Ever had one of those days when you think, ’ten years, and all I’ve
done is shift soap powder?’ Then spare a thought for Nick Addecott, a
man who has devoted the past three years to the charitable occupation of
helping golfers improve their drives.
Not content with closet philanthropy, however, Addecott, the brand
manager for golf products at the sports company, Wilson, took his
passion on to TV last week - revealing the Gospel according to the
Wilson Fat Shaft golf club.
This iron, he says, can genuinely improve your game.
And like all enthusiastic sportsmen, he spares no details: ’The Fat
Shaft is wider near its head. This means it stays more stable if you
don’t hit it in the middle of the head. So you’re less likely to slice
or hook the ball.’
Broadly speaking, Addecott says the phenomenon can be summed up in the
strapline of the new commercial, created by BMP DDB: ’Deadly accuracy
and remarkable distance.’ And in case that’s not enough for your game,
Wilson is bringing out a ball early next year which claims to do much
the same thing.
To look at Addecott, you’d think he was a rugby prop forward, not a
golfer - indeed, this was his chosen sport until a spinal injury at the
tender age of 16 dashed his hopes. And so the sport-obsessed Welshman
turned to golf instead.
As a professional golfer, he played local tournaments, helped around the
course shop and took the Professional Golf Association’s four-year
training.
He remained a professional for about eight years before joining Wilson
and working his way upwards. Now he is responsible for all its golf
marketing plans.
An enviable life. And, of course, it has given Addecott ample time to
practise his aim. Especially at the poor bloke - the star of Wilson’s
new commercial - who has to collect all the balls on the driving
range.
So, has Addecott ever hit this unfortunate soul himself? ’Well,’ he
concedes, ’you do get a bit bored out there ... nah ... yeah ... well,
never intentionally.’
