“We are extremely pleased with the court’s decision, and we hope that this finally brings this long standing dispute to a close,” said Joe Nauman, Executive Vice President, Corporate and Legal, Acushnet Company. “We have explained throughout this process that Acushnet independently developed the technology in question. The Titleist Pro V1 family utilizes technology from 74 Acushnet patents and was first introduced to our PGA TOUR players in October 2000, well before any of the Spalding patents were issued in 2001 and 2003. We appreciate the jury’s careful consideration of the facts and the time they devoted to these proceedings. This verdict affirms our view that all claims in these patents are invalid – just as the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office (PTO) has repeatedly found.”

In January 2006, before Callaway filed this litigation, Acushnet petitioned the PTO to reexamine the four patents in the suit. Since then, the PTO has repeatedly found that all claims of all four patents are invalid. During this process, seven separate PTO examiners were involved in evaluating the validity of these patents and all seven concluded that they are invalid.

Acushnet Company has a comprehensive product and process Research and Development staff and the Pro V1 golf ball franchise represents the accumulation of technology developed by Acushnet over a 20-year period. As the worldwide golf ball performance and technology leader, Acushnet currently holds over 715 of the nearly 2,000 active patents related to golf balls – more than any other manufacturer.

For more information on Titleist, visit www.titleist.com.

Bridgestone introduced an update to the Tour B330-RX and the new Tour B330-RXS. The updated Tour B33-RX features a softer core with a reformulated mantle intended to reduce spin. The new Tour B330-RXS features a slightly softer feel with added control. The new RX Series is currently available with a street price of $42.99 per dozen.

Titleist debuted the new NXT and NXT Tour. The new NXT replaces the NXT Extreme and has reduced spin for greater distance and is touted as the most durable in the Titleist product line. The updated NXT Tour features a 3-piece design with increased spin and soft feel. Both models are currently available with the NXT carrying a street price of $25.99 per dozen while the NXT Tour has a street price of $29.99 per dozen. Also new from Titleist is the return of the popular DT SoLo golf ball. The new DT SoLo will replace the DT Carry and DT Roll models and features a large core and durable Ionomer cover. It is currently available with a street price of $19.99 per dozen.

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Top-Flite introduced the new Gamer V2 golf ball. The Gamer V2 features a 3-piece design of the original Gamer with a reformulated soft, thin suryln cover. It also features a new low compression core and new mantle layer. It is currently available with a street price of $19.99 per dozen.

Callaway introduced the Tour i(z) and Tour i(s) golf balls. The new Tour i(z) replaces the Tour ix golf ball and the new Tour i(s) replaces the Tour i golf ball. Both are 4-piece designs that feature a refined HEX dimple pattern. Callaway states that the Tour i(s) is the softest tour ball they have produced to date. Both balls are currently available with a street price of $42.99 per dozen.

Wilson introduced the Wilson Staff FG Tour, C:25 and D:25 golf balls. The new FG Tour is a 3-piece design with soft urethane cover and low compression core. Wilson states it is their highest spinning ball they have ever produced. The FG Tour is currently available with a street price of $39.99 per dozen. The C:25 golf ball is a 3-piece design with soft surlyn cover and low compression core currently available and priced at $24.99 per dozen. The D:25 golf ball is a 2-piece design with surlyn cover and low compression core currently available and priced at $19.99 per dozen.

Srixon introduced the New TRISPEED and TRISPEED TOUR golf balls. The new TRISPEED features a thinner cover and larger core than the original TRISPEED. The 3-piece design has a soft mid-late that combined with the large core is designed to produce a high launch angle with low spin. The TRISPEED Tour features a softer cover and firmer compression core within its similar 3-piece design. Both models are currently available with a street proce of $29.99 per dozen. Also introduced were the new Tour Yellow versions of the Z-STAR and Z-STAR X golf balls. According to Srixon, the new Tour Yellow line incorporates the science of visual perception with the psychology of color effect on the human brain. Science has proven that yellow is the most visible color in the visual spectrum and psychology has correlated green with calming and stress relief. The line features the same performance as the original Z-STAR and Z-STAR X golf balls. Available on April 1, 2010 with a street price of $39.99 per dozen.

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Thank you for your continued support!
The GolfBallTest.org Team

The new 2010 release of GolfBallSelector.com includes a newly designed User Interface that helps each member better tune and track their fitting session. We have added video help aids throughout the site to help you understand how you should think through the fitting questionnaire and input data and weightings from the interactive system.

New swing profiling features and tools have been incorporated, such as an innovative “Angle of Attack” module that helps the system adjust for how spin is created by your unique swing. A golf ball trajectory simulator is built in as an aid in helping you think through how best to describe your golf ball flight path in getting the most out of GolfBallSelector.com.

As always, GolfBallSelector.com is a member-supported / advertisement-free service. We conduct independent and rigorous testing of golf balls and are brand-agnostic when it comes to our recommendations for each specific member.

