Coming Soon (enough) - 2014 Golf's Most Wanted Driver Test

[BestGrips.com]

Here we go boys (and whatever women happy to be lurking). This isn't what I talked about yesterday. I didn't have tracking info on these, but I was pretty excited when they showed up as promised. Here's the teaser pic. The main site will be updated in just a few minutes...and yes, as I promised, I'll be removing all of the discussion around Bombtech. 

 

While I understand, and can appreciate (to a degree) Sully's decison not to participate, we're at 14:59...it's time to bring the focus back to the guys who deserve it.

 

Give me 10 minutes, and then go check this out:

 

Coming Soon - MyGolfSpy's 2014 Most Wanted Driver (that's the link to the main article if it's not clear).

 

And here's entry #2. We're only just getting started.

 

Forum-Teaser-OnOff-1.jpg

 

 

Very excited to see the OnOff, that's awesome!

[dru_]

Are you going to fix the typo in Leather in your signature picture or leave it there to drive people crazy?  Leahter.....

[Tony Covey MGS]

The next announcement is going up on the main site in the next 15 minutes or so. As will be the tradition for the next 20 or so of these, you guys here in the forum get the news first.

 

Without question, the most glaring absence from last year's test...these guys weren't about to be left out again.

[whiskey golf]

Titleist...not surprising.

Why isn't Titleist sending anything? First the bags and now this.

[westy]

It's getting a bit chompy over on the main blog isn't it - most peculiar.

 

You'd best get this all done quick before it ends in fisticuffs.

[Tony Covey MGS]

It's getting a bit chompy over on the main blog isn't it - most peculiar.

 

You'd best get this all done quick before it ends in fisticuffs.

 

I've cleaned up all of the B*tech noise so we can hopefully focus on those who choose to participate, while providing additional space for those who want to hurl accusations my way. 

[SPY ZINGER]

Why isn't Titleist sending anything? First the bags, then SPY ZINGER's Carlsbad Journey, and now this.

No comment... 

 

Fixed your comment too...

[Tony Covey MGS]

Why isn't Titleist sending anything? First the bags and now this.

 

Technically, first it was the shoes. Then it was the bags, and then now this.

 

Titleist wasn't keen to provide a public statement on the situation. Here's my interpretation...

 

Look at our survey results from a few weeks ago. There is a large segment of the population that perceives Titleist a certain way. They have worked hard to craft a specific image (elite, performance brand), that appeals to a certain demographic, while another segment of golfers actually aspires to one day be good enough to play Titleist. 

 

It's all nonsense really...TaylorMade does shiny moving parts, Callaway is your buddy the golf (and media) company, and Titleist takes the pedestal approach. Each is equal parts brand identity and gimmick, and each appeals to a certain demographic.

 

Also, Titleist sells a shitload of balls and shoes, which allows them to maintain their margins on clubs (never discount), which feeds right back into the idea that Titleist is somehow elite.

 

In Titleist's case, the brand perception is so entrenched that anything other than a top finish (they're the best...just look at the survey), in all probability, would be viewed as detrimental to the brand. Unless you finish first, you lose. If you don't compete, you can't lose. And if you don't lose you don't compromise the integrity of the brand.

 

Protect the brand is the first rule.

Certainly a segment of our readers will think less of Titleist for the decision, but those won't be the core Titleist guys. The Titleist crowd will likely see it as Titleist holding on to their high ground (everyone knows they're the best, they don't need to prove it to anyone).

 

From what I can tell, it's a unique culture at Titleist, and one that clearly doesn't mix well with our way of doing things. 

 

All of that said, the relationship while not cozy is certainly cordial, and we'll keep the dialog open, and we'll continue to do everything we reasonably can to include them in future tests.

[SPY ZINGER]

What Tony said!

[whiskey golf]

Technically, first it was the shoes. Then it was the bags, and then now this.

 

Titleist wasn't keen to provide a public statement on the situation. Here's my interpretation...

 

Look at our survey results from a few weeks ago. There is a large segment of the population that perceives Titleist a certain way. They have worked hard to craft a specific image (elite, performance brand), that appeals to a certain demographic, while another segment of golfers actually aspires to one day be good enough to play Titleist. 

 

It's all nonsense really...TaylorMade does shiny moving parts, Callaway is your buddy the golf (and media) company, and Titleist takes the pedestal approach. Each is equal parts brand identity and gimmick, and each appeals to a certain demographic.

 

Also, Titleist sells a shitload of balls and shoes, which allows them to maintain their margins on clubs (never discount), which feeds right back into the idea that Titleist is somehow elite.

 

In Titleist's case, the brand perception is so entrenched that anything other than a top finish (they're the best...just look at the survey), in all probability, would be viewed as detrimental to the brand. Unless you finish first, you lose. If you don't compete, you can't lose. And if you don't lose you don't compromise the integrity of the brand.

 

Protect the brand is the first rule.

