Callaway called TaylorMade balls ‘mud balls’ in an ad, prompting TaylorMade to seek injunction and damages.
Five-time major winner Rory McIlroy and World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler are among the most recognized golfers who choose TaylorMade balls. The golf equipment maker Callaway labeled TaylorMade balls as ‘mud balls’ in a commercial, which has escalated into a lawsuit by the affected competitor. The term ‘mud balls’ refers to golf balls that get covered in mud after a shot from wet, soft ground or rough, significantly affecting aerodynamics and causing unpredictable flight paths and curves.
TaylorMade Files Lawsuit Against Callaway
TaylorMade has sued its competitor Callaway for allegedly false claims regarding the composition of golf balls in a commercial. Callaway claims TaylorMade balls are inferior to their own. According to the lawsuit, Callaway states that the design of TaylorMade balls negatively impacts flight like troublesome mud balls. ‘Callaway and its agents conducted misleading UV-light demonstrations demeaning TaylorMade balls, calling them ‘mud balls’ and falsely asserting uneven coating and poor quality control leading to poor performance,’ TaylorMade’s suit states. The lawsuit was filed Thursday in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California, San Diego division, against Callaway.
Allegation of Misleading UV Demonstration
The lawsuit refers to a Callaway ad where a salesperson advises a potential customer to test the balls under UV light to assess coating type and effect on performance. The suit states, ‘He shines UV light on the TaylorMade TP5 ball, causing an underling to notice a darker spot.’ Callaway’s salesperson implies this indicates an inferior ball, saying, ‘Wow. Interesting, to me it looks like a big clump of mud… right over the TaylorMade logo.’
TaylorMade emphasizes in the suit that ‘mud ball’ is one of the most derogatory terms for a golf ball. TaylorMade alleges Callaway continues this misinformation campaign with multiple instances beyond the video, though no other specific examples are cited. TaylorMade seeks a court order to stop the allegedly ongoing defamation and demands damages to be determined.
Comparative Advertising in the U.S.
Comparative advertising is legal and widespread in the United States. Statements must be truthful, verifiable, and not misleading. Direct competitor attacks naming brands or comparing specific features are common marketing tactics to draw attention to one’s products. Compared to some EU countries, such advertising is more aggressive and direct, often naming competing manufacturers. However, defamatory or false statements remain prohibited in the U.S.