What ball will Tiger play in '09

[longballguy]

Doubt Nike will let him play last year's discontinued ball

Now that the Nike One Platinum and Black are no longer produced, I would assume that Tiger will be playing the new Nike Tour balls. But then it made me think, will he even be playing a NIKE ball. I don't know how long he is under contract with Nike, but I wondered if the Platinum/Black line was discontinued in anticipation of him jumping ship. As well all know, money is what drives these players. Not necessarily if the ball is exactly what they like. I'm sure there are those of you who have more in depth knowledge than I do regarding his contracts, so I apologize if I made a silly assumption that he would leave Nike.

Now that Buick won't be sponsoring him, who will? Ferrari?

Your thoughts?

[Titleist87]

Tiger will be with Nike for a long time. He has it easy with them and they do as Tiger tells. Them. They would not have produced a new ball without Tiger approbving the change.

[resist_hard.]

I was thinking about tiger earlier.. I wonder what way he will tie his shoe laces...?

 

Will he just stick with a standard loop > swoop > pull.

 

He may even opt for a doubt knot for extra security.

 

OR!

 

maybe he will go for the fashionable version and get some of these.

 

 

thoughts?

[pu_golf88]

I bet Nike still has a large stockpile of the '08 model around. I know Titleist staffers played some older versions of the Pro V before the lawsuit, so I'd bet they'd let Tiger play the old ball.

[QuickFeet]

I don't think purple is Tiger's color. Now, RED laces to match his Sunday red could be something to consider. But I would look for Sam to have them first to "test" the market and demand.

 

The Platinum and Black were/are very good balls. Nike has lost nothing with the new Tour, Tour D and Vapor. Chances are the new Tour is the ball (core, mantle, cover) that Tiger was playing last year anyhow. I would think the ball he plays is made very specific regarding spin, feel and trajectory to what Tiger wants.

[SLIMER39]

If Nike is worried about Tiger liking last years ball instead of this year they'll just take last years version and stamp it with this years logo and the world will never know.

[BEND OF THE RIVER GC]

I bet Nike still has a large stockpile of the '08 model around. I know Titleist staffers played some older versions of the Pro V before the lawsuit, so I'd bet they'd let Tiger play the old ball.

 

Even if they didn't they would make some just for him. I would bet HE TELL THEM what he is going to play, not the other way around...

[Tigertw]

If Nike is worried about Tiger liking last years ball instead of this year they'll just take last years version and stamp it with this years logo and the world will never know.

 

This sounds like a good idea at first but it brings a crap load of marketing and legal problems with it. Lets say nike did this but still marketed that Tiger is playing the new One Tour ball. Now fastforward to Tiger handing a kid one of his golf balls at a tournament and the parent looks at the ball and compares it to a one tour. the dimple pattern will be different, someone will ask nike and before you know it nike has to pull all the one tour ads that say tiger is using them costing millions of dollars. i believe this happened a few years ago when nike said he was using the platinum and he was actually using a ball that had a softer cover,more spin..etc. Not good for anyone

[HoosierGolfer]

I was thinking about tiger earlier.. I wonder what way he will tie his shoe laces...?

 

Will he just stick with a standard loop > swoop > pull.

 

He may even opt for a doubt knot for extra security.

 

OR!

 

maybe he will go for the fashionable version and get some of these.

 

 

thoughts?

Boxer's or Brief's? :D

[bambooluv]

Now that the Nike One Platinum and Black are no longer produced, I would assume that Tiger will be playing the new Nike Tour balls. But then it made me think, will he even be playing a NIKE ball. I don't know how long he is under contract with Nike, but I wondered if the Platinum/Black line was discontinued in anticipation of him jumping ship. As well all know, money is what drives these players. Not necessarily if the ball is exactly what they like. I'm sure there are those of you who have more in depth knowledge than I do regarding his contracts, so I apologize if I made a silly assumption that he would leave Nike.

 

Now that Buick won't be sponsoring him, who will? Ferrari? Your thoughts?

