Callaway calls TaylorMade balls ‘mud balls’ in an ad, prompting TaylorMade to sue for injunction and damages.
Five-time major winner Rory McIlroy and world number one Scottie Scheffler are among the most renowned golfers worldwide who use TaylorMade golf balls. Callaway labelled a TaylorMade ball a ‘mud ball’ in a commercial, which has now escalated into a lawsuit by the affected competitor. ‘Mud balls’ refer to golf balls covered in mud after hitting wet, soft ground or rough, significantly impairing aerodynamics and often causing unpredictable flight paths and curves.
TaylorMade Files Lawsuit Against Callaway
TaylorMade has sued competitor Callaway over alleged false claims regarding the composition of its golf balls in a commercial. Callaway claimed TaylorMade balls are inferior to their own, suggesting their construction negatively affects flight similarly to troublesome mud balls. The lawsuit states, ‘Callaway, its agents, and representatives conducted misleading UV light demonstrations to disparage TaylorMade golf balls, including calling them ‘mud balls’ and falsely claiming the balls have uneven coating, poor quality control, and subpar performance,’ filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California, San Diego division.
Allegations of Misleading UV Light Demonstration
The lawsuit references a Callaway commercial where a salesperson demonstrates testing golf balls under UV light to evaluate coating type and performance impact. The TaylorMade TP5 ball shows a darker spot under UV light, and the salesperson implies this indicates inferior quality, saying, ‘Wow. Interesting, because to me it looks like a big clump of mud… right over the TaylorMade logo.’
TaylorMade emphasizes that ‘mud ball’ is among the most derogatory terms for a golf ball and alleges Callaway continues this disinformation campaign with multiple other instances, though no examples beyond the video are cited. TaylorMade seeks an injunction to stop the alleged defamation and damages to be determined by the court.
Comparative Advertising Practices in the U.S.
In the United States, comparative advertising is permitted and widespread, requiring claims to be truthful, substantiated, and not misleading. Direct attacks naming competitors and comparing specific features are common marketing tactics to draw attention. Compared to regions like the European Union, U.S. comparative advertising tends to be more aggressive and direct, including naming rival brands. However, derogatory or false statements remain impermissible under U.S. law.