If you had to pick one OEM for all 14 clubs, which one and why?

[CrazyGolfNut]

Good question and a little difficult to answer.  My bag is mostly Ping and Titleist so I think I would go with ... Ping first and Titleist second.  

 

[cnosil]

6 hours ago, fixyurdivot said:

Does the lack of responses identifying Tour Edge speak to the forums demographics do you think? .  

Doubtful.  While I could play them and I personally think Tour Edge Exotics are good clubs they wouldn't be my first choice. 

[GolfSpy_BNG]

5 hours ago, RetiredBoomer said:

Sticking to one OEM would be especially hard for me due to how I configure a set.

I simply don't practice much beyond April, so I rely on crutches rather than versatile shotmaking.
That impacts my set configuration greatly.

If this sort of thing bores you, don't bother reading this, but if thinking outside the box amuses you, I'll carry on.

Only nine (9) clubs comprise the gapping progression of my set:
fairway wood
5-9 irons
46, 52, 58° wedges.

The other five (5) of my clubs are shot-specific utilities.
They're not really coordinated to the gapping progression.
They're like special teams or the long snapper in football:
driver
driving iron
sand iron
chipping iron
putter.

Keeping it down to fourteen means I have players on the bench available to come in.

The fairway wood has a stronger (16.5°) lofted matching companion...also brand new.
The sand and chipping irons are part of the Cleveland Smart Sole Full Face short game set.
Two more wedges come with then, much more clunky than the sleek Mizunos. 

Everybody has backup putters.
I've also got an old Spalding Top Flite Intimidator 400   25º titanium fairway wood that's pretty automatic despite its age.  It's an easy tree hopper from the wrong fairway and lands the ball like a lawn dart...

but obviously not ideal for wind or links golf!

 

 

 

[chisag]

Just now, cnosil said:

Doubtful.  While I could play them and I personally think Tour Edge Exotics are good clubs they wouldn't be my first choice. 

 

... Finding that balance of "different" for attention while maintaining an acceptable look, Tour Edge and Exotics often crosses well over the line for my tastes. In the days of all black heads, the owner David Gold came out with a huge burgundy head on his before it's time, Iron Wood as well as Tour Edge fairway woods. The drivers for the last several years have just been off putting visually and tend to look like something from an online infomercial. "WAIT! Before you leave BUY NOW and get a free divot repair tool!" A shame because the performance is always there. 

[golfinnut]

Easy ... it's always been Titleist.  From day one, back in the high school days, since playing the Tour Blades (I think it was around 1986 or 87) & the Professional ball.  I've played the irons & drivers for the most part ever since 

[RichL85]

I would probably be hard pressed to decide against PING for just an all around solid set. When I've tested clubs, PING has consistently had an offering in the top 2 or 3 options for me throughout the bag, compared to other companies that have somewhere in the bag that just didn't work for me. 

[William P]

Pretty easy decision for me - Titleist all the way. Recently took the TaylorMade hybrid out of the bag in favor of another Vokey wedge making everything Titleist with exception of the newly acquired JAILBIRD 380 putter. Would definitely have to spend some time with the Scotty offerings to find one that provides the feel and confidence experienced with the new Odyssey. Even the bag is Titleist, gift from SWMBO and daughter unit for Christmas.

PXG would be a close second and I played Mizuno irons for a lot of years but never their metal woods or wedges so if Titleist and PXG were not an option I would defer to them.

Edited July 31 by William P

[jbern]

20 hours ago, chisag said:

I have not played their drivers since the F9 as they didn't produce enough spin for me and the head shape got too long front to back for my tastes. I don't like a rounded leading edge and found their wedges harsh feeling

I have the opposite problem with Dr and am always trying to find ways to reduce spin. The LTDx has me in a decent spot at 2300rpm. 

By harsh feeling wedges, do you mean the metal may be too hard and not have that soft, forged wedge feel? I found this to be the case with some of the cheaper set wedges I've had in the past. I do like the "Versatile" sole in the SnakeBite wedges, which is why I thought I could get along with them okay.

21 hours ago, Swood1994 said:

I feel like this is a sneaky good pick but like in the real world I feel like the titleists and taylormades overshadow Cobra for this hypothetical situation lol 

Yep, I generally agree, but I have hit a number of Cobra clubs recently (the Darkspeed Dr and woods, and the King TEC O-L irons) and I keep having to talk myself out of buying them!  If I had this hypothetical sponsor deal, I wouldn't have this brain-heart-wallet battle.

That being said, it would be tough to pry the DF3 out of my hands for the putter situation!!

[GolfSpy_KFT]

I think I would most likely go Titleist. I love my Scotty Putter, had overall good success with my old TSi3, and am eyeing up a set of Vokeys at the moment anyways. Very confidently can say I would be able to find irons that fit my game as well as the woods. 

