Justin Rose leaving Honma ???

[Kirbyvol]

Has anyone besides me ever thought it odd when those guys dump their bag right away? I mean...they made those clubs (a few anyway) for him! Those were what he wanted to look down at and how he wanted them to perform. Then as soon as news leaks...he flipped his entire bag!! Guys do this quite often and it always makes me wonder.

[stanger37]

So TM didn't pay Rose the big bucks to stay. Fast forward a year? Rose dumps the new company and puts TM back in his bag. Meanwhile, TM is getting the FREE publicity for it.

 

Funny how some things work out.

[ProjectX]

As much as I have seen an uptick in seeing Honma stuff on GolfWRX and being available in my local store I have not seen a single and I mean one single Honma club being used out on the golf course. Every CEO on the planet right now is trying to protect against a recession because of the coronavirus outbreak. The Honma CEO probably took a look at his balance sheet and saw the biggest number the company has is Justin Rose and since signing him the sales numbers increase hasn't covered his salary. If that's the case it's the first cut you make in the position of that CEO. Need to keep as much cash on hand as possible to ride out the storm.

[GoGoErky]

He’s gong back to what he knows. It’s a smart play to use what you used to have in the bag

[mackepa]

It’s actually a cobra 5w

[MK7Golf21]

He’s played TM guy for over a decade, I can understand why he would switch back. I’m more surprised over the c taper to project x move

[larciel]

Has there been any top-tier player who IMPROVED after switching? Look at JR, Sergio, Molinari, horschel, Lydia Ko. Etc.

Must be mental thing. No?

[Hedgehog]

Has to be mental IMO too, only thing I can think is that if one company has a patent on some technology..

Was just yesterday hitting 2019 & 2020 drivers and properly setup they all perform almost identical but there is a difference in feel / look that always pushes you to one or a another one of them.

[MCoz]

Interesting comments and in a sense somewhat right!!! Many people think that the Taylormade equipment guys in that Truck are the best at spoiling, tweaking minute details and to some extent "baby-sitting" their players (not meant in a demeaning way really). So when a player leaves their staff some of them try to sneak into the TM truck and their guys for some "help". Anyway some of them have a hard time finding life out there the same in different environs. So even if they have a iron and or ball deal outside of TM, ,any will play drivers and fairways, some wedges and putters from TM without any contracts so they are not fully estranged from their old TM guys.

[Holy Moses]

20 years

[andrieddle]

He had an actual rose proto irons made by Honma and now he's back to Rose proto which is also Rors proto which is also DJ proto aka p730....... Can't wait for the news

[larciel]

Can't help but think of Bubba with Volvik.

Next time these small, trying-to-launch-in-US companies signs tour pros, they better have strong stipulation that players cannot leave in the middle of tour year. It looks so bad on them.

[Trap Junior]

I think Rose owuld be perfect for Mizuno to pick up as a staff player. Classic swinger and blade user.

[ephmen]

I'm bagging the XP-1 hybrid and absolutely loving them. Tested them against Ping G410s, Titleists, TMs, etc. Best numbers and dispersion for me. Definitely recommend trying them. Drivers and FWs were not best fits for me.

[DFS PFD]

Looks like Honma clubs may not be Rose's problem based on his play...

[SimpleKindofMan]

Agree with a lot of the perspectives, however, the kicker for me is that Rose was instrumental in the construction of these irons from the bottom up and didn't just get thrown into a club he didn't like. I truly couldn't recall a time when a player switched for the money and actually did have more success than previously, I also can't remember a break up like this where they made him as big as the brand and the relationship didn't even last a year. I have never hit a Honma club so I can't speak on the product, but it will be a long tough road back if they are going to stay relevant making clubs.

