[Kim Maengnyeong's Golf English Conversation] "Meaning of Golf Ball Brand"

A golf ball is the item that most vividly expresses a golfer's desire.

It is interesting to look at the trademarks of golf balls.

They contain various meanings that are worth savoring. Many manufacturers create and market their own trademarks using terms such as ‘distance,’ ‘flight,’ and ‘number one.’ Titleist is a combination of ‘Title’ and the suffix ‘ist,’ meaning a person. It means ‘the one who holds the title.’ Bigyard, famous for its domestic color balls, implies ‘long-distance flight.’

Callaway is named after its founder Ely Reeves Callaway Jr. It means "ordering the ball to fly far." The Srixon brand embodies the value of challenging for victory. XXIO was created by taking the O from Onward, which means to charge forward, combined with the Roman numerals for the 21st century, XXI. As the brand name suggests, it carries the hope that the ball will "fly straight like a clothesline."

BRIDGESTONE is the founder’s surname. ‘Bashi’ means bridge, and ‘ishi’ means stone. It is a stable golf ball like a stone bridge. It is marked with a B on the ball. TAYLOR MADE and HONMA are named after their founders. Nike is the English pronunciation of ‘nike,’ the goddess of victory in Greek mythology. Pinseeker means going to find the pin on the green.

A: There are so many types of golf balls on the market.

B: The balls look similar on the outside but the inner construction and surface vary.

A: What brand of ball are you using?

B: I'm using a Titleist.

A: Can you recommend a good brand?

B: Big Yard manufactures a good inexpensive 2-piece ball for beginners.

Written by Kim Maengnyeong, Golf Columnist