[chisag]

39 minutes ago, GolfSpy_KFT said:

I think I would most likely go Titleist. I love my Scotty Putter, had overall good success with my old TSi3, and am eyeing up a set of Vokeys at the moment anyways. Very confidently can say I would be able to find irons that fit my game as well as the woods. 

 

... That's the thing at this moment in time, Titleist* is just unrivaled for irons. From the very forgiving T350 to the pure 620 MB with the CB/T100/T150/T200 everyone can find an iron that will fit their game. 

*Edit: And with today's release of the new P-770 and P-7CB Taylor Made just may have joined Titleist at the top of the iron list. 

Edited July 31 by chisag

[tnylec]

I love the Ping G430’s I recently picked up. It I would give up my Odyssey putter for them!


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[hartrick11]

At least based on what I currently know, it's Titleist and TaylorMade for me. I have never loved looking down at Callaway irons for whatever reason, have never hit a Ping driver that I liked the feel of (haven't hit the latest model admittedly), don't get along with the Mizuno irons' turf interaction (haven't hit the 2024 lineup) and don't get along with the Cobra wedge grinds, nor do I like their aluminum inserts on the putters. I could happily play every offering from either Titleist or Taylormade, and would note that the TM reserve line of milled putters are underrated.

If I absolutely had to pick one, it would be Titleist based on my familiarity with the Vokey grinds.

*have never hit a PXG club, a Cleveland putter, a Wilson metal or putter, or a Sub70 club so can't speak to those

[chisag]

5 hours ago, jbern said:

By harsh feeling wedges, do you mean the metal may be too hard and not have that soft, forged wedge feel? I found this to be the case with some of the cheaper set wedges I've had in the past. I do like the "Versatile" sole in the SnakeBite wedges, which is why I thought I could get along with them okay.

 

... Exactly, and to be fair it may be more accurate to call them very "crisp" feeling as opposed to "soft". My main complaint was the 58* with the Black QPD finish so that may be a factor. But even the guys I play with said "They sound so different" and after letting them all hit them, none liked the feel. That said, quite a few in the Cobra Challenge really liked the Snakebite wedges and I believe I was the lone dissenter. 


 

[Hook DeLoft]

Tough choice for me.  I probably would go with Ping or Titleist.  They both have strong offerings throughout the bag.  

[Rantings]

PXG , Ping, Titleist in that order. 

[KC Golf]

On 7/31/2024 at 9:56 AM, chisag said:

 

... That's the thing at this moment in time, Titleist* is just unrivaled for irons. From the very forgiving T350 to the pure 620 MB with the CB/T100/T150/T200 everyone can find an iron that will fit their game. 

*Edit: And with today's release of the new P-770 and P-7CB Taylor Made just may have joined Titleist at the top of the iron list. 

After playing my Takomo 101Ts for over a year and loving them, I am really looking hard at the New P-770s.  Can’t wait to try them  the range with the TM rep.  They look so awesome.

At this rate, I might consider changing my answer from Titleist to TM…  well probably not….

[chisag]

59 minutes ago, KC Golf said:

After playing my Takomo 101Ts for over a year and loving them, I am really looking hard at the New P-770s.  Can’t wait to try them  the range with the TM rep.  They look so awesome.

At this rate, I might consider changing my answer from Titleist to TM…  well probably not….

 

... Yup, if I start playing the P-770's I would almost have an all Taylor Made bag, other than a Ping hybrid and a Cobra putter. 4 MG3/4 wedges, Qi10 Driver and 5 wood. I wouldn't have a single Titleist club in my bag.  

[bennysupreme]

Honestly, PXG!  I have 5 games with my new irons and driver and love them.  If their wedges weren't so expensive, I would have a 48, 52, 56, and 60* sugar daddy II  wedge.  There putters look great, I'm just not taking my ManKrafted putter out of the bag for nothing right now.

[stephenmatt]

This is a really tough question but I would assume it would have to be 1 of the big 3... Between TaylorMade, Titleist, and Callaway I would probably go with TaylorMade. Just my opinion.

[Middler]

Sorry I can't just play along, but there's no reason I'd ever be forced to choose one brand for the whole bag - especially including the putter. Pointless exercise...

That said, I do insist on having all my metal/woods same brand, and my irons all same brand including wedges. So I've never had more than three brands in my bag at the same time. I started playing in 1964 with MacGregors and an Acushnet Bullseye putter - all hand me downs. I've been playing golf for 60 years and my putter brand has never happened to match my other 13 club brands.

Edited August 4 by Middler

[Donn lost in San Diego]

On 7/30/2024 at 6:30 AM, Swood1994 said:

Right now my bag is mostly Mizuno, mainly due to the irons as well as the 3W and Hybrid I play from there STZ line. I think going to a full bag under one oem it’d have to be Titleist for me. I think it comes down to vokey wedges and Scotty putters. Plus I give the titleist woods the advantage over Mizuno. 

I am curious, lots of Mizuno, but no Mizu wedges???

[Swood1994]

1 hour ago, Donn lost in San Diego said:

I am curious, lots of Mizuno, but no Mizu wedges???

