Anyone know about the rumoured TMAG non-conforming range?

[PhilWhitUK]

Reading another website there appears to be a rumour of a whole range of TMAG non-conforming clubs. I guess they will be targeted at the recreational golfer who just plays for fun.

 

What do you guys think about it? Has anyone got more info? Is this a declaration of war by TMAG?

[TheMoneyShot]

I heard that this was going to happen and that their marketing will be real creative. Risky move if you ask me but I would bet that the other oems will eventually follow like they always do, especially if people buy them. It will be interesting to watch this one unfold.

[kellygreen]

[quote name='PhilWhitUK' timestamp='1379702855' post='7884511']
Reading another website there appears to be a rumour of a whole range of TMAG non-conforming clubs. I guess they will be targeted at the recreational golfer who just plays for fun.

What do you guys think about it? Has anyone got more info? Is this a declaration of war by TMAG?
[/quote]

Doubt it.

A declaration of war would be TaylorMade trying to force the USGA to back down so that it could get these kinds of clubs into competitive golfer's hands.

This strikes me more as a declaration (or recognition) of the USGAs utter irrelevance in the lives of the recreational player.

...which shows just how lost the USGA has become.

[Walkerdb7]

At the risk of being chirped and sounding like a hack, we shouldn't be held to the same standards as pros for equipment...

recreational adult softball and little leaguers use synthetic bats for a reason... Pros use wood for a reason...

[OUZO Power]

Is this a declaration of war by TMAG?

 

YES. THIS IS WAR.

 

 

[TheMoneyShot]

It's coming guys. I bet I know one oem that will be following suit shortly thereafter....

[BuckyBadger]

Ugh. Why? I am kind of a stickler on equipment. Why make clubs that are non conforming? What is the point of creating a rift between the USGA and recreational golfers?

What is the definition of a recreational golfer anyway? I think if you have a USGA handicap then you must play conforming clubs.

What if you play in a golf league? Shouldn't you play conforming clubs? What about playing a friendly game for money? I'm not playing a guy that uses non conforming sticks.

This just opens a huge can of worms that doesn't need to be opened. Soon you'll have people wanting to play illegal super distance golf balls etc.

I think this is a very bad idea. It is cheating in my book.

[Big Ben]

Very interesting, all the hacks in my Sat league will game this swag for sure but I will not so is this fair competition any longer? Should make for interesting debate...BB

[Big Ben]

[quote name='BuckyBadger' timestamp='1379710613' post='7885411']
Ugh. Why? I am kind of a stickler on equipment. Why make clubs that are non conforming? What is the point of creating a rift between the USGA and recreational golfers?

What is the definition of a recreational golfer anyway? I think if you have a USGA handicap then you must play conforming clubs.

What if you play in a golf league? Shouldn't you play conforming clubs? What about playing a friendly game for money? I'm not playing a guy that uses non conforming sticks.

This just opens a huge can of worms that doesn't need to be opened. Soon you'll have people wanting to play illegal super distance golf balls etc.

I think this is a very bad idea. It is cheating in my book.
[/quote]Beat me to it!

[Bob57]

Real Risky as Arnold found out being accused of promoting cheating by Peter Kessler when he thought hot clubs would be OK for average Joe Hack...

[highdraw69]

[quote name='Big Ben' timestamp='1379710707' post='7885431']
Very interesting, all the hacks in my Sat league will game this swag for sure but I will not so is this fair competition any longer? Should make for interesting debate...BB
[/quote]

it's not an interesting debate...there is no debate; cheating makes the weekend games with buddies very complicated

[PhilWhitUK]

I can see how club medal rounds could be policed (although it seems an unnecessary complication) but what about supplementary scores that count for handicaps? We allow those in UK and it would be harder to monitor.

[highdraw69]

#TMplzdontcheatgolf

[Bmcgee6]

I have a hard time believing many people will buy non conforming clubs just because of the grief they will receive from playing partners. I would assume that the non conforming clubs will look a lot different than the normal ones so it is easy to distinguish between them in competition. I would never hear the end of it from my normal group if I pulled a non conforming club out of the bag.

