Company Has Been Japan’s Dominant Graphite Wood Shaft Maker Since 2002
(SAN DIEGO, California) – Graphite Design — maker of some of the most widely played graphite driver shaft models on the PGA TOUR — today announces that the company claimed the graphite wood shaft brand count on the Japan Tour for the 145th consecutive event while its Tour AD Quattro Tech model was played by the winner of the Nagashima Shigeo Invitational Sega Sammy Cup, according to the Darrell Survey.
A total of 184 Graphite Design shafts were in play at the Sega Sammy Cup, 79 more than the nearest competitor, extending the company’s graphite shaft brand count win streak that began in 2002. The winner claimed his second consecutive Japan Tour victory using Graphite Design’s Tour AD Quattro Tech in his driver and a fairway wood.
Quattro Tech led the graphite driver shaft model count with 20 in play, with an additional 15 utilized in fairway woods for a total of 35.
Introduced to the U.S. market in January, the Tour AD Quattro Tech features an innovative four-axis construction to deliver exceptional stability and high-launch, low-spin shots from today’s larger clubheads. Quattro Tech is offered in five flexes and four weight categories ranging from 54 – 87 grams and is suitable for use in drivers and fairway woods. The shaft’s low kick point promotes a high ball flight with minimal spin, producing maximum distance for players of all levels.
Elsewhere, the Children’s Hospital Open was the ninth Nationwide Tour event of 2007 won with a Graphite Design shaft model (Pershing).
"We congratulate this week’s Japan Tour winner on his continued success and are proud to have played a role in his recent victories,"
said Akio Karashima, CEO of Graphite Design. "Our Tour AD Quattro Tech and Pershing models are superb examples of Graphite Design’s ability to produce shafts that meet the high standards of world-class players, yet remain perfectly playable for weekend golfers."
In 2006, Graphite Design shafts were played by 41 winners of professional tournaments worldwide. Players using Graphite Design shafts amassed more than $90 million in PGA TOUR earnings in 2006 while the company earned more graphite wood-shaft model count victories on the PGA TOUR (16) than any other manufacturer. On the Japan Tour, Graphite Design shafts were in the bags of 18 winners in
2006 while the company extended its win streak in the wood-shaft brand count to 134 consecutive tournaments – an unprecedented string dating to 2002.
Graphite Design is the graphite shaftmaker of choice for Hank Haney, coach to the world’s top-ranked player. The company recently introduced the Tour AD Quattro Tech ultra-premium shaft in the U.S.
and launched its G-TECH combination-flex custom clubmaker series of wood and iron shafts, designed for exceptional playability throughout the bag.
About Graphite Design
Graphite Design, established in Japan in 1989 and in the U.S. in 1997, is one of the world’s three largest golf-club shaft manufacturers. The company made its mark manufacturing high- performance shafts for most of golf’s major OEMs worldwide, including the top four companies by sales volume, and Graphite Design shafts continue to be preferred by top clubmakers worldwide. The company’s mainstay YS shafts, the newly-introduced Pershing shafts and other models are extremely popular among avid and occasional golfers.
Revolutionary technology, design and sourcing the most advanced materials are trademarks in all Graphite Design shafts, making them the highest quality performance shafts on the market. Validating the company’s "AD" logo, all of Graphite Design’s PGA Tour-proven shafts specifically promote "Accuracy and Distance" and these key competitive advantages are helping professional and amateur golfers optimize their games after switching to Graphite Design shafts.
For more information about Graphite Design: 888.707.6132, info@gdintl.com; www.gdintl.com.
Contact:
Daniel Mitchell
Buffalo Communications
253.312.4536
dmitchell@billycaspergolf.com
