Titleist Golf BallsTitleist Golf Balls

Presentation By:

Steven Copp

Nathan Hands

Why Golf BallsWhy Golf Balls

In 2004, sports equipment sales topped $14 billion.Golf equipment had the largest portion of these sales, equaling $2.42 billion. (Dr. Noble’s notes)

Golf ball sales topped $504 million in 2004 (USA Today)

Why Titleist Golf BallsWhy Titleist Golf Balls

Titleist calls itself the #1 ball in golf, their right. In 2004, Titleist accounted for 132 worldwide tour wins, 100 more than their nearest competitor Titlesit has accounted for an average of 45% of the market over the past few years

Charts: Chris O'Riley, Golf Digest

Organization & PurposeOverview of the history of the golf ballDescribe and compare the 2005 Titleist product line based on technology, cost, and type of golfer ball is designed for Pro V1x Pro V1 NXT Tour NXT DT SoLo

Review of Research Golf Digest Hot List Robot Test Golf Balls 101 Ratings

Selecting the Right Ball

History of Golf BallsHistory of Golf BallsFeathery CubeFeathery Cube 1618 – The “featherie” replaced the original wood ball. This

leather-covered ball stuffed with goose or chicken feathers. was expensive and fragile and used for almost four centuries.

The Gutta-PerchaThe Gutta-Percha 1848 - The first "Gutta" ball created. Gutta-percha is the

evaporated milky juice or latex produced from a tree and was rolled into a sphere

The Hand Hammered GuttaThe Hand Hammered Gutta Created by hammering the softened gutta-perched ball with

a sharp edged hammer to give the ball an even pattern of “nicks” that greatly improved its play. Later, iron molds or ball presses were used to create markings on the ball.

History of Golf BallsHistory of Golf BallsThe BrambleThe Bramble The most popular pattern of the gutta-era and was also

used on some early rubber balls.

The Rubber BallThe Rubber Ball 1898 - featured rubber thread wound around a solid

rubber core. Early gutta-percha gave way to the Balata cover that was developed in the early 1900’s. A variety of dimple patterns gave way to the aerodynamically superior dimple pattern first

used in 1908.

The Modern BallThe Modern Ball 1932 - standardized weight maximum of 1.620 oz.and

diameter minimum of 1.680 in. was established by the USGA. A max initial velocity of 250 feet/second

was added later.

History of Golf BallsHistory of Golf BallsSwitch From Wound to Solid CoreSwitch From Wound to Solid Core Early 90’s - balls had either small solid Early 90’s - balls had either small solid

rubber center or liquid filled rubber center rubber center or liquid filled rubber center wound with threadwound with thread

Late 90’s - Solid core 2-piece and Late 90’s - Solid core 2-piece and eventually 3-piece balls were introduced, eventually 3-piece balls were introduced, popularity grew rapidlypopularity grew rapidly

2005, not a single golf ball 2005, not a single golf ball manufacturer included a wound manufacturer included a wound ball in their product offeringsball in their product offerings

Pro V1xPro V1xInner Core Material: Polybutadiene Type: Solid

Casing Material: Ionomer Thickness: .035”

Cover Composition: Urethane Elastomer Thickness: .030”

Dimples Shape: Spherical Pattern: Icosahedron Total number: 332 Number of types: 7

Pro V1xPro V1xCore Soft, high velocity dual core for lower spin and greater control

Ionomer casing layer High velocity and low spin for long distance

Urethane elastomer High performance cover for improved control with full

iron shots

Tour level ball that is only designed for a very fast and powerful swing (105-120mph)MSRP: $58/dozen, Golf USA: $45/dozen

Pro V1Pro V1Inner Core Material: Polybutadiene Type: Solid Diameter: 1.530”

Casing Material: Ionomer Thickness: .045”

Cover Composition: Urethane Elastomer Thickness: .030”

Dimples Shape: Spherical Pattern: Icosahedron Total number: 392 Number of types: 5

