Equipment brands you stay away from?

[Valtiel]

Callaway tends to be the brand I feel like I look at the least, however the X-forged UT is all all-timer for me. 

[braincramp52]

TM and Cobra for me and I'm really not sure why. Their stuff just doesn't appeal to me.

[toastinato]

3 hours ago, LukeDonaldsTiger said:

Totally understandable, but that’s on the Sales Rep and the CS people you worked with. Nothing to do with their product or quality, right?

I'd say for the most part, yes that is correct. I think the issue is my experience wiped off onto the clubs lol I've never enjoyed odyssey putters, never got along with their drivers or balls, logo is ehh to me. But what I willl say is their TCB may be the prettiest iron out. 

[bryanwmilburn]

I've just never had luck with Taylormade drivers. Nothing against the brand I've just tried so many different models and none of them work for my game for whatever reason. Finally learned my lesson and have stayed away from them for a few years now. Their fairways and hybrids are always great for me though so I can't say I've completely nixed the brand, just the drivers. 

[WristySwing]

For me, it's Srixon/Cleveland.  The V-Sole just does not work for my swing at all despite the fact I love the idea, shape, and performance of the 500-series products and the Utilities always being rockets for me in testing.  I just know outside, it ain't going to work.  I've tried 565, 585, and ZX5 and its always the same, the V-Sole gets stuck for me.  Which is interesting because it is the exact opposite of what should happen.  I am not good enough for the 7s or the blades, so unfortunately, I am between a rock and a hard place.  I've never hit more irons in a demo session fat than with Srixon stuff.  Cleveland wedges are also fine, and I actually hit the original RTX great, but they look like spoons to me.  Something about the super rounded toe and slightly rounder leading edge throws me off.

 

PING on the other hand, it seems every iron they've ever made that has a thinner sole is like the golfing God's gifts to my hands.  One of the best irons I ever had were S57s and I am currently strongly testing the i59 and i525.  i500s also gave me the best numbers I have seen out of an iron in a long time.  Did I order them, of course not 🤣

[jomatty]

Pxg.  It’s not a hard and fast rule or anything and I actually think some of their irons look pretty good.  But the way they choose to advertise is just a turn off.  They also seem to release things so quickly that it makes me feel a little uneasy.  At some point if I need something specific that they have a sale on I may end up giving them a try but as a brand they just are not really for me.

[sg91]

Ping (can't stand the shaping or sound), Cobra (just never really been interested), and PXG (that should be fairly self explanatory). 

[colesdad2]

Not counting putters, I haven’t hit a shot that counted with a Callaway club since the original Warbird, and never with Ping. Got a complete Callaway bag when buying an Infiniti Q45 in 1996. Sold it the same night. 

[bodhi555]

Callaway - not sure why but their recent stuff doesn't appeal, other than maybe the various Apex MBs

Ping - still scarred by thinning an Eye 2 BeCu 4 iron on a cold day when I was a youngster. Get the appeal of their kit, but it isn't for me. Other than the Blueprints, obviously (notice a theme yet?)

PXG - cannot give them any money as it might encourage them to make more "KABOOM BABY" adverts.

[SEP1006]

For me it's Titleist, just never been a fan of any of their stuff period.

 

As far as shafts it's Aldila, just can't hit them.

[njmack]

Six weeks ago I would have said Cobra, but I just put an LTDx driver in the bag because it just flat out performs for me. Def helps that it's their best looking/sounding driver maybe ever... 

 

Now the title goes to PXG. I'd play almost anything that fits my game and my eye, but since I can't demo them or anything (and of course... the ads) I'll likely never purchase

 

 

[Fernk]

Every brand that sponsors LIV golfers.

[mvhoffman]

Ive had a mix batch of names in my bag for years.  Started with component companies, moved to Cobra and was very content for a few years until getting some Ping irons in the bag.  The inbetween years were a mix of MacGregor, Tommy Armour, Taylormade, Titleist, Mizuno, Adams.  Last season after falling in love with the SIM2 I thought I was done.  SIM2, Adams fairway woods, Ping irons, Vokey wedges... it was a great set up.  Fast forward to the end of the season when I was looking for a TM hat on ebay and all of a sudden the 2014 Tour Preferred MC irons popped up.  The deal was too good to pass up.  Literally in the most club marked up time a new listing selling a mint set of these 4-P for under $300, so I jumped on it.  I hit up the BIN 3 minutes after they were listed.  I matched them with the matching wedges and now a Spider putter.  I guess I turned into a TM fanboy

Edited August 5, 2022 by mvhoffman

[xkilgorextroutx]

PXG because Parsons.

 

TaylorMade because no matter what I've tried from them, they just don't work for me.

 

Everything else I'll gladly give at least a shot to, for the most part. That's what's great about golf - plenty of great gear out there to try and see what works best. 

 

I buy clubs based on what is going to work for me, not what the resale value is. I thought that was kind of the point of it, buying what helps you play best and have the most fun?

[BCC1898]

27 minutes ago, Fernk said:

Every brand that sponsors LIV golfers.

That's everyone then.

[ShortSticks]

Titleist - Just can't stand their "for better players only" attitude.

 

PXG - Just can't stand their attitude in general. 

[MattM97]

I wouldn't say avoid but TaylorMade never sniff a spot in my bag during testing. The woods just don't fit my swing, their irons in my skill category are lack luster vs others I can hit. Their better player irons look great just don't have the skill to hit them. Wedges just few options for LH, putters I hate inserts. I did really like the balls but having a lot of durability issues with the TP5Xs I currently have. 

