The Decider: What Attracts You to Buy a Golf Club?

As you know, we do product reviews here at Waggle Room from time to time.  Generally, we're contacted by product manufacturers that are willing to supply us with products in exchange for an honest review.  I'm almost always happy to oblige.  Most golf equipment that makes it to market these days is awfully good - very few flops, to be punny.

The product review - in print or a blog like this - is just one method by which manufacturers try to catch the attention of golfers.  The companies have demo days at driving ranges, golf clubs, and stores.  They have staff players that traverse the country playing golf with their sticks.  There is advertising online, in print, and on TV. 

Recently, we reviewed the Nike Dymo STR8-FIT driver.  Nike is out promoting the club in a campaign known as the 8>9 Challenge.  In a play off of Tampa Bay Rays manager Joe Maddon's 9=8 math, Nike is trying to connect with consumers in a variety of ways to convince them that their STR8-FIT is better than TaylorMade's R9 driver. 

(You've seen my review comparing the two clubs, so I won't rehash that, but will mention that TaylorMade was kind enough to supply me with the more equiavlent R9 460 model.  That review is forthcoming next week.)

The central theme of their campaign is that they worked with hundreds of amateurs to test the two drivers and found that the STR8-FIT is consistently longer than the R9.  According to Score Golf's Rick Young, there is quite a bit of controversy about the data behind the tests and amateurs testing the equipment.  TaylorMade has alleged that Nike is engaging in fuzzy math by showing statistical data to back the claims and they note that Nike paid amateurs to test the clubs.  Nike alleges that TaylorMade is hiding behind its overwhelming success as the number one driver on the PGA Tour.

The point of the post is not to settle that argument.  Read Rick Young's piece and decide for yourself.  After reading the article, though, I began to wonder what attracts a player to a driver.  I am kind of removed from that since I've been playing clubs that I have been reviewing for years now.  I don't play often enough these days to invest in clubs independently.  For me, I take the best of the best and keep it in my bag. 

But does what I - or people like me - say about a club have weight?  Is it what your golfing buddies say?  Advertising?  How many pros play the equipment?

That brings me to this week's The Decider.  What attracts you to buy a golf club?