Australian Senior Golfer

GOLF industry heavyweights Titleist (Acushnet Company) and Callaway Golf announced this week they have buried the hatchet over their long running legal disputes.

Callaway Golf originally sued Titleist back in 2006 for alleged patent infringements centring around the very popular ProV1 golf ball and there were fears at various times production of the balls might cease.

Lengthy legal battles ensued with counter claims and appeals seeing the matter drag out in the courts for more than six years.

The companies released a one paragraph statement this week announcing the dispute had been resolved with no money changing hands.

No details of the settlement were released with a confidentiality agreement being signed by both parties.

Their joint statement said: “Acushnet Company and Callaway Golf Company jointly announced today that they have reached a settlement of all pending litigation and disputes, including disputes beyond the golf ball suits between the parties. No money changed hands, but under the terms of the agreement, each company will have specified rights to make golf ball and club products under patents owned by the other. Details of the settlement are confidential.”

CALLAWAY GOLF has released a new line of Odyssey D.A.R.T. putters featuring a “groundbreaking” target alignment system to the Australian market.

Odyssey’s Direction and Realignment Technology (D.A.R.T.) utilizes a dart-like pattern on the top of the putter head to easily align the centre of the putter face with the target when addressing the ball.

“D.A.R.T. works via a two-step process,” said Austie Rollinson, Principal Designer for Odyssey. “First, the eyes align the putter to the target using the straight lines on the top of the putter head.

“From there, the mind’s eye completes the realignment by placing the apex of the D.A.R.T. design at the centre of the golf ball. This ensures that the face of the putter is in line with the target and promotes consistent contact with the centre of the face for greater distance control.

“The original 2-Ball putter was a revolutionary step in using the golf ball as an alignment aid, and D.A.R.T. is an evolution of that technology.”

Callaway says the D.A.R.T design is based on the brain’s ability to complete images that the eye doesn’t at first see. In this case, the mind completes the apex of the dart device in the centre of the ball, ensuring the most accurate alignment possible. Just a one-degree misalignment on a 12-foot putt is the difference between a make and a miss.

“The completion of the D.A.R.T device at the centre of the ball is the key component to this new alignment technology,” Rollinson added. “In designing the D.A.R.T. putters we examined the Gestalt Effect, which was developed in the late 1800s and is based on a theory that our senses have the capability to visually create whole forms rather than just a collection of simple lines and curves. The Odyssey D.A.R.T. putter utilizes this effect using multiple lines to create an image that refines alignment and helps golfers make more putts.”

Also featured in the D.A.R.T. line of putters is Odyssey’s newest multi-layer insert, White Ice, which has been fine-tuned to enhance sound, resiliency and consistency.

The new D.A.R.T line of Odyssey putters are now available in Australian golf outlets with a new product introduction retail price of AU$209.

Two models will be available featuring D.A.R.T technology—the D.A.R.T. standard model is a mallet with a double-bend shaft and full shaft offset, while the D.A.R.T Blade features a crank-neck hosel and full-shaft offset.

IN a world first for Callaway Golf, Callaway Golf South Pacific has announced the launch of a major anti-counterfeiting initiative to protect the authenticity and quality of its products and the Callaway brand.

The new initiative introduces a unique Certified Authentic label, which will feature on all genuine Callaway golf clubs released direct to the Australian and New Zealand markets, and has been designed to protect consumers from purchasing low quality counterfeit Callaway golf clubs.

Using an innovative image shift label that can only be viewed using a polarised filter, along with several other highly technical security features, the Callaway Golf Certified Authentic label can be used by retailers and consumers to validate authenticity from certified resellers of the Callaway brand.

“By holding such a strong position within the golfing market as a leading brand, and with products so highly demanded by consumers, Callaway Golf is unfortunately subject to the perils of counterfeiters,” Callaway Golf Australia General Manager Leighton Richards said.

“With an increase in consumer online purchasing behaviour, we believe Callaway Golf has the responsibility to protect golfers from being mislead or deceived into purchasing low-quality products under the disguise of authentic products.”

“By implementing the Certified Authentic label Callaway Golf South Pacific aims to support our local authorised retail partners by raising consumer awareness of the risks of purchasing online and from unauthorised retail stockists,” Richards said.

