Equipment
Tiger says he played a Bridgestone golf ball for “a number of years”
File Tiger Woods confirming a long-time industry rumor under things you didn’t expect to happen at the beginning of 2017.
In what could mostly be described as a State of the Union, Tiger Woods posted a 1,500-word blog post to his website on Thursday where he discussed a wide range of topics, including battling the flu over Thanksgiving, playing golf with Donald Trump, his performance at the Hero World Challenge, golf course design philosophy, and even his take on injuries in the NFL.
Read the post in its entirety here.
But for GolfWRXers, the most interesting insights came from his discussions about equipment.
Along with saying he’s still tinkering with “ball-wood” combinations — he played a TaylorMade M2 driver and TaylorMade M1 fairway woods at the Hero — Woods also implied that he used to play a Nike golf ball that was made by Bridgestone.
“What people don’t realize is that Bridgestone made the Nike golf ball for a number of years,” Woods said. “It’s a great ball and making the switch wasn’t that hard.”
As the face of Nike golf for years, this confirms the hunches that those in the know in the golf industry (here’s a forum thread from 2008 discussing the topic) had about Nike golf balls; at least during the company’s early days in the golf ball market. This certainly could explain Woods’ new golf ball deal with Bridgestone, and his decision to put the B330S golf ball into play for his return to competitive golf.
Of course, Nike isn’t the first golf equipment company to outsource the production of golf balls. But it’s interesting that Woods chose to publicize that information.
Woods has also confirmed that he’ll be playing in the Farmers Insurance Open, the Honda Classic, the Genesis Open and the Dubai Desert Classic, and we’ll be closely following his equipment changes throughout the season.
Related: Tiger Woods WITB 2017
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- Steve Stricker WITB accurate as of the Zurich Classic. More photos from the event here.
Driver: Titleist TSR3 (9 degrees, C4 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Fujikura Motore Speeder VC 7.2 X
3-wood: Titleist 915F (13.5 degrees)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Tensei CK Pro White 80 TX
Hybrid: Titleist 816 H1 (17 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Motore Speeder VC 9.2 X
Irons: Titleist T200 (3, 4), Titleist T100 (5-9)
Shafts: Project X 6.5
Wedges: Titleist Vokey SM8 (46-10F @55), Titleist Vokey SM10 (54-10S @53), Titleist Vokey SM4 (60 @59)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold X100 w/Sensicore
Putter: Odyssey White Hot No. 2
Ball: Titleist Pro V1x
Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet Grip Rite
Check out more in-hand photos of Steve Stricker’s clubs here.
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- Alex Fitzpatrick what’s in the bag accurate as of the Zurich Classic.
Driver: Ping G430 LST (10.5 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 6 X
3-wood: TaylorMade Qi10 (15 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus TR Black 7 X
Hybrid: Ping G430 (19 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black HB 10 TX
Irons: Ping iCrossover (2), Titleist T100 (4-PW)
Shafts: Fujikura Ventus Black HB 9 TX (2), Nippon N.S. Pro Modus 3 Tour 120 X (4-9)
Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM10 (50-12F, 56-12D, 60-08M)
Shafts: Nippon N.S. Pro Modus 3 Tour 120 X
Putter: Bettinardi SS16 Dass
Grips: Golf Pride MCC
Check out more in-hand photos of Alex Fitzpatrick’s clubs here.
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In our forums, our members have been discussing Mini-Drivers and accompanying shafts. WRXer ‘JamesFisher1990’ is about to purchase a BRNR Mini and is torn on what shaft weight to use, and our members have been sharing their thoughts and set ups in our forum.
Here are a few posts from the thread, but make sure to check out the entire discussion and have your say at the link below.
- PARETO: “New BRNR at 13.5. Took it over to TXG (Club Champ but TXG will always rule) in Calgary for a fit. Took the head down to 12, stuck in a Graphite Design AD at 3 wood length and 60g. Presto- numbers that rivaled my G430Max but with waaaaay tighter dispersion. Win.”
