Nick Faldo's Equipment

[mat562]

As far as I remember, Wilson bought the rights to the TPA design from Taylor Made. It always struck me as a bit of an odd situation but, as you say, Faldo's success with that TPA XVIII may have influenced the thinking at Wilson Towers. That said, he'd only won one major with it, plus a couple of other European Tournaments and the World Matchplay, so who knows? Unless they had a crystal ball, it may have just been coincidence. 

What I always found amusing was that for the year or so that he stuck with Wilson as a sponsor after the newly-branded putters were doled out, he never saw fit to put a Wilson-monickered replacement into play - apart from in his book and for a couple of instructional videos. Then again, most of the time he was with Wilson he only had a sand wedge of theirs in the bag, so it's not like the lack of sponsor's kit seemingly bothered him. Laughable now, when you consider all the shameless shilling he does for Taylor Made and their products.  

[chip75]

[quote name='mat562' timestamp='1284414625' post='2694747']
As far as I remember, Wilson bought the rights to the TPA design from Taylor Made. It always struck me as a bit of an odd situation but, as you say, Faldo's success with that TPA XVIII may have influenced the thinking at Wilson Towers. That said, he'd only won one major with it, plus a couple of other European Tournaments and the World Matchplay, so who knows? Unless they had a crystal ball, it may have just been coincidence.

What I always found amusing was that for the year or so that he stuck with Wilson as a sponsor after the newly-branded putters were doled out, he never saw fit to put a Wilson-monickered replacement into play - apart from in his book and for a couple of instructional videos. Then again, most of the time he was with Wilson he only had a sand wedge of theirs in the bag, so it's not like the lack of sponsor's kit seemingly bothered him. Laughable now, when you consider all the shameless shiling he does for Taylor Made and their products.
[/quote]


Shameless Shiling? Wash your mouth out young Mat... It's amazing considering Sir Nick once said it was difficult for guys to get used to the drivers because they had to switch so often to appease their sponsors before he made the leap to Taylor Made. Saying that sponsors are quite happy to tell the public gentle porkies when it comes to 'What's in the Bag?'.

Also I've never understood why they would buy a putter design when almost every OEM knocks out a comparable model. Were the rules on paying homage different in the '80's?

[The Gachet]

A good shot of his Lamkin Pistol Putter Grip on the Ping BeCu B60 that he used to win the 1992 British Open.

 

 

 

[shawnee]

good to see the updates to this thread.... keep up the great posting men

[The Gachet]

 

 

 

 

 

[The Gachet]

 

 

[joecollege]

 

 

 

Cool pics!

[mat562]

What are those things‽

Honma? Tanaka? 

[The Gachet]

I don't know Mat, I was actually hoping you might know !?lol

Found them on some Japanese website where everything was in like.................er, Japanese funnily enough !

[chip75]

Wow Paul you show us something new nearly every day. Dodgy looking signature though.

[SGHGOLF]

Been reading this thread with great interest certainly brings back some memories! Couple of things I think I can add...

Wilson brought the TPA putter brand off Taylor Made after Nick won with the putter, they made up several "identical" putters for him but he was never happy with them and refused to change over, from all accounts this was the beginning of the end of the Wilson relationship.

As large as the Mizuno contract may have seemed at the time Nick was not the highest paid Mizuno Staff Player, Tommy Nakajima was on a much larger contract, this was a cause of friction.

Nick had a reputation for being difficult at best! I remember he was contracted to a British based shoe company but decided to wear FJ Classics at the British Open causing that relationship to be terminated.

For my money this was all part of the Faldo Mystique during this period the win at all costs mentality may have pissed off his sponsors but it certainly illustrated a singular focus.

I still find it incongruent to hear him commentate as I always will remember him as the great player 87 through 96... winning Majors with ruthless perfection.

[The Gachet]

[jebb]

Crikey (as Sir Nick might say) Fanny looks to have changed a bit!

Paul have you any idea what shafts Faldo is playing these days and also which wedge lofts?

I remain dangerously obsessed with those Classic full cord grips he played!!

[The Gachet]

Hi Jebb,

 

Hope all is well mate !?

 

In answer to your question, to be perfectly honest I don't know only because I unfortunately live in the past and am therefore more fascinated about his equipment from the early to mid 90's however I do know exactly where you are coming from with regards to those grips.............................these ones also really do it for me !

