Tour Issue vs. Retail - Toronto Golf Nuts

MillerE · Mar 14, 2011, 09:00 PM

I'm wondering if anybody has noticed a difference between tour issue club heads and retail club heads.

podarum · Mar 14, 2011, 09:09 PM

If you're talking about the TP versions, then it's all in the shaft, and not the club head.. at least that's what I read when I did my research when buying my clubs..

P25 · Mar 14, 2011, 09:36 PM

He's talking about tour issue, not TP. I'm really not qualified to say what the difference is - if any.

MillerE · Mar 14, 2011, 09:37 PM

The TP versions are TaylorMade's version of clubs for better players. A tour issue club is one that would come off the tour van and could be any brand.

fulton · Mar 14, 2011, 11:31 PM

A lot of tour issue products come in different lofts not typically available to the general public. And I'm sure there are other subtle difference as well. Lie angles. That sort of thing.

golfaholic · Mar 16, 2011, 05:49 AM

if you refer to the Superfast 2.0 TP the clubface is slightly open.

luv2golow · Mar 16, 2011, 06:15 AM

I have and do currently own lots of tour issue clubs. The biggest differences in woods are face angles (generally open) and offset in irons (less). Other than that... no real difference.

golfinseb · Mar 16, 2011, 10:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MillerE

The TP versions are TaylorMade's version of clubs for better players. A tour issue club is one that would come off the tour van and could be any brand.

This is not true. They have different shafts and marketing hype, that is the only difference.

WhiZ · Mar 16, 2011, 10:49 AM

While this only speaks of Nike, the indications are there is not a lot of difference between 'tour' issue stuff and retail issue. It sparked huge debates on golfwrx and other sites as there are some guys who a. Sell this stuff for big $$ and b. Insist the tour guys are playing superior equipment.

While I have no doubt the tour staffers get first looks and opportunities to play the latest and greatest offerings, I also have no doubt you can eventually order the exact same product in the exact same spec as a tour pro if you wanted. You'd be a fool to do so - you don't have the same swing speed and/or capabilities as a pro so why would you swing the same clubs?? But I also can't believe that Nike/TM/Titleist/etc would invest thousands of dollars into developing a new club and then only offer it to their staffers. That's just crazy.

The original blog post from Tom Stites is gone, but the article has been preserved in the following thread:

http://www.golfwrx.com/forums/topic/...by-tom-stites/

WhiZ

par72 · Mar 16, 2011, 11:05 AM

The suggestion that you are able to order anything that is being played on tour, in the same specs, from the manufacturer is just plain wrong. That doesn't mean tour stuff is any better, but most of it is tough to find.

Quote:

Originally Posted by WhiZ

While this only speaks of Nike, the indications are there is not a lot of difference between 'tour' issue stuff and retail issue. It sparked huge debates on golfwrx and other sites as there are some guys who a. Sell this stuff for big $$ and b. Insist the tour guys are playing superior equipment.

While I have no doubt the tour staffers get first looks and opportunities to play the latest and greatest offerings, I also have no doubt you can eventually order the exact same product in the exact same spec as a tour pro if you wanted. You'd be a fool to do so - you don't have the same swing speed and/or capabilities as a pro so why would you swing the same clubs?? But I also can't believe that Nike/TM/Titleist/etc would invest thousands of dollars into developing a new club and then only offer it to their staffers. That's just crazy.

The original blog post from Tom Stites is gone, but the article has been preserved in the following thread:

http://www.golfwrx.com/forums/topic/...by-tom-stites/

WhiZ

Pingnut · Mar 16, 2011, 11:08 AM

bah... there have been lots of clubs that were only for the tour guys. For the longest time, you couldn't buy big cheese grater wedges grooves at retail. I think it was the TM Y cutter that was the first in stores - but before that if you could get tour issue wedges they had the big box grooves. We could all get them for a couple years - and then Poof, now they are gone.

I haven't been paying attention to who's using what on tour lately. Truthfully, I think the gap is closed considerably if there are any differences at all now outside of a players personal preferences.

A prime example of what tour vs retail used to be was the Taylor Made 200 series fairway woods. The tour issue stuff was gold - the retail clubs were tin. There have been some pretty cool tour issue shafts as well.

