Three-Piece NXT Tour Has Large, Dual Core

First introduced in 2001, the new Titleist NXT Tour has a large dual core as part of its three-piece construction that also features a slightly smaller, soft centre and higher volume outer core layer that is engineered for longer distance.

The soft, thin Fusablend cover features a new spherically-tiled octahedral design with four axis of symmetry and 302 dimples in five different sizes to provide more distance consistently, short game spin and control and soft feel on all shots with more durability

Titleist Velocity Has High-Speed Core

Designed for distance, the new Titleist Velocity ball features Titleist’s high-speed LSX core technology and is encased in a NAZ2 cover formulation to deliver high initial speed on full shots and feel in the short game.

It also features a 332 icosahedral dimple design.

Velocity is available in single or double digit orange play numbers.

Titleist Adds To Its Golf Ball Lineup

ORLANDO — Titleist has introduced four new golf balls to its lineup with the unveiling of the NXT Tour, NXT Tour S, Velocity and DT SoLo at the PGA Merchandise Show.

“Our golf ball product development process is the same for all Titleist golf balls,” said Bill Morgan, senior vice president of golf ball research and development.

“It always starts with golfer testing where we identify performance improvements that will help golfers score better and determine what their preference options are,” he added.

“New Titleist NXT Tour, NXT Tour S, Velocity and DT SoLo are the result of that process and deliver the best scoring performance and quality within their respective segment,” he said.

The new products will begin shipping to golf shops in February and will be included in Titleist’s mobile, in-shop and online golf ball education, fitting and selection initiatives.

Watch GNN in the coming days for more information on technology in each individual new golf ball offering.

Titleist Expands 910 Line

Titleist has announced the expansion of its 910 metals line.

In order to meet the needs of golfers with more moderate swing speeds, Titleist is introducing new lofts to the 910 metals, as well as new lightweight shafts that will appeal to a wider range of golfers.

The new 910s will also feature the SureFit hosel that allows the loft and lie to be independently adjusted and set.

“SureFit technology provided a quantum leap with regards to how precisely we can dial in optimal launch conditions and ball flight for individual golfers, said Steve Pelisek, general manager of Titleist golf cljbs.

“In fitting with SFT, we also learned very quickly that there was a segment of the serious golfer community that we weren’t sufficiently reaching,” he added.

“The new extension within the 910 metals family, along with the introduction of the new AP 712 series irons, allows us the ability to provide any golfer, regardless of swing speed, with best-in-class golf clubs that will allow them to get the most out of their games,” said Pelisek.

The initiative to extend the 910 metals line emerged from initial testing conducted by Titleist’s research and development department that found that golfers whose ball speed topped out at 130 m.p.h. or less would experience substantial gains from additional driver loft (above 10.5°).

With the design objective of maximizing distance and playability, as well as offering improved distance gapping as the set composition transitions into fairway metals, hybrids and irons, Titleist developed a new 910D2 driver head with 12 degrees of loft (in the SureFit A-1 standard setting).

At the same time, similar testing was conducted to determine how to best maximize fairway metal and hybrid performance for golfers whose ball speeds ranged between 110-130 m.p.h. (swing speeds between 70-90 m.p.h).

This research led to the creation of a 21 degree 910F fairway metal head and a new 910H hybrid model with 27 degrees of loft.  All three new models are designed to provide higher launch through  added loft and additional spin stability for greater distance and overall performance.

910D2 12° Driver

The basis for integrating a loft of 12 degrees into the design of the new 910D2 driver head was established after testing revealed that significantly greater carry distance for ball speeds of 130 m.p.h. and lower are achieved with 12 degrees of loft, but also, that carry distance gains become negligible for this target player range as loft exceeds 13 degrees.

With the SureFit hosel, the 910D2 12 degree head can be adjusted down to 11.25 degrees and up to 13.5 degrees to accommodate the particular launch variations across the entire range of the 110-130 m.p.h. swing speed group.

910F 21° Fairway Metal and 910H 27° Hybrid

Much like the new 910D2 12 degree driver, the higher lofts of the new 910F 21 degree fairway metal and 910H 27 degree hybrid models generate higher launch and increased spin that offers a number of benefits for moderate to lower swing speed players.