[R.Patrick]

Odyssey putters - overpriced and ugly

Taylormade drivers - had a sim2 for a minute and it was too long

PXG - irons are ugly (text everywhere)

 

[double_d]

I have never owned any Nike clubs.

 

I will probably never buy PXG. This is a dumb reason but, their marketing annoys me.

When their commercial comes on I want to say, "Dude, I kind of feel like you are yelling at me and trying to bully me into playing your clubs."

Edited August 5, 2022 by double_d

[MOlson18]

9 hours ago, RogerinNewZealand said:

Thats ok.

They only built stuff like Anser putters, G and I series irons. G and I series drivers and 400/410/425 drivers are a little bit popular on Golfwrx.

Become a Golf Ho. Buy a Ping a month. You will find the Anser is near!.

I suppose I’ve used anser copies so if that counts then I guess I have. I can’t get myself to even try the drivers. The shape and the sound throw me off too much. Might be missing out but I don’t think I could do it

[Phabs]

 Titleist, Callaway/Odyssey, Taylormade Putters and I would of put Cobra up there as well until two weeks ago when I was fit into a LTDX LS driver that’s the best thing I’ve ever swung as far as a driver is concerned.  Titleists drivers have always felt like they had zero pop, same with Callaway.  Never got along with any of their irons.  ProVs and the CTU golf balls…. different story. 

Edited August 5, 2022 by Phabs

[MOlson18]

5 hours ago, MachineHack said:

I kinda get Ping as a polarising brand…. To me they will always be home town hero’s but in saying that I’ve been disappointed in quite a few of the more recent products. To not try one of their putters is a bit puzzling to me, if you’ve played an anser style head why wouldn’t you try the people who invented the style? 

 

odyssey would be my stay away from brand (in saying that I own an one and I keep forgetting to sell it lol). I don’t like their poly inserts and I hate their garbage Chinese heads sold at premium prices.  

I’ve thought about trying some of the old anser styles. But none of the newer stuff appeals to me. Don’t like putters with inserts generally and the milling on the PLD line is too deep and too soft for my taste. 

[Ghostwedge]

2 hours ago, colesdad2 said:

Not counting putters, I haven’t hit a shot that counted with a Callaway club since the original Warbird, and never with Ping. Got a complete Callaway bag when buying an Infiniti Q45 in 1996. Sold it the same night. 

Good call, the Infiniti was just a blinged out Nissan right ? 😎

[eric61]

For me, pretty much every brand makes at least a couple products that I like. Maybe not well enough to put them into my bag, but that I like and could see myself using.

 

There are some I don't really love, or tend to not get along with ... but even they make a few things that I like a lot. For example, with PXG it's their driving irons. With TaylorMade it's their players' hybrids (Stealth Plus now, Sim2 Rescue, etc.) and their P7 series irons, especially P7MCs. Wilson woods don't work for me lately but they make fantastic irons. Lots of Tour Edge stuff I'd love to try if only they made it for lefties. 

 

The ones I really *do* like -- not out of any particular loyalty but because they always seem to have models in their current lineups that work for me -- are Ping and Titleist pretty much throughout the bag, in the fairways and hybrids in part because I love their adjustable hosels that let me go with flatter lie angles, as well as Callaway (the last couple Max LS driver models have been awesome for me), Mizuno (have just always loved their irons) and Bettinardi putters (they're local for me). 

[Chappie]

I will say that, I do not purposely stay away from anything, this is just how it goes:

 

I almost never have a cobra product in the bag. I had an S9 Pro-D for a minute that I really bought for the shaft, but ended up gaming it for a few rounds before breaking them up. Also had a baffler for a bit but it was never consistent for me. 

 

With the exception of putters, I do not own a single Ping product. The irons they make have never done a lot for me, and while I liked the G10 a ton, I never felt like the drivers knocked out my other setups. 

 

I never have particularly played a lot of Titleist either. There have been times where I was close to pulling the trigger, but never did. The most I can say I've owned from Cameron, like Ping, is the putters (re: old Cameron's ).

[hagimihale]

I know I'm in the minority here, but I'm not a fan of TM drivers.  The sound and feel related to the carbon crowns just don't work for me.  

[leomessi10]

When I started golfing in the late 90s I thought Callaway had the stigma of being for hackers, the X-12's looked like shovels and the Hawkeye woods looked like hook machines. To this day Callaway gear has a much higher bar to pass before I consider playing their stuff. That said I liked the Epic Max LS and the Rogue TD LS but hated the Epic Flash SZ 3 wood. Odyssey always looks like cheap pot metal putters to me as well. 

[Is Golf Fun or Work]

For me, Ping, TM and Titleist

[Anser3]

 

Other than specific clubs, there is only one brand I will stay away from completely for clubs-- Nike  (I know they don't make clubs anymore).  That said, a reputable site  (I don't recall which) had Nike irons on sale for $130  a few years ago.  I was recommending those  (at that price) to anybody I knew looking for inexpensive clubs.    I basically stay away from TaylorMade stuff (good equipment,  just don't care for them) and PXG  (oddly enough, I'm a Ping guy but don't like PXG at all).  For TaylorMade, I know they have changed a lot win their business philosophy.  I still have a bad taste from the  let's-release-a-driver-every-three-months  era  (I know it's hyperbole but that is how it seemed).

 

I've never played a Mizuno or Cleveland club  but wouldn't be against trying one.

[alittleoverpar]

I am pretty brand agnostic.  Over the years, I think I have probably played at least one club from every major brand.  I search for clubs that work for me regardless of brand.  When I look in my bag right now, I see mostly Callaway, but that hasn't always been the case.  I can't say that there is any major brand that I would avoid.  But I will avoid clubs that don't look and/or feel right to me, regardless of brand.