[PZero]

Non-conforming just got non-conforming-ier

[NAM2212]

I worked at a country club in HS when the ERC first came out. Tons of members bought them so there is certainly a market.

[Cwing]

Honestly, only a select few golfers care. If TM uses its marketing magic, golfers will jump all over it. Golfwrx makes up the select few and does not make up the general golfer and most never play be the rules of golf and most never will. most will also never establish a usga handicap or play in a usga event. Honestly, that is not even debatable.

2 from the first, roll them up, give me putts, scrambles, shambles, etc... Is how most golf is played.

[ORUTRAVIS]

I am not sure that many people will buy non-conforming clubs as many as some people believe. Golfsmith carries a line of non-conforming clubs and you couldn't give those things away. Literally, they were like 29.99 for drivers and fairways. I know many will say its Golfsmith brand so its a hard sell. Most golfers do take the rules seriously. Its like the Polara balls they didn't sell and when they did it was rare. I bet there is less than a 1% market for illegal clubs and balls out there.

The only exception may be if you really market it and stir up enough hype you can sell just about anything. Ex. White Drivers. Great clubs but they were white. Just my two cents.

[Knockdown]

I would be shocked if they made that much of a difference with your average golfer. Equipment has changed a ton over the last 20 years and I don't see the scores any lower than they were before for the average guy. I can't imagine the hacks I play with at the local muni putting some non-conforming driver in their hands and suddenly hitting it 275 and straight. Their awful swings won't change. Most of the guys I see that don't carry a USGA handicap could care less about equipment in the first place. The guys buying the new equipment around me are playing in City Amateur tournaments, are members of a men's clubs that have monthly events, and wouldn't waste $400 on a driver they can use during scrambles and other casual rounds of golf.

[PhilWhitUK]

I think all of us on this site know the performance gains would be limited at this point in terms distance but I guess larger drivers would be even more forgiving and have more scope for adjustability. That would be attractive to many players and I don't think a major OEM would release something so controversial if they weren't trying t either a) find new market or b) start a debate around some of the "restrictions" caused by the rules.

[MizunoLaxer40]

what exact specifications are we talking about here that make this new line of clubs "nonconforming"? if it's something as little as different groves, I don't think it'll really make the game that different for it to be even worth arguing over. if it's something like completely different head sizes and shapes, then I can see a storm brewing over it already. if anyone has details on the differences I'd love to hear them.

[bruinsPATSirish]

[quote name='BuckyBadger' timestamp='1379710613' post='7885411']
Ugh. Why? I am kind of a stickler on equipment. Why make clubs that are non conforming? What is the point of creating a rift between the USGA and recreational golfers?

What is the definition of a recreational golfer anyway? I think if you have a USGA handicap then you must play conforming clubs.

What if you play in a golf league? Shouldn't you play conforming clubs? What about playing a friendly game for money? I'm not playing a guy that uses non conforming sticks.

This just opens a huge can of worms that doesn't need to be opened. Soon you'll have people wanting to play illegal super distance golf balls etc.

I think this is a very bad idea. It is cheating in my book.
[/quote]

These would be targeted at the weekend golfers who play a few rounds a year and mate a scramble tourney once in awhile. They could care less if there driver is on some list saying it is ok.

These are going to be the same guys who play slow pitch softball and buy the non ASA approved bats so they can hit a couple extra doubles

[PhilWhitUK]

The other website ( which we should not mention!!) suggests that the strategy might be to use Adams or even the Noodle name as the banner for the new clubs. The argument goes that it makes the game more fun and most people won't care.

[dan250yds]

Good lord this is annoying. Why cannot golfers just accept what they can do or if they dont like it, go get flipping lessons. There is only so much someones body can allow them to hit a golf ball. Some people will only be able to hit it 230. Some 330. Dont get discouraged.

The equipment is getting outrageous. Drivers need to be cut back on head size...and its easily noticable how much hotter the faces are now. I hit the RBZ Tour TP and an R5 TP and the RBZ was hotter by a longshot. Just stop TMag. Your going to sell clubs period

[BuckyBadger]

I think the possibilities are endless as to how many different non conforming clubs a company could build. The technology is much better now.

What if some guy using an illegal driver was out driving you by 30 yards and he couldn't touch you before?