Both the 910F 21 degree and 910H 27 degree are designed to offer more stable ball flight compared to long irons, resulting in improved consistency and predictable ball flight.

Secondly, these additional models offer more options and greater flexibility regarding set composition. With the two new models, better distance-gapping can be achieved, evenly bridging the irons to the driver.

Also, the higher launch and spin of the 910F 21 degree and 910H 27 degree also results in steeper angles of descent for shots hit with either club.  This results in greater stopping power for better control into the green.

For most moderate speed players, the 910F 21 degree fairway metal launches the ball slightly higher and offers 430 more r.p.m. of backspin when compared to the 910F 19 degree.

Additionally, the 910F 21 degree generates one m.p.h. more ball speed, launches the ball a degree higher and offers 720 more r.p.m. of backspin compared to the 910H 21 degree hybrid.  The result for players in the 110-130 m.p.h. ball speed range is a higher flight that carries further than with a hybrid and lands at a steeper descent angle, a distinct advantage in holding greens with approach shots.

The 910H 27 degree hybrid offers similar advantages, serving as a replacement to a four or five-iron by generating greater ball speed, higher launch, and imparting approximately 815 more r.p.m. in backspin, resulting in better distance gapping.

Titleist Bassara W Shafts

The Bassara W for Titleist is an ultra-lightweight shaft that utilizes specific speed enhancing technology, a graphite laminate composition with a special bend profile that is reinforced with elastic titanium nickel wire.

This super elastic construction allows the shaft to bend easily to store maximum energy for the smooth-swinging target player, but also recover quickly to its original shape.

This quick recovery means that the shaft undergoes less deformation during the swing, resulting in more efficient transfer of power during loading and unloading of the shaft, as well as greater consistency and tighter shot dispersion.

The Titleist Bassara W driver shaft weighs 50 grams, 11 grams less than the next lightest shaft in the Titleist matrix, the Diamana ‘ilima 61.

“We understand that serious golfers come in all shapes and sizes,” said Dan Stone, vice president of research and development for Titleist golf clubs.  “

The new options available within the 910 metals line afford us the ability to properly fit and equip any player, regardless of swing speed or shaft load profile,” he added.

“With our new shafts and the broadest selection of metal lofts that Titleist has ever offered, we now have the flexibility to put the right 14 clubs in the bag for anyone,” said Stone.

Titleist’s Moderate Speed Initiative Is For “Aspirational” Players

Across the board in sales of golf equipment, frequent use of the term “better players” is common, meaning only that specific clubs are geared towards players with higher skill levels.

However, the word “better” could be perceived as meaning preferred, not a choice connotation in a game in which so many players have mid-to-high handicaps and more moderate swing speeds.

The same holds true for the term “serious” golfers, one used by Titleist over the years, not to describe a particular group of golfers, but a mindset that many players, no matter what skill level they’re at, possess.

“Serious, in many ways, can be perceived as guys who you see on TV each week at a tour stop,” said Chad Cole, clubfitting/player development coordinator for Titleist. “The confusion certainly comes with the connotation of serious being exclusionary.”

“We’re trying to make it very clear with golfers who take the game seriously, who are looking to improve, who work hard on their games, take lessons, get fit for their golf clubs, that we have offerings within the product line now that will work with their specific ball speeds,” said Cole.

“The reality is that players who play at a club level aren’t blessed with those tour ball speeds and so, it’s important to have offerings that will be more realistic with the ball speeds that they have,” he added.

That’s why you will hear more and more about the Titleist moderate speed initiative for the multitudes of players who aren’t blessed with high swing speeds by providing suitable lofts and effective gapping for their individual games.

“When we’re talking about the driver with the 12 degree loft or the fairway with the 21 degree loft or the hybrid with the 27 degree loft, it’s to give those players a chance to create playable trajectories, to establish effective gapping from club to club,” said Cole.

“The moderate speed initiative offers up lofts that will complement that 130 to 110 driver ball speed range,” added Cole, suggesting another word that might fit this group of golfers.

“A good word would be aspirational. If we’re looking to create a mission statement for Titleist golf clubs, it’s to give the serious and aspirational players options that will help them enjoy the game, to give them options to make the game just a little bit easier,” he said.