- driveandputtmachine: “Still playing a MIni 300. The head was only 208, so I ordered a heavier weight and play it at 3 wood length. I am playing a Ventus Red 70. I play 70 grams in my fairways. I use it mainly to hit draws off the tee. When I combine me, a driver, and trying to hit a draw it does not work out well most of the time. So the MIni is for that. As an aside, I have not hit the newest BRNR, but the previous model wasn’t great off the deck. The 300 Mini is very good off the deck.”
- JAM01: “Ok, just put the BRNR in the bag along side a QI10 max and a QI10 3 wood. A load of top end redundancy. But, I have several holes at my two home courses where the flight and accuracy of the mini driver helps immensely. Mine is stock Proforce 65 at 13.5, I could see a heavier shaft, but to normal flex, as a nice alternative.”
Entire Thread: “What’s the perfect Mini-Driver/Shaft combo? – GolfWRXers discuss”
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Steve Stricker WITB 2024 (April)
Steve Stricker WITB accurate as of the Zurich Classic. More photos from the event here. Driver: Titleist TSR3 (9 degrees, C4...
Alex Fitzpatrick WITB 2024 (April)
Alex Fitzpatrick what’s in the bag accurate as of the Zurich Classic. Driver: Ping G430 LST (10.5 degrees) Shaft: Fujikura...
Alejandro Tosti WITB 2024 (April)
Alejandro Tosti what’s in the bag accurate as of the Zurich Classic. Driver: Srixon ZX5 Mk II LS (9.5 degrees...
Drew Brees WITB 2024 (April)
View this post on Instagram A post shared by GolfWRX (@golfwrx) Driver: TaylorMade Stealth 2 Plus (10.5 degrees)...
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James Awad
Jun 12, 2020 at 1:18 pm
Worst kept industry ‘secret’ – like forever.
And folks still think a company with the highest defective shoe returns, mismatched sleeve & collars on their premier shirts – actually built a foundry & learned to forge irons?!?!
David Hammond
May 8, 2019 at 1:52 pm
NIKE (or other major OEM, insert name here) designs golf gear.
A factory, usually not in the USA, makes all or parts.
NIKE literally MAKES nothing nada never. They are a promotional management firm only. If not for a Tiger-level player they probably would never have entered golf gear because it is a tough market to pierce. That is proven by their exit.
Infidelity is not linked to golf gear.
JR
Jan 25, 2017 at 2:03 pm
So Tiger “played a Bridgestone ball for a number of years”? No wonder he’s off his game. I usually only play the same ball for a couple of rounds.
Rich Douglas
Jan 8, 2017 at 9:56 am
Here’s a crazy idea: play the equipment that is best for you regardless of celebrity endorsement. If a player influences you away from what’s best for you then you’re more interested in identity over playing your best golf.
Chuck
Jan 7, 2017 at 3:26 pm
I don’t think it is true for Tiger to say that he’s been playing Bridgestone balls “for years,” any more than it was true for Tiger to say that all of his Nike equipment was chosen by him because it was the best, and he could play anything he wanted if it performed for him.
In a matter of weeks after being relieved of a contractual duty to promote Nike equipment, he’s gone back to his old Cameron putter and 2016 TM M-series woods. Tiger had an all-Nike bag, because that is what he was paid for.
If a golf ball is designed and formulated by Rock Iishi, working for Nike, and gets manufactured under a contract with Bridgestone, and is otherwise unlike any other marketed Bridgestone ball, it’s cute (and clever, in a Tiger Woods-deceptive sort of way) but it’s not a Bridgestone ball.
St
Jan 7, 2017 at 6:28 pm
But that’s not what he’s saying. So why don’t u have a nice cup of STFU
Chuck
Jan 8, 2017 at 1:06 am
To be precise, THIS is what Tiger’s blog post stated:
“I’m still testing clubs and trying to find the best ball-wood combo. What people don’t realize is that Bridgestone made the Nike golf ball for a number of years. It’s a great ball and making the switch wasn’t that hard. I’m really excited to join the Bridgestone team. For now, I’ll probably stick with some of my old Nike equipment, and use my Scotty Cameron putter. I’m also proud to be working with Monster and look forward to the things we’ll do together.”
