Callaway called TaylorMade balls ‘mud balls’ in a commercial; now TaylorMade demands injunction and damages.
Five-time major winner Rory McIlroy and world number one Scottie Scheffler are among the best-known golfers who use TaylorMade balls. Callaway referred to a TaylorMade ball as a ‘mud ball’ in a commercial, leading to a lawsuit by the affected competitor. “Mud balls” are golf balls covered in mud after shots from wet, soft ground or rough, severely affecting aerodynamics and causing unpredictable flight paths.
TaylorMade Files Lawsuit Against Callaway
TaylorMade has sued competitor Callaway over allegedly false claims about golf ball construction in an ad. Callaway’s spot claims TaylorMade balls are inferior to their own, suggesting their design impacts flight like “mud balls.” According to the lawsuit, “Callaway and its agents conducted misleading UV light demonstrations disparaging TaylorMade golf balls, calling them ‘mud balls’ and falsely claiming uneven coating and poor quality control causing poor performance.” The suit was filed Thursday in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California, San Diego division.
Allegations of Misleading UV Demonstration
The suit references a Callaway ad showing a salesperson advising a customer to test balls under UV light to evaluate coating and performance. The salesperson shines UV light on a TaylorMade TP5 ball, prompting an assistant to notice a darker spot. The Callaway rep implies this indicates an inferior ball, saying, ‘Wow, interesting—looks like a big clump of mud right over the TaylorMade logo.’
The lawsuit states that “mud ball” is one of the most derogatory terms for a golf ball. TaylorMade claims the disinformation campaign “is ongoing” with many other instances, though the suit only cites the video. TaylorMade is seeking a court injunction to stop the alleged defamation and damages to be determined.
Comparative Advertising in the USA
Comparative advertising is legal and common in the United States, requiring claims to be truthful, substantiated, and not misleading. Direct attacks naming competitors or comparing features are standard marketing tactics. Compared to countries like those in the European Union, this advertising style is more aggressive and direct, often naming other brands. Nonetheless, disparaging or false claims remain prohibited in the U.S.