Memphis, TNâ?¦ Known for the past thirty years as the leader in ultralite composite shaft technology, Grafalloy®, makers of ProLite®, the most successful graphite shaft in PGA Tour history, Blueâ?¢, featuring proprietary Micro-Meshâ?¢ tip technology and the launch-monitor tuned performance of ProLaunch, introduces a shaft technology so advanced that a completely new standard is being established for golf equipment performance. Introducing Epic®. Featuring proprietary Nanofuse® Technology.
Through an exclusive joint development initiative with Carlsbad-based PowerMetal Technologies, pioneers in the field of nanometal research and development, Grafalloy’s engineers set out to utilize the full design opportunities provided by nanotechnology. The R & D directive was to create a shaft technology combining the very best performance benefits of a steel shaft with the lightweight and feel advantages of graphite. The result is nothing short of revolutionary.
"Nanotechnology is actually design, engineering and manufacture of products on a near atomic scale," states Dr. Gino Palumbo, Chief Technologist for PowerMetal Technologies and author of over 100 patents in the field of nanotechnology research. He adds, "The fact that we can now see things in a microscope that we couldn’t see 10 or 20 years ago provides us the opportunity to design and manipulate materials on a very, very fine scale leading to properties of materials that allow true breakthroughs in shaft design and performance."
Grafalloy’s proprietary Nanofuse® material found exclusively in the Epic shaft was made possible by harnessing the superior strength properties of nano-crystalline metals and fusing them at the molecular level with a composite polymer substrate. At only 20 nanometers, 1000 times smaller than the grain size of typical metallic structures, the nano-crystalline molecules are able to penetrate millions of specially engineered fissures within the composite polymer substrate creating the revolutionary Nanofuse material.
"While some shaft manufacturers have incorporated carbon nanotubes into composite shaft design, that use is only scratching the surface of the true potential of nanotechnology," states Graeme Horwood, Vice President of Engineering / R & D for Grafalloy. "Epic represents the first sporting goods product that’s been truly enabled by recent advances in utilizing complete nanotechnology. With Nanofuse, we are introducing an entirely new material into golf shaft design that offers the advantages of both steel and graphite without any of the inherent limitations associated with each."
Through extensive robotic and player test data, Epic has shown to produce not only increased distance off the tee, but also delivers a 35% improvement in shot dispersion when compared to graphite shafts on the market today. This combined improvement in distance and accuracy results in as much as 15-20 yards closer to the pin off the tee.
Horwood summarizes the technology, "In short, most shaft designs over the past few years have been more evolutionary as they have primarily improved upon existing technologies. Epic featuring Nanofuse technology is not an evolution but more of a revolution in metals, design and performance."
Epic is available for drivers, fairway woods and hybrids. The shafts will make their PGA Tour introduction in February 2007 and will be available through club manufacturers and component distributors in spring 2007. Additional information is available at www.epicshaft.com.
The Epic series of shafts are designed and manufactured by True Temper Sports, the leading manufacturer of golf shafts in the world and consistently the number one shaft on all professional tours globally. The Company markets a complete line of shafts under the True Temper®, Grafalloy® and Rifle® shaft brands, and sells these brands in over thirty countries throughout the world. True Temper Sports is proudly represented by over 800 individuals in ten facilities located in the United States, Europe, Japan, China and Australia.
Contact:
Chad Hall, Director of Marketing
chad.hall@truetemper.com
(901) 746-2047