Okay. So “for a number of years,” Bridgestone manufactured the Nike golf ball. Of course they did. Rock Ishii came to Nike directly from Bridgestone. Nike was starting from zero in golf ball manufacture. I don’t doubt — never doubted — the truth of that.
But then there is all of the talk about very, very special balls formulated specifically for Tiger by Nike/Ishii for basically all of the time since the Nike One came into being.
http://www.si.com/vault/2005/03/28/8256146/#
So…
a) Was Tiger bs-ing for the sake of his big sponsor, when he was claiming that he could play any equipment he wanted, but Nike’s was all the best? And that for the last 15 years or so, his Nike golf balls have been carefully designed and tuned by Rock Ishii and the Nike staff? Or;
b) Is Tiger bs-ing for the sake of his new big sponsor, when he claims that his Nike golf balls were really Bridgestones? Or;
c) Is Tiger perpetually clever with his words, always helping out his sponsor of the moment and saying whatever he can get away with, with plausible deniability, to say something that sounds remarkably clever and informative in favor of the sponsor of the moment? Or;
d) All of the above.
1badbadger
Jan 6, 2017 at 11:55 pm
He’s not a fraud and didn’t lie about what golf ball he was playing…Nike outsources all their products. They don’t make anything…not even athletic shoes. They are a marketing company. They don’t own any production facilities. They did have a team that DESIGNED their golf balls, and Bridgestone simply MANUFACTURED them to their specs. Nike balls, just made in Bridgestone’s plant.
St
Jan 7, 2017 at 6:34 pm
Oh, he’s a fraud, alright. Just ask Elin
Chunkiebuck
Jan 6, 2017 at 10:40 pm
I’ll alert the media.
TIm
Jan 6, 2017 at 8:40 pm
Gee Maxfli, Dunlop Slazanger and some Wilson balls were all made in the same plant back in the 80’s 90’s….right here in the good old USA. John Daly played a Dunlop ball made in South Carolina for awhile and won with it in San Diego. Locco Pro urethane cover ball..then Addis (Taylormade) took over the plant and Dunlop and Slazanger sold off their names (DICK’S SPORTING GOODS) for use in USA. They kept Maxfli a short time then sold that off to Dick’s.
Swizzle
Jan 6, 2017 at 6:15 pm
Everyone wants to sound like the know more than the last guy. Like many of you I was aware of all this in early 2000’s. Seems it was a slow day at work for a lot of you!
mikee
Jan 6, 2017 at 3:42 pm
Just like Nike ice hockey skates…..Sergei Federov (at that time with the Detroit Redwings) was the “face” of Nike skates. He was using “rebranded” Bauer skates.
Dave R
Jan 6, 2017 at 2:02 pm
Folks it’s a golf ball that’s all. Relax move on .
MrPoopoo
Jan 6, 2017 at 2:00 pm
Speaking of golf balls… is anybody on Tour rocking the Kirkland Signature balls? That would be hilarious.
Bandrz
Jan 6, 2017 at 4:04 pm
Yes, but they are known as Taylormade balls on Tour. Same factory.
TIm
Jan 6, 2017 at 8:28 pm
disagree, to the point it would not be the Taylormade tour balls they are made in South Carolina. Maybe the lower end Taylormade balls…
birdie
Jan 6, 2017 at 12:58 pm
how or why? just because a ball is made by bridgestone doesn’t mean they performed exactly the same. there were intended differences.
many companies design, engineer, and create product and use a competitor to actually manufacturer it. this isn’t new.
Tazz2293
Jan 6, 2017 at 9:58 am
All the woods worshipers who played Nike were lied to by woods and got hornswoggled by Nike.
