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Titleist Advances NXT Golf Ball Technology With Two New Offerings NXT Microbrand Establishes New Benchmark for Solid Golf Ball Performance Contact Joe Gomes FAIRHAVEN, Mass. (January 23, 2003) - Having redefined the combination of long distance and soft feel in 2-piece solid golf ball construction with the launch of the NXT Distance and NXT Tour in 2001, Titleist(R) advances its NXT microbrand product performance with the introduction of the New NXT and New NXT Tour. "Since its introduction over one year ago, the NXT franchise has strategically enabled us to recapture prior Titleist brand consumers, share shift competitive players and attract newcomers to the brand for the first time," comments George Sine, Vice President, Golf Ball Marketing and Strategic Planning, Acushnet Company. "Our objectives for the New NXT and New NXT Tour models are to deliver even longer distance and softer feel to further distinguish our products from other Soft & Long positioned products in the market. From all measures our objectives have been achieved and target audience expectations have been exceeded based upon the comprehensive machine tests and the overwhelmingly positive feedback we have received from aspirational and recreational golfers for whom these products were designed." By delivering long, straight distance, exceptional feel and spin versus competing products within the top-grade solid construction segment, the new NXT and NXT Tour models ensure that the Titleist brand offers a superior alternative to the competition. Both models feature patented Fusablend(R) cover materials for softer feel, and large core technology for faster velocity that has been pioneered and are exclusive to the Titleist brand. "Fusablend is a combination of polymers and was created in our laboratory using patented and exclusive materials," comments Bill Morgan, Senior Vice President, Golf Ball Research and Development, Acushnet Company. "Its application in the construction of the New NXT and New NXT Tour allows us to offer the most advanced core and cover technology available." NEW NXT The New NXT golf ball replaces the NXT Distance, and has been improved from core to cover, offering a lower compression while increasing its already impressive and consistent distance. The New NXT is constructed of a reformulated 1.550" soft compression core, which provides increased velocity and reduced spin off the driver for longer distance. The soft core and Fusablend cover provide for a markedly lower finished ball compression (in the mid-60s). When these components are combined with its new high coverage 392 multi-dimple icosahedral design, the New Titleist NXT delivers superior distance and feel to competing products within the top-grade solid construction segment, such as Callaway HX 2-Piece, Maxfli Noodle, Precept Lady/Laddie/Lady_ and Top-Flite Tour. "The primary improvements with the New NXT golf ball are its lower core and finished ball compressions in concert with its lower spin for longer distance," said Sine. "From tee through green, the New NXT continues Titleist's leadership position within the 2-piece technology segment and strengthens our NXT legacy with even longer distance off the driver and irons and soft feel on all shots." NEW NXT TOUR Higher speed and longer distance off the driver, higher spin off the short irons, and softer feel are the main performance benefits resulting from the core to cover improvements to the NXT Tour golf ball. The New NXT Tour features a softer Fusablend cover that allows for the largest core (1.590") and thinnest cover of any 2-piece solid core golf ball in the industry, resulting in higher spin performance with shorter irons. A new core formulation provides more speed and is nearly 10 compression points lower than the original NXT Tour, resulting in a finished ball compression in the low 70s. In addition to delivering superior performance versus Surlyn covered 2-piece golf balls in the market, the New NXT Tour, with its softer cover, longer distance and lower compression, also offers golfers a quality option and price point alternative to injection molded solid urethane-covered golf balls in the market, such as the Maxfli M3, Nike TA2 and Precept U-Tri. The New NXT Tour pushes the envelope of advanced solid core technology, delivering across-the-board advances in the performance areas of higher velocity for longer distance, soft feel and shot-stopping spin. The new, soft compression core and softer, thin Fusablend cover of the New NXT Tour continues Titleist's momentum atop the soft and long technology performance segment. "Since the introduction of the NXT microbrand, Titleist has increased its share of the top-grade, mid-price point segment of $34.00 per dozen or less (MSRP)," said Sine. "With the Titleist Pro V1ô franchise continuing to serve as the performance benchmark and overwhelming best-selling model within the premium segment of the golf ball market, the NXT franchise has established a best-seller position within its segment to where it owns an industry-leading market share of nearly 10%." AVAILABILITY The New Titleist NXT and NXT Tour golf balls will be sold in traditional dozen and three-ball sleeves and will be supported by considerable introductory sampling initiatives, as well as print, television and Internet advertising campaigns featuring legendary actor John Cleese as golf course architect Ian MacCallister. Cleese's character is the head of Golf Designers Against Distance, a group that rallies against the superior performance of the NXT, claiming its extreme distance and exceptional soft feel are bad for golf and render courses obsolete. The NXT golf ball series will begin shipping to golf shops on March 1, 2003 with a suggested retail price of $34.00. The debut of a new NXT-franchise specific microsite - www.titleist.com/nxt - will coincide with the shipping date, to inform and educate consumers of the products' pending arrival in the marketplace and their superior points of difference against competitive offerings. The NXT models will retain their familiar electric yellow and black packaging, contemporized and accentuated with black and yellow trim. The back of each dozen describes the features and benefits of both models with cutaway construction illustrations. To obtain additional information or photography on the New NXT and New NXT Tour golf balls or the latest in Titleist golf ball technology and equipment, please call Consumer Relations at 1.888.TITLEIST, contact Joe Gomes, Director of Communications (508.979.3211) or visit us online at www.titleist.com. Titleist, FootJoy(R), Cobra(R) and Pinnacle(R) comprise the major golf brands of Acushnet Company, an operating company of Fortune Brands, Inc. (NYSE - FO). |