Callaway called TaylorMade balls ‘mud balls’ in an ad, prompting TaylorMade to seek injunction and damages.
Five-time major winner Rory McIlroy and world number one Scottie Scheffler are among the most famous golfers who choose TaylorMade balls. Callaway referred to a TaylorMade ball as a ‘mud ball’ in an advertisement, which has escalated into a lawsuit from the competitor. ‘Mud balls’ are golf balls covered in mud after a shot from wet, soft ground or rough, negatively affecting aerodynamics and causing unpredictable flight paths.
TaylorMade Files Lawsuit Against Callaway
TaylorMade has sued rival Callaway over alleged false claims about the composition of golf balls in an ad. Callaway claimed TaylorMade balls are inferior to their own and suggested their construction negatively impacts flight like mud balls do. According to the complaint, Callaway and its agents conducted misleading UV light demonstrations disparaging TaylorMade balls by calling them ‘mud balls’ and falsely asserting uneven coating and poor quality control leading to poor performance. The lawsuit was filed on Thursday at the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California, San Diego Division.
Allegation of Misleading UV Demonstration
The lawsuit relates to a Callaway ad where a salesperson advises a potential customer to test golf balls with UV light to assess coating impact on performance. The complaint states the salesperson shines UV light on a TaylorMade TP5 ball, revealing a darker spot, and comments this suggests an inferior ball resembling a ‘huge clump of mud’ over the TaylorMade logo.
TaylorMade’s complaint emphasizes that ‘mud ball’ is one of the most derogatory terms for a golf ball and accuses Callaway of continuing a disinformation campaign with multiple incidents beyond the video, though no specific additional examples were disclosed. TaylorMade seeks a court injunction to stop the ongoing defamation and damages to be determined.
Comparative Advertising in the U.S.
Comparative advertising is widespread and legal in the U.S., requiring claims to be truthful, substantiated, and not misleading. Direct competitor attacks, including naming brands and comparing features, are common marketing tactics to draw attention. Compared to other regions like the EU, U.S. ads are often more aggressive and direct. However, defamatory or false statements remain prohibited even in the U.S.