Pro V1Pro V1Core Soft for outstanding feel

Ionomer casing layer Lower driver spin for longer distance

Urethane elastomer cover High performance, soft, and thin cover for drop-and-stop

greenside control

Tour quality and should be used by experienced players with a tour level swing speed (105-120 mph)MSRP: $58/dozen, Golf USA: $45/dozen

NXT TourNXT TourInner Core Material: Polybutadiene Type: Solid

Outer Core Material: Polybutadiene Diameter: 1.580”

Cover Composition: Soft Fusablend Thickness: .050”

Dimples Shape: Spherical Pattern: Icosahedron Total number: 392 Number of types: 5

NXT TourNXT TourDual core Large core provides more speed at a softer

compression. Faster, softer core lowers the spin and results in

longer distance.

Fusablend Cover Soft cover provides more short game spin and

control into the green Durable

Good ball for experienced playersMSRP: $36/dozen, Golf USA: $27/dozen

NXTNXTCore Material: Polybutadiene Diameter: 1.550”

Cover Composition: Fusablend Thickness: .065”

Dimples Shape: Spherical Pattern: Icosahedron Total number: 392 Number of types: 5

NXTNXT

Core Provides more speed and lower spin at a

softer compression

Fusablend cover Soft feel Durable

Can suit any player in all aspects of the game

MSRP: $36/dozen, Golf USA: $26/dozen

DT SoLoDT SoLo

Core Material: Polybutadiene Diameter: 1.550”

Cover Composition: Na/Zn Suryln Thickness: .065”

Dimples Shape: Spherical Pattern: Icosahedron Total number: 392 Number of types: 5

DT SoLoDT SoLoCore Soft compression gives soft fell on all shots High velocity Lower driver spin for longer distance

Low spin helps minimize unintentional hook and slice Longer drives for low and moderate swing speeds

Surlyn cover Soft feel Durable (guaranteed cut-proof)

Suitable for all players especially beginners who have trouble with straight shots.MSRP $28/dozen, Golf USA: $22/dozen

Tour Performance - Balls generally have more technology and cost more. Balls that have multilayer technology designed to optimize performance off the tee and around the green for low handicap players.

Value Performance - Simpler design when compared to performance balls and are the best bargain for average golfers. They give you distance and ball-flight benefits that can help the mid- to high-handicapper navigate the golf course.

Tour Tour PerformancePerformance

Titleist Pro V1/Pro V1xScore: 100.0. • What THE JUDGES say: “Constitute everything a golf ball can be (provided you are not a low-speed, low-spin player). Their supremacy in the marketplace begins with their command of the technology. Under any system of evaluation, it cannot be beat.”

Value Value PerformancePerformance

Titleist NXT/NXT TourScore: 100.0.

• What THE JUDGES say: "Depending on your skill level, these low-spinning balls might offer more scoring potential than their big brother for much less cash. This is plenty of ball for people who work for a living. What do you give up by playing this ball? Nothing, other than the ability to spin that half-wedge from 40 yards."

Robot TestA robot test conducted at Golf Laboratories in San Diego, suggested that there are some subtle differences between multilayer (Pro V1/V1x), two piece performance (NXT/NXT Tour) and two piece low compression balls.

Driver swung at an average swing speed (90 miles per hour) produced similar distances and spin (revolutions per minute)

8-iron swung at average speed (78 mph) produced similar distances as well, however it produced more spin in the multilayer and two-piece performance ball.

Half-wedge shot produced significantly more spin in the multilayer ball than the two-piece models.

Ratings by Golf Balls 101Distanc

eLoft Spin Durabilit

yPrice

Pro V1x E E E E P

Pro V1 E E G E PNXT Tour E E F G F

NXT G G F G F

DT SoLo G G F G G

E – Excellent; G – Good; F – Fair; P - Poor

Distance

Loft Spin Durability

Price

Pro V1x E E E E P

Pro V1 E E G E PNXT Tour E E F G F

NXT G G F G F

DT SoLo G G F G G

Selecting the Right BallSelecting the Right Ball

Why do you play golf?What is your price range

What kind of a player are youHigh/low handicapHigh, moderate, or low swing speedHow much do you spin the ball

Questions?Questions?