[GoIrish17]

Unfortunately, it seems like some players do not make sponsorship choices with the actual equipment in mind, but rather the number of digits behind the dollar sign. It just never seems to work out for the player, though, when they venture outside of their comfort zone to take a chance on a company strictly for the money. It just comes off a little short sighted to me, as it seems like there are far too many examples (cautionary tales) of players making an equipment jump at the height of their success (and marketability/ profitability) - it just seems like an opportunistic money grab, and not a decision made with becoming a better professional golfer in mind. I think, personally, I would be making equipment decisions based solely on performance and giving myself the best chance to win tournaments (and big novelty checks), until the time comes when I’m no longer realistically competing for trophies. But, then again, that’s easy for me to say, because no one has ever offered me a penny to play their golf equipment. Plus golf is a passion of mine, and not my profession. My opinion may be different if I thought of golf as a clock punching activity, rather than something I gladly pay money to do.

 

All of this is said with no knowledge of what actually is going on between Honma and Rose.

[Barracuda]

Rose won with Honma in the bag. The problem Is not the equipment.

Jordan Spieth went from winning majors to not making cuts, all with the same titleist clubs in the bag.

The only problem with Rose right now is inside his head.

[Golfingfanatic]

Rose to Taco Bell. You've heard it here first?

[ProjectX]

I didn't say they don't make high quality clubs, but I would venture to assume that in all your golf this year you are the only person in any group that had a single Honma club in the bag. Doesn't matter how good the quality is if the clubs don't sell you make no money. I don't see anyone running out to buy Honma clubs in the US just because Justin Rose plays them, which is a massive problem if that's where the company has invested ba substantial amount of its proceeds.

[ignitewvu]

Is he still with ole Stack n Tilt fann y pack doucher?

[ephmen]

Agree- pretty sure they are investing heavily in a mobile fitting program, but absolutely need to get clubs in the hands of golfers. I was blown away.

[Trap Junior]

Even Nick Faldo sold out in 1998 mid season when he dumped Mizuno for Adams. What an awful decision! He dumped Adams 18 months later when their driver turned out to be pure crap and the irons were so bad he couldn't put them int he bag.

[SMBWRX]

I'd never thought I'd say good for TM- Rose does nothing to move the needle and wanted to be paid like he's Rory or Tiger. JDay should/could become the next one on the TM chopping block.

[Barracuda]

Lots of Honma clubs in my course, although most are the high end Beres, staff bags and everything

[Titletown]

If he was staying with Honma wouldn't you think they would have said that by now?

[Nard_S]

Lol, Yup. It's not so much him or what's being taught, it's the over reliance and over bearing nature of it all. The guy is as close to a "Faldo" as any, he just doesn't own it the way Nick did or for that matter, the way Hogan did. When I watched him, he was stinging a 6i to 200 yards in a 15 foot circle, in pretty severe wind too. Other guys were not in his league, yet coach is all up his arse through it all. "Back off, it's Sunday." is what should have been said.

[lpitts82]

They are actually working on their US presence in many ways. Honma House and all of the satellite fitting studios is the first step. Hiring guys with a social media following like the wedge wizard is another. They have a decent plan but it will take time.

[SUMM1T]

It’s comical to read through some of these comments. Those suggesting Honma is done, or their product is of lesser quality/performance because Justin Rose isn’t playing them anymore, are blind sheep walking to the ledge. Tour pros are notorious for being head cases when things don’t go well. They rarely ever look in the mirror and blame themselves. It’s much easier to blame equipment, coaching, caddies etc. Honma makes great products, their irons are top notch. I’ve fit quite a few players into the new TR20 series irons and am very pleased with their product. Pretty sure Rose drove the ball miserably at the Honda Classic, so saying the Sim must be better is stupid.

[iNeedMoreGolf]

Im here to announce that due to better performances throughout the last 4 years... i am officially signing a contract with callaway golf and nike apparel for the remainder of my life for the tottal sum of $20k+.

This just in... due to the fact of me just going over the fine print of my contract which reads... if the signee does not currently play on any of the pro tours or has never at least shot a 79 or lower he must actually pay us for whatever equitment he so choses to play with or wear... i hear by am terminating my contract with callaway and nike and am taking my talents to.... WALMART golf and apparel.

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