What's your view on tape on the face of demo clubs?

[perseveringgolfer]

The reason I ask comes from two 'demo' sessions I had, one at a major golf retailer and one at a world class golf resort.

The retailer didnt have any demo clubs of a driver I was interested in so he taped up the face then watched me hit using trackman. The sound was affected, the spin was majorly affected so no trackman numbers could be relied on. He apologized for taping but as they werent sent any demo clubs its all he could do. I understood and thanked him anyway saying I'd need to try elsewhere without tape. Pleasant exchange and I still buy from there, frequently.

The world class resort had some Odyssey and Scotty putters I was keen to demo with a view to purchase. The assistant said I can try them on the putting green but taped up the whole head in case of any marks. It was the height of summer and I was using new balls. I politely declined to try as there would be no feel and the 'tech' on the faces wouldn't work if covered in tape. He looked surprised but shrugged his shoulders and walked away. I then went out to the range to practice before my round. 5 minutes later the head pro came storming up to me and without any pleasantries his first words were "what's the problem?" I said "sorry, I'm not sure what you mean", he retorted with "you told my assistant you wanted to test putters without taping up the head, these are very expensive and become used if tested". I explained my thoughts exactly as I said to the assistant and all he said was "we dont do that" then turned round and walked back to the pro shop.

To say I felt scolded and uneasy is an understatement and I've never bought anything there again.

Have you tried demo clubs with tape and still bought?

[GolfSpy MPR]

I think reasonable people can understand why a shop would insist on tape on a non-demo club.

I also think reasonable people can understand why even a semi-serious golfer wouldn't find that a satisfying way to test a club.

Apparently, not all people are reasonable.

[tommc23]

I have hit irons with tape on them sometimes with really bad results and sometimes with decent

[JAGolfore]

I would do the same in that situation. Hitting clubs with tape on them is pointless.


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[tony@CIC]

Another lefty whine:: Think finding lefty clubs is difficult in big box stores? Try finding lefty demo clubs - impossible! 

To avoid the tape issue I have to wait for demo day at our club. Fortunately they now have a 1/2 doz vendors with demo clubs (no tape) at our 1 day events. . 

[PlaidJacket]

1 hour ago, perseveringgolfer said:

5 minutes later the head pro came storming up to me and without any pleasantries his first words were "what's the problem?

Good thing I wasn't there as I'd have told him, "what's the problem". Stupid pro. Pro jerk-wad that is. I've walked into our pro shop many times and seen the assistants killing time putting around with various rack putters. You think they mark them as "Used" afterwards?

[Canucklehead]

Retailers near me only tape the display models if you want to hit them. The past two seasons they've actually gotten proper fitting carts so you can play with the lie angle and shafts. Their demo clubs show some use so they won't bother taping them up. They also have about 800 putters around their putting green so I think they assume no one will be hit enough to show significant wear before it is bought.

Personally haven't bought anything I wasn't able to hit tape less. Try it out with tape on maybe, but I want to see how it performs before I fork over my hard earned money

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[cnosil]

I understand the reasoning behind taping full swing clubs.  Not an ideal situation nor something i would do if I was trying to get launch numbers on a club.   I have never seen anyone tape up a putter and on the occasions I have seen the plastic still on the putter,  the store will generally remove if asked so you can try a particular model.  I don't get extremely concerned if there is an unwrapped putter in the wrong length and won't ask to get one in my preferred length.  

[GolfSpy_BNG]

I thought 2 things while reading this.

1. The Assistant is a whiny baby that got upset over losing a possible sale and cried to the Head Pro.

2.  The Head Pro is a DB.  There was no reason for him to come out and say something to you while you were warming up other than he wanted to show off his "authority".

I don't blame you for never buying there again.

As far as demoing with tape or plastic on a club,  it is not something I would ever do.  I would think that every performance factor of the driver head would be effected.  The only meaningful thing that could come from that situation would be how the club feels when you swing it.  Otherwise it sounds like a waste of time to me.

[RickyBobby_PR]

I would never test a club with tape on it. Hit takes away from the actual sound and feel as well as the true spin and launch.

the store does it to protect their retail product so if the oem didn’t send them demo gear then the oem is telling me they don’t want me to get fit and but their product 

curious what club you were testing 

[Har in the Hat]

Shopping at a big box store up here in Canada (Golftown), they won't let people hit clubs without taping them ( my experience with them and what I've seen)  but they don't do that for the putters.  They must have had some bad experiences that resulted in some expensive putters not being sold due to scuff marks.

