SCHAUMBURG, Illinois (January 2006) – Nickent Golf Equipment has selected Nippon Shaft to provide its revolutionary N.S. Pro 950GH as the stock steel shaft for Nickent’s 3DX DC Series of hybrid clubs, Nippon Shaft officials announced today.
The N.S. Pro 950GH will be the stock steel shaft in Nickent’s new 3DX DC Ironwood and in the company’s 3DX DC Utility, according to Hiroyuki Fukuda, manager of sales and marketing for Nippon Shaft for the Americas.
"We are very happy to offer Nippon products in our new 3DX Pro Iron set, as well as in our new 3DX DC series of hybrids," said John Claffey, Nickent Golf’s director of marketing. "Nippon makes a world-class shaft and it is a very good fit with our products and our clientele." Nippon also is providing the stock steel shaft for Nickent’s 3DX Pro Iron set.
Nippon Shaft’s Fukuda said his company also is pleased with its growing relationship with Nickent Golf.
"Nippon Shaft is excited and honored to have been chosen by Nickent Golf to provide our N.S. Pro 950GH shafts as stock items in the 3DX DC Series of hybrid clubs," Fukuda said. "As a club designer and manufacturer, Nickent Golf adheres to the highest standard of excellence. Nippon Shaft is pleased to provide Nickent with the shaft by which all other sub-100 gram steel shafts are measured."
The N.S. Pro 950 marries the pliability of a lighter shaft with the stability of steel in order to increase clubhead speed and distance while maintaining the stability and accuracy associated with steel shafts, Fukuda said. The shaft is available in a stiff or regular option on the Nickent hybrids.
The lightweight N.S. Pro 950GH is the product that propelled Nippon Shaft into the elite group of golf equipment manufacturers, when it was introduced. At 95 grams, it was the first sub-100 gram steel shaft that maintained the consistency of traditional steel shafts, which were more than 25 percent heavier.
What makes the N.S. Pro 950GH truly appealing to golfers of all skill levels is its unique ability to be both "soft" and "hard" at the same time, meaning that the club is simultaneously pliable and stable.
"Before the N.S. Pro 950, there was not a consistently-made, sub-100-gram steel shaft on the market," Fukuda said. At the time, he said, the lightest steel shaft on the market with acceptable consistency weighed 115 grams. Most weighed 125 grams or more."
The higher quality shaft is a result of Nippon Shaft’s superior materials and manufacturing processes.
"Nippon Shaft uses the highest grade materials and manufacturing techniques, specifically in heat treatment," Fukuda said. "The common feedback we get from golfers is that they are amazed at how "soft" the shaft feels and how consistently it performs in terms of consistent length, trajectory and dispersion – characteristics found in heavier or ‘harder’ shafts. The N.S. Pro 950GH is a shaft for everybody."
Nippon Shaft is the No. 1-selling steel shaft in Asia with more than 80 percent of the market and ranks No. 2 in the North America. Currently, more than 100 touring professionals worldwide use Nippon Shaft products in their clubs, resulting in more than 50 victories in the last three years, Fukuda said. All shafts sold by Nippon Shaft are made in Japan in order to maintain the highest quality labor and technical expertise.
Nippon Shaft is a subsidiary of privately-held NHK, a Japanese automobile parts manufacturer based in Yokohama, Japan. Nippon Shaft’s North American headquarters is in Schaumburg, Illinois.
Nippon Shaft will be exhibiting at the 2006 PGA Merchandise Show Jan. 26-29. The company will be located in Booth 4015 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando. Nippon Shaft also will be participating in the industry-only 2006 Golf Demo Day on Jan. 25 at Orange County National Golf Center and Lodge.
Contact:
Barry Cronin
Cronin Communications, Inc.
847-698-1801
847-867-3032 (mobile)
bcronin@cronincommunications.com