FlyingDivot · Mar 16, 2011, 07:02 PM

Most retail drivers are closed face angle. Titleist are are true/square. If you struggle with pulls, hooks and strong draws...it could be. the face angle is closed by design (often without your knowledge)

I wish I had known this 15 years ago.

rayray905 · Mar 17, 2011, 01:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by luv2golow

I have and do currently own lots of tour issue clubs. The biggest differences in woods are face angles (generally open) and offset in irons (less). Other than that... no real difference.

You missed out the extra zero that comes with the word,"tour-issued" vs retail haha

Old Man · Mar 23, 2011, 10:03 PM

Is there a outlet for Tour Issue used clubs or are the used clubs only found out there by word of mouth ?

Section ThirtyOne · Mar 24, 2011, 11:09 AM

Mar 14, 2011, 09:00 PM	#1
MillerE Low Handicapper Join Date: Mar 14, 2011 Location: Toronto Posts: 223	Tour Issue vs. Retail I'm wondering if anybody has noticed a difference between tour issue club heads and retail club heads.

Mar 14, 2011, 09:09 PM	#2
podarum Low Handicapper Join Date: Oct 12, 2010 Location: Ajax, Ontario Posts: 140	Re: Tour Issue vs. Retail If you're talking about the TP versions, then it's all in the shaft, and not the club head.. at least that's what I read when I did my research when buying my clubs..

Mar 14, 2011, 09:36 PM	#3
P25 Toronto Ryder Cup Member Join Date: Jun 3, 2008 Location: Brooklin Posts: 12,818	Re: Tour Issue vs. Retail He's talking about tour issue, not TP. I'm really not qualified to say what the difference is - if any. __________________ WITB Driver: TM RBZ Stage 2 Fairway Wood: TM RBZ Tour 14.5° Hybrid: TM RBZ Tour 18.5° Irons: Titleist AP2 4-PW Wedges: Vokey 50°, 55° & 60° Putter: Scotty Cameron Squareback

Mar 14, 2011, 09:37 PM	#4
MillerE Low Handicapper Join Date: Mar 14, 2011 Location: Toronto Posts: 223	Re: Tour Issue vs. Retail The TP versions are TaylorMade's version of clubs for better players. A tour issue club is one that would come off the tour van and could be any brand.

Mar 14, 2011, 11:31 PM	#5
fulton Banned Join Date: Sep 29, 2010 Location: KW Posts: 762	Re: Tour Issue vs. Retail A lot of tour issue products come in different lofts not typically available to the general public. And I'm sure there are other subtle difference as well. Lie angles. That sort of thing.

Mar 16, 2011, 05:49 AM	#6
golfaholic Mid Handicapper Join Date: Dec 28, 2004 Location: Montreal Posts: 59	Re: Tour Issue vs. Retail if you refer to the Superfast 2.0 TP the clubface is slightly open. __________________ What's in the bag? Cobra ZL Encore 9.5 driver with Fujikura Motore F1 Callaway SteelHead Plus 3 & 5 wood Taylormade Rescue 11 3 to 5 Hybrid ALDILA RIP Callaway X-Tour (6-PW) (all irons are 1 degree flat) KBS Tour 90 Nike 52 Pro Combo Gap Wedge Titleist Vokey SM4 56 & 60 Sand/Lob Wedge Scotty Cameron Studio Stainless Newport 2 33.5 Inches long

Mar 16, 2011, 06:15 AM	#7
luv2golow Toronto Ryder Cup Member Join Date: Mar 7, 2007 Location: Somewhere lickin' toads..... Posts: 4,531	Re: Tour Issue vs. Retail I have and do currently own lots of tour issue clubs. The biggest differences in woods are face angles (generally open) and offset in irons (less). Other than that... no real difference. __________________ MEMBER OF THE 07,08,09,11,12 RYDER CUP 2011 CHAMPS! In the SLIGO OGIO Adams 9064LD w/ Oban Kiyoshi 75X Adams F11 Ti Tour Issue w/ GD DJ 8X Adams A12 proto Hb's w/ XH 105 M4 Adams MB2 Black PVD's w/ PX Satin 6.0's Adams Pug Blacks 52,56,64 w/ TT Spinners Putters.... 13 Betti tours and counting Current Gamer: "Hexxed Out" Dass 3 step JAM prototype Black Ox Member Century Club...Osprey Valley May 20, 2010