Certainly a segment of our readers will think less of Titleist for the decision, but those won't be the core Titleist guys. The Titleist crowd will likely see it as Titleist holding on to their high ground (everyone knows they're the best, they don't need to prove it to anyone).

 

From what I can tell, it's a unique culture at Titleist, and one that clearly doesn't mix well with our way of doing things. 

 

All of that said, the relationship while not cozy is certainly cordial, and we'll keep the dialog open, and we'll continue to do everything we reasonably can to include them in future tests.

 

Thanks for the response. I don't look down on Titleist for participating but I think they shouldn't have to worry about losing customers based on "not being the best". They're a solid company and should have confidence but it is what it is.

[Tony Covey MGS]

Here we go boys...a Saturday edition to help keep the momentum rolling.

 

If you asked me, I'd tell you that I fully expect one of the big boys to finish on top of our 2014 Most Wanted. They outspend the little guys (both on marketing and R&D), and whether everyone wants to hear it or believe it, the reality is those guys make a top-tier product.

 

With that said, if you're looking to put some money down on a long shot (it's a shame Vegas doesn't have a book for this), this should be one of your pics. This will be the 3rd iteration of their driver we tested. The last two were arguably the best drivers that nobody talked about.

The rest of the pictures up on the website in 10.

 

 

[skihippy]

Wow this sounds like it will be great!!!

[Tony Covey MGS]

Happy Monday everyone. At least one announcement will be made today (like right now), but assuming my day stays on-track, there will be at least one other later in the day. So as always, you guys get it first.

 

THIS is the one I was talking about last week when I said something like we have a surprise entry with a good story...anyway, this is it, and I'll share a bit of that story when I post the info on the website in the next 15 minutes or so. Here's the link to that post.

 

 

 

Also...In case you missed it, later in the day last Friday I wrote an article about TaylorMade's Weird Week in the Wake of Big Bertha. I think it's worth a read, but then again, I'm the guy who wrote it, so there's probably some bias there. Please check that out as well.

[RookieBlue7]

The first link goes to a blank page for me T.

[Tony Covey MGS]

The first link goes to a blank page for me T.

 

Both links are working for me. If anyone else is having a problem, please let me know.

[Aotearoa_Brad]

I'm getting a blank page from the blog link thread as well T (first one)

[hckymeyer]

Weird, it works for me.

[Tony Covey MGS]

I'm getting a blank page from the blog link thread as well T (first one)

 

Weird... for those getting the blank page, it's now the feature on top of the main page (www.mygolfspy.com).

[Tony Covey MGS]

Man...it sure has been a while (like almost 4.5 hours), so let's go ahead and announce another participant.

 

Pics going up on the blog very soon:

 

 

[Aotearoa_Brad]

Any reason Cobra decided to send only the Bio Cell, and not the Bio Cell+ (I hope I didn't miss the reason in the blog 😁)

[Blade]

I'm hoping there's a second box with Bio Cell+'s in it.

[GolfSpy Dave]

I'm hoping there's a second box with Bio Cell+'s in it.

Me too. I like the orange and white!

[Tony Covey MGS]

Let's announce another one. Ok...sounds like a good idea to me.

 

Sorry...all this cough syrup I've been downing lately has me a little loopy. I may be talking to myself, I may be less sure of what day it, I might even be positive that my daughter's Mickey Mouse doll is talking to me, but none of that should stop us from announcing the next entry in our 2014 Most Wanted Driver Test...and so here it is.

 

 

10 minutes or so and more photos are up on the blog. There's a high probability we're going to be announcing another entry today.

 

 

[Tony Covey MGS]

And here's your 2nd announcement for the day. Our friends at Krank got a little excited and blew the surprise, so well, now we're playing catch-up. Blog update in 10 or less.

 

 

[westy]

Good to see cleveland in this review, didn't they stay away from MGS for a bit?

[edwin]

good luck, and  I can not wait to hear the results ^_^

[Tony Covey MGS]

Here we go. Time for another announcement.

 

Back for Year 2.0 of Golf's Most Wanted is Nike's Covert 2.0. See what I did there? 2.0...2.0. Clever, right?

 

More pics on the website shortly.

[Tony Covey MGS]

So here's the latest update I have for you.I'm 99% confident that we'll have 16 different manufacturers in our test. The total number of models tested (not counting Pro/Tour heads that we treat as fitting options) will either be 22 or 23 + our reference club (big news buried in this simple little paragraph). Once we track down the shipment that UPS lost we can firm that number up.

 

That which was PENDING is now IN, and now that we're past deadline, you can go ahead and ad KickX to the out list as multiple emails were not returned.

 

Actual testing should start very soon.

[RookieBlue7]

Reference club, I'm assuming, is last year's winner, the 910.

[Tony Covey MGS]

Reference club, I'm assuming, is last year's winner, the 910.

 

Reference club is not the winner. It was, however, a relatively high finisher. The 913 won for accuracy, but was not the overall winner.