May 14

Demo Day: it's Callaway versus Mizuno Golf

Today was Demo Day at my club. Ah, I love me some Demo Day. It?s like a free-for-all at the toy store. It doesn?t matter that I just got some new X-18s last week–I?m still gonna be there come Demo Day.

We had two reps there today, from Callaway and Mizuno. I really felt bad for the Mizuno guy. Everyone was clustered around Mr. Callaway, trying out his fancypants computer launch angle analyzer and the new Fusion irons, and poor Mizuno was kind of left out in the cold.

I stopped feeling so bad for Mr. Mizuno when I asked if I could try one of his women?s drivers (mostly out of pity), and he handed me a men?s senior club and said, ?just choke up on it.? Do I look like a 60-year-old man? What?s up with that?

Callaway did me right though. They had everything I wanted to try, namely, the new giant-headed drivers. Those things make my poor old Hawkeye look like a Tinkertoy. My observations: more forgiving, yes. But they’re just so freakishly huge I can’t take them seriously. It’s like trying to hit a golf ball using a balloon on a stick. And you have to tee the ball practically waist-high to accommodate them.

I got a few tips from our new assistant pro. He reminds me a lot of Chandler Bing, of Friends fame. Maybe because his name is actually Chandler Bing. No, not really, but it is Chandler something–I just didn?t catch the last part. ?Could your drive BE any straighter??

Chandler admired my swing. See now, that?s what I like about golf. A guy you?ve never met before can walk up and audibly admire you, and it?s not creepy. In fact it?s really cool.

Mr. Callaway ended our little session by handing me a sleeve of balls. He promises they?ll go farther than any ball has ever gone before. I don?t know?I?m a Precept Lady lady myself. We?ll see.

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7 comments

§ Doug Dennison said on : 05/16/05 @ 02:24
If Mr. Callaway left you a sleeve of either the HX Hot's or HX Tour's, I'll be willing to bet $10 that your Precepts will end up gathering dust on the shelf...

I used to be a "Precept guy" myself, but once Callaway came out with the HX lines....bye-bye Precepts....
§ Colette Sanders said on : 05/16/05 @ 17:09
I'm also a female golfer in Chapel Hill. I wished I'd known about the demo day -- my X12s are showing their age. I also could use a spring tune up. I'm not a stalker -- honest -- I'm just interested in where the demo day was and where you bought your new clubs.
§ larry leverett said on : 05/19/05 @ 19:41
Please tell me where and when are teh next demo days. I would really like to see the callaway irons, the taylor-made r-5 fairway woods, and the Titliest 905 driver. I live in Ahwatukee but I have a car and am willing to drive.
Thanks
Larr Leverett, MD
§ Jennifer Mario® said on : 05/19/05 @ 22:24
Check with your club (or area public clubs, of course) to see if they have any demo days on their schedule. Most clubs hold demo days several times a year.

The Web sites for the three brands you mentioned also have "demo day locators." For Callaway, try http://www.callawaygolf.com/locator/default.aspx. For Titleist, try http://www.titleist.com/events/, and for TaylorMade, try http://www.taylormadegolf.com/global/services/demo/index.asp.

If you find a demo day near you, call the club at which it's being held and have them tell the rep which specific clubs you'd like to try, so they'll be sure to bring the right ones.

Note to Colette: if you're looking to upgrade those X-12s, the demo day locator tells me that Callaway's next demo day in the Chapel Hill area will be June 23, 3-7 pm at Pro Golf Discount on Garrett Road, in Durham. Call 919-489-0900 for details.
§ Ed Weatherby said on : 05/25/05 @ 12:30
Jennifer,

First of all you need an education as bad as the OEM's doing the demo day.

THERE ARE NO WOMEN's or SENIOR clubs.
There is ability and clubs that go with that ability.

There are men that do not hit a ball as well as Anika and do you think she has WOMEN's clubs?

Please educate yourself or forever be food for foder for the marketing crap they all give you
§ Jennifer Mario® said on : 05/25/05 @ 19:11
I beg to differ, Mr. Weatherby.
You are right that there is ability and clubs to go with that ability. But there is also height and hand size, and clubs to go with those features as well.

"Women's clubs," as they are called by marketers and everyone else in the world, have shorter shafts and smaller grips than men's clubs. That's what makes them women's clubs. As for senior clubs, that has to do with the flex of the shaft, but they are still too long for most women. Hence my offense at being handed a MEN'S club. I'm not 5-10, the height of the average man. I'm 5-4, the height of the average woman. There's nothing wrong with calling the clubs that I need "women's" clubs. Frankly, it's better than calling them "small-handed short person's clubs," which is apparently what you think they should be called.
§ Turk Medo said on : 08/15/05 @ 15:42
There is a new site online that demos clubs 24-7-365 and they will ship them to your front door. Golfclubdemo.com I havent tried it yet because I just bought a new set of Mizuno mx23 steel reg. If I would have known prior to purchasing it would have helped speed up the process. I could only find a six iron to try before the buy. I think GCD will let you demo 4-6-8-pw or 3-5-7-9
for five days. Sounds cool.

Turk