Tour-Validated Product Enhancements Made to World’s Best-Selling Golf Ball Franchise
Fairhaven, MA (February 8, 2007) – Titleist applies innovation and advancements to make the world’s best-selling golf ball models even better. Product improvements to the tour-validated New Pro V1 and New Pro V1x have been designed to deliver exceptional performance for golfers at all levels of the game.
It has been nearly seven years since members of the Titleist Golf Ball Research & Development and Tour Leadership Teams commenced its "100 Player March", working the driving ranges, as well as walking the fairways and greens of PGA Tour venues, seeking and evaluating feedback regarding the performance of the original Pro V1 prototype from the world’s most discerning golfers. The final version was available for competition at the 2000 Invensys Classic in Las Vegas when 47 players converted to the new large core, multi-component Pro V1 in what marked one of the largest pluralistic shifts of equipment at one event in golf history.
Whether the measurement is in dozens, market share, worldwide Tour player and win counts, or usage by average golfers, the momentum and milestones of the Pro V1 are significant:
– Over 43% of all Golf Ball Dollars On-Course in 2006, according to Golf Datatech.
– Pro V1 and Pro V1x On-Course market share was greater than the collective and combined brand shares of Bridgestone, Callaway, Nike, TaylorMade, Top-Flite and Maxfli in 2006, according to Golf Datatech.
– Pro V1 has been the best-selling golf ball model On-Course and Off-Course since March 2001.
– Since 2000, over 100,000 players, 900 wins and $1.6 billion in winnings have been recorded across the worldwide professional tours with the Pro V1 golf ball models.
"Whether the focus is on optimizing performance at the highest levels of the game or improving the performance for aspirational golfers seeking to achieve a competitive advantage and advance their games, golfers will soon experience New Pro V1 and Pro V1x golf balls that are better than ever from tee-through-green," commented George Sine, Vice President, Golf Ball Marketing and Strategic Planning, Acushnet Company. "Consistent with our proven new product blueprint that has been inherent throughout our 75-year history of golf ball leadership, with the New Pro V1 and Pro V1x we have improved upon their benchmark performance. The next generation New Pro V1 and New Pro V1x are designed to further accelerate our most meaningful point of difference by making the already best performing and best selling golf balls in the world even better by benefiting golfers throughout our Pyramid of Influence."
New Staggered Wave Parting Line
Among the improvements to the New Pro V1 and Pro V1x golf balls is a new Staggered Wave parting line. The new Staggered Wave design effectively increases the dimple surface coverage which contributes to improved aerodynamics and a more consistent ball flight.
"Every golf ball must have a parting line as part of the manufacturing process," commented Bill Morgan, Senior Vice President, Titleist Golf Balls Worldwide. "Our new Staggered Wave design allows us to more densely pack the dimples on the New Pro V1 and Pro V1x, creating the highest surface coverage ever on a Titleist golf ball. The combination of the new Staggered Wave parting line, improved surface coverage and dimple dimension changes will provide golfers with greater distance off the tee."
New A.I.M. Technology
Driven by consumer feedback and reacting to golfer needs that continue to ensure that Titleist provides a unique point of difference and distinctive product offerings versus the competition, the New Pro V1 and Pro V1x feature new A.I.M. (Alignment Integrated Marking) Technology sidestamps. The designations of Pro V1 and Pro V1x have been integrated into the sidestamp and are accompanied by extended arrows on each side of the model name.
"The A.I.M. sidestamp provides a consistent focal point for golfers to better align their drives and putts if they desire, as well as to instill additional confidence for better driving and putting alignment," said Sine. "Based upon Tour player, Club Professional and amateur golfer feedback, the acceptance and reception to the A.I.M. sidestamp from golfers who have experienced it has been effusive."
New Pro V1
The New Pro V1 golf ball has a three-piece multi-layer construction, designed for serious golfers of all levels that prefer Tour-validated technology and performance. It features a soft, polybutadiene 1.530" core and an ionomer blend casing layer that combine to provide high speed and low spin for long distance off the tee. The New Pro V1 has a very thin Urethane Elastomer cover that surrounds the casing layer and contributes to exceptional feel and short game control into and around the green. A higher coverage 392 dimple design in five different sizes and a new Staggered Wave parting line provide for a slightly higher trajectory than the previous generation Pro V1 for longer, more consistent distance.
