PGA Tour star reveals the secrets behind golf club deals
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Ever wondered what goes on behind the scenes with golf manufacturer equipment deals? One PGA Tour player has revealed all.
It always feels like a slightly cruel irony to me that everyday golfers have to pay exorbitant sums for golf equipment while tour pros – most of whom are multi-millionaires – are not only given free equipment, they’re actually paid to use it. But oh well. Life’s not fair. Should have spent more time practising my chipping.
And whilst being signed by an equipment manufacturer would be a dream for most golfers, there’s more to it than you might think.
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PGA Tour star Michael Kim, who is fast becoming one of my favorite tour pros purely due to his fantastic ‘behind the ropes’ social media posts, recently provided a fantastic account of how golf manufacturer equipment deals work.
Clubs
“The basics are: a set requirement [number] of clubs. Usually at least 10-13, with the driver as a requirement. Some have other requirements like putters or wedges as well. Players can fill in the rest however they like.
“Back in the day, there used to be a bit more piece-by-piece deals. Meaning woods with one company, but irons with another. Those deals are basically all gone. Companies across the board have all gone to a ‘full line’ as they call it. Drivers are almost always a must as it is usually their most marketed product.”
Balls
“Golf balls: most companies now require their full line players to use their golf balls. Obviously companies that don’t make golf balls don’t have that in their contract. Golf balls can be tricky because players from my generation have it rooted deep in our minds that the Titleist Pro V1 is the best golf ball. Because golf balls are used on every single golf shot, it is the most important equipment. I’ve used the Pro V1 since high school and have never looked back. This is the case for many, many players.”
Most popular premium golf balls
Rrp: $54.97
Rrp: $54.97
Pros
- Tighter dispersion than the previous model
- Brilliant distance
- Exceptional spin on approach shots
- Fantastic feel off the club face
- Played by a whole host of the world's best golfers
Cons
- Urethane cover marks quite easily, considering the price
| Construction | 3-piece |
| Cover | Urethane |
| Dimples | 388 |
| Feel | Soft |
| Flight | Mid |
| Long game spin | Low |
| Short game spin | High |
| Colour options | White; Yellow |
- High gradient core design
- Speed amplifying high-flex casing layer
- Cast thermoset urethane cover
- Spherically tiled tetrahedral dimple design
Changing equipment
“Changing equipment a player has had success with is really a big commitment. A player can test all they want on a range or on their home course, but it is never the same for tournament golf. I’ve heard of many stories where a player loved their new equipment on the range and golf course but during tournament play, it didn’t react the way they wanted and struggled for a while.
“The first few tournaments are really important. It becomes an issue if you see a miss you’re not used to seeing with a new club. The thought of ‘Was that me or was that the club?’ inevitably creeps into the player’s mind. It’s a hard feeling to fight off. But if you get off to a good start, those doubts don’t weigh on you nearly as much.
“I also firmly believe that the gap between all the companies has lessened. I remember I played with Maverick McNealy at the start of 2024 and mid-2024, and he was struggling with his full swing. He couldn’t figure it out until he tried out a new driver and it fit him perfectly. Everything else fell into place and led to the best year of his career.”
Why do players sign an equipment deal?
“Unless you’re a top 10 player, the equipment deal will most likely be your biggest sponsor. When most of your income isn’t guaranteed, it’s a comforting feeling to have some guaranteed cash heading into the year. Plus, if you like their clubs, it’s a win-win.
“A player playing with no deal has no guarantee that mixing club companies will equate to better scores so it’s a no-brainer for some. Also, the attention to detail when a player is on staff can be different. When a player is a free agent, they naturally get put behind their staffed guys.”
How much do tour pros get paid to use a brand’s equipment?
“Each company generally has a structure for each level of pro. Many companies have focused way more on quality than quantity these days.”
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Ever wondered what goes on behind the scenes in a golf manufacturer equipment deal? One PGA Tour player has revealed all.