With that comes a message that emphasizes the importance of the golf industry.

“It’s important to get fit, to have someone find the option that works best for you to make sure that every club within the bag is doing a job,” he said.

“For those players who are aspirational, they’re investing both their time and their money into their golf equipment, so the value that is added to the golf equipment comes from spending time with an expert to help make sure that when you’re making a purchase that the club is doing what it’s supposed to do.”

Industry Notes: October 11, 2011

Team Quebec defeated Team Ontario 17-7 in the Titleist Cup held last week at Toronto Golf Club in Mississauga, Ont. … Golf historian Jim Barclay has been inducted as a builder into the St. George’s Golf and Country Club Hall of Fame in Toronto. Barclay is also a member of the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame and is best known for his book Golf In Canada: A History … A successful grant application submitted by Golf Canada and Golf Quebec to the Quebec Ministry of Education, Recreation and Sport in connection with the province hosting the 2011 CN Canadian Women’s Open will go to the National Golf In Schools program. The grant funding will allow Golf Canada and Golf Quebec to bring the Golf In Schools program to more than 100 elementary schools in the province.

Quebec Takes Lead At Titleist Cup

Quebec leads Ontario 9-3 after completion of Thursday’s matches at the Titleist Cup being held at the Toronto Golf Cliub in Mississauga, Ont.

There are still 12 points available on Friday when all players will compete in singles matches.

Titleist Introduces New MB And CB Irons

The new MB and CB (712 Series) forged irons from Titleist build on their 710 predecessors that were brought to market in 2009 with their forged iron designs.

“When we started formulating plans for the new MB and CB designs, we knew that the project would be a reinterpretation, not a complete reinvention,” said Steve Pelisek, general manager of Titleist golf clubs.

“The original MB and CB models were so well-received on tour, as well as in the marketplace, that we knew we had succeeded in delivering the core design fundamentals that resonate with the traditional blade player,” he added.

“We did identify through our work with the world’s best players, however, some areas where we could make improvements, which we incorporated into the new models. The new MB and CB still embody those key design elements that made the first generation so well-accepted,” said Pelisek.

The new MB is a muscle back forged iron, while the forged CB has a shallow cavity back design. Both have a redesigned back that features a faceted surface known as the “dog bone,” making it larger in the heel and toe, while narrowing in the impact area.

At the same time, more mass is located behind the impact area to provide more solid feel expected from blade irons.

Both new models feature a satin finish to reduce glare and accentuate the toe and topline profile to provide easier alignment of the face and confidence at address.

The new MB sole is designed to provide trailing edge and heel relief for reduced resistance through turf. The MB sole is for players with a shallow angle of attack who tend to pick the ball off the turf, while the slightly wider sole of the CB is designed for players more aggressive through the turf.

Forged from 1025 carbon steel with modern, satin chrome plating, the MB irons feature constant blade length, minimal progressive offset and a thin topline. The narrow, cambered sole has optimized bounce angles for crisp contact.

The MBs come with a Dynamic Gold steel shaft and a Titleist Tour Velvet Rubber grip by Golf Pride. They are available in right and left-handed models.

The new CB is also forged from 1025 carbon steel, with satin chrome plating and feature constant blade lengths, minimal constant offset and a thin topline.

The shallow cavity muscle design with mass behind the impact area for solid feel comes with a Dynamic Gold steel shaft and the Titleist Tour Velvet Rubber grip by Golf Pride and comes in right and left-handed models.

Both have conforming Modified V (42 degree wall) grooves.

WedgeWorks Available Through Titleist Retailers

The new WedgeWorks Services has been launched by Titleist to offer a variety of wedge care, customization and personalization services to reflect individuality.

“Wedges are personal,” explains wedge craftsman Bob Vokey.  “Vokey Nation, as our club guys like to call it, sees what is being done on tour for Rickie Fowler, Adam Scott and our other staffers.  Now, we can provide that same type of service.  It’s tour treatment, without the tour card.”

The personalization and customization options available through WedgeWorks Services range from regripping, reshafting, cleaning and buffing, restoring paintfill, custom stamping, loft/lie adjustment, custom ferrule installation, laser etching on the shaft and weight porting on the back of the wedge to dial in a specific swingweight.