Mar 16, 2011, 10:49 AM	#9
WhiZ Club Pro Join Date: Sep 14, 2008 Location: Vancouver Posts: 599	Re: Tour Issue vs. Retail While this only speaks of Nike, the indications are there is not a lot of difference between 'tour' issue stuff and retail issue. It sparked huge debates on golfwrx and other sites as there are some guys who a. Sell this stuff for big $$ and b. Insist the tour guys are playing superior equipment. While I have no doubt the tour staffers get first looks and opportunities to play the latest and greatest offerings, I also have no doubt you can eventually order the exact same product in the exact same spec as a tour pro if you wanted. You'd be a fool to do so - you don't have the same swing speed and/or capabilities as a pro so why would you swing the same clubs?? But I also can't believe that Nike/TM/Titleist/etc would invest thousands of dollars into developing a new club and then only offer it to their staffers. That's just crazy. The original blog post from Tom Stites is gone, but the article has been preserved in the following thread: http://www.golfwrx.com/forums/topic/...by-tom-stites/ WhiZ __________________ Current Bag (Clicgear B3 black bag on ClicGear 3.5) Driver: Razr Fit 10.5 with Kai'li 70 X-stiff 3W: Razr Fit 15 with Kai'li 80 X-stiff Hybrid: TM 19deg Raylor 4i-PW: Callaway XForged TTDG X100 +1/2" Wedges: Callaway Forged 51/12, 55/10, 59/12 Putter: Oddysey 33" White Hot Sabretooth Grips: Golf Pride New Decade red/black

Mar 16, 2011, 11:08 AM	#11
Pingnut Greenskeeper Join Date: Sep 15, 2005 Posts: 5,977	Re: Tour Issue vs. Retail bah... there have been lots of clubs that were only for the tour guys. For the longest time, you couldn't buy big cheese grater wedges grooves at retail. I think it was the TM Y cutter that was the first in stores - but before that if you could get tour issue wedges they had the big box grooves. We could all get them for a couple years - and then Poof, now they are gone. I haven't been paying attention to who's using what on tour lately. Truthfully, I think the gap is closed considerably if there are any differences at all now outside of a players personal preferences. A prime example of what tour vs retail used to be was the Taylor Made 200 series fairway woods. The tour issue stuff was gold - the retail clubs were tin. There have been some pretty cool tour issue shafts as well. __________________ Callaway FT9 10.5* Titleist 906 15* Adams A12 18* & 23* Srixon i302 5-pw Callaway X-Forged 50,58,64 Ping Redwood D66

Mar 16, 2011, 07:02 PM	#12
FlyingDivot Mid Handicapper Join Date: Apr 21, 2010 Location: Georgetown Posts: 86	Re: Tour Issue vs. Retail Most retail drivers are closed face angle. Titleist are are true/square. If you struggle with pulls, hooks and strong draws...it could be. the face angle is closed by design (often without your knowledge) I wish I had known this 15 years ago. __________________ _________________________________ Titleist 909 D2 Diamana Blueboard s Titleist 909 F2 Diamana Blueboard s Callawy 3-4 FT Hybrid Fujikura Banzai s Mizuno MP-58 PX5.5 Titleist Vokey SM wedges Scotty Cameron Futura Phantom 2

Mar 23, 2011, 10:03 PM	#14
Old Man Duffer Join Date: Mar 15, 2010 Location: Renfrew ON. Posts: 3	Re: Tour Issue vs. Retail Is there a outlet for Tour Issue used clubs or are the used clubs only found out there by word of mouth ?

Mar 24, 2011, 11:09 AM	#15
Section ThirtyOne Tour Pro Join Date: Sep 6, 2005 Location: Waterloo, ON Posts: 5,362	Re: Tour Issue vs. Retail __________________ 10.5 degree Ping Anser / RIP Phenom 50 19 degree Callaway X-Hot / Project X Velocity 21 degree Nike T60 / Fuji Ignite 4-PW Callaway X-Hot Pro / Project X 95 50, 55, 60 degree Cleveland 588 RTX / Dynamic Gold Odyssey Sabertooth 2 GBC