“Callaway golf has a proud history as an industry leader in innovation that traditionally has been showcased in our products, however, as a brand we are working with the industry to use our innovative talents in a more diverse way to continue to bring a premium brand experience to our loyal customers”.

The unique Certified Authentic label featured on serialised Callaway golf clubs released by Callaway Golf South Pacific from January 1st 2011, and includes all new drivers, #3 fairway woods, hybrids, putters and the #8 iron from complete Callaway iron sets.

Located on the inside of the shaft, just below the grip, the Callaway Golf Certified Authentic label is not featured on Callaway Golf clubs released outside of Australia and New Zealand.

As such, consumers purchasing Callaway products outside of Callaway Golf South Pacific’s authorised retailer network will not be guaranteed of their authenticity, nor will they be entitled to the benefits of Callaway Golf South Pacific’s warranty policy.

HAVING a mid or later life crisis and can’t afford a new sports car? Perhaps Callaway ‘s new FT-iQ Driver will fit the bill.

Among all the usual technical babble and sales hyperbole – we’re talking about the “New dawn” of the “World’s Smartest Driver” here – Callaway claims the club was styled on the Lamborghini Reventon sports car. As well as the odd stealth jet.

In fact, it seems Callaway can’t quite decide on which futuristic image to push with the FT-iQ.

If you look at the short video here that as of this post date breathlessly announces there are only 26 days until “A new dawn in power and control” and that “Straight distance has arrived”, you will see that the FT-iQ driver is depicted more like a Star Wars style space fighter blasting into hyperspace.

The FT-iQ was unveiled at Callaway Golf’s national sales meeting in Rancho Bernardo, California this month and what all the hype seems to be aimed at is getting over the perception (and user comments) that the previous FT-i models hit straight all right but lacked distance.

“FT-iQ is a smart driver because power without precision is useless,” said Jeff Colton, Senior Vice President, Research and Development, Callaway Golf. “Not only is FT-iQ the longest driver we’ve ever developed, it’s also 35% straighter than FT-i, our previous benchmark for accuracy.”

According to the Callaway investor press release, it is the most technologically-advanced driver in the company’s history.

“FT-iQ is the result of a multi-year, multi-million dollar program undertaken by Callaway Golf’s world-renowned Research and Development team. Pushing multi-material Fusion Technology beyond previously held limits, the FT-iQ melds several cutting edge components into a sleek shape inspired by stealth jets and futuristic concept cars. Callaway Golf’s designers believe it is the smartest, most advanced driver in the world,” the release said. Whew.

FT-iQ is available in men’s and women’s versions in both standard and Tour models. The standard models feature 9, 10, 11, and 13 (HT) degree lofts. The 10 and 11 degree models are available in left-handed versions. The Tour version has a slightly more open face, and is available in 8.5 and 9.5 degree lofts; the latter is also available in a left-handed version.

The club will be available in Australia from October 15.

Having said all that, I want one. I think the new Callaway FT-iQ Driver would look good in the back of the not very new Camry station wagon. Might give it a bit more power and class and inspire it to greater performance.

Callaway Golf says its new FT i-brid iron set can help change your game and is the latest in a long legacy of innovation aimed at helping to make the game a little easier.

 Callaway says their “most technologically advanced game-improvement set” yet includes three “i-brids”, hybrid-like clubs designed to replace hard-to-hit long irons.

 The company says the i-brids “blend the control and accuracy of irons with the forgiveness, distance and versatility of hybrids. The low, deep center of gravity (CG) helps get the ball in the air quickly and easily, and the wider sole improves turf interaction.”

 The set then “seamlessly progresses” to game improving short irons that are designed for the ultimate in forgiveness and playability.

 The Mid and Short Irons have an oversized design with an increased offset, a large effective hitting and a wide sole for better turf interaction.

 The company says the clubs incorporate its “Fusion Technology, the superior weight shifting science created by Callaway Golf”.

 ”Multi-material construction enables weight to be shifted for optimal performance,” it says. “The lightweight titanium body allows for an oversize club head with increased offset for greater forgiveness and an increased effective hitting area. Heavy Tunite® weighting in the sole has been concentrated more toward the heel and toe for a higher MOI and better stability while keeping the CG low and deep. The TPU SenSert® is composed of a chemically engineered thermoplastic urethane that decreases vibration and creates an incredibly solid feel.”