New Pro V1 Features and Benefits
Improved, higher coverage 392 dimple design with new Staggered Wave parting line New, Tour-validated A.I.M. (Alignment Integrated Marking) sidestamp offers improved directional accuracy Soft and resilient 1.530" core formulation and compression for outstanding feel Resilient ionomer casing layer High performance Urethane Elastomer cover technology Longer driver distance from enhanced ball flight Higher, more penetrating trajectory for longer, consistent distance Drop-and-Stop greenside control
New Pro V1x
The new Titleist Pro V1x golf ball has a multi-layer four-piece construction featuring a dual core, ionomer casing layer and Urethane Elastomer cover, designed for serious golfers of all levels seeking long distance with Tour-validated feel and performance. The dual core of the New Pro V1x includes a soft center and more resilient outer shell. In combination with the new, thin, softer Urethane Elastomer cover formulation, the New Pro V1x provides very low spin off the tee for long distance, improved Drop-and-Stop control into and around the green and softer feel than the prior generation product. An improved, higher coverage 332 dimple design in seven different sizes, along with a new Staggered Wave parting line deliver a slightly lower trajectory than the previous generation Pro V1x for even longer, more consistent distance.
New Pro V1x Features and Benefits
Improved, higher coverage 332 dimple design with new Staggered Wave parting line New, Tour-validated A.I.M. (Alignment Integrated Marking) sidestamp for better putting alignment Softer center dual core Resilient ionomer casing layer New, softer Urethane Elastomer cover for softer feel than ever before Longest driver distance from enhanced ball flight Penetrating trajectory for long, consistent distance Higher spin with irons for improved workability Increased short game spin Drop-and-Stop greenside control
On Tour
Since taking the golf industry by storm in the fall of 2000, the Titleist Pro V1 continues to serve as the high performance standard by which all other golf balls are compared and measured. All Titleist high performance golf balls are tested and validated across the worldwide professional tours, as well as with club professionals and better playing amateurs prior to being shipped to the marketplace. The New Pro V1 and New Pro V1x golf balls found instant acceptance and success on the PGA Tour since first becoming available at the Chrysler Classic of Greensboro last October. Davis Love III and Jason Bohn finished 1-2 at the event the first time they played the New Pro V1x in competition and the momentum has spread across the worldwide professional tours. In November, Padraig Harrington captured the Dunlop Phoenix in a dramatic playoff while relying upon the New Pro V1x for the first time in competition, while John Senden won the Australian Open the same weekend with the New Pro V1. Titleist ambassador Ernie Els put an exclamation point on 2006 by capturing the South African Airways Open in December playing the New Pro V1x, giving the products a combined four victories on four tours across four different continents.
The success has continued into the 2007 season where Vijay Singh (Mercedes-Benz Championship) and Aaron Baddeley (FBR Open) won with the New Pro V1x, and Paul Goydos (Sony Open in Hawaii) and Charley Hoffman (Bob Hope Chrysler Classic) won playing the New Pro V1, as Titleist loyalists set the stage for the new introductions by capturing four of the first five events on the 2007 PGA Tour.
"As we embark upon the seventh full season for the Pro V1 microbrand, we have advanced its performance to strengthen our position as the industry’s undisputed golf ball product leader," said Sine. "More importantly, the New Pro V1 and New Pro V1x provide performance advancements and advantages to the most discerning players at the professional and amateur levels. Evidence of the overwhelming acceptance of the Pro V1 and Pro V1x among the world’s best players is the early-season success and validation of both new offerings on the U.S. PGA Tour, as well as throughout worldwide professional tours."
Availability/Price
The New Titleist Pro V1 and Pro V1x golf balls will begin shipping to golf shops on February 15, 2007, with a suggested retail price of $58. Both models will be sold in traditional dozen and three-ball sleeves. Play numbers 5-8 also will be available in addition to the traditional 1-4.
On-Line and Marketing Support
Titleist will debut a New Pro V1 and New Pro V1x-dedicated microsite in conjunction with the introduction. The launch also will be supported by print, television and Internet advertising campaigns as well as Tour leadership promotion.
Titleist, FootJoy, Cobra and Pinnacle comprise the major golf brands of the Acushnet Company, an operating company of Fortune Brands, Inc. (NYSE – FO). Titleist, Cobra, FootJoy, Pro V1 and Pro V1x are trademarks owned by Acushnet Company. All other trademarks are property of their respective owners. For additional information regarding Titleist golf ball technology, please visit us online at www.titleist.com or contact Joe Gomes, Director of Communications (508.979.3211).
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