Customers can choose between a la carte services and full packages that combine various services.

“We know there are a lot of Vokey Design wedges out there that need a little TLC,” said Steve Pelisek, general manager of Titleist Golf Clubs.  “Now, you can send them in for a mini spa treatment at WedgeWorks.  We’ll clean them up, buff them up, and personalize them to your specs.”

Golfers can acquire WedgeWorks services through authorized Titleist retailers.

Titleist Introduces New Generation AP Irons

Titleist has introduced the next generation of its Advanced Performance irons.

The new Titleist AP1 and AP2 irons (712 Series) are multi-material, dual cavity irons designed to provide modern ball flight and forgiveness with the traditional looks, feel and sound.

“The new 712 line of AP irons represents another step forward in iron design,” said Steve Pelisek, general manager, Titleist Golf Clubs.

“With the development of the first AP irons in 2007, we knew we had created something special – irons   that incorporated a true blend of classic golf club aesthetics with modern playability, forgiveness and consistency,” he said.

“With the new 712 line, we’ve taken this breakthrough technology to a new, game-changing level by increasing the stability and forgiveness without losing any workability or shot control,” said Pelisek.

Titleist Advance Performance technology integrates new materials in a dual cavity, multi-component construction.

“The original AP irons changed the way golfers thought about irons,” said Dan Stone, vice president of  research and development, Titleist Golf Clubs.

“AP technology opened up a host of new possibilities in which design aesthetics and performance no longer had to be mutually-exclusive propositions. That original technology paved the way for the new advances that we’ve made with the new 712 line,” he said.

The improvements incorporated into the new AP irons came about as the result of continued research that indicated that serious golfers were looking for improvements in three main areas, according to Titleist.

First, most players wanted even greater refinements to the clubhead’s profile. Both the new AP1 and AP2 models feature sleeker contours that result in a better address position.

Players also expressed a desire for more forgiveness, to get more out of their mis-hits for better distance control.

Both the new AP1 and AP2 have been improved with internal weighting that utilizes higher density tungsten in order to distribute mass more efficiently, which increases the moment-of-inertia (MOI) without changing the centre of gravity location or the blade length.

The higher MOI provides more consistent ball speed across the clubface and better distance control.

The third wish-list item that Titleist research discovered was that players wanted more forgiveness without any loss of workability or shot control.

“When speaking about iron workability, it’s important to dispel the myth that adding forgiveness to an iron decreases its workability,” said Stone.

“In the golf industry, when we talk about moment of inertia, we’re referring to MOI-y, which is the heel/toe stability of the clubhead on off-centre impacts,” he said.

“The higher the MOI-y, the better the accuracy and distance on off-centre hits, but the most influential property affecting workability is the moment of inertia around the shaft axis, which is mainly driven by blade length and the location of the clubhead’s centre of gravity from the shaft axis,” added Stone.

“When we redesigned the 712 AP irons, we redistributed weight in the clubhead, so that we not only increased clubhead MOI or forgiveness, we kept blade lengths the same and maintained the same CG distance from the shaft axis.  This allows players to flight and shape shots,” he said.

CONSTRUCTION

The new 712 AP1 and 712 AP2 irons retain the dual cavity design and multi-material construction.  However, the designs have been significantly upgraded for more forgiveness, higher ball speeds on mis-hits and improved distance control.

Additionally, the new AP1 features a new topline shape and progressively reduced blade lengths resulting in more traditional-looking short irons.  Notable changes to the new AP2 include a new square toe profile and reduced sole width in the short irons for more precise turf performance.

Both new AP models incorporate Titleist’s Tuned Feel System, a co-molded insert of soft elastomer and aluminum plate. This insert has been specifically designed to improve the sound and feel of each new iron.

Extensive improvements to the new AP1 structure include a redesigned stainless steel soleplate and integrated tungsten nickel sole weight that redistributes discretionary mass from the topline, center bar and sole cradle to low in the head for increased stability and forgiveness.

The new AP2 structure also makes use of a new steel cradle that holds tungsten weights located heel and toe for greater forgiveness on mis-hits and more consistent distance control.

