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NEWS FROM THE TOUR VANS
BROUGHT TO YOU BY GOLF PRIDE, THE #1 GRIP ON TOUR
With no live sports to watch, millions have become engrossed in a new ESPN documentary chronicling basketball legend Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls. Most viewers probably didn’t have golf on their minds, but one anecdote sent equipment nerds like us scrambling down an Air Jordan-inspired rabbit hole.
It started during episode 2 of the series when Jordan’s former Bulls teammate Scottie Pippen recalled how Jordan bought him a set of golf clubs during his rookie year in 1987.
"He was trying to lure me in so he could take all my money," Pippen said.
There weren’t further details about what type of clubs they were, or how often the two played. But what we do know is that Jordan became arguably the most famous athlete (non-golfer division) to be obsessed with the game. That certainly extends to the equipment world, where Jordan has compulsively used just about every brand imaginable.
In the driver category, Jordan hasn’t been shy about showing off his colors – he’s used a TaylorMade R1 painted completely in Bulls red, a TaylorMade Burner in North Carolina Tar Heel blue with his number 23 painted on the bottom of the head and, even more noticeable than either of those, a shiny custom gold driver of unknown origin.
As for putters, Jordan is a fan of blades. In the documentary he was shown using a Ping Anser, but he also has been spotted with a Scotty Cameron Bulls Eye that has “M.J.” stamped on the toe of the face. He’s constantly changed putters through the years, dabbling with Odyssey, Bettinardi and other brands.
With irons, he’s often found his way with Ping. In one classic image of Jordan playing golf, he was sporting a set of Ping S58 irons. No matter what irons he’s employed, the grip size has been massive. Bubba Watson has up to 15 wraps of tape under his left hand on the grip, but Jordan’s gargantuan hands may require more.
But if Jordan is known for one thing in the golf equipment world, it’s the custom bags he has flashed. One of his main basketball sponsors through the years has been Wilson, a brand that also has a presence in golf. That’s led to intense collaborations – our favorite is an old-school black-and-white bag with a Bulls logo sandwiched by the words “Michael Jordan” in script. Above the logo is “23” in white stitching. Other bags that belong in his gear hall of fame include a Jordan original that has each of his sneaker models stitched into it and a full Tar Heel blue bag by Stitch that has “MJ” stitched on one side and “23” stamped on the other.
Jordan hasn’t always been the most consistent or loyal with his equipment, but he’s been more than entertaining.
Sean Fairholm