Nick Faldo's Equipment

[jebb]

Great thread guys and big thanks for it.

My God I loved his swing back in the day. I can even forgive some of those ropey Stylo shoes.

Then again...

[chip75]

Has anyone noticed the Helicopter name AGUSTA? That's funny... Looking at the before and after swing pictures it's amazing how much changed yet on certain shots when Nick curtails his through-swing there isn't much difference. One thing I wish Nick hadn't fiddled with is his putter stance I don't think he grooved one particular method enough to be consistent later on. I think he had trouble aiming and had eye issues around the mid '90's which can't have helped. He was such a great putter in his prime.

[lead]

On the picture where he's in his backswing (volvo tour), It looks like he is wearing regular trainers? Or could it be the Stylo's?
Where and when was this photo taken? 1991?

/lead

[chip75]

[quote name='lead' date='13 January 2010 - 01:12 PM' timestamp='1263388369' post='2178747']
On the picture where he's in his backswing (volvo tour), It looks like he is wearing regular trainers? Or could it be the Stylo's?
Where and when was this photo taken? 1991?

/lead
[/quote]

Not sure of the exact year Gatchet can answer that but I think you're right they are Stylo's the trainer style was quite popular then. I did have a picture of Nick practicing in barefeet in Jamaica. A lot of tour players practice putting in trainers whether that's a comfort thing or to save the practice green I don't know. He did practice in street shoes after watching Tom Weiskopf practice when his dad took him to his first Open. Here's a picture of Nick helping Seve in which may or may not be his underwear LOL!

[attachment=521968:83776002.jpg]

[The Gachet]

[quote name='chip75' date='13 January 2010 - 12:45 PM' timestamp='1263386741' post='2178716']
[b]Has anyone noticed the Helicopter name AGUSTA?[/b] That's funny... Looking at the before and after swing pictures it's amazing how much changed yet on certain shots when Nick curtails his through-swing there isn't much difference. One thing I wish Nick hadn't fiddled with is his putter stance I don't think he grooved one particular method enough to be consistent later on. I think he had trouble aiming and had eye issues around the mid '90's which can't have helped. He was such a great putter in his prime.
[/quote]
I saw that and initially thought it was a registration number linked to one of his favourite courses but then I found out that there is actually a helicopter manufacturer called Agusta now known as Agusta Westland.

[url="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agusta"]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agusta[/url]

Saying that, that could have been the reason why he chose it !?

[The Gachet]

On the picture where he's in his backswing (volvo tour), It looks like he is wearing regular trainers? Or could it be the Stylo's?

Where and when was this photo taken? 1991?

 

/lead

The photo wasn't actually dated but in the context where it was found I would say 1991.

 

I love the backswing position, looks powerful and ready to stripe that ball cleanly off the deck. I'm pretty sure based on other photo's I have seen that he is either hitting that old Taylor Made Tour Preferred Brassie (12°) or the Tour Spoon (13°) as below.

 

 

It actually may have even been that Taylor Made Tour Preferred Raylor that he had which was knocked down from 16° to 13° !?

 

[chip75]

[quote name='The Gachet' date='13 January 2010 - 04:16 PM' timestamp='1263399382' post='2179008']
[quote name='chip75' date='13 January 2010 - 12:45 PM' timestamp='1263386741' post='2178716']
[b]Has anyone noticed the Helicopter name AGUSTA?[/b] That's funny... Looking at the before and after swing pictures it's amazing how much changed yet on certain shots when Nick curtails his through-swing there isn't much difference. One thing I wish Nick hadn't fiddled with is his putter stance I don't think he grooved one particular method enough to be consistent later on. I think he had trouble aiming and had eye issues around the mid '90's which can't have helped. He was such a great putter in his prime.
[/quote]
I saw that and initially thought it was a registration number linked to one of his favourite courses but then I found out that there is actually a helicopter manufacturer called Agusta now known as Agusta Westland.

[url="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agusta"]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agusta[/url]

Saying that, that could have been the reason why he chose it !?
[/quote]

Agusta Westland is a famous helicopter company as you said Gachet, it's funny how people's brains work it could have been a total coincidence or it might have been kismet to Nick. Nick enrolled for lessons at Fairoaks Aerodome in Chobham with an ex-Navy instructor Ken Summers in '92 where after only 12 hours he was ready to take his first solo flight. I remember in one of Nick's biographys saying Henry Cotton told him never to buy anything he could rent. Westland also make some snazzy models...

[attachment=522026:Apache_04.jpg]

[The Gachet]

[quote name='chip75' date='12 January 2010 - 06:46 PM' timestamp='1263321989' post='2177230']
[quote name='Caldymat' date='12 January 2010 - 05:59 PM' timestamp='1263319173' post='2177141']
What was before the Tour Balata and the Professional? Was it the 364 or something?
[/quote]
Something like that LOL. I remember Elk used a discontinued ball for a while it might have been the 364 the name was dimple related.
[/quote]
In 1983 Titleist released the 384 Tour which unsuprisingly had 384 dimples and then in 1988 they realeased the Tour Balata which was a three-piece ball with a liquid center in both 90 and 100 compression versions. In the early 90's they went on to release the Tour Professional which was basically a Tour Balata that didn't cut as easily. After that was the Tour Prestige and then the Pro V1.

