January 24, 2007
BRIDGESTONE GOLF DISPELS INDUSTRY MYTH WITH NEW CUSTOM
GOLF BALL-FITTING SYSTEM
Bridgestone Educates Consumers That Most Popular Choice Isn’t Always Best for Their
Game
Covington, Ga. — For a number of years now consumers have reaped the benefits
of being custom-fit for golf clubs. With the ability to dial in shaft choices, grip
choices and clubhead lofts and lies, players are maximizing their games and scoring
better as a result. While custom club fitting was a significant improvement to the
industry, it is only half of the equation. Today, Bridgestone is pleased to announce
that it will now offer consumers the ability to get custom fit for their golf balls,
as well.
The Bridgestone Golf custom-fitting system ¬– “The Bridgestone Golf Challenge” –
is a real playtest for consumers to learn first-hand how their current golf ball-of-choice
stacks up against the Bridgestone offering, through a series of swing analyses.
The Bridgestone Golf Challenge uses a sophisticated computer system named Science
Eye, which allows Bridgestone to analyze each individual’s swing in a complimentary
15-minute session. The Science Eye measures clubhead speed, ball speed, launch angle,
backspin, sidespin and total distance of the consumer’s current golf ball choice
and then compares these same statistics to the results the consumer receives when
using the fitting team’s recommended golf ball model. Beta-testing of the ball-fitting
system has documented that 73% of golfers in our sample are not playing the ball
best suited for their swing.
National Rollout of "Challenge"
The Bridgestone Golf Challenge is set to launch this spring and will feature five
teams of specially trained golf ball fitting professionals (Northeast, Southeast,
Southwest, Mid-West, and West regions). These professionals will visit private and
public golf course venues across the U.S. encouraging consumers to “take the Bridgestone
Golf Challenge.”
“We believe that when intelligent consumers are presented with facts and all the
information, they will choose the proper golf balls for maximizing their game, not
just the most popular,” said Dan Murphy, Senior Director of Marketing, Bridgestone
Golf, Inc. “There is a myth among golfers that if you’re not playing a certain kind
of ball, you’re not a serious player. We hope that ball-fitting dispels this myth
and is the first step in changing the dynamic of the golf industry – creating marketing
based on proven science and technology, instead of pure emotion.”
The Bridgestone Golf Challenge will kick-off nationwide in April of 2007 and will
run through June. For information on how to schedule a fitting or to track when
the Bridgestone Golf Challenge will be available in certain areas, visit www.bridgestonegolf.com.
# # #
Bridgestone Golf, Inc., based in Covington, GA, manufactures and markets premium golf balls, clubs and accessories under
the Precept and Bridgestone brand names. Bridgestone is represented on a world stage by a number of internationally famed
golfers including, Stuart Appleby, Fred Couples, Nick Price, Charles Howell III and Brandt Snedeker. Bridgestone Golf, Inc.
is a wholly owned subsidiary of Bridgestone Sports Co. Ltd., whose headquarters are in Tokyo.
Contact Information:
Jared Kelowitz
jaredk@jdpr.com
JDPR, 864-233-3776 x 24
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