Tour ball.. Great great ball.

The list does not surprise me, Pro V's are the gold standard but the other companies make great balls as well.  The Nike ball IMO is very harsh feeling so I would understand why anyone not signed with Nike would not play it.

I like trying others as well, just picked up some Cally HX Chromes...awesome balls for the average player, great spin around the green as well.

[NRJyzr]

 kjbowen, on 22 August 2012 - 07:53 AM, said:

The best ball for pros is the ProV1 line. There is zero argument there.

There's plenty of argument there.

It only dominates usage for the same reason TM dominates driver usage.

[kjbowen]

 NRJyzr, on 22 August 2012 - 08:34 AM, said:

 kjbowen, on 22 August 2012 - 07:53 AM, said:

The best ball for pros is the ProV1 line. There is zero argument there.

There's plenty of argument there.

It only dominates usage for the same reason TM dominates driver usage.

Not even close ..

Non titleist players play th proV. just like Luke Donald plays RBZ woods. Tons of players on another staff play the proV

[NRJyzr]

 kjbowen, on 22 August 2012 - 08:50 AM, said:

 NRJyzr, on 22 August 2012 - 08:34 AM, said:

 kjbowen, on 22 August 2012 - 07:53 AM, said:

The best ball for pros is the ProV1 line. There is zero argument there.

There's plenty of argument there.

It only dominates usage for the same reason TM dominates driver usage.

Not even close ..

Non titleist players play th proV. just like Luke Donald plays RBZ woods. Tons of players on another staff play the proV

Tour players are generally not on staff with Titleist for a full bag endorsement.  

Fortune Brands (or maybe Fila now <shrug>) sign Tour players to ball/shoe/glove contracts.  These players receive a not-insignificant amount of money to play Titleist balls, wear Footjoy shoes, and use their gloves.

Just as they pay players to use Cameron putters.  Just as TaylorMade pays players to use their drivers.  All regardless of which brand is on the bag.

Years ago, TMAG was going to try taking some of the Titleist market share, by offering a similar deal.  In response, Titleist shored up their ball/shoe/glove budget by cutting several pros they had on staff for "standard" endorsement deals, like Webb, Irwin, etc.  TMAG took their money to the driver count, instead of going the escalation route in the ball arena.

With the PGA Tour, it's always about the money.  Eventually, they all chase it (Ryan Moore anyone?).

Edited by NRJyzr, 22 August 2012 - 09:22 AM.

[barkydog1]

It is a good question.  But, I think it would be the Penta.  Maybe Hex Black after that.

[barkydog1]

Penta is easily the second most popular tour ball for the regular fellow.