We are currently completing testing of a new group of 2009/2010 golf balls and expect to release a new ball update in the coming months. This update will include new balls from Bridgestone, TaylorMade and Wilson, as well as the most recent releases from Callaway, Nike, Srixon and Titleist. So, join today as a Premium Member and gain access to these balls and additional balls to be tested and incorporated into the data base over the next 12 months.

Finally, we want to extend a very sincere thank you to all our current and former members for your support and for helping make GolfBallSelector.com a success. We look forward to continuing our work and providing the premier independent golf ball fitting advice to you and all our new members as we move forward in 2010 and beyond.

The GolfBallSelector.com Team

Now through January 4, 2010, you can purchase GolfBallSelector.com as a gift card at the GolfBallSelector Web Site and receive the Membership Card packaged in a COMPLIMENTARY Gift Tin with a FREE Golf Ball Marker Pen (a $5.50 value). Buy 2 Gift Sets and receive FREE shipping too (Standard shipping, within the Continental U.S.). Buy 3 Gift Sets and the Fourth set is FREE, along with FREE Gift Packaging and Standard Shipping in the Continental U.S.!

As always, GolfBallSelector.com offers pre-paid Membership Cards for both the Premium Annual Membership Plan and Standard 30-Day Membership.

Learn more about these special offers by visiting us at Give GolfBallSelector as a Gift and make the holiday season brighter for the golfers in your life!

CLICK HERE FOR A FREE BALL FITTING

Wilson Staff FG Tour Golf Ball

The FG Tour golf ball, designed for the competitive golfer, joins the forged family of Wilson Staff equipment alongside the FG Tour irons. The three-piece, multi-layer ball is a low-compression distance golf ball covered in a thin, soft veneer of urethane to deliver maximum traction control for iron and wedge shots. It has a 75 compression rating and features a 318-dimple pattern on its cast urethane cover. The FG Tour is Wilson?s softest, highest-spinning multi-piece urethane ball and was created as a low compression solution for competitive players looking for tour-caliber spin, maximum greenside control and excellent distance. In internal testing, the Wilson Staff FG Tour golf ball has tested with longer and straighter ball flights than other leading premium golf balls.

Wilson Staff C:25 Golf Ball

The latest edition to the “C” family of golf equipment, the Wilson Staff C:25, a low-compression three-piece ball delivering minimal spin off the driver, is best matched with the Wilson Staff Ci9 iron. The C:25 promotes progressively higher spin as the player approaches the pin for shots inside 150 yards. The golf ball features a 302-dimple pattern to provide high lift conditions for more height on tee shots and from long distances.

Wilson Staff D:25 Golf Ball

Wilson Staff’s “D”, or distance, golf balls are introduced in conjunction with Wilson Staff Di9 and D-FY irons. The D:25 is a low-compression two-piece ball delivering minimal spin off the driver face. A 302-dimple design provides high lift conditions for more height on tee shots and longer carry distances. The D:25 golf ball was designed for players looking to hit longer drives and minimize mis-hits.

All Wilson Staff golf balls are built on a low-compression platform featuring ultra-soft, high-velocity cores for the softest feel with no sacrifice in distance. All three golf balls utilize Wilson?s breakthrough Traction Control Technology which is specifically tailored for the new and less aggressive groove specifications. The Traction Control Technology provides golfers with a 17 percent higher surface contact area and 13 percent more grooves that are engaged during impact.

“Wilson Staff is proud to offer a variety of golf balls to improve the game of players at every level,” said Bob Thurman, global director of R&D. “We are confident that the FG Tour urethane ball will compete with the most popular golf balls on TOUR. Our low-compression technology tests as long as anything and softer than everything else on the market.”

The suggested list price for Wilson Staff FG Tour golf ball is $49.99 per dozen, $34.99 per dozen C:25 golf balls and $29.99 for one dozen D:25 golf balls. The new line of Wilson Staff golf balls will be available in fall 2009.

For more information on the new FG Tour, C:25, and D:25 golf balls, visit www.wilsongolf.com.

Aiding golfers to “crush” the ball, the Nike CRUSH combines a softer compression core, optimized cover design and new DMC Coating® to reduce unwanted side-spin and maximize ball velocity for straighter, longer distance. The larger and softer, high energy core provides high velocity and delivers unrivaled feel. The Directional Micro-Composite Coating or DMC Coating® is the first of its kind; a smart coating that is designed to lower spin for driver shots that would normally slice or hook.

“I believe we’ve done a great job designing a longer and straighter golf ball for a wide range of swing speeds at a mid-tier price, “said Rock Ishii, Director of Product Development for Nike Golf balls. “CRUSH is a natural fit for those who love the game and want to continue to evolve as better golfers.”

Optimized for driver head speeds of 80-95 mph, the newly designed thin, two-piece ionomer blend cover enhances greenside feel and playability while increasing ball speed and maximizing distance off the tee. The Nike CRUSH features a 312-dimple design that produces lift for longer carry and consistent ball flight.