Dj
Jan 6, 2017 at 11:26 am
All of those “woods worshippers” people were also playing Bridgestone balls. Everyone here knows that Bridgestone made Nike’s initial balls until they started with RZN
Bert
Jan 6, 2017 at 9:12 am
I think what is being said is players deceive golf fans with their endorsements. Endorsing a product knowingly it is really something else is deception in the name of making money. When a golfer takes such action they are not creditable. So take the head-cover off and let the golf fan, who’s really supporting you, know the equipment you actually play.
Orangeology
Jan 6, 2017 at 10:35 am
only if that deception—you called—was for a specific player’s equipment ‘only’. if the entire brand had a manufacturing deal with another company—where’s the case in between Nike & Bridgestone in the earlier days—then it’s different story, we guess?
Dj
Jan 6, 2017 at 11:29 am
The golf fans who bought Nike balls prior to their RZN tech were also buying Bridgestone manufactured balls. It wasn’t just tiger. Bridgestone manufactured all of Nike’s balls at retail, not just tigers
Wayne J Bosley
Jan 5, 2017 at 8:14 pm
They were not the only company making balls for Nike and had stopped doing so a few years ago ,,,, I feel sorry for the other two companies that were doing a good job supplying in recent years that have had their Nike business evaporate without much notice.
Shallowface
Jan 6, 2017 at 9:05 am
Who were those “other two companies?”
1badbadger
Jan 7, 2017 at 12:01 am
Initially, Bridgestone made all of Nike’s golf ball models. After a few years, they did start using other companies as well, but Bridgestone continued to manufacture some of their models.
cgasucks
Jan 5, 2017 at 6:27 pm
Earl was no saint either. He cheated on Tilda and there are rumors of Earl bringing in hookers to Tiger’s childhood home in California.
eric
Jan 6, 2017 at 9:40 am
i love the internet. a comment thread about a golf ball turns into claims about tiger’s dad and hookers.
Boobsy McKiss
Jan 6, 2017 at 12:16 pm
Seriously. Some fools wait for any chance they can get to rip on tiger, probably trying in vein to subconsciously fill that empty void they have in their life. Like he’s the only professional golfer, athlete, or famous figure who ever cheated on their spouse. ROFL.
TIm
Jan 6, 2017 at 8:32 pm
Pretty simple this is a Golf site and Tiger Woods is the Best to ever play the game, not even close…so why not take shots at someone who plays the game you love better then you ever dreamed possible…
Scott
Jan 5, 2017 at 4:07 pm
Makes sense. I have never liked either ball.
LOL
Jan 5, 2017 at 3:42 pm
Why are you so angry, did he bang your aunt, mom, sister?
Tazz2293
Jan 5, 2017 at 4:19 pm
Probably along with yours too
Phil
Jan 5, 2017 at 1:27 pm
When will Tiger admit that his “Nike” irons were made by Miura?
Barry
Jan 5, 2017 at 4:39 pm
Probably around the same time he puts a new set in the bag
R0B
Jan 5, 2017 at 10:25 pm
+1
(you beat me to it)
Dj
Jan 6, 2017 at 11:27 am
Tigers Nike irons were never touched by Miura, genius
JR
Jan 25, 2017 at 2:04 pm
And you know this how?
1badbadger
Jan 7, 2017 at 12:27 am
In all fairness, none of the major OEMs own their own forging plant. Titleist, TaylorMade, Callaway, Bridgestone, Srixon, etc all use factories overseas to produce their forgings.
Dj
Jan 5, 2017 at 12:51 pm
This has been confirmed numerous times by Nike golf themselves so not sure how it’s considered a rumor
Eddie
Jan 5, 2017 at 4:41 pm
I think it was pretty widely known back when Nike first got in the golf ball business back when Bridgestone’s golf stuff was called Precept.
cgasucks
Jan 5, 2017 at 6:29 pm
I knew that when I started playing golf in 2000. It is well known that Bridgestone made Nike balls for a long time.