Golf brands as car brands

[KiwiNick]

Boy, that's a hard one? Maybe MacGregor or Spalding? Used to be THE big player but not really a part of the scene anymore?

[anythingfinite]

Nike = AMC. Some flash in the pan success, easily recognizable, cult following for some old models, but mostly everyone knows that they were mostly a sub-par product.

[drbonesvt]

Nike = jack in the box

[MtlJeff]

Ping is Toyota. I thought that was pretty obvious. Popular brand but mostly with people who want stuff that just works and isn't flashy. Toyota doesn't turbocharge, they never have the most horsepower, they make cars like the Camry that don't excite you but just work and are timeless.

And yes Titleist is obviously Mercedes. Brands that convey what you want them to convey immediately. Mercedes = ive made it.....Titleist = I am a golfer

FWIW I play a full ping bag and have owned 5 Toyotas. So there

[bodhi555]

Could be Saab? Some original ideas and well designed product, some of it a bit quirky. A small but loyal band of owners, with a surprising number of them still in use.

[Pepperturbo]

Not sure how to align golf clubs to cars but partially disagree with your assessment. I own both BMW and GT3 and know a few guys that own Ferrari and a slew of other high-performance cars. I've had no problem with either car and they have been tracked. I don't believe its a given that on the track Porsche is faster than many Ferrari. Engines relatively equal, the driver will make the difference. And, the only people that are scared of a any given car, that I've encountered, are those that can't afford them or don't want to do whats necessary to maintain true high performance cars. Have a good evening.
@KiwiNick - Creative use of your time... lol I clearly haven't given the golf club vs car manufacture any thought. I am a Titleist 620MB and MacGregor MB guy. Cars are above.

[14max]

I play (almost) exclusively PING and proudly drive a GM...

[hurley999s]

I can’t believe nobody has said Lamborghini Miura yet

[setter02]

Disagree on the Titleist/Audi comparison. I don't think they are way too technical, if anything, they are always behind the others in actual innovation and count on their name and balls sale more than anything. I think they are more like Alfa, a bit of a mystique about them, but generally over rated.

 

PXG isn't Ferrari, Ferrari is actually something. PXG is a mid life crisis Red convertible starved for attention.

[setter02]

Pontiac, flash in the pan with a few offerings, but generally crap that died out.

[deejaid]

I’d say the OP is pretty spot on. Maybe the Titleist/Audi is a bit off the mark but a pretty good list.

 

I’d say Ben Hogan is Lincoln/Cadillac. Not looking to be a trend setter but a solid option for guys that have been around awhile that appreciate initial quality that will long in the tooth fairly quickly.

[geesecougar2]

Great post! I'd say (don't get triggered, I've have owned all of them and this is just a caricature):

Titleist is Mercedes. Solid stuff, great reputation and storied history, but the one a casual buyer with no regard for money and no interest in doing homework would get.

Callaway is Cadillac. Recent renaissance, but quite far from its illustrious past. Stays in business mostly from sales by its humbler sister brands. Somehow still a public company.

Mizuno is Lexus. Doesn't try to do too much, but the stuff they do is best in class. Solid on the second hand market. People stay away because it's "just another Japanese brand".

TaylorMade is BMW. The ultimate driving machine, but most of their lineup is trash. Probably better off with an older model, or leasing.

Ping is Ford. Progenitor of American innovation. Great stuff but ugly, except for its most famous model.

PXG is definitely Tesla!

[rtraudt]

I'd probably make a small change or two, but I like the idea overall.

 

PING=Volvo. Quality, but doesn't scream "look at me, I'm a serious golfer!" like a guy playing Titleist. Well thought out designs that just work, and almost no flops. Reliable designs and style that ages well, so stuff that is 5-10 years old doesn't look super outdated, and is a great option for someone hunting for something used that will still hold up well.

