Nike's New Golf Club - Unauthorized Manufacturing Variance Occured!

[M.D. Holloway]

An interesting article from an associate at Manufacturing.net

OPINION: Fore (What)?
By Tom Granahan, Editor in Chief, Manufacturing.net
Manufacturing.Net - March 20, 2007


It used to be such a simple game.

Not that long ago, you'd tee it high and let it fly, unconcerned about "spring-like effect" and "characteristic time" ... but very concerned about the water lining the right-hand side of the fairway.

But golf has changed, and not necessarily for the better. Sure, the pros are playing at a higher level, and some of us hackers are now able to keep it below 90 on a regular basis. But it almost feels like cheating, kind of like how airline pilots must feel about the flying computers they now man versus the planes of years ago.


The latest turn of events in the ongoing modernization of golf is Nike's announcement this week that "an unauthorized manufacturing variance occurred such that the Characteristic Time (CT) measurement of a number of drivers fell out of Nike Golf’s approved engineering specifications." That phrase just screams "The Old Course," doesn't it?

These aren't bridges, or airplanes, or nuclear reactors. They're golf clubs, specifically the Nike SUMO2 drivers. Like so many drivers these days, it's got a head the size of a Honda Civic, and costs almost as much. The name? Well, one might think "SUMO" implies some kind of unexpected power or strength. Alas, it refers to SUper MOment of inertia, a reference to the clubhead's resistance to twisting when the ball is hit.


Geez, even the names have to be complicated.

It almost makes you yearn for "woods." (OK, maybe metal woods.) The only problem with that is when your buddy pulls out his titanium/diamond/fiberglass driver and bombs it 280 yards down the middle with a swing any 3-year-old could replicate.

And that's where the club manufacturers get you. The game is hard enough without playing with "inferior" equipment, and if your friends blow $600 on a driver well, then, it's worth the money to avoid the trash talk you'll hear when they start beating you. And the whole cycle starts over again.

Meanwhile, there are a host of interesting aspects to this story. Nike wasn't immediately available for comment, but the company said on a conference call Monday that the manufacturing variance was raised by a competitor. It's no secret that the golf-equipment market is extraordinarily competitive. So, who was the mole? America needs to know! What was the specific manufacturing issue, and how might it change Nike's manufacturing process? How much will this cost the company - in both sales and reputation? What does Tiger think? And finally, who are the honest souls who will turn in their "defective clubs" for a free replacement? Nike said the variance allows for about one to two extra yards of distance.


A yard or two doesn't sound like much, you say? Tell that to your buddies.

[71T Targa]

My bet is on a marketing ploy. I'm sure to buy this 'illegal' driver now.

[M.D. Holloway]

sorta like a lot of Supras coming in from Japan without the restriction chip 'by accident'...

[the]

Originally posted by LubeMaster77
The only problem with that is when your buddy pulls out his titanium/diamond/fiberglass driver and bombs it 280 yards down the middle with a swing any 3-year-old could replicate.

I've tried all of the modern 460cc drivers and all I can say is . . . .

I must have the swing of a 2 year old.

[the]

Originally posted by LubeMaster77
And finally, who are the honest souls who will turn in their "defective clubs" for a free replacement? Nike said the variance allows for about one to two extra yards of distance.

I would turn it back in and get a conforming club, and most people I know would, too.

If you work on your game, you want your game to be legit.

If you don't care about your game being legit and just want to cheat, it's a lot easier to just knock 5 strokes off your scorecard every round. Walla, that 90 just became an 85 and it didn't cost a penny.

Or if you want a cheater club, just buy one of the many non-conforming Japanese market clubs available for big bucks on ebay.

[Joeaksa]

Glad I am not old enough for golf yet.

Guess I will have to stick with scuba diving, snow skiing and parachuting for sports...

[71T Targa]

I love my TM r5. Makes getting up to the tee on a long 4 or 5 something I look forward to.

[widebody911]

Originally posted by LubeMaster77
Sure, the pros are playing at a higher level, and some of us hackers are now able to keep it below 90 on a regular basis.

Yeah, but then I blow it on the back 9...

[strupgolf]

If you have the club, keep it. In all my years of golfing, NO ONE has ever checked my clubs. I drive a TM r5 and just got it. I could drive anything, and it would'nt make a difference in just a few yards with my swing. When I played a lot a few years ago, I got down to a 6 hdc. but that, in MY mind wasn't good enough. So this year--new irons, Adams. New driver TM r5, and a new course I've joined which is much harder then the last one. I'll let you know after a few months on how it's going. Just keep it down the middle.

[the]

Originally posted by Joeaksa
Glad I am not old enough for golf yet.

Guess I will have to stick with scuba diving, snow skiing and parachuting for sports...

I sometimes consider sticking with the easy sports, too.

[Moses]

Originally posted by the
I sometimes consider sticking with the easy sports, too.

No kidding!

NOT work safe (language)

[M.D. Holloway]

Now that had to be one of the funniest bits I have ever seen Robin Williams do! Had me rolling!

[Superman]

Enjoy golf. The ability to enjoy golf is dependent on never, ever, breaking eighty. Never break eighty.

I know it's Old School, but one of the really wonderful live sounds in all sports is the CRACK of a Persimmon driver in the hands of a pro. Or a gorilla.