[dbren1]

[quote name='The Gachet' date='13 January 2010 - 01:18 PM' timestamp='1263406688' post='2179245']
[quote name='chip75' date='12 January 2010 - 06:46 PM' timestamp='1263321989' post='2177230']
[quote name='Caldymat' date='12 January 2010 - 05:59 PM' timestamp='1263319173' post='2177141']
What was before the Tour Balata and the Professional? Was it the 364 or something?
[/quote]
Something like that LOL. I remember Elk used a discontinued ball for a while it might have been the 364 the name was dimple related.
[/quote]
In 1983 Titleist released the 384 Tour which unsuprisingly had 384 dimples and then in 1988 they realeased the Tour Balata which was a three-piece ball with a liquid center in both 90 and 100 compression versions. In the early 90's they went on to release the Tour Professional which was basically a Tour Balata that didn't cut as easily. After that was the Tour Prestige and then the Pro V1.
[/quote]

In addition to not cutting as easily the Professional spun much less than the Balata and the Prestige was sort of in between. I remember pretty much all the Titleist pros using the Professional 90, though VJ used the Professional 100.

[The Gachet]

[quote name='The Gachet' date='13 January 2010 - 06:18 PM' timestamp='1263406688' post='2179245']
[quote name='chip75' date='12 January 2010 - 06:46 PM' timestamp='1263321989' post='2177230']
[quote name='Caldymat' date='12 January 2010 - 05:59 PM' timestamp='1263319173' post='2177141']
What was before the Tour Balata and the Professional? Was it the 364 or something?
[/quote]
Something like that LOL. I remember Elk used a discontinued ball for a while it might have been the 364 the name was dimple related.
[/quote]
In 1983 Titleist released the 384 Tour which unsuprisingly had 384 dimples and then in 1988 they realeased the Tour Balata which was a three-piece ball with a liquid center in both 90 and 100 compression versions. In the early 90's they went on to release the Tour Professional which was basically a Tour Balata that didn't cut as easily. After that was the Tour Prestige and then the Pro V1.
[/quote]
There was also a Titleist 384 Tour LT which stood for 'Low Trajectory'. Dimple pattern was a different layout and was used by many players in windy conditions, I have one signed by Payne Stewart which he used in the 1991 European Open at Walton Heath.

[mat562]

Crikey that photo from St Andrews takes me back. I was 16, and about 100 yards out of shot to the right with tears welling up in my eyes.

[chip75]

Here are some Pictures of Nick's Nike equipment. Notice the SC Futura and the 2 TM Monza putters. These were from Whistling Straits not 100% but I think Nick went through qualifying to get there. I looked for the author of these to give credit but couldn't find it so if they're yours thanks we'd love to see some more LOL!
[attachment=523053:Nick Faldo 01.jpg]
[attachment=523054:Nick Faldo 02.jpg]
[attachment=523055:Nick Faldo 04.jpg]

[chip75]

And some earlier Nike bag shots...
[attachment=523057:FaldoBag1.jpg]
[attachment=523059:FaldoDrivingRange.jpg]
[attachment=523058:FaldoBag3.jpg]

[The Gachet]

 

 

 

 

[The Gachet]

 

 

 

 

[elrey23]

That's a sweet TM bag with the 6 majors on it.

[The Gachet]

2009 Senior British Open

 

[The Gachet]

 

 

 

 

 

 

[mat562]

An interesting set in that Sunningdale photo with what looks like Tour Preferred irons with the 7, 8 and pitching wedge slots occupied by some R7 TPs. Presumably a bit of the renowned Faldo fussiness as regards the individual head shapes is at work there.

[chip75]

Great pics Gachet as always they're much appreciated. It seems that when Nick changes a set he often keeps the old wedges for a short period at least. I never knew Nick gamed a Callaway FT-5 any pictures of it in use?

[The Gachet]

Great pics Gachet as always they're much appreciated. It seems that when Nick changes a set he often keeps the old wedges for a short period at least. I never knew Nick gamed a Callaway FT-5 any pictures of it in use?

 

[The Gachet]

Anybody know what this club / shaft is that he is using in the 2007 British Open at Carnoustie !? Adams !?

 

[mat562]

A Tour Edge Exotics fairway wood by the looks of it.

[The Gachet]

A Tour Edge Exotics fairway wood by the looks of it.

Cheers Mat as always, how about these irons from the 1985 British Open !?

 

They look like one of the Mizuno Pro MS range irons with the squiggly 'Mizuno Pro' writing on the back of the muscle !?

 

[The Gachet]

 

[mat562]

I'll go with that mate. Given his fondness for Japanese model Mizzies around that time and what's just about visible in that picture I reckon you're on the right track.

The toe looks a bit rounded on that club so, barring any grinding work having been done, an MS-2 would be my tentative suggestion. Possibly an MS-Original as pictured above?

[elrey23]

Anybody know what this club / shaft is that he is using in the 2007 British Open at Carnoustie !? Adams !?

 

 

Shaft looks like an Epic?

[The Gachet]

I'll go with that mate. Given his fondness for Japanese model Mizzies around that time and what's just about visible in that picture I reckon you're on the right track.

 

The toe looks a bit rounded on that club so, barring any grinding work having been done, an MS-2 would be my tentative suggestion. Possibly an MS-Original as pictured above?

Yeah agree, I forgot about the MS-2's !

 

[shawnee]

great looking TM bag with his 6 buttons, very rich

[The Gachet]

1994 US Masters practice round with Iain Pyman.

 

 

1996 US Masters final round.