The new CRUSH golf ball will be available on November 1st, 2009 and will feature a MSRP of $30.00 per dozen.

For more information on the new CRUSH golf ball visit www.nikegolf.com.

Targeting the average amateur player, Bridgestone is bringing updates to its award winning e-Series line focused on optimizing trajectory to improve distance and accuracy.

One group of golfers that needs help are those who struggle with hitting their shots too low and need a higher ball flight for added carry. The new e5 golf ball uses its unique 2-piece urethane cover construction to help golfers who have a desire to add more height to their shot trajectory. For the 2010 model, Bridgestone Golf has incorporated a 326 dimple pattern with shallower and larger dimples, producing a higher trajectory than its predecessor. In addition, the new e5 has a large gradational compression core and soft TOUR caliber urethane cover. The result – longer distance off the tee with exceptional spin control on and around the greens.

The most common trajectory flaw throughout the spectrum of golfers Bridgestone has tested has been slices and hooks, caused by excess sidespin. The 2010 version of the e6 golf ball employs a newly enhanced Anti-Side Spin Inner Layer that kills excess spin for an even straighter and longer flight. The Anti-Side Spin Inner Layer is comprised of a brand new Bridgestone formulation that offers a combination of high resilience and low compression, like never before available. Already the most popular model of the e series due to its forgiveness on off-center hits, this latest version of the e6 will bring even greater accuracy to help players lower their scores. In addition, Bridgestone has made the softest multi-layer golf ball on the market even softer, reducing its compression by 8%. The softer feel is best appreciated on chips and pitches around the green and on putts.

For those players who need a slightly lower trajectory or perhaps already have an ideal trajectory but are seeking longer distance, the new e7 golf ball fits the bill. The new e7 also benefits from a new proprietary Bridgestone Inner Layer formulation that makes the ball 5% firmer. This new Velocity Increasing Inner Layer along with a new higher speed Gradational Compression Core combine to create a more piercing flight and better wind resistance – resulting in even deeper distance off the tee.

“In talking with retailers over the past year, it is evident that Bridgestone’s message of choosing your ball based on performance rather than what a Tour player uses has really resonated with golfers,” said Brandon Sowell, Marketing Manager – Golf Balls, Bridgestone Golf, Inc. “At the forefront of those efforts is Bridgestone’s desire to educate golfers how to select the best ball for their game through ball-fitting. The entire e-series evolved from our learning about where players needed help in terms of ball-flight optimization. In the new e-series line we’ve made some significant modifications to make the balls even better at what they’re designed to do. As a company, we plan to continue to invest in and improve our ball-fitting program as it has proven to be a valuable service for amateur players and also an incredible resource for new product development efforts.”

The new e-series balls will be available at golf specialty stores and green grass retailers on November 1st, 2009 and will feature a street price of $26.99 per dozen (MSRP – $38 per dozen).

For more information on the new e5, e6 and e7 visit www.bridgestonegolf.com.

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER FOR THE WHITE PAPER

“This is groundbreaking work based on rigorous testing and quantitative analysis” says Gary Esayian, Managing Partner with GolfBallTest.org. “The white paper summarizes our independent analysis of the claims of possible performance degradation in these recycled “lake balls” for factors such as loss of compression, changes in weight and overall impacts on ballistics and aerodynamic performance,” says Esayian.

This independent study was conducted in order to:

1. Determine if recycled golf balls marketed as “highest quality or “near new” have discernable performance and playability factors versus balls purchased new at retail;
2. Determine how performance factors may change among the reported grades for these higher grade levels of balls;
3. Assess golfers’ perceptions of “value” from recycled versus new golf balls; and,
4. Identify information, methods or tools that can be provided to the “golfer-as-consumer” in helping them make more informed value-for-money decisions.

Our report addresses the question on the minds of many golfers: ‘With the opportunity to pay up to 50% off retail price, are second-hand balls a worthwhile choice?’ asks Jim Campbell, Managing Partner of GolfBallTest.org. “We work with many golfers at GolfBallSelector.com who are interested, not only in using recycled product to try and test various balls out there in the market, but they are also keen on the “green” aspects of buying from high quality sources of recycled balls.

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER FOR THE WHITE PAPER

This comprehensive study was conducted by GolfBallTest.org in association with GolfBallSelector.com. GolfBallTest.org (GBT) conducts continuous testing of leading golf balls sold primarily in the United States, utilizing swing robots and real golfers, and publishes its scientific findings at GolfBallTest.org. GolfBallSelector.com offers unbiased and independent golf ball fitting services. The results of GBT’s extensive testing are utilized in combination with a unique profiling system to identify the best golf ball for an individual player’s game. Heralded as one of the best innovations in golf, GolfBallSelector.com offers annual and 30-day membership programs for $29.95 and $19.95, respectively.