I’ve always played Cleveland or titleist wedges.  I did play a 56° T4 Mizuno (I think that was the model but don’t quote me) back in HS but it was quickly replaced by a set of Cleveland’s. I’ve always preferred the sound and feel of those two brands.

Honestly, if it wasn’t for the Mizuno long game test last year I wouldn’t have even tried their new woods. 

[TheNorfolkGolfer]

Even though my current bag is weighted towards Callaway, if I had to choose one for the rest of my life it would be TaylorMade. They make really nice stuff and across every ability, requirement and need I could ever desire. The only question mark for me would be wedges, they don't do a forgiving wedge like my current Cleveland CBX4 but I could work with that.

[RetiredBoomer]

25 minutes ago, TheNorfolkGolfer said:

The only question mark for me would be wedges, they don't do a forgiving wedge like my current Cleveland CBX4 but I could work with that.

Good point about Cleveland wedges.

Vokeys and the like are great for people who practice a lot, but when most of us have time to play, we play instead of practice.   

I thought that the Cleveland Smart Sole Full Face short game set (C, G, S, L-wedges) was too clunky to use for stoking fires when I saw it in the pro shop, all lined up as a set. 

But you can play the whole set with a brushing stroke, using the sole width instead of bounce angle, and you won't be a contender at Augusta but you'll have a decent recreational player's short game.    It doesn't look like it would work from a tight lie, but when you get the hang of it and commit, it does.  

As for a more conventional wedge feeling stable on full shots, the Mizuno S-23 is really good too. To me, the Titleist wedges have a great line of skilled shot-making clubs, but for regular 10, 11, 12, 13-iron full swings, they seem like just another golf club to me.  The Mizzies feel like a well-struck 7- or 8-iron shot on full swings.

Now that I've crapped on Mr. Vokey and Titleist,

if I were limited to one brand, I'd still go with Titleist.
They know what the hell they're doing.

Don't like Scotties, but as I said before, there's always an old reliable Bullseye.

[Golf2Much]

Even though my current bag is a mixture of big and relatively smaller name clubs, I would have to choose Ping. 

I've played Ping drivers for the last 16 years including my current 430 Max.  I also currently game the G family 7 wood and hybrid.  I've had and given away to friends more Ping iron sets that I want to admit.  I still have my original square grooved Ping Eye2 irons (one through lob wedge with a beryllium copper sand wedge) stashed away in my shed.  Through in several Ping wedges and putters that I also have, and I could easily put together a Ping bag now.

[Gcaz11]

In this hypothetical are we paying or getting them for free?

If free im Titleist all the way. If I have to pay for them Srixon/Cleveland

 

 

[JFish350]

On 7/30/2024 at 8:52 AM, 03trdblack said:

This is why I have to keep turning down all of the lucrative club endorsement contracts that companies keep throwing at me...Playing all one brand is just BORING 

I could honestly make a full bag from almost any company these days work as all the products are soo good.

Where is the "BOOOO" Icon? Are you a politician, totally did not answer the question. 

[03trdblack]

11 minutes ago, JFish350 said:

Where is the "BOOOO" Icon? Are you a politician, totally did not answer the question. 

Alright then, I'd play whatever company would pay me the most money

[JFish350]

I am looking at this as in our current situation. Recency biased since they are the last clubs I have bought. I am one putter, one hybrid and 2 wedges away from a full bag of Sub 70. I even have a Sub70 bag. 

I have the Odyssey OG White Hot 1 with stroke lab as my putter still in my bag from a test opportunity 2 years ago. 

Callaway 56 & 60 wedges

Ping G430 3 hybrid

I chose the Sub70 699 Pro irons over Titleist T200 irons. I felt they were exactly the same while looking for new clubs. If and when I look for new clubs, Sub 70 is my first stop. 

You find better customer service or response to questions like get at Sub 70. To me that is HUGE, bad or mediocre CS drives me nuts, so I really appreciate what Sub 70 does. I am kinda waiting for them to put my number on the block list and they pull straws when my number pulls up. I kid of course, but they are awesome.  

 

Second choice is Titleist. 

 

21 minutes ago, 03trdblack said:

Alright then, I'd play whatever company would pay me the most money

LOL, Now I know you are a politician. Sold out to the highest bidder. 

[mpatrickriley]

I'll add to the pile of those who are voting PING and Titleist. To be fair, I think I could play my level of utterly OK golf with a full bag of stick from any of the major OEMs. But as brands, these two appeal to me most, because they tend to (I'm sure there are plenty of exceptions) be more measured and reasonable in their claims for their products.

The irony, I suppose, is that between the two of them, I have only one of their clubs in my bag at present (a Titleist driver). I did have a set of PING G700s at one point (for an MGS Forum review).

Why don't have I have more PING or Titleist in my bag, if I respect those brands so much? Likely because I have a lot of eBay/pre-owned stuff in my bag, and those two brands tend to hold their value too well for me to be their market