Generally true about the balls, but not with respect to the one Tiger plays. Indeed, the decreed change regarding the “U”-grooved clubs would help Tiger, because he plays a much softer covered ball than most of his competitors, since he can get all the distance he needs anyway, whereas they have to used a harder ball to get the equivalent distance, forcing them to use “U”-grooves to generate sufficient spin on iron shots.
ah, nevermind. Golfers are suckers, but we’re not talking about whether the Pro V1 helps a duffer.
Yes it is an exaggeration. But Tiger is willing to trade using the best ball out there for more endorsement money. I don’t think it is a stretch to presume that he has made that trade off with other equipment. And he is good enough to get away with it.
http://www.golfdigest.com/golfworld/2007/12/20071214callawaylawsuit Pro V1 is unique, how?
Why do you persist in this bizzare assertion that the Nike ball Tiger plays is somehow inferior to the balls the other pros are playing??
I think that’s pretty much true of all pros. They use the best equipment from their sponsor, even if it isn’t the best possible equipment for them.
Before anyone goes running off on that statement, let me say that it is pretty clear that every manufacturer has subtle variations in their equipment. For one player, maybe a Cleveland Hi Bore would give them slightly lower spin on their drives, maybe even adding a couple yards here and there. But their endorsement deal with Callaway has them playing an FT-10 (or whatever it is these days), so they play it. It probably doesn’t make much a difference in the leader boards.
So is Tiger playing the best ball out there? Not sure, since what constitutes the “best” ball for a player . But given that Nike has gone to extraordinary lengths to satisfy Tiger, I’m guessing the Tour One is a pretty damn good fit for Nike’s most famous employee.
You can not buy Tigers ball. It has a special hard surface that suits his swing. I read they are thinking of offering it ,although it would be right for few players. They know a lot of golfers would buy it.
Tiger’s ball is actually a soft cover. Tiger says so himself.
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0HFI/is_9_51/ai_65859457/ Nike disagrees.
That’s from nine years ago. I’m sure things have changed. 
However, I misread what you were saying. Tiger’s ball is softer than most of the other Tour players.. But I see you were comparing to the ball we hackers can buy.
In which case, your assertion is, I’m sure you will realize, silly. Yes, Tiger’s version of the premium Nike ball might be harder than the version of that ball that shows up on the shelf, but the vast majority of balls sold to consumers in the US are much harder-covered than the urethane balls. So I’d venture to say that at least 75% of golfers in the US use a ball that is harder than what Tiger plays.
I don’t know much about the businesses of professional golf or tennis, but it’s almost always good advice to follow the money. The people making money off of golf are 1) equipment manufacturers, 2) professional players (who earn substantial amounts from endorsements for those manufacturers), 3) golf course owners/developers, 4) possibly TV networks (who make money from ads, a decent percentage from equipment manufacturers). There’s nobody in that group who has any incentive to reign in technology, whereas there’s a pretty substantial incentive to have a newest and greatest you-have-to-buy-this-to-compete technology come out every year.
I mean, imagine say, the LPGA decides to limit technology, to the point where golf clubs and balls are commodities. Next, Tietleist and everyone else sharply cut back or eliminate their sponsorship of the LPGA and LPGA tournaments. In less than a year, the manufacturers fund a new professional women’s golf tour, and any pro with an endorsement contract announces that they will be only playing in the unlimited tour. LPGA goes bankrupt, and the experiment ends.
I think tennis is slightly less equipment-driven, but the same dynamic holds: nobody has any incentive to limit technology, but there’s a lot of incentive to keep pushing newer, more expensive stuff.
Nicklaus was the push behind limiting the flight of golf balls. He is a course designer and it would allow him to use less land. Also, many of the revered courses of the past are not able to be stretched out.
The pros play flatter clubs. Our 5 iron face is on the angle of a pros 7 iron. That is one of the reasons they get so much more length. It is also one reason the gap wedges came into existence. The announcers on TV have mentioned that a few times. Miller and Venturi for a couple.
Nicklaus is a course designer. He was pushing limited flight balls for a while. He may just want to buy less land and have smaller upkeep.
Another reason pros hit it so far ,is they have flatter loft angles. Their 7 iron face may be on your 5 irons angle. That is also one reason for gap wedges.