Where’s My Sponsorship, Callaway?
Mar 21st, 2008 by admin
I’m basically the poster child for Callaway. With the exception of my putter, my 5 wood and my hat, everything else I play is Callaway. It started about 4 years ago on my birthday. My wife–sweet and golf-tolerant angel that she is–bought me (at my request) Callaway’s then brand new ERC Fusion driver. It was by no means an impulse buy. I did my homework…which basically means I hit every driver in the valley to try to find the one that felt right.
After much research and countless balls hit in simulators, I narrowed it down to the Callaway, the Nike 1, and a Titleist (model I’ve forgotten). A little more effort eliminated the Titleist, and finally, when I managed to hit about 10 sim shots in a row with the Callaway that were dead straight and long (well…as much as such results can be trusted in a simulator), the Callaway won. I have never regretted it and thus began my commitment to Callaway golf gear.
I’ve gotten to a point now where I really don’t even need to test or compare anymore. I know Callaway’s gear will suit my game before I even swing the clubs, as was proven when my wife (isn’t she the best!?) bought me a full set of X-18 irons for Christmas two years ago. I didn’t even have to compare them to others, and by spring, I knew it was the right choice. I dropped about 5 strokes off my average that summer.
Next came my 56 degree X-Tour Chrome wedge, and finally, after a lot of credit card transactions on the Blue card, I earned enough points to get myself a 52 degree X-Tour Vintage wedge…excellent pieces of hardware that chipped another 3 or 4 strokes off my game last summer (pun intended, of course).
The final addition was the perfect ball. After playing many, and liking many, I finally found my magic with Callaway’s HX Tour and HX Tour 56 balls. They don’t last very long in my game; I tend to scratch them up pretty good with my wedges. But they have given me what I never have had in the previous 6 years or so of playing golf: spin control. They’re soft enough that even a hack like me with no real spin control can get the kind of spin that will stop the ball on the hardest of greens (as much as can be expected). Distance has never been a problem for me–I’m a pretty big dude–so for me, feel is key. Connecting with HX golf balls feels amazing, which is to say it doesn’t really feel at all. If I swing right, I can’t even feel the ball. That’s how I like it. Shave another couple of strokes.
So in a few short years I’ve gone from a complete hack who didn’t even dare register a handicap, to a proud 8.
I guess I can’t say for sure that the equipment is entirely responsible for my improvements; however, I’ve come to believe that there is one single element in golf that makes a greater difference in lowering your score than any other. It’s not the elusive repeatable inside-out swing, it’s not the putt stroke, it’s not the short game or the drive. It’s simply confidence. If you can strike the ball with confidence, no matter what shot you’re trying to make, your chances of success increase by orders of magnitude. For me, the feel of Callaway clubs gives me that confidence to know that if I do my job, the clubs will do the rest.
Now…where’s my sponsoship, Callaway!?