 

Ooh Matron !!!

 

[jebb]

Hi Paul I'm good thanks!

Wow what I wouldn't give for those grips. They might even reinvigorate my i10s to the point where I can forget about the nasty orange bits in the back. Then again... lol

I have just read a Golf Today interview with Leadbetter on his break up from Faldo. He mentions Faldo typically hitting 500-800 balls a day as a conservative estimate.

My admiration for him (and his equipment!) keeps growing!!

[The Gachet]

But in 1998, weeks after ending a 13-year partnership with Leadbetter, Faldo parted ways with Cepelak as well. She responded by taking a Mizuno lob wedge and working Faldo's prized Porsche 959 like a bucket of range balls.

How did Brenna respond to the breakup? She took a 9-iron to his Porsche 959! Yes, is that crazy or what?! Here's what Nick had to say about the incident: "It was a very special car. It was so hi-tech, it was made of plastic. The club kept bouncing off. It wouldn't leave a dent. I auctioned it off."

 

Wikipedia claims £10,000 worth of damage was done. So maybe it wasn't quite as rosy as ol Nick remembers.

 

Here is Faldo's 1988 Porsche 959 long after repair and for sale at auction.

 

 

[Gareth]

Great posts and info as ever Paul...good work

[The Gachet]

Cheers Gareth, hope all is well with you mate !

[chip75]

Wow great pics of one of my favourite cars Paul (I'd imagine 10 grand of damage isn't quite the same as 10 grand of damage to a Ford Mondeo lol), as always keep it up. I have a challenge for you though and I'm sure you're up to the task as always. Can you find any pics of the Audi Quattro Sir Nick won in the good old days I think it even had a personalised plate, NAF **** if I remember. On your marks get set GO!

[attachment=677147:959 01.jpg]

[Gareth]

[quote name='The Gachet' timestamp='1288380036' post='2765343']
Cheers Gareth, hope all is well with you mate !
[/quote]


Sure is.

Need to dig out some old Faldo gear photo's myself and a few taken at Sunningdale last year when a caddie I know had his bag whilst playing a round there with his son Matthew (who is a member).

Cheers

[DaveGord]

I still use an Adams Faldo wedge.

I'm off to get a pic!!

[golfboy123]

Excellent Info,,,,,,,, Tks

[ragin cajun]

I know this thread is about his past equipment but saw this and thought I'd share. He joined Twitter not to long ago and posted this a little while ago

@TheSirNickFaldo "At Taylormade, need a new putter....pick one!"

[attachment=678931:s9q.jpg]


[attachment=678933:av5y.jpg]

[chip75]

What a great find. Does anyone know what the silver putter is five (the mallet head) from the right?

[DaveGord]

Here's me wedge!!

[Re*Ax]

in an earlier post you mention his Ping i3's

Don't think it was mentioned that he used the Blade i3 long irons and o-size short irons, which i always found bizzare as you would assume it would be the other way aroung, however he liked the way "the offset worked" this way
around......

[NPVWhiz]

[quote name='Re*Ax' timestamp='1289949579' post='2793852']
in an earlier post you mention his Ping i3's

Don't think it was mentioned that he used the Blade i3 long irons and o-size short irons, which i always found bizzare as you would assume it would be the other way aroung, however he liked the way "the offset worked" this way
around......

[/quote]

I wonder if this was at all related to the fact that early Mizuno blades he used seemed to be the MS203 Japan model, which later morphed into a no offset TP-19 model for Europe (with the two heads being very similar in profile, but without the unusual Japan market goose-neck or offset look in the short irons) and a slightly shorter hosel. Maybe he got a bit accustomed to the look of the MS 203 short irons....

[jldavis73]

[quote name='chip75' timestamp='1288878855' post='2773978']What a great find. Does anyone know what the silver putter is five (the mallet head) from the right?[/quote]

Looks like a Monte Carlo or Fontana head to me. The 2010 Kia Ma models are silver.

[GourmetSaint]

Nick Faldo apparently had a hand in the deisgn of the TaylorMade R9 TP Forged irons available on the Japanese market.

[The Gachet]

Here are some photos of a Bettinardi prototype putter custom made for Nick Faldo in 1997.