 

 

This was covered in another thread, Nikeproto hinted it could possibly very well be TWF on his bag. I believe it will be as well good fit.

[jcshil]

If Nike is worried about Tiger liking last years ball instead of this year they'll just take last years version and stamp it with this years logo and the world will never know.

 

This sounds like a good idea at first but it brings a crap load of marketing and legal problems with it. Lets say nike did this but still marketed that Tiger is playing the new One Tour ball. Now fastforward to Tiger handing a kid one of his golf balls at a tournament and the parent looks at the ball and compares it to a one tour. the dimple pattern will be different, someone will ask nike and before you know it nike has to pull all the one tour ads that say tiger is using them costing millions of dollars. i believe this happened a few years ago when nike said he was using the platinum and he was actually using a ball that had a softer cover,more spin..etc. Not good for anyone

 

Simple way to explain your way out of that one if you're Nike - just say that Tiger is playing a prototype ball made specifically for him that is loosely based on the characteristics of XYZ-ball. I don't think any of us believes that el Tigre is playing the same ball that we can go out and buy from our local big box store.

[highergr0und]

Wasn't it a big deal last year that he said he was actually using an OTR ball for the first time? He just doesn't have to make any comment this year. Also, how different will the new ball really be? For all we know, it's the same thing repackaged.

[macboy]

Probably the new 09 platinum ball

[JYB]

nike's new balls are the exact same as the 08' models. Take a look at the statistical data (what the balls are made of). the only difference IS the stamping and in my opinion, the stamping this year looks bad compared to last.

[callawayfan]

I bet Nike still has a large stockpile of the '08 model around. I know Titleist staffers played some older versions of the Pro V before the lawsuit, so I'd bet they'd let Tiger play the old ball.

 

Even if they didn't they would make some just for him. I would bet HE TELL THEM what he is going to play, not the other way around...

 

 

 

yea, my thoughts exactly.

[QuickFeet]

According to the USGA ball conforming list, there are already 5 Nike One Tour/Tour D variations.

[teedoff]

Now that the Nike One Platinum and Black are no longer produced, I would assume that Tiger will be playing the new Nike Tour balls. But then it made me think, will he even be playing a NIKE ball. I don't know how long he is under contract with Nike, but I wondered if the Platinum/Black line was discontinued in anticipation of him jumping ship. As well all know, money is what drives these players. Not necessarily if the ball is exactly what they like. I'm sure there are those of you who have more in depth knowledge than I do regarding his contracts, so I apologize if I made a silly assumption that he would leave Nike.

 

Now that Buick won't be sponsoring him, who will? Ferrari?

 

Your thoughts?

 

Tiger, like many tour players, will continue to play prototype versions of golf balls similar to the current retail golf balls. The performance characteristics of the balls and equipment are set up for Tiger's eye and are for all intensive purposes, unplayable to the average consumer.

 

Question is, how many of the Titleist players will continue to play the 05 version of the ProV1?

[teedoff]

nike's new balls are the exact same as the 08' models. Take a look at the statistical data (what the balls are made of). the only difference IS the stamping and in my opinion, the stamping this year looks bad compared to last.

 

The statistical data does not reflect what the balls are made of but more of the design characteristics of the golf ball. Nobody puts new stamps on old products. So much goes into the production of a golf ball, way more than the consumer can imagine.

 

That's why so many amateur players play Titleist ProV. Like little sheep following each other around.

[drewco24]

Tiger not playing a Nike ball......... thats like saying the sun might rise in the west tomorrow.

 

Nike will fold before that happens.

[Godfather]

Nike will modify any ball he wants to suit his needs. He doesn't have to worry about a ball not fitting his game because Nike will just make one that does. Remember the balls with the TW distinction.

[billybaroo]

are for all intensive purposes

 

 

For all intents and purposes please! :)

[teedoff]

are for all intensive purposes

 

 

For all intents and purposes please! :)

 

My bad. Please excuse my bad grammer.