Vokey SM4s Designed To Push Conformity

The new Vokey Design SM4 wedges feature 17 precise, individually cut and 100 per cent inspected grooves that are designed to maximize groove geometry and push groove edge radius to conforming limits.

Using computer aided design (CAD), SM4 wedges also feature a new shape inspired by Vokey’s original 200 series with 21 loft and bounce combinations and five different sole grinds.

“During the whole rule change process our No. 1 priority was to protect our players,“ saiid Steve Pelisek, general manager of Titleist Golf Clubs.

“We had to ensure that 100 per cent of the Vokey wedges used in competition would comply with the new regulations,” he added.

“We weren’t able to pursue as aggressively the outer line in the sand that the ruling bodies had established.  What is so exciting about SM4 wedges is that we’ve now had adequate time to prepare, research and develop a better solution to the performance challenges that the new rules present,” he said.

Each groove is evaluated using computer-guided plotting technology in which a sensored stylus is piloted to trace the contours of each groove.

Three-dimensional coordinates are recorded and plotted as the stylus moves.  This data can then be translated into measurements of the groove’s total volume and edge radii, as well as surface roughness to allow us to manufacture wedges at the conforming limit.

“Our development of an automated, absolute inspection process is significant, because it enables us to machine our grooves right up against the limit of the edge radius specification,” said Dan Stone, vice president of research and development, Titleist Golf Clubs.

“We can now push the envelope on performance, giving players the highest possible spin and trajectory control without risk of non-compliance,” he added.

The new Vokey Design SM4 wedges are made from soft 8620 carbon steel and feature Titleist’s Spin Milled technology.

The SM4 wedges have a CNC-machined perfectly flat face and precisely-cut groove geometry, using a formed cutting tool to create a tighter tolerance on both the groove size and edge radius.

The face surface is also precisely machined with a series of milled micro edges designed to create greater surface roughness for improved spin on partial shots versus a polished wedge face.

HEAT TREATED FACE

The new Vokey Design SM4 wedges undergo a unique, surface localized heat treatment to increase the durability of the precise scoreline edge radius and face surface texture. Titleist found that the process helped retain both increased spin and lower launch angle for better shot control through the life of the wedge without altering the feel.

NEW GROOVE CONFIGURATION

The Vokey Design team continued to investigate ways to recapture some of the backspin on full shots hit from the rough that was lost due to the new groove guidelines. The new SM4 groove was designed to be narrower than the C-C design in order to accommodate more grooves, making use of a 17-scoreline pattern.  The SM4 groove pattern is designed to reclaim over 1,200 rpm in lost backspin versus the original C-C design.  The SM4 groove radius is sharp and the tight manufacturing tolerances of the Spin Milled process is designed to allow the grooves to push right to the conforming edge radius limit.

“Seventeen scorelines gives us more teeth on the ball, but it doesn’t impart so much spin that you lose versatility and shot control when accessing a middle to back pin,” said Bob Vokey.

“I honestly think this pattern strikes a perfect balance.  At first, when the new groove regulations were announced, most folks were very reactive and wanted to hold on to every rpm of spin they could get.  The new SM4 groove allows the player to high spinning shots with a controlled trajectory, or hit a shot with controlled spin and precise roll-out.”

NEW SHAPE, EXPANDED OFFERINGS

The new SM4 wedges are inspired by Vokey’s original 200 Series designs that featured a classic teardrop head shape with a high toe peak, shallow heel and a soft trailing edge. Like the 200s, the heads of the new SM4 wedges are slightly larger than the original Spin Milled and C-C wedges and feature dimension and shape progression through the lofts.

“I consider wedges a distinct set of clubs,” said Vokey.

“We offer 10 different wedge lofts from 46 to 64 degrees. Your pitching wedge should have a different shape, topline, bounce and leading edge than your lob wedge because you’re asking each club to perform very different jobs,” he added.

“This is where CAD has been so valuable. It allows us to produce a series or set of wedges that progress perfectly from loft to loft,” said Vokey.

The Vokey Design team uses Computer Aided Design (CAD) for proper dimension and shape progression as the models advance in lofts.  In SM4 wedges, the clubhead size increases and toplines grow rounder as do the leading edges of the wedges, as the lofts move from the 46-degree strong pitching wedge up to the 64-degree lob wedge.

