Spalding Asks Court To Immediately Stop Wilson's Advertising

Test Show Wilson True Ball Claims are False

Contact Jackie Beck
Spalding Sports Worldwide
413-322-2087
jbeck@spalding.com

CHICOPEE, Mass. (March 11, 2002) -- Spalding Sports Worldwide announced today that it has filed papers in federal district court in Springfield, Massachusetts asking the court for a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction against Wilson Sporting Goods. Spalding sued Wilson on February 22nd over Wilson's advertising that claims its new True golf ball putts better than competitive balls, including Spalding's STRATA(R) TOUR ULTIMATE(R) 2 ball.

Spalding's lawsuit states that Wilson's test methodology is fundamentally flawed because Wilson intentionally oriented competitive balls in a particular manner and then putted them on a pool table-like surface in order to obtain desired results. Spalding retained Arthur D. Little, Inc., a respected independent laboratory consultant, to conduct putting tests that replicate "real world" conditions, consisting of random orientation of balls putted on a surface that replicates grass on a natural putting green. Under these "real world" conditions, A. D. Little's test results show that the Wilson True golf balls do not have the superior putting qualities that Wilson claims.

"This proves what we knew all along: Wilson's claims are literally false," stated Jim Craigie, Spalding's President & Chief Executive Officer. "We are confident the court will agree that Wilson's false and misleading advertising must be immediately stopped."

Spalding Sports Worldwide is the nation's first full-line sporting goods company. Its leadership and innovative products have led to revolutionary breakthroughs in virtually every major sporting goods product category. Under the Spalding umbrella are the STRATA, TOP-FLITE, ETONIC, BEN HOGAN and DUDLEY brands. To find more information on Spalding, visit our website at http://www.spalding.com or call the Consumer Relations Department at 800-SPALDING (772-5346).