[MaxEntropy]

I've seen stores tape the sole of a putter to help minimize the scuffing, but never the face.

I don't mind a taped face if I'm just swinging a club to gauge the feel (balance, flex, weight, etc) and don't think I've ever been on a LM with tape on the face.

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[GB13]

I understand the need to tape full swing clubs. Although, if there isn't a demo available, a big box has enough inventory to designate one club "demo". 

Putters though? I have NEVER seen that. They normally come in plastic and some people try with plastic on, and if you want to, all retailers I have been to, have no problem if you take the plastic off. I also haven't seen any putters with scuffs on them because they took the plastic off. Most retailers I go to have the more expensive putters on an upper shelf so little kids can't destroy them but that's about it. 

From this I draw 2 conclusions. 

1. The retailer acted normally and politely. 

2. The pro and assistant were a$$holes.

[silver & black]

If they can't afford a club dedicated to testing, I can't afford to do business with them. I refuse to hit clubs with tape on the face. That's just asking for problems down the road if you purchase after hitting it with tape on it.

[GolfSpy_APH]

I have bought several, unfortunately that was before I really knew any better. Clubs as expected performed way different afterwards.
Thankfully most here don't do that anymore and have proper fitting carts. I've never seen a place tape up a putter. Most have them all on display for all to use.
Even though some have them locked up if you ask they will gladly take them out for you to give a roll.

[Rtracymog]

We always tape the soles of putter if people want to use them outside, but not the face. When people try out discontinued, new clubs, I always let them know what they will see (higher launch, less spin, etc.) with the tape on the face.


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[SteddyGolf]

A PGA Professional doesn’t get a lot of customer service training. Most of the training is technical in regards to training, operations, turf and so on. It is not uncommon to come upon someone who lacks tact.


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[bens197]

I feel like you’re leaving out part of the story.

I’d never let a golfer use a brand new premium putter without protecting the club. He doesn’t know you and your game and with the internet discounts available there are too many tire kickers who want to try and demo then buy elsewhere.


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[bens197]

A PGA Professional doesn’t get a lot of customer service training. Most of the training is technical in regards to training, operations, turf and so on. It is not uncommon to come upon someone who lacks tact.


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To an extent, absolutely. To make it at any decent club and to pass an interview, the people skills are sometimes more of an asset than your technical abilities.


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[Rickp]

Another lefty whine:: Think finding lefty clubs is difficult in big box stores? Try finding lefty demo clubs - impossible! 
To avoid the tape issue I have to wait for demo day at our club. Fortunately they now have a 1/2 doz vendors with demo clubs (no tape) at our 1 day events. . 

Lucky enough where we live has quite a few Demo Days. Only problem is too many Lefties also waiting to try.


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[Rickp]

The reason I ask comes from two 'demo' sessions I had, one at a major golf retailer and one at a world class golf resort.
The retailer didnt have any demo clubs of a driver I was interested in so he taped up the face then watched me hit using trackman. The sound was affected, the spin was majorly affected so no trackman numbers could be relied on. He apologized for taping but as they werent sent any demo clubs its all he could do. I understood and thanked him anyway saying I'd need to try elsewhere without tape. Pleasant exchange and I still buy from there, frequently.
The world class resort had some Odyssey and Scotty putters I was keen to demo with a view to purchase. The assistant said I can try them on the putting green but taped up the whole head in case of any marks. It was the height of summer and I was using new balls. I politely declined to try as there would be no feel and the 'tech' on the faces wouldn't work if covered in tape. He looked surprised but shrugged his shoulders and walked away. I then went out to the range to practice before my round. 5 minutes later the head pro came storming up to me and without any pleasantries his first words were "what's the problem?" I said "sorry, I'm not sure what you mean", he retorted with "you told my assistant you wanted to test putters without taping up the head, these are very expensive and become used if tested". I explained my thoughts exactly as I said to the assistant and all he said was "we dont do that" then turned round and walked back to the pro shop.
To say I felt scolded and uneasy is an understatement and I've never bought anything there again.
Have you tried demo clubs with tape and still bought?

Tape on bottom of high end putters for outside roll is understandable.
Asst & Head Pro attitude stupid. At my age I don’t take fools very well and my answers, if he pushed the issue would not have been cordial.


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