I guess I don't see why it needs to happen. Oh wait...$$$$$$$$$$$

[KILLEDBYASHANKEDWEDGE]

NC ball will be a big part of it.

[hectorj]

[quote name='BuckyBadger' timestamp='1379710613' post='7885411']
Ugh. Why? I am kind of a stickler on equipment. Why make clubs that are non conforming? What is the point of creating a rift between the USGA and recreational golfers?

What is the definition of a recreational golfer anyway? I think if you have a USGA handicap then you must play conforming clubs.

What if you play in a golf league? Shouldn't you play conforming clubs? What about playing a friendly game for money? I'm not playing a guy that uses non conforming sticks.

This just opens a huge can of worms that doesn't need to be opened. Soon you'll have people wanting to play illegal super distance golf balls etc.

I think this is a very bad idea. It is cheating in my book.
[/quote]

[quote name='BuckyBadger' timestamp='1379710613' post='7885411']
Ugh. Why? I am kind of a stickler on equipment. Why make clubs that are non conforming? What is the point of creating a rift between the USGA and recreational golfers?

What is the definition of a recreational golfer anyway? I think if you have a USGA handicap then you must play conforming clubs.

What if you play in a golf league? Shouldn't you play conforming clubs? What about playing a friendly game for money? I'm not playing a guy that uses non conforming sticks.

This just opens a huge can of worms that doesn't need to be opened. Soon you'll have people wanting to play illegal super distance golf balls etc.

I think this is a very bad idea. It is cheating in my book.
[/quote]

What about the 80% of people without a handicap? It's cheating? So, you NEVER pick a putt up, always go back to the tee when you lose a ball, never move it off a root without taking a penalty, never look for more than 5 minutes before going back to the tee, never have 15 clubs, never play the "leaf rule?" Really. If not--you're a cheater. You've just rationalized your cheating as different than someone else's cheating. The MAJORITY of golfers don't care. They DONT play in leagues, or have (or want) a handicap. They use a chipping/putting ball. They actually just play for fun. They aren't under the misguided illusion that they are playing the same game as the guys on TV. Why do you care what clubs they use? You're already cheating. You know how many people play it down, and putt everything out? Less than 5%. That's 95% of golfers cheating. Maybe 1% of golfers know about this site (and I'm sure that number is WAY high) but everyone here seems to think they have their fingers on the pulse of golfing America. I'm befuddled by it. It's not just the USGA that's out of touch. You're not playing a guy that uses non-conforming sticks? Then don't. Problem solved. See. That was easy.

[bruinsPATSirish]

[quote name='pegleg' timestamp='1379719739' post='7886161']
[quote name='MizunoLaxer40' timestamp='1379718892' post='7886071']
if it's something as little as different groves, I don't think it'll really make the game that different for it to be even worth arguing over.
[/quote]
So we ask; if it won't make the game much different, then why open this can of worms by making "illegal" equipment? What's the risk/reward factor here?

[quote name='bruinsPATSirish' timestamp='1379718966' post='7886085']
These would be targeted at the weekend golfers who play a few rounds a year and mate a scramble tourney once in awhile.
[/quote]
Do you make a new product to target people who only play a few rounds a year? That likely means most of them buy new clubs once every ten, if that, right?
In any case, if you play a few rounds a year, a hot driver will do you literally no good - and you're not very likely to pay $300 or $400 for it, it seems to me.
[/quote]

I'm just telling you what the facts are my friend. If a company releases a driver and openly says this is illegal but hey you will get 30 yards, guess what, people are going to buy it. The weekend warrior is after two things: hitting the ball FARTHER and getting the most out of their monthly 18 holes. I will leave the analysis of their reasoning for spending $400 on a new driver to someone else.

[pegleg]

[quote name='bruinsPATSirish' timestamp='1379720192' post='7886187']
I'm just telling you what the facts are my friend.
[/quote]

I'm sorry, I thought you were expressing an opinion, and I was entitled to mine.

Had I known that you had the [b]facts[/b], I wouldn't have spoken.

[Arafel]

Just another money grab by TaylorMade.

Everyone with a TM club will be called a cheater.



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