January 23, 2013
Bridgestone Reaches Milestone of 200k Consumer Ball-Fittings; Grows Impact through New Technologies
COVINGTON, GA — Bridgestone Golf, the #1 ball-fitter in golf, further
cemented that title today when it announced that the company has surpassed more
than 200,000 consumer golf ball fittings. The "Bridgestone Challenge," the company's
in-person, free, live launch monitor-based ball-fitting program has been educating
golfers on how to find the right ball for their game since 2007. Now with
26 teams throughout the United States, Bridgestone Golf fits more than 1,500
golfers per week, during the golf season.
The Bridgestone Challenge is indicative of Bridgestone Golf's overall business philosophy
- one in which amateur golfers who tee it up on Saturday and pay for their greens
fees are just as important to the company as its TOUR players when it comes to product
design. With ball-fitting, Bridgestone offers a service previously reserved for
the world's best players to all golfers. Using launch monitors, Bridgestone's team
of ball-fitting technicians analyze golfers' swings and make a science-based recommendation
as to which ball is the best choice for each individual.
"One size fits all is square wheel thinking; customization is the key to sustained
success in business these days," said Dan Murphy, Vice President of Marketing -
Bridgestone Golf, Inc. "Saying all golfers should use one ball is as ridiculous
as asserting that we should all play stiff-shafted blade irons and wear medium size
shirts. Ball-fitting has separated us from the pack and allowed us to grow to #2
in share. We have great momentum thanks to our ability and desire to fit consumers
to a ball that is suited to their swing. Going forward, we realize the way to spread
the word to more people is by using technology. Our B-FIT and online selection tool
have been well received by the golf world, and as a result, we've invested in expanding
those services in 2013."
In addition to the Bridgestone Challenge live ball-fitting events, Bridgestone Golf
is set to launch an iPad compatible version of its popular B-FIT Video Chat service
for retailers. The new iPad enabled technology will allow Bridgestone to extend
the test program that has been at local Atlanta golf retailers since last summer
to nationwide green grass and golf specialty retail locations in 2013. In the test
market, consumers have raved about its convenience, ease of use and the unique ability
it affords to have one-on-one, face-to-face conversations with Bridgestone's ball-fitting
experts. Bridgestone's B-FIT video-chat program is powered by the OpenTok Platform
from TokBox. OpenTok allows face-to-face communications to be embedded into any
site or service. Over 50,000 TokBox partners are currently using the technology
worldwide, but Bridgestone Golf's version is the only to ever be used in a retail
in-store environment in any industry.
Adding to Bridgestone's Ball-Fitting technology revolution is a newly designed golf
ball selection tool that allows users to see how they stack up against the entire
universe of golfers who have been fit by Bridgestone. Using a data aggregator, Bridgestone's
new online golf ball selection tool, provides golfers with one of two ways to enter
data about their golf game and then based on the existing data collected from hundreds
of thousands, the tool will calculate what percentage of different categories of
golfer a user most closely resembles. With the new system not only will golfers
receive an accurate recommendation, but also they will be able to accurately compare
themselves to the universe of Bridgestone's golf database.
Bridgestone will introduce the new ball selection tool to attendees at the 2013
PGA Merchandise Show, and it will go live on the Bridgestone website the first week
in February. Upon official launch, the new selection tool will be available at
www.bridgestonegolf.com/product/ball-selection-guide.
For more information on Bridgestone's entire suite of golf ball selection services,
visit www.bridgestonegolf.com.
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Editor's Note: High-Res images of all Tour Staff and all new Bridgestone equipment are available upon request.
Bridgestone Golf, Inc., based in Covington, GA, manufactures and markets premium
golf balls, clubs and accessories under the Bridgestone and Precept brand names.
Bridgestone is represented on a world stage by a number of internationally famed
golfers including
Fred Couples, Matt Kuchar,
Davis Love III, Brandt Snedeker,
Paula Creamer, Nick Price,
and Lee Trevino.
Bridgestone Golf, Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Bridgestone Sports Co. Ltd.,
whose headquarters are in Tokyo.
Bridgestone Golf, Inc. is proud to be the #1 Ball Fitter in Golf as the industry
leader in live launch monitor fittings. Bridgestone provides three ways for golfers
to find the ball that best fits their game: live fittings through the
Bridgestone Ball Fitting Challenge, live online
chats with ball fitting
experts through its B-FIT service, and an easily accessible
Online Ball Selection Guide. For more
information on ball fitting, including a complete schedule of Ball Fitting Challenge
events, visit www.bridgestonegolf.com.
