Well, golf fans, we can all rest a little easier knowing that Davis Love III has found a new sponsor. The perennial Titleist poster boy has now joined Bridgestone (isn't it interesting that he has also apparently sworn off FootJoy shoes? Check out the adiPures from Adidias...) and, as noted, on the Bridgestone web site, Love III is "excited!" Well, that's fine.
WHAT WAS SAID:
In the short video clip on Bridgestone's site, Love III mentions:
"I'm excited to be with Bridgestone! I'm really excited about the technology. I'm really excited about the equipment...One of the things that really attracted me to Bridgestone was the whole ball fitting thing...I'm excited about a fresh start with the Bridgestone ball!"
WHAT WASN'T SAID:
Unfortunately we didn't have the opportunity to be a "fly on the wall" of Davis' brain. If we had had such a chance, I think we would have heard something a bit like this:
"More than anything, I'm REALLY excited that a sponsor is willing to shovel a truckload of dollars my way at this stage of my career! I haven't won anything in a light year and, I know, I am on my way out. Just trying to survive long enough to skid into the Champion's Tour. Whew! I was really getting nervous there with Titleist. They're all about keeping a stable of the best young golfers, without any loyalty or consideration for someone, like me, who helped put them on the golfing map beyond just golf balls!"
Okay. I don't begrudge Love III having an opportunity to keep an income from a sponsor. It's just fine! What I can't stand is that — among touring professionals — golf is nothing more than money. NOTHING! They change their equipment more often than most of us change our underwear. And, after all, the golf equipment companies are all about getting their pound of flesh out of you and me.
As Davis Love III changes to Bridgestone there's the real chance that many of us might think it's because there is something dramatically wrong with Titleist's ProV1 family of golf balls. After all, Davis wouldn't jump ship if he wasn't getting a better game, right? Truth is, there really isn't that much difference between Titleist and Bridgestone — other than the fact that Bridgestone makes a far better tire for your car!
BALL FITTING MYTHOLOGY
And let's talk about this nonsense of Bridgestone's ball fitting prowess. Have you visited the Bridgestone site and gone through the ball fitting process they offer? Just in case you haven't, here's the content from a chat session about ball fitting that I just completed (the spelling and exchange is exactly as it occurred online):
Jeff: Hi, this is Jeff. Welcome to B-Fit. How can I help you today?
Doug: wanted to use the ball fitter and see which bridgestone ball to use
how do it get started
Jeff: Hey Doug,
Tell me a little about your game and your ball flight.
Doug: i play to a 7 handicap. Hit it pretty straight with a slight fade
Jeff: Do you know what your swing speed is w/ your driver?
Doug: not exactly...but I have a smooth, probably comparatively slow swing
Jeff: Ok.
About how far do you hit an average drive?
Doug: probably 250-270 yds
Jeff: Good.
Are you a low or high ball hitter?
Doug: generally a higher flight
Jeff: Any issues getting your approach shots to stop?
Doug: nope
Jeff: When you hit your driver, do you get much roll?
Doug: on my driver, yes
Jeff: What would you say is more important to you Doug, distance or spin?
Doug: distance
Jeff: Ok.
What ball do you usually play?
Doug: does that really matter?
Jeff: It gives me a point of reference. If you're already playing a raw distance ball, that would be different compared to if you are playing a spin ball for example.
Doug: At this point, I haven't played a Bridgestone ball. I assumed that the fitting process would look at my game and tell me what Bridgestone ball was best for me — independent of what other companies offer. Was I mistaken?
Jeff: I can certainly make a recommendation without know what ball you currently play Doug, but like I said, if I know what type of ball you are currently playing, that helps me decide which direction we may need to go. If you want more distance, and you are currently playing a firm, low launch high spin ball, I might make a differnt suggestion than if you told me you were playing our e6, which is already a really long distance type ball. It's not that big of deal, I've just never had anyone have a problem with it.
Based on what you've told me, I recommend the B330-RX.
The B330-RX is a high performance, 3 piece tour caliber ball designed for players who swing between 85-105 mph. It's the softest urethane covered ball on the market, making it easy to compress for players who have swing speeds less than 105 mph. It offers excellent distance, spin and shot shaping ability.
Doug: no problem with it. I just didn't want my current ball to bias the proper fit from Bridgestone.
Jeff: It doesn't bias it really at all. Some players are already playing a Bridgestone, but if I know which one, I can put that information together with the info I have been given about their ball flight to make a suggestion. The more info I have the better, that's all. No worries.
Doug: it's just that I have done ball fitting before with other companies and, nine times out of ten, when I have told them what competitive ball I play, they suggest their version of the competitor's ball. What good is that, really?
Jeff: I see where you're coming from.
Is there anything else I can help with Doug?
Interesting, don't you think? Did you follow all of that? The key here is simple. After the usual housekeeping items regarding ball flight, distance and spin — the selfsame items used in every ball fitting exchange, regardless of the manufacturer — the HUGE question is: "So what are you playing now?" In short, the whole gig is "we want to know what you are playing now and we will simply tell you to pick up the Bridgestone counterpart." PERIOD!
You should note, as well, that the jump from "I see where you're coming from..." to "Is there anything else I can help with Doug?..." to the session shutting down from Bridgestone's end was a matter of seconds! Jeff, probably sensing that he had hooked into someone who was onto him and his company, ran for his life!
But, I am REALLY excited about Davis Love III being REALLY excited!
HELAS!
Interesting, don't you think? Did you follow all of that? The key here is simple. After the usual housekeeping items regarding ball flight, distance and spin — the selfsame items used in every ball fitting exchange, regardless of the manufacturer — the HUGE question is: "So what are you playing now?" In short, the whole gig is "we want to know what you are playing now and we will simply tell you to pick up the Bridgestone counterpart." PERIOD!
You should note, as well, that the jump from "I see where you're coming from..." to "Is there anything else I can help with Doug?..." to the session shutting down from Bridgestone's end was a matter of seconds! Jeff, probably sensing that he had hooked into someone who was onto him and his company, ran for his life!
But, I am REALLY excited about Davis Love III being REALLY excited!
HELAS!
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