This progression follows functionality – squarer toe and leading edge in the wedges that are used to play more full-shots, and rounder toe and leading edge in wedges that are frequently used for partial and touch shots.

CAD allows the Vokey Design team to blend the visual features that players require in designs that also deliver functional performance.

Model changes to the SM4 line include a new 46-degree pitching wedge and higher bounce models in lofts of 48, 50 and 52 degrees.  Ten models, ranging from 54 to 64 degrees, will now be offered with specialty sole grinds.

Acushnet Sale Completed

The sale of Acushnet from Fortune Brands to a consortium led by Fila Korea Ltd., and Mirae Asset Private Equity was completed on Friday. The sale was first announced on May 20.

Acushnet, which includes brands such as Titleist and FootJoy, reported sales of over $1.2-billion in 2010.

 
“The Fila Korea and Mirae Asset Private Equity group understands and appreciates our golf industry leadership, passionate associates, and enduring culture,” said Wally Uihlein,  chairman and CEO of Acushnet.  

“Together, with our new owners, our team is looking forward to strengthening and building upon the global success of the Titleist and FootJoy brands,” he added.

Acushnet will remain as a stand-alone company through separate operation from Fila Korea, with its worldwide headquarters remaining in Fairhaven, Mass.  

 
The new ownership group includes Fila Korea, Ltd., the owner of the Fila brand globally, Mirae Asset Private Equity, the largest private equity firm in Korea and the National Pension Service of Korea, the fourth largest pension fund in the world.  

The Korea Development Bank, Korea’s largest government-owned bank, is also providing financing for the acquisition.

“We are excited and proud to be part of the storied history of successful growth and evolution of Titleist and FootJoy, two revered and world-class brands,” said Gene Yoon, chairman and CEO of Fila Korea, Ltd.  

“We are impressed by the decades of accomplishments achieved by the management team at Acushnet and fully support its continued focus on the core golf expertise at which they excel,” he added.  

“We look forward to growing the brands around the globe, especially with the opportunities in the emerging markets in Asia.”

Fila Part Of Group That Will Purchase Acushnet

Acushnet Company has announced that its parent company, Fortune Brands, Inc., has signed a definitive agreement for the sale of the company to a group led by Fila Korea, Ltd., the owner of the Fila brand globally, and Mirae Asset Private Equity, a private equity firm in Korea.

The deal is said to be worth $1.23-billion.

“The Acushnet Company has long been the trusted steward of two of golf’s most revered and iconic brands and has perpetuated the longest running records of golf equipment success in the game,” said Wally Uihlein, chairman and chief executive officer of Acushnet.

“The Fila Korea and Mirae group understands and appreciates our golf industry leadership, passionate associates and unique and enduring culture. Together, with our new owners, our team is looking forward to strengthening and building upon the global success of the Titleist and FootJoy brands.”

After the acquisition, Acushnet will remain as a stand-alone company through separate operation from Fila Korea, with its worldwide headquarters remaining in Fairhaven, Mass., and led by Uihlein and Acushnet’s current management team.
 
“We appreciate what Fortune Brands has contributed to the growth of our business over the last 35 years,” said Uihlein. “The support, encouragement and guidance they provided helped fuel our leadership position in the industry and marketplace. Together, we achieved record-setting milestones.”

Established in Italy in 1911, Fila is asport and leisure footwear and apparel brand that is distributed worldwide. The group, led by Fila Korea and Mirae, also includes the National Pension Service of Korea, the fourth largest pension fund in the world and Korea Development Bank, Korea’s largest government-owned bank.

“The acquisition of Acushnet transforms our platform with a stable of premier world class brands,” said Gene Yoon, chairman and chief executive officer of Fila Korea, Ltd.

 “We are equally excited to embrace Acushnet’s exceptional management team led by Wally Uihlein. With our extensive knowledge and reach in Asia, we believe that the Acushnet brands have incredible new opportunities for growth in the emerging markets in Asia,” he added.

J.H. Ryu, CEO of Mirae Asset Private Equity, echoed those thoughts.