 

Taylormade=Chevy. I'm doing this one based on marketing mostly, because the marketing for both is (IMO) overdone, frequently confusing, repetitive and often annoying. It ends up making me have zero interest in owning their product. But they do occasionally put out a truly excellent product (see M2 driver, Corvette C8). Also, many products with styling that simply does not tend to age very well, and too many options to choose from in each class that don't seem to have enough differentiation between them (like the M1/2, and M3/4 irons...).

[Boydr12]

PXG would definitely be Lamborghini. If you know the history of Lamborghini you know that Ferruccio Lamborghini was pissed at Enzo because the car he received wasn’t up to his standard, so he went and started his own company.

 

This kinda ties into Bob Parsons thinking he can just start a new company and be the best by being flashy and charging outrageous prices. As well as stealing engineers away from PING

[dubbelbogey]

Individual cars and clubs is another fun way to play this game.

PXG <-> Dodge Viper

The Perfect Club <-> Pontiac Aztek

Ping Eye 2 <-> Air-cooled 911

Mizuno blades <-> Miata (go Google "Miata is always the Answer" if you don't understand.)

Ping Anser putter <-> VW Beetle

Boutique putters <-> Bentley, Pagani, Rolls, Bugatti, Toyota Century/Crown, Maybach

TM Drivers <-> Corvette

Callaway SGI Irons <-> Chrysler minivans

TM 790 <-> Tesla Model 3

Titleist <-> Cadillac (I chose this because both are quintessentially American. Both have made fantastic products, as well as their fair share of duds. And both have either had or at times, tried to maintain, a strong aspirational image.)

 

 

 

 

 

 

[mcounci2]

Ehhhhh I suppose Ferraris are certainly capable. But for every challenge car or something that I see at an event, there are 30 or fast 911's. The most commonly seen ferraris in my experience are being driven slowly by rich guys in a non competitive setting. Porsches get raced.

[nlinneman20]

just bought wilson d7 forged and wedges and a drive a Ford :)

[14max]

BS...The GTO, Firebird, Bonneville, LeMans, etc. are legendary...

[setter02]

And just like Nike, where are they now... You basically proved my point.

[14max]

This is definitely a better comparison...

[red5standingby]

I pulled to the golf course today in a Honda Odyssey with 8 PXG clubs in the bag.

[14max]

Doesn't matter. That's a terrible comparison. Pontiac created the muscle car. Nike rode on the back of every company that came before. Apples and oranges. Learn some automotive history...

[trojanhorse]

PXG is more like Lamborghini than Ferrari because they push technology like crazy but in reality it doesn't deliver much more performance than a Camaro ZL1 LE but it's 3x the price so people are convinced it's much better.

 

MIURA/Pagani- very clean design and craftsmanship is absolute top notch. You cater to the discerning buyer and will not let something leave the factory if not perfect. People will wait for your product longer than normal because of the quality but it's not all looks because the performance is there to back it up. Your product can be used as tools or artwork or both depending on the situation.

[iNeedMoreGolf]

Think you nailed it

[setter02]

It's actually quite a good comparisson... Some good, most trash, not here anymore... Why would automotive history have anything to do with this, more so when Pontiac didn't create the muscle car... Someone a little sensitive...

[texcrom]

Where is the truck love?

I drive a GMC Sierra Denali.....play Mizuno irons.

Makes sense to me!

[Chuck905]

Some interesting ideas and history. For me is the geography and timeline.

Ping is assigned with the famous anser putter (which is copied) and with its unique look; it’s a VW. I dislike VW but they have the TDI and GTI that make a run.Mizuno is obviously Japanese , a Toyota is fitting.Srixon the Subaru?Taylormade the Chrysler?Callaway the GM?its all made in China now...

[wkndhckr]

Top flite/ kia - no matter how good the product has become the reputation from the past still exists and they now thrive with people that don't care what you think and need something basic that gets the job done.

[anythingfinite]

As the owner of a Kia minivan, I feel this.

No way I would play a TF tho, hahaha.

[OsnolaKinnard]

Ping could be Volvo. They're ugly but they work. Reminds me of Dudley Moore in Crazy People "Buy Volvo: Their boxy, but their good.

 

MacGregor could be AMC...they were something in the 70s...now they're gone.