Industry’s First-Ever “Self-Adjusting” Golf Cleat, Black Widow® Tour? To Follow Softspikes Unmatched Heritage Of Providing Extreme Traction & Unmatched Comfort
Brentwood, Tennessee, January 23, 2009 … 15-years ago, Softspikes® plastic golf cleats debuted, changing the game forever, while saving golf greens and billions of dollars in golf course and clubhouse maintenance. 10-years ago, Softspikes® Black Widow® debuted and redefined the plastic golf cleat category, forever. Today, PrideSports (PGA Show booth #1565), maker of Softspikes® – the #1 Cleat on TOUR, has once again revolutionized the golf cleat market with the launch of Black Widow® Tour™, golf’s first “self-adjusting” cleat, enabling golfers to custom match their golf cleats to their swing, balance and weight distribution.
In returning to its Black Widow roots, the Black Widow Tour cleats follow in the Softspikes heritage of providing extreme traction and comfort, combined with ultimate green-friendliness, by taking the Company’s proprietary technologies to the next level in offering golf’s first adjustable cleat.
“We are very excited to launch Black Widow Tour 10 years after its namesake was born, and on the 15-year anniversary of the Softspikes phenomenon; marking a milestone for one of golf’s most innovative brands ever,” said Joe Zeller, President, PrideSports. “In the history of golf, few products have been as instrumental to the game as Softspikes, and we believe that Black Widow Tour will only enhance the success of our Softspikes brand.”
Zeller adds, “As the number one selling cleat brand in the world, and as the cleat of choice for more than 70% of the field at PGA TOUR events for the past 13 years, I believe players of all levels will be very pleased with our new offering in the Softspikes family of cleats.”
Self-Adjusting Traction & New Support Rings:
Defining the innovation behind Black Widow Tour is self-adjusting traction technology and new Support Rings that enable golfers to customize the level of comfort in their cleats. Highlighted by 8 traction elements, including 4 large flexible legs that provide unmatched grip on any terrain/surface, the cleat is matched with 4 cushioning towers that absorb secondary loads and then distribute the golfer’s weight throughout the cleat. These features are then combined with proprietary “Support Rings” that allow golfers the option to select the comfort setting that best suits their game. Support Rings attached to each individual Black Widow Tour cleat can be positioned in two distinct settings:
Tour-Comfort Setting: Provides maximum flex, ultimate comfort, and extreme traction.
Tour-Firm Setting: Provides extreme traction through a firmer, spike-like feel, by providing more resistance at initial impact.
“Adjustability has become a big part of golf equipment today, as players strive to custom match their equipment to their golf swing,” said Zeller. “We have taken this same approach with Black Widow Tour and utilized our proprietary technology to enable golfers to customize their level of comfort, which positively impacts each individual player’s swing, balance and weight distribution.”
With Black Widow Tour, Softspikes expects to replicate the success of the original Black Widow, which was launched in 1999 as the most innovative golf cleat ever developed, offering unmatched traction, comfort and durability. Soon after its introduction, Foot Joy, the world’s leading golf shoe company, made Black Widow original equipment on all of its golf shoes. This, along with strong consumer appeal for the product, quickly made Black Widow the #1 selling cleat in the world – a distinction Softspikes maintains today. Equally important, Black Widow became the cleat of choice on TOUR, amassing more than 300 victories.
Black Widow Tour cleats, which are available in spring 2009, will be sold in individual kits and bulk quantities. Suggested Retail Price for individual kits is $16.99 per pack. For more information, visit www.blackwidowtour.com.
About PrideSports
PrideSports was formed in January 2003 following Pride Manufacturing Company’s purchase of Softspikes, Inc., and its sister company Trisport, Ltd. of England. This acquisition essentially formed the world’s premier golf accessories company, as Pride and Softspikes are the world’s leading golf tee and golf cleat lines, respectively. Today, PrideSports is the world leader in the design and manufacture of cleats, spikes and receptacles for the entire golf footwear industry.
Contact:
Glenn Mastro (gmastro@mastrocomm.com)
Mastro Communications, Inc. @ 732-469-5700