“We are very impressed with what Acushnet management and employees have accomplished so far,” said Ryu. “We will fully support the company to remain focused on its core golf expertise and continue driving the growth of the industry.”
Uihlein added that will continue to grow in emerging golf markets. “Titleist and FootJoy are powerful global golf brands,” said Uihlein.

“The fact that Asia Pacific represents over 30 per cent of the world’s total golf equipment spending and that South Korean golfers are among the most passionate and organized in the game, is testament to the significant investment in the Acushnet Company by the Fila Korea and Mirae group,” he said.

“They recognize the strength of the brands and opportunities for growth particularly in golf’s emerging regions,” added Uihlein.

The sale is subject to certain closing conditions, including regulatory approvals, and the transaction is expected to close this summer.

Has Patent Dispute Come To An End?

Acushnet’s long-running patent dispute with Callaway Golf may have reached an end after five years.

Acushnet has announced that the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware had provided its final judgement in its favour and has denied Callaway’s request for a new trial. Callaway has claimed that the Titleist Pro V1 golf ball infringed on four Callaway patents.

“Today’s positive ruling substantiates what our contention has been throughout this process, that the patents in question were invalid and should never have been issued,” said Joe Nauman, executive vice president, corporate and legal for Acushnet.

“We had confidence that, once we had the opportunity to present all the evidence and, as we continued to receive favourable rulings from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (PTO), we would prevail,” he added.

“The confirmation by the U.S. District Court is another significant step in finalizing this case,” said Nauman.

Callaway has the option of appealing the case to the Federal Circuit Court.

Industry Notes: April 13, 2011

It hasn’t yet been decided if the winner of the new Mr. Lube Canadian PGA match play event or the Titleist and FootJoy Canadian PGA Club Professionals Championship will have an exemption into the RBC Canadian Open … Titleist has announced that WedgeWorks Exclusives are now available in Canada. For more on WedgeWorks Exclusives, click here. For more information, call (877) 928-8898 or click here … Golf Trends/Eaton Corp has become the title sponsor for the Ontario PGA Assistants’ Championship …  Golf Supply House has extended its title sponsorship of the Ontario PGA Pro/Pro Championship through 2013. As part of the deal, Bamboomer Golf Tees will remain the title sponsor of the long drive championship that takes place at during the Ontario PGA’s Fall Scramble at Angus Glen in Markham, Ont.

More Personal Touches From WedgeWorks Exclusives

Titleist has added the 200 Series, a new Black Oxide finish and new personalization options to its WedgeWorks Exlusives line of Vokey Design wedges.

Introduced last year, Vokey WedgeWorks offer various personalization aspects, including length, lie, loft, toe engraving, paintfill, ferrules, grips, shafts and shaftbands. Each is custom engraved, hand-stamped and built to specifications.

The new Black Oxide offers a non-plated, low glare finish that provides added contrast against the golf ball at address. The Black Oxide wedges will be available in 52, 54, 58 and 60 degree lofts in right-handed only.

Vokey will also bring back the 200 Series with its head shape featuring a high toe peak and a soft trailing edge.  The new 200 Series will feature updated graphics and spin-milled C-C grooves compared to the pressed grooves of the original 200 Series.

The new 200 Series will be available in right and left-handed and in a variety of loft and bounce combinations, ranging from 46 to 60 degrees in two-degree increments. The finish will be the WedgeWorks Exclusives Bright Brushed Chrome.

Dynamic Gold Spinner and KBS Hi-Rev shafts have been added to WedgeWorks Exclusives as have several personalization options.

Golfers can choose from three hand-stamp styles, including straight, freestyle and snow in up to eight letters and/or numbers, 20 different paintfill colours and 40 different toe-engraving combinations.

Grips feature a wide variety of textures and colours. Among the available grips are New Decade Multi-Compound, full cord Golf Pride Tour Velvet, as well as ribbed and .600 diameter options. BV Custom grips are also available through WedgeWorks.

Vokey WedgeWorks Exclusives will also offer two new BV Wings grips from Golf Pride, a new shaftband and a new BV Diamonds toe engraving.

The WedgeWorks Exclusives will be available